Twisted Happiness (Stranger Things Steve x OC)

Chapter 5 - Don't Look Back

I am so excited to post this... This chapter is where this whole story idea started.

I read through this so much that all the words started to blur together so if there are any errors... well it happens.

As we made our way down the hill towards the lab my heart started beating quicker. The last thing I ever thought I would do was go back to the Hawkins Lab. It was the last place I wanted to be, it was the whole reason I never got El out, why I was always with in reaching distance but never went in. I knew I had a decision to make as we walked faster.

I stopped looking to my right and then took a deep breath closing my eyes trying calm myself down.

"Hey you okay?" Steve asked noticing I stopped. Turning to watch the kids go down he moved towards me. "Look you don't have to... I know this isn't easy."

"That's not... I mean it is..." I said quietly looking over my shoulder. "I know a way in."

"What?" Steve asked confused.

"It's... The tunnel I escaped from years ago, its just a few yards away and..."

"Please tell me you aren't thinking about taking it." He interrupted.

"I am." I nodded. "It's hard to explain but if those things did go back, there are people in there, people that don't deserve any of this and if I can go in and give them a chance..."

"What happened to no heroics?"

"That was for you Steve." I crossed my arms. I wasn't about to tell him that the feeling I had, had come from who I would assume to be El, where ever she was. That she somehow projected Jim and Joyce's images to me when we had reached the top of the hill. "This isn't up for debate or argument. I am not going to take them..." I pointed to the kids still walking in the direction of the front gate, "into the lab where these... things are running around and I am not going to leave them walking around the forest alone."

"You want to go back in to save people that treated you like a lab rat?" he asked lowering his voice.

"I don't think it's just the lab employees in there." I admitted meeting his eyes. He stared at me searching my eyes, trying to come up with a way to convince me to stay, but my mind was made up. As much as it scared me, I knew what I was going to do, with his approval or not. "Just keep them safe, and get to the gate and get it open for anyone trying to escape."

"This is a bad idea." He stated and I gave him a small smile.

"Most of the ideas today have been and bad." I shrugged turning and walking further into the trees. I didn't take me long to find the pipe. I had come back to this spot so many times in the past, hoping El would come through, trying to convince myself to go in and get her... but this time, I couldn't talk myself out of it. I had to go in. Bending down I kneeled next to the grate. It had been broken off and the hinges were rusted over, and as I opened it, it screech loudly.

There was a chance that the Demogorgon's were in this tunnel and I would be a sitting duck once I was in it, but this was the only way to get in quickly. With another look over my shoulder and a shaky breath, I pushed down my fear and ducked into the pipe. On hands and knees, I crawled through dirt and what I hoped was water following the pipe blindly. I wasn't sure how long I had been climbing but eventually I heard the alarm of lab in front of me and could make out the flashing of lights.

As expected, the end of the tunnel was locked on the outside. Looking around I could see anyone or thing around but knew the moment I broke the gate the noise would indicate my arrival and I would have moment to get out. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and mentally reached for the bars on the tunnel exit. Pushing out with everything I had the gate shot across the room and landed with a loud crash. Opening my eyes, I slid from the exit and dropped to my feet just as the scratching of claws got closer. Standing up straight one of the mini Demogorgon creatures watched me, tilting its head curiously. I held my breath waiting for the next move, to my luck I didn't have to wait long. Its mouth opened and it charged at me teeth barred.