The Stancy Files

Chapter 31: The Shadow of Death

      A little less than two weeks later, Steve and Nancy were having a living room picnic. It was Nancy's idea. She'd wanted to do something to show how grateful she was to Steve for letting her live with him, and for being the wonderful person he was. The past week or so had been like Heaven for the couple. No one trying to get in between them, no monsters, and no family issues. Steve's parents had come home for a week, but left once again, to go on a house hunt in many different locations, all outside of Hawkins.

Nancy had just brought out a chocolate cake she'd bought from the store when the phone rang. Not once, not twice, not just three times it rang. They wanted to ignore it, but couldn't.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Steve finally stood up and walked over to the phone, assuming it would just be a telemarketer. He was wrong. It was the last person he would've ever expected to call their house. Not an adult or teenager, but a child.
A very young child.
Holly Wheeler.

"Steve! Steve! Is Nancy there?!" The little girl asked with terror. Steve breathed out a heavy breath. "Yeah, yeah. She's right here. Hold on." He turned to his girlfriend. "It's Holly, Nance. I dunno what it is, but it's urgent." Nancy ran to the phone and picked up immediately. "Holly, is everything okay?!" The older sister asked with concern. Tears spilt onto the little girl's face. "Mike is flying! And mom and dad are sleeping on the ground. They won't wake up!"
Nancy lost her breath.
"Mike is WHAT?!"
Her little sister shrugged, not being able to comprehend how dire the situation actually was. Steve put his hand on his girlfriend's back. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Nance, breathe! Nancy, hey! It's gonna be okay!"
She swallowed, shaking her head, and hung up the phone, emotionless. She turned to face Steve and they locked eyes. Hers were filled with remorse and terror. "We have to go now. They're dying. They're all dying."

While Nancy rushed to get what she could, Steve called Robin, to make her aware of the situation. From there, the couple drove to the Wheeler's as fast as they could. Robin called the others to get to the Wheeler's as soon as they could.

Steve and Nancy rushed into the house as soon as they got there. "Holly, thank god you're okay!" The older sister shouted as the little sister ran into her arms. They held on tight to each other. It didn't last long though, because Nancy had to assess the situation. As she pulled away, she lightly pointed Holly over to Steve. He wrapped both arms around his girlfriend's little sister, making sure she no longer faced the horrors inside her home. Joyce, Hopper, Will, El, and Jonathan arrived just moments later. Joyce rushed over to Steve's side, pulling Holly away. "Oh sweetie," she said, her voice cracking at the sight of the little blonde girl's pink tear-stained cheeks. "Close your eyes, honey." She softly instructed the little girl. Holly obeyed as Joyce pulled her up into her arms. The six-year-old girl buried her face into the woman's shoulder. Joyce rushed back outside of the house, hoping the girl would live well past the traumatizing events she'd unknowingly witnessed.
As soon as Joyce took Holly away, Steve stepped right up behind Nancy, viewing an unforgettable terror. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler both lay unconscious on the ground. Karen was paler than usual but unharmed. Ted looked worse, with hardly any color in his face. Blood trickled out of the sides of his ears. But that wasn't even the worst part. Mike was levitating. And Vecna had made another appearance.

Will stepped forward, more anxious than ever. "He's going to die! We have to do something!" Jonathan's eyes flickered to Nancy. He then focused on Steve. "Get her out of here! If something happens, she can't be here!" Nancy turned around, eyes completely bewildered, to her ex-boyfriend. "I'm not going anywhere." Hopper made his way through the small crowd, with El by his side. He turned to his daughter. "Can you do anything?" He asked with creased forming along his temple. She nodded, not uttering a word.
Max walked in then. She'd illegally driven herself, Lucas, Robin, Dustin, and Erica to the house. "Holy shit," the redhead murmured. Erica's eyes widened at the sight of her family's friends. Robin's hands began to shake. Dustin and Lucas looked at each other, not having a clue what to do.

