𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 - 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

08. the upside down

CONTINUING FROM LAST CHAPTER

Aubrey, Jonathan, Nancy, Nick, Beatrice, and Ruth hurried to the Byers house and got to work. They started by putting all of the bulbs back onto the Christmas lights. Then setting up the bear trap, making sure it was anchored into the ground. They prepared their weapons, which really didn't consist of much.

Nancy had the gun they took from Lonnie's car. Jonathan hammered nails into a bag, while Rue just stuck with a normal baseball bat.

Aubrey had her axe, and Beatrice, a crowbar. They didn't trust Nick with any weapons, his job was gonna be the fire hydrant, when the monster got caught in the bear trap and burnt to death.

Then they poured a line of gasoline all the way to Will's room, where they would retreat when they finally attracted the monster. Jonathan set up the yo-yo, that would trigger the bear trap. All that was left was attracting the monster, which meant blood.

Each of them stood in the Byers living room, holding one of their hands out, their other hand holding knives, whether it be pocket knives or kitchen knives.

"Remember." Jonathan said.

"Straight into Will's room." Aubrey and Nancy said.

"Don't step on the trap." Nick continued.

"Wait for the yo-yo to move." Beatrice and Rue added.

"Then..." Jonathan flipped the lighter, everyone nodded.

"Alright." Aubrey took a deep breath.

"You guys ready?" Nancy asked, everyone nodded, some hesitant.

"Ready." Jonathan said, "On three. One..."

"God, why the hell are we doing this?" Nick asked nervously.

"Nick, there's no backing out now." Nancy told him.

"Two..."

"Shit, shit, okay." He braced himself..

"Three." Nancy said early, they each did it. Slitting a line down their palms, letting the blood drip onto the floor.

"Fuck." Beatrice winced.

"Okay, that should be good." Aubrey hurried to grab the towels, passing them to everyone. They began wrapping each other's hands.

Jonathan and Nancy wrapped each others, Beatrice and Nick... then Rue and Aubrey.

"I think we're fifth and sixth wheeling right now." Rue said to her, as Aubrey wrapped her hand gently.

Aubrey snickered slightly, "Yeah."

"Hey, this is gonna work." Rue told her, sensing her nervousness.

Aubrey looked up at her, "I know." she nodded, "And Will will be home." She said, forcing herself to believe it, to smile, "And everything will be back to-"

Everyone jumped at the loud banging on the door, staring at it, "Aubrey! Jonathan! Is anyone there? Man, it's... it's Steve!" He yelled, "Listen, I just want to talk!"