𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 - 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

37. the vanishing of holly wheeler

The panic had settled now, but they still needed to figure this out. Robin had finally radioed over, they were trying to get the power back up at the Squawk.

But Will had some sort of vision, that a demogorgon was coming for the Wheeler's house. Nancy, El, Bea, and Nick left to go try and stop anything from going down.

Aubrey didn't have a good feeling about it, since they were no longer responding to them. And the van wouldn't start, so now they had to flag someone down to jumpstart it.

"Hey, anyone copy?" Bea's voice came through the walkie-talkie finally.

"We copy." Jonathan answered immediately.

"I'm here." Joyce said as well.

"Uh... Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler aren't doing so good." Bea said, "The Demo got them pretty bad." she told everyone, Aubrey's heart pounding. "We don't know anything right now, other than Holly is missing." she continued.

"What?" Joyce asked.

"Yeah, Nancy and Nick sent El after the Demogorgon in hopes that she could find it and get Holly back." she told them.

"Oh my god." Aubrey looked down, holding her head in her hands. Now not only was Hopper trapped there, but so was potentially El.

"Where's Nancy? Is she alright?" Jonathan asked.

"She's really shaken up, she's washing up now. But she said she wants everyone to stick to the plan, find Hopper, which will get us closer to finding El and Holly." Bea told them, "I gotta go, but if we get any updates we'll be in touch." she left them with.

"Holly? It took Holly?" Steve questioned.

Jonathan was just in shock, Aubrey was about to burst into tears. "I- I don't understand." she spoke, "How? It was going fine and now..."

Steve instinctively grabbed her hand, "Breathe, Aub." he told her, "We're going to figure this out."

Eventually another car had passed by, a senior at Hawkins High, heading back from a party. They flagged her down to help jump the van. Aubrey and Steve set up the jumper cables while Jonathan stayed in the van, trying to reach Nancy.

"So like... how long is this gonna take?" the teenager asked, arms crossed and evidently annoyed.

"Oh uh, not too long." Steve replied, Aubrey stood next to him arms crossed and mind reeling. "We just gotta let this sucker charge for a few minutes, then hopefully... vroom, vroom." he said. Aubrey shook her head as the girl scoffed. She was just hoping Steve wouldn't say anything else mortifyingly embarrassing.

Of course he would though. She watched him reach into his back pocket and pull out his half eaten Bopper. "Bopper, while we wait?" he offered her.

She stared at him, scoffing before turning away. "Come on." Aubrey pulled Steve away. Aubrey got into the back, as Jonathan had stolen the passengers seat by now. "Well, this better be quick." Steve said as he sat back down, "Our good samaritan's turning sour. I think she might have placed me." he said, Aubrey tilted her head at him.

"Placed you?" Jonathan asked, just as confused.

"Stood up her sister. Multiple occasions." Steve replied and Aubrey rolled her eyes.

"Great." Jonathan replied equally as annoyed as his sister.

"Did you get ahold of Nance?" Aubrey turned to Jonathan.