Escape ~ S.Harrington

78} The Crawl

"Dustin, you're an hour late, man," Lucas yelled for the millionth time into his walkie, "You're making us nervous," He glanced up at Jenna, who was pacing, "Especially your sister, man. We need you here at the Squawk. Dustin, if you can hear us, please respond. Over."
"I just got off the phone with his mom," Robin ran outside to join everyone, "She hasn't heard from him either."
"Christ, little Henderson," Steve groaned.
"He'll show," Will tried to reassure everyone, "He always shows."
"Jenna," Steve nudged her when he noticed her closing her eyes, "Don't try to look for him. We'll be fine. He's fine."
"Okay," She caved, wiping the blood from her nose, "Lucas, please try him again."
He nodded, "Come in, Dustin. Are you there? Earth to Dustin. This is serious, man. Quit playing. We can't wait around."

Jenna looked up from the ground to see El, Hopper, and Joyce making their way over to them. Jenna walked over and met Hop and Joyce midway.
"My brother isn't responding," She walked into both Joyce and Hopper's open arms, "And Steve won't let me search for him."
"I'm sure he's fine," Hop patted her back, "This is Dustin we're talking about."
"I know," She sighed, "He makes me worry, though."
"I get it," Joyce rubbed Jenna's arm, "I'm the same way with Will."
"Come on!" Alice yelled over to them, "We need to get started!"
Please don't be a waste of time tonight!

~

Everyone gathered in the basement of WSQK to get ready. Hopper loaded up on his ammo and guns, the kids on look out handed out their gear, Robin and Alice situated the tracking machines, all while Jenna and Steve prepped the Squawk van.
"Harrington, you getting any signal?" Robin asked through the walkie, "Tag is active."
"Yeah, just give us a second," He replied, "Jen, could you twist the roof thingy?"
"I'm on it," She hopped in the back and started messing around with the wheel, "Where is this goddamn safety lock? Wait, got it," She unlocked it and started to twist while handing Steve the headphones, "Steve, I need you to tell me when we have the signal."
He picked up the walkie again, "We have a signal, but it's pretty quiet though. Jenna, twist it," She did so until he signaled for her to stop, "Okay, signal's holding a steady 90 dB. But how exactly are we supposed to monitor this thing and drive without mini Henderson? Jenna can't take her headphones off."

"Why don't you let Jenna drive?" Robin started to ask, "Wait, that's a stupid question, sorry. Stand by please."
"Why can't I drive?" Jenna pouted, "We both know I've gotten better."
"You sort of have, babe, but not enough that I trust you with this. I trust you with a shit ton of stuff, but driving isn't one of those things."
"You're mean," She got back into the passenger's seat and crossed her arms.
"No, I just care about both of our lives and Hopper's enough to know when to tell you no," He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "Better?"
"Not really," She glanced over her shoulder to see Jon getting in the back, "Hey, Jon. Are you our new Dustin for the night?"
"Yup," He put his headphones on, "Now drive."

The three drove down the road until they got into position.
"Jonathan, signal?" Joyce finally asked them.
He messed with the wheel for a moment, "Snagged it."
"Should I move?" Steve questioned through a mouthful of Peanut Butter Bopper.
"No," Jon shook his head, "Hold. Hold. Hold. Hold. Go!"
Jenna closed her eyes as they drove, trying to find Hoper herself. She never trusted the signal fully.
"We're losing him!" Jon exclaimed.
"Wait, what?" Steve's eyes widened.
"Stop!" Jenna yelled, "Stop the van!"
Steve slammed on the breaks while Jon tried to snag the signal again, "What the hell, Jen? I told you to stop doing that, you're going to burn yourself out."
"He crashed," She muttered, not realizing that her headphones had slipped from her ears, "Something's happening. I don't know-"

She abruptly stopped talking. Instead of Hopper, she saw through the eyes of a demogorgon; one that was attacking the soldiers that were near Hopper.
"Jen?" Steve started to shake her shoulders, "Jenna! Jenna, wake up!" He put the headphones back over her ears, but it was too late.
She watched as the demogorgon slashed through two trucks full of soldiers—ripping them apart—before chasing after Hopper's truck that was on the move. She watched it kill the driver of Hop's car, leaving him coasting down the road before the demo ran off towards the Wheeler's house. Jenna jolted back to reality.
"Holly," She gulped in a bunch of air, "I- I need to get to Holly."
"Jen, what... are you okay? What the fuck just happened?" Steve tried to reach for her, but she pulled away, instead unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out of the van to run to the Wheeler's.