El reached out her hand toward her boyfriend, knowing she would be able to stop what was happening. She succeeded and Mike fell hard to the ground. Hopper, Lucas, Will, and Dustin all helped the boy to his feet. Nancy rushed over to her brother. "I thought I'd lost you!" She cried into his shoulder. The others gathered around quickly. Even Jonathan went to hug Mike. "I'm really glad you're okay, dude. Really glad." Mike breathed heavily into his best friend's older brother. "Yeah... I guess I am too." Nancy raised her eyebrows, now frustrated. "You guess?" Mike's eyes flinched, panicking. "No! No! I mean I am, I am. I just... I'm in shock I guess. I dunno what else to say. Vecna was acting like he was doing something else by distracting everyone." Nancy frowned. "But he can't. He's gone. There's no way he's back again. Already." Her brother shrugged. "I mean... I guess so. Maybe not. I'm just tired now. Can everyone just leave before my mom or Holly find out what happened?" Nancy looked down at the ground, not willing to be the one to tell her brother to turn around. Steve wrapped a protective arm around her waist. Jonathan stepped toward his brother's best friend and wrapped an arm around him. "Mike, you're not going to like what I'm about to tell you. And that's okay... just try not to freak out, okay?" The freshman nodded with no hint of emotion on his face.

"Holly's outside with my mom. But your parents aren't in the greatest condition right now. Especially your dad." A dark shadow crept across Mike's face. "What... what happened?" Jonathan shook his head. "We don't know yet. Only your little sister does-- and it's probably not the best to ask her right now. It's going to be a pretty traumatizing subject for her." The boy nodded, trying to comprehend what he was feeling. "My dad was never there for my family. I don't even know if I'll miss him if he dies. I just- I mean I guess I might miss knowing that he's at home in his stupid recliner. But at least I had a dad." Steve stepped toward his girlfriend's brother. "Whoa, come on now, dude. Your dad and mom are still here. They both are. We just need to get them some help. It's okay to be sad, but you don't need to be. You're a strong guy, Mike. Don't let the scary aspect of it get in your head." Mike looked up at his sister's boyfriend and tilted his head. "Yeah. Yeah. I mean-- I guess you're right! My mom and dad are still here. Holly and Nancy are safe. My friends are still here. You're right, Steve! Thank you." Nancy flashed a warm, thankful smile to her boyfriend. Robin walked up next to her friend. "It's okay, Nance," she whispered to the pretty girl. "Your family's safe." 

El and Hopper had already headed outside to go visit Joyce and Holly, but then Mike, Nancy, and Steve walked out to the driveway. Mike was just a foot in front of his sister and her boyfriend. Max, Will, Erica, Lucas, Dustin, and Robin hung back for a second. Jonathan followed a little after Mike, Nancy, and Steve had gone out. He watched the couple walk in rhythm, wondering what he did to deserve this. Nancy left him for Steve the douchebag Harrington. Even though Jonathan hadn't been a great boyfriend before, he really was sorry. He wanted to get Nancy back, but the stars had already aligned. He'd never get her back. 

Holly ran up to her big brother. "Mike! Teach me how to fly!" She squealed enthusiastically. Mike gave his little sister a heart-filled smile. "I can't, Holly. It's really scary! You don't wanna fly, trust me. Leave it up to Peter Pan!" The little girl giggled. "I'm gonna be like Wendy when I grow up. I will marry Peter Pan! Then I can fly!" Nancy chuckled at her sister. "Peter Pan never grew up. I don't know if he wants to get married, Holly." Steve smiled. "Don't listen to them. You're gonna be the greatest fairy someday." He said with a charming smile. Holly ran to her sister's boyfriend and threw her arms around him. "You can be my Peter Pan!" Nancy's eyes lit up like the stars in the night sky. Steve looked at his girlfriend with awe and then back down at her little sister. "I dunno if Nancy would be okay with that, Holly. Better ask her." Holly turned to her sister with a shy, pretty smile. "Can I marry Steve?" Nancy shrugged. "Hey, if you want to, go for it. You'll have the wedding of dreams." Steve gave Nancy a look that said hey, you can't leave me with your sister! Holly looked back up at the boy her arms were wrapped around. She wrinkled her nose, pulling away. "You can have him! I want the real Peter Pan!" 

The Wheeler kids were safe... but their parents' fate was yet to be discovered.