resonance

six

content warning for violence, gore and death

...

"Well fuck," you sighed, handing Lucas back his binoculars. The roaring echoed throughout the grounds. "And you said those things came from under the lab?"

"It might not look like it, but that building is full of secrets," Dustin said.

Don't I know it. You snorted, ignoring the weird look he threw you.

"Do you think there's anyone inside?" Max asked hesitantly.

At the boys' stares, she rolled her eyes, a little sassiness peeking out through her shock from finding out monsters really exist. "Anyone human?"

"If there are, they probably aren't alive," Lucas said bluntly, wincing apologetically at Max's sharp intake of breath. "Sorry."

You adjusted your braid, silently agreeing with the boy.

"It's on lockdown," Dustin mused. "Something must have happened."

"Yeah," you heard Steve scoff from your side. "Those fucking things happened, which is why none of us are going near that building."

"That's right," you nodded firmly, catching his eye. "None of you are." Glancing back at the building, you decided it was time to break away from the group. "This has been, like, super fun, but I've gotta blast."

"Hey!" you heard Steve shout to your back as you began teleporting down the hill carefully, taking caution to squint hard into the darkness before popping a couple of yards at a time. He cursed from far behind, pulling a giggle from you as the group had clearly begun to sprint after you disappeared. "What are you doing?"

"Didn't we already have this conversation?" You called back wryly, glancing a little at the dark trees around you. You realized you were near the area where Hopper and El had found you.

Shuddering a little, you continued towards the lab with cautious eyes, passing the barbed fence that surrounded the building into the entrance of the grounds, and noticing a couple of cars parked in front. You were just about to teleport again when the sound of clumsy, loud footsteps clamored from behind you.

You groaned. Hopper did say they were persistent.

"Quick question," you said loudly with a bright, dazzling smile when you realized they were determined to follow you. You abruptly spun, nearly whipping Lucas in the face with your braid. "What exactly is your plan here? You're gonna just waltz in behind me?" you asked snarkily, waving your arm around. "With what, just a slingshot?" You put your hands on your hips, mimicking Steve, who looked supremely pissed off at the boys. "From what I just saw, neither one of you can go hand-to-hand with those dogs, so why would I let you come with me? You'd just be a distraction."

Dustin and Lucas began to babble defensively about their fighting skills, causing you to stare at them with an open mouth. "Jesus, do you two have no sense of self-preservation?" You looked at them again, absolutely stunned. "No." At your sudden change in demeanor, they paused, freezing a little when you leaned close to their faces, playful tone nowhere to be seen. "This isn't a game, you can't just throw yourselves in danger without knowing how to defend yourselves and no, a slingshot with a few rocks doesn't count," you added when Lucas began gesturing towards it again. "You'll get someone hurt or worse, killed." You couldn't look at Dustin without thinking of what your mother had told you all those years ago.

You shook your head. "You aren't coming with me into that lab, because I have a job to do, and you need to lea—" Your lecture was cut short by the sound of leaves crunching from across the clearing, and in no time at all you had quickly swept the group behind you with your hand, pushing them a few feet away. You pulled your knife out and scanned the perimeter, ready to attack. You wouldn't let Henry hurt them, if he decided now was the time for a reunion with you.