Will we ever learn /Stranger Things\

~chapter 17~

In a few hours, the group, including the russian sciencists, were all at place, ready for the big mission. Steve, Dustin and Lucas guarding the entrace to motherly gate as Will, Jane, Mike, Max, Brian and another russian sciencist went inside to get rid of shadow figure Billy. Nancy, Robin and Jonathan were in charge to keep Cindy safe, since Will had the feeling the UD might still come for her eventually, like it was with him years ago.

Will, Jane, Mike, Max and the russians made their way over to Billy's and Max's old house, thinking that's where he might be hiding in the Upside Down. It was a shot in the dark, but they didn't have much to go off of. Jane was determinded to do anything to keep the UD from striking again, even if it meant sacrificing herself, she made that very clear ahead of the mission. Max was going for the reason of still hoping there might still be a chance for Billy, and Max believed she might talk him into joining the light side again. The men were going as extra force in case there's more demo-creatures than was expected. Their plan was simple, but risky and Will couldn't help but worry.

They finally made it to the front porch of Max's old house from when she first moved to Hawkins. Jane turned to everyone, especially Max, who nodded.

"So, me and Max will go in. You guard the entrance, if something happens, we'll call or you'll call." Jane went over the next part of the plan again, everyone nodded and the two women walked inside.

The men were pacing outside, around the house in pairs of two. The two russian sciencists and Will with Mike, they walked in complete silence, both trying to start a conversation, but neither knew what to say. Mike was bothered with one question, since he brought Will his jacket that he still hadn't given to Will yet. Mike decided that now was the great time to ask.

"Hey, Will?" Mike started, Will turned to him with a confused smile and a "Hm?"

"I-" Mike said, looking for words, "Do you remember when I-" Mike said, frowning in thought, the two stopped walking and Will's full attention was on Mike, "I never gave you the jacket." Mike said finally, Will looked overly confused.

"The jacket?" Will asked.

"The jacket you gave Cindy when you found her in the woods. I brought it to give it back, but I never did." Mike explained, Will's face turned to realization as he nodded with a quiet "Oh."

"What about it?" Will asked with a small smile.

"I just..." Mike said, thinking through of how to put the question, "Remember what I said?" Mike asked, quickly adding: "About the way you deserve to be treated."

"Yeah, do you want to talk about it?" Will asked nervously, bitting his lip out of stress.

"Actually, yeah I do. And about us... I want to talk about us." Mike said confidently.

"About us?" Will asked, tilting his head to the side slightly.

"Okay, I know this isn't the best place or situation to say this, but do you think that maybe we could go out on Friday?" Mike asked, looking down as his cheeks turned pink, Will smiled at that.

"Are you, Mike Wheeler, asking me on a date?" Will said with a big smile that he couldn't help.

"You could put it that way," Mike mummbled, then his eyes widened in panic, "I mean, only if you want to." Mike quickly said, which caused Will to giggle.

"Of course I do, pick me at seven?" Will suggested, turning to continue their walk, Mike followed mesmerized, looking at Will.

Both men were walking around with weapons, grining like morons, until they heard a scream come from the inside, shooting each other a worried look before they took a run to the front door and barged inside, the russian sciencists already there. Max was screaming as Jane and shadow figure Billy were in a telekinetic fight. One of the russian sciencists got his gun at ready, Brian hissed at him something in russian and the other man just replied, also in russian before shooting. Will suddenly felt the weird feeling at the back of his neck again, the feeling forced him to look over at the Russians, just in time to see the Russian that shot get attacked by veins and demobats. Other demo-creatures running inside as well.

"Protect El at all cost!" Mike yelled out, taking a position. That was how the plan A sounded.

The now three men and Max fought the demo-creatures off, hoping for Jane to finish with shadow figure Billy soon, so they could go home, as the last russian sciencist struggled to get out of the veins that would keep on wrapping around him tightly. Max had already her arm bruised, but she couldn't care less, the other three had some small bruises here and there too, but not as big. The three could see with the corners of their eyes as the russian sciencist got attacked by a demodog and let out a scream, Brian turned to him, getting thrown off by a demogorgon and before he could notice what was going on a demogorgon was to attack him, but a bat striked it's claw away. Brian looked up to see who had just saved him.

"I knew you still care about me." Brian smirked.

"Get up and stick to the plan, your friend's dead." Will let out as he punched another demobat away. Brian quickly rejoined the fight, following the plan, not really feeling bad about the other sciencist as all he would do when they worked together was tease Brian.

The fight continued, Max kept on checking on Jane and Billy. She really didn't want to lose him again, but the Billy she knew was already long gone, whatever this was, wasn't her step-brother. More and more demo-creatures kept coming over inside the house that was now shaking on the ground, the four kept their formation, protecting Jane, so she could do what she came here to do in peace. Windows started popping out, eventually even the roof before the walls fell to the ground as well, giving acces to more demo-creatures. Max managed to take out another demogorgon, but more of them aproached. The four had to move around the main happening in a circle to be able to protect Jane from each side properly. They all struggled, yelling on top of their lungs, but the instructions were clear: do not look back, protecting Jane to do her thing is main priority. Jane let out a loud scream, sign of nearly reaching the top of her powers, Will got worried, what if the entity she's facing is stronger than Jane? Max yelled something along the lines of "Hold on!", Brian shot another of the demo-creatures, earning Jane more time, Mike and Will continued on keeping the other demo-creatures out of Jane's way, Jane screamed even louder, sending vibrations through the air, Will had the feeling at the back of his neck again. And suddenly, black particles flew around the four as all the demo-creatures got back, seemingly in pain. Mike, Will, Max and Brian turned to Jane, she was barely standing at this point. They had won, everyone letting out a sigh of relief as Max ran towards Jane, supporting her before Jane had time to colapse as Jane mummbled out apologies. And the five of them for a moment forgot that they were still in the Upside Down, surrounded by demo-creatures, but the moment was ruined when the demo-creatures let themselves be known, striking for attack. Blood squirted at Jane and Max, who were in the middle as a scream of pain was heard. Everyone turned their heads the way, gasping. Jane yelled out a "No!", Max just looked shocked, this wasn't meant to happen.