Stranger Things: Strange Encounters - End The Storm

Chapter Nine: Labour

I stared at the lab, preparing myself for the horrors I would find inside.
"Dude, your wing are in my face." said Steve, pushing Eddie's wing out the way.
"Sorry, man. It's not really ideal for me either." said Eddie.
"Where is Dustin again?" asked Will.
"He's with Imogen." replied Steve.
"Oh." said Will, a little disappointed. I knew he wanted to see one of his old friends since the others didn't make it.
"Are you ready for this?" Joyce asked me. I looked at her with my brow turned up. I didn't think anyone who had the hope set on them in this way, could ever be ready for something like this. I looked down at my baby bump and placed my hand on it. I thought about the life of this child and how it's future could be protected from Vecna if I ended him.
"I'm ready." I replied back to her. She nodded her head with a serious expression before beginning to climb out of the car.
All six of us stood in front of the car, looking across at the creepy Hawkins Lab. I had the feeling of fear inside of me starting to grow but I was not going to let it over power me like I use to.
"I sense a lot of danger in there." said Eddie.
"No shit." said Erin as she swung her pole.
"Not just Vecna. There's more in there. This is like the boss level." Eddie elaborated.
"So, we talking Demobats or Demodogs?" asked Steve.
"Both." replied Eddie.
"Good thing we have fire." added Will.
"And there's more of us." I joined.
"Let's get this son of a bitch. For Jonathan." said Joyce.
"For Mike, Lucas and Max. The party." said Will.
"For my mom and my sister." added Erin.
"For Imogen." said Steve.
"For everyone." I finished. I lowered my brow and then took the first step forward, towards the lab.

Eddie broke the doors open for us as Erin and I shined our flashlights inside. Joyce and Will also had flashlights to help see inside the dark lab.
"This is creepier than the hospital." said Erin.
"Remember, don't step on the vines. Hive mind." I reminded her and everyone else. We kept a sharp eye out as we walked through the main hall.
"Beth, you've been to the mother gate before. You know the way?" asked Steve.
"Yeah, I do." I replied, leading the way. Our first trails into the lab were quiet and easy until we turned a corner and spotted our first task. Demodogs.
"Shit. Here we go again." said Steve, raising his axe. The Demodogs clocked us and let out monstrous shrieks. Just as a they began to charge, I held arm out towards them and let out a shout, using my ability to send them flying into the walls.
"Wait! You should save your energy!" said Erin, putting my hand down. As I felt the blood run out of my nostril, I knew she was right. El use to become very tired when using her powers. I didn't want to lose energy if I was going against Vecna.
"We've got this!" said Joyce as her and Will stepped toward with their flame throwers and began to blast them.
"That was hot." Eddie said, looking at me.
I gave him a side smile in return.
"Yeah, fire is pretty hot." said Steve. Eddie and I looked at Steve with a grimace. "What?" he asked, sounding dumb.
"Okay, all clear!" Joyce called back to us. We continued forward towards the mother gate when Eddie grabbed my hand, appearing right next to me.
"I meant you, by the way. Not the fire."
"I figured." I replied.
"Also, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to sound rude or anything. You have changed and I think it's awesome." he smiled, flashing his fangs.
"I know. My defences have just been up the last six months. I understand what you guys meant when I seem like Imogen. That's how she use to be." I replied.
"You're not Imogen though, you're Beth. You're my Beth. The mother of my child." Eddie said, looking down at me.
"And you're my Eddie. My vampire king." I said, raising my eyebrows at him.
"I mean, it sounds cool, but I feel I look horrendous." he chuckled.
"No. No, it's actually...quite hot. I dig it." I said, looking him up and down.
"Oh really? You dig it, do you?" he replied, flirting with me. I giggled at his comment.
"Duck!" shouted Erin from up ahead. Eddie and I faced eyes forward and saw a flock of Demobats coming towards us. Eddie immediately shielded us by wrapping his wings around me as Joyce and Will fired into the air, burning the Demobats. Steve and Erin began to whack them to get them away from us. I looked up at Eddie as he kept us protected. I missed being that close to him. I missed his touch. He looked at me and smiled and then suddenly looked down.
"Uh, Beth? Did you wet yourself?" he asked.
"What?" I said as I looked down and saw water all over my overalls and our feet. "Shit." I said, realising. Eddie uncovered me as he began to clock on.
"Come on, let's keep going." said Steve.
"We have a problem!" said Eddie. Joyce rushed over and looked at me, seeing the water.
"Beth, your water broke!" she panicked.
"Shit!" exclaimed Erin.
"Wait, you're about to have the baby!? Now!?" said Steve.
"I don't know, I don't feel any contractions." I said.
"What do we do? Do we stop?" asked Eddie.
"No! We keep going! I need to do this before the baby comes!" I protested.
"Beth, I don't think you can!" said Joyce.
"I'm not having contractions! Let's go before I do." I said, standing my ground. I pushed past them all made my way towards the mother gate. This was the worst time for the baby to come but I couldn't stop now. This needed to end.
"But Beth-"
"No!" I screamed, spinning around and facing them. My scream made the old lights that no longer had power, flash and spark above us. They all looked at me with shocked and worried expressions. "This needs to end. I am fine. The baby isn't coming yet, I know it. If you want to keep me safe then help me finish this." I stated, looking at them with a serious expression. They all looked at me, not knowing what to say.
"We're with you." finally spoke Will.
"Okay. As soon as you feel a contraction, you tell me." said Joyce. The others agreed silently as I nodded.
"Okay. Follow me." I said. I was praying in that moment that my child didn't start giving me contractions until I had at least taken Vecna down.