𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 | stranger things

twenty-four

Wren paced around the food court, her headphones over her ears as The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun played at almost full blast to drown out the noise of Eleven's pained screams. Jonathan was cutting into her leg with a knife to get the moving thing out of her, and she couldn't bear to watch or listen.

The Mind Flayer had returned, only this time, it was a fleshy beast instead of just a shadow. She had thought the Russians were going to be the worst part about this summer, but now she was going to have to face another monster. It was the moldy cherry on top of the spoiled ice cream sundae that was her summer break.

It was overwhelming. The screaming, the yelling, the people, everything.

"I know I've said this before, but there is something seriously wrong with your sister," Lucas said to Mike as they watched her pace. She was shaking her hands, wiggling her fingers, and fidgeting with the cloth of her shirt.

"And you think I don't already know that?" Mike rolled his eyes. "She's an alien. This isn't news."

"You guys do know that Wren is suffering from PTSD, don't you?" Dustin asked, crossing his arms as he looked at his friends.

"So?" Mike scoffed. "We've all been through the same shit, and Will's been through way worse. If anything, it should be him pacing around and flapping his arms like a weirdo. She's just overreacting."

"Those are stimming behaviors that could be linked to undiagnosed autism, Mike," Nancy said, staring disapprovingly at her younger brother. "Instead of talking about Wren like she's some sort of freak, how about you do some research and try to understand her, because you are being completely insensitive."

Max walked up to Wren and lightly tapped her shoulder. The smaller girl jumped. She lowered her headphones as she turned around, letting out a breath of relief when she saw that it was just Max.

"Hey, um . . . are you okay?" the redhead asked.

"I had to crawl through a tight vent that tried to suffocate me to death, nearly had a heart attack when a secret room turned into an elevator that dropped us halfway to hell, almost got killed by evil Russians three times, and now we have to fight a disgusting monster made out of melted people. I'm absolutely peachy."

Max sighed, feeling a bit guilty for asking such a stupid question. She leaned against one of the pillars, crossing her arms. "Yeah, dumb question. Sorry."

Wren shrugged. "It doesn't matter," she mumbled.

​​Max observed Wren for a moment, noting the bags under her eyes and the way her legs were trembling trying to keep her upright. She furrowed her brows, concerned. "When was the last time you slept?"

Wren stared at her blankly. "Who has the time to sleep when you're fighting for your life?"

Max sighed, knowing that Wren had a point. After all, she was trapped in a Russian base for an entire day. "You need to at least try and get some rest. You look like you're about to pass out."

"I'm fine, Max. I-I don't need you parenting me. I can take care of myself." Wren pulled her headphones back on and continued to pace, tracing the lines on her palm with her shaky fingers.

She didn't get much more time to herself, because a few minutes later, Steve was clapping his hands in front of her face and telling her that they needed to go. She scowled at him, but followed him, Dustin, and Robin out of the mall anyway.

Steve threw open the doors, chuckling when he saw the car that went to the keys Chief Hopper had given him. "Oh, man, now this . . . this is what I'm talkin' about!"