Into The Void

Chapter 7: The Bathtub

The group gathered up a plan. They would use the kiddie pool they used to bob for apples and fill it with tons of salt to create the bath's that Eleven was used to finding people in. Dustin and Lucas rolled the pool into the middle of the gym, Nancy and Mike broke into a storage closet outside to grab a bunch of hoses, Hopper and Jonathan hauled up all the road salt they could, while Joyce and Eleven covered a pair of goggles in duct tape to block out any light. Once everything was ready they started pouring water, and adding big bags of salt until an egg floated on top of the water.

Eleven put on the goggles and Joyce helped her step into the water. She laid floating in the water when the lights went out. Mike turned on the radio and the search for Barb, Will and Carter began.

Eleven opened her eyes to see she's surrounded by black. She called out Barb's name when a weird pile on the ground appeared. She slowly walked over to see the deteriorated body of barb, laid dead, a slug pouring from her mouth and she screamed "Gone."

Joyce comforted her enough to concentrate on Will and Carter.

"Castle Byers." She whispered.

Carter's P.O.V.

"Castle Byers." I heard a little girl whisper and my ears perked up at the sound. I could hear feet walking in water closer to the entrance. The curtain was pushed aside and a young girl around Will's age stepped through in one of Nancy's old dresses and a shaved head. She's from the lab. She walked over and kneeled next to us catching my eyes that flashed at her.

"Carter? Will?" She questioned and I nodded softly. I jumped at the echo's of Joyce's voice and I felt my eyes sting.

"Joyce?" I choked as Eleven grabbed our hands.

"Will, your mom's coming." She repeated the echo's we could hear as he stirred on my shoulder.

"Hurry." He whispered and I couldn't help but cry.

"They need to find us now, Will won't last much longer." I told the little girl and she nodded sadly as I grew incredibly tired all of a sudden.

"Just-just hold on a little longer-Will?" She said noticing my head leaning down she panicked.

"Carter?! Will!"

"Tell Dusty.." I wheezed. "My life started......the day he was born." I whispered watching her fade like smoke as I faded into darkness.

3rd P.O.V.

Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Hopper all sat around Eleven who laid in a pool of salt water.

"Carter? Will?" She muttered making Joyce gasp while Nancy and Jonathan leaned closer.

"You tell them- tell them mom's coming."

"Joyce?" Carter's broken voice broke through on the radio and Dustin clenched the crescent moon necklace Nancy gave him in his hand tightly. He missed his sister more than anything in the world.

"Hurry..." Will's soft voice broke through with Carter's cries.

"They need to find us now, Will won't last much longer..." Carter's voice was louder now and Joyce held in her whimper at the words. She was so close, yet so far.

"Ok, listen. You-you tell them to stay where they are. We're coming, we're coming!" Joyce's voice became desperate to ease Will's worries.

"Carter?! Will!" Eleven cried out and static came over the radio before it was deathly silent.

"Tell Dusty.." Wheeze. " My life started the day he was born." Carter's voice faded off and Dustin couldn't help but put his hands over his face, trying to stop the tears and shaking but it was no use. His best friend and number one person in his life was dying.