love me - stranger things²

[023] submerged.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

submerged.

THE DARK FOREST TOWERED OVER THEM, THE MOON CASTING DARK SHADOWS WHICH APPEARED TO MOVE FROM THE CORNERS OF THEIR EYES. Dustin ran ahead, dry leaves and sticks cracking and crunching under his weight, only pausing for a few moments to look down at his spinning compass before speeding off once again. "Something's happening." He murmured excitedly.

"Dustin? Can you slow down? Dustin?" Eddie calls out from behind the fast-paced boy, the others right behind. 

"I think we're getting close." Dustin noted looking back at the others, Eddie having to grab ahold of him as to stop him from falling into Lover's Lake. 

"Watch your step, big guy." He teases, the two pausing on the bank of the lake whilst the others caught up.

"Oh man." Steve exclaimed lowly. "You gotta be shitting me." He breathed out. "Yeah. I thought these woods were familiar." The boy noted, Jennifer letting out a shaky breath from where she stood next to him. 

"Lover's Lake."

"This is confounding." Robin and Dustin spoke aloud.

"There's a gate in Lover's Lake?" Max questioned. The light of the moon reflected off the water, the only other light source coming from the flashlight held securely in Steve's grasp. 

"Whenever the Demogorgon attacked, it always left an opening." Nancy said. "Maybe Vecna's the same way."

"Yeah, only one way to find out."

Eddie and Jennifer led the group a little further along the water's edge, Jennifer mostly allowing Eddie to lead them, the girl preferring to stick closer to Steve's warmth. It only took a few moments for him to find the boat he and Jennifer had hidden away before scurrying off to Skull Rock, Eddie ripping off the tarp that had been placed somewhat securely over it. 

"Easy. I... I said easy, man."

"Sorry dude." Eddie murmured.

"Here you go." Steve said, he and Eddie holding to boat steady as he offered his hand to Robin to help her get in, the girl not even both sparing a glance at it. "Yeah, that works too." He murmured, Robin's hands resting atop both the boys heads, using them to stabilise herself as she stepped onto the rickety boat.

Eddie got in second, holding his hand out to Nancy - who did in fact take it -, followed by Jennifer who did so reluctantly. "Let's just get this done..." She muttered, already reluctant towards getting onto the boat yet again.

Dustin followed after her, Eddie holding his hand against the boys head to prevent him from going any further. "Hey, hey, hey, you trying to sink us? This thing holds four people tops, okay?" 

"It's better this way, okay? You guys stay here with Max." Nancy added. "Keep an eye out for trouble."

"You keep an eye out." Dustin attempted to retaliate. "It's my goddamn theory."

"You heard Nance."

"Who put her in charge?"

"I did." 

Dustin looked at the group apprehensively. "Dustin, just give Nancy the compass so we can go." Jennifer spoke aloud, her voice a little softer than usual, slight irritation found in her undertone. Dustin sighed before slamming the contraption into the girls palm which she had held out.