ocean eyes ✧ Billy Hargrove

[ 031 ]

As they reached the lab, Daphne noticed a familiar car parked nearby. Her mind was racing with a mixture of relief and dread. They continued on foot, and a voice suddenly called out from the woods, tense and uncertain.

"Who's there?" the voice demanded. Daphne froze as soon as she heard that sound, her eyes widening in hope. "Wait, I know that voice."

Steve looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Just, keep walking," she urged, picking up the pace.

As they pushed forward through the underbrush, they stumbled upon Jonathan and Nancy, who looked equally startled to see them.

"Daphne?" Jonathan asked, his voice a mixture of shock and concern. "Nancy?" Steve echoed, his eyebrows raised.

"Steve?" Nancy responded, equally surprised, not expecting Steve Harrington to be with her little brother's friends.

Daphne's gaze locked with Jonathan's, happy to see her brother again. "Jonathan."

Nancy quickly recovered from the shock. "What are you guys doing here?"

Daphne, still processing their sudden encounter, replied, "We could ask you guys the same thing."

Nancy's worry deepened. "We're looking for Mike and Will."

"They're in the lab," Daphne explained quickly. "My mom took Will there because he had another attack. She'll explain everything later."

Before anyone could say more, the unmistakable screeches of demogorgons echoed from the woods.

Jonathan's eyes widened in alarm. "Is that what I think it is?" Steve, ever the realist, nodded grimly. "Oh yes, we're screwed."

But then Nancy pointed out the entrance, "Wait, the power's back on." They sprinted toward the lab's entrance, desperate to find safety.

Dustin pushed Jonathan aside, trying to open the heavy door. "Let me try, Jonathan!" Dustin grunted, struggling with the latch. "Son of a bitch!"

But then, with a click, it opened, probably thanks to the others inside the lab. "It's open!"

Dustin grinned, momentarily triumphant, but nobody was listening to him. "I got it!"

Nancy and Jonathan hurried back to their car and drove inside the lab's compound, rushing to save the others. The kids, Steve and Daphne hung back, nervously watching the tree line.

Max, trying to steady her nerves, took a step closer to Daphne. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

Daphne glanced down at Max, surprised by her sudden interest. "Sure, Max. What's up?" Max hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "What's Billy like, you know, when it's just the two of you?"

Daphne wasn't expecting that. She took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Billy... he's complicated. He can be a real jerk, but there's more to him. When it's just us, he's... different. Not always, but sometimes he's actually nice. Like he lets his guard down, and I can see he's just scared, like the rest of us."

Max's eyes softened a bit. "I don't really get to see that side of him. At home, he's just... angry all the time. It's like he's got something to prove."

"I know," Daphne said, her voice gentle. "I think he's been through a lot, stuff that messed him up. But that doesn't excuse how he acts. You deserve better, Max."

Max looked down, kicking at the dirt. "I'm just... worried about him. Even if he's my stepbrother and he hates me... I don't want him to get hurt."

Daphne nodded, understanding. "I get it. I care about him too, but we have to be careful, especially now. These things we're dealing with—they're dangerous, and I don't want anyone else getting hurt."

Max nodded and then added "You know Daphne, out of all the girls Billy ever brought home in the last period, you are the very best. I like you, I get why Billy likes you too."

Daphne smiled sincerely, but before she could respond, Steve's voice broke through their conversation. "Guys, look out, get back!"

They turned to see Hopper's van pulling up behind Nancy and Jonathan's car. Hopper's voice was urgent as he shouted, "Let's go!"

Without hesitation, they all piled into the van, hearts racing as they sped away from the lab, leaving the nightmare behind them.

Daphne cast one last glance at the lab, her thoughts divided between the people she loved inside and the dangers that still loomed over them all.

As Hopper's van sped away from the lab, the tension inside was palpable. The roar of the engine filled the silence, but it couldn't drown out the fear and uncertainty that hung in the air.

Steve, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around to look at the group crammed into the back. "Is everyone okay?"

Dustin nodded, though his face was pale. "Yeah, just... that was a close one."

Max, still processing her conversation with Daphne, leaned back against the seat. "Where are we going now?"

Hopper's voice cut through the quiet. "We're heading back to the Byers' house. We need to regroup and figure out our next moves."

Lucas, who had been silent for most of the ride, finally spoke up. "Do you think Will is gonna be okay?"

Daphne, seated beside Max, tried to reassure him. "He will be. My mom's with them, and she'll make sure he's safe, Mike too. We just need to focus on keeping ourselves safe too."

Steve glanced at Hopper, then back at the kids. "Whatever happens, we stick together. Got it?"

Dustin, always the optimist, cracked a small smile. "Like glue, right?"

"Yeah," Steve replied, his tone serious but with a hint of a smile. "Exactly like glue."

Max shifted in her seat, her earlier conversation with Daphne still on her mind. She looked over at Daphne, who gave her a reassuring nod. Max swallowed hard and then asked, "Daphne, what are we gonna do if... if things get worse?"

Daphne hesitated, then took a deep breath. "We fight. We fight with everything we've got, and we don't let these monsters take anything else from us."

Steve turned back to face the front, his hand gripping the dashboard as he stared out at the dark road ahead. "Whatever it takes, we're not letting them win."

The van continued its journey through the night, the occupants united by a common fear and a shared determination.

Despite everything they had faced, and everything that lay ahead, they knew one thing for sure—they weren't alone in this fight.