Y/N Mayfield, Max Mayfield's twin sister, has a life that's anything but ordinary. Strange things seem to follow her wherever she goes. What happens when she crosses paths with four boys? Will she trust them... or fall for one of them? And as the st...
"That brings us to the question you first raised," Dustin said. It had been at least twenty minutes since he started explaining everything more clearly to Erica.
Erica, Lucas, and I were sitting at the Wheelers' table, listening as Dustin paced back and forth, deep in his element.
"How and why is there a gate at Lover's Lake? Let's analyze," he said, stopping in front of us before turning on his heel again.
"What do Eleven and Vecna have in common?" Dustin asked, looking between us expectantly.
I started to fade out as the explanation went on, my focus drifting as I fidgeted with my fingers under the table. My mind felt full, overloaded, and I barely registered the words anymore. I didn't even notice the lights at first.
Then my gaze lifted.
The lights above us flickered.
Dustin knelt down slightly beside me. "Are you even listening?"
"No," I said honestly. "But do you remember how we followed Vecna through the lights?" I asked, standing and slowly walking toward the flickering fixture.
"Yeah, why?" Dustin asked, clearly not seeing it yet.
Erica, being the only smart one, followed my line of sight immediately. "Just look, dipshits," she said, getting up and moving closer to me.
The boys finally turned, their eyes landing on the light as it flickered again. Both of them stood.
"I'm pretty sure this is a sign he's here," I said quietly.
"Headphones!" Lucas said quickly.
I reached to put mine on when—
"No, no!" Dustin replied, staring at the lights. "S... O... S," he finished.
He turned to us slowly.
"Remember when I said they wouldn't be stupid enough to go through Watergate?" Dustin asked.
"Yeah," Lucas replied.
"I overestimated them," Dustin said flatly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At that moment, Holly was playing with a Lite-Brite in the corner, pushing glowing pegs into it. Dustin and Lucas rushed in. Lucas unplugged it while Dustin carefully but quickly snatched it away.
"I'm sorry!" Lucas exclaimed as he grabbed the pegs.
Erica and I ran over to Holly. Erica handed her a chocolate bar, and I gave her a Coke.
"For your understanding," Erica said firmly.
Then we rushed out.
Back in Nancy's room, we spread the Lite-Brite out and began placing the pegs into the board. It took a few minutes, all of us crouched and focused, but soon it was ready.
"Okay, that's it that's it! go, go, go, go, go, go!" Dustin said to Lucas.
Lucas ran to the wall and plugged it in.
The light switched on, and Dustin exclaimed, "Okay, you guys seeing this?"
After a few moments, the board began to glow. We all stared, frozen, before bursting into excited laughter.
"Holy shit!" Erica yelled as Dustin flung his arms around me and Erica. We laughed, breathless and relieved for just a second.
"Uh, we're not moving it, but we're gonna unplug it. Stand by!" Dustin yelled. "Yank it," he told Lucas.
Lucas unplugged it, and Dustin nodded as Lucas rejoined us.
"Okay, try it now!" Dustin yelled.
After a moment, an H appeared. Dustin laughed, and Lucas's hands went to his head. Then an I appeared beside it.
We all said "hi" in unison, smiling despite ourselves.
"That worked!" Dustin called.
Then more letters appeared.
S... T... U...
It covered the board, and we frowned.
"Stupid? Stupid?" Dustin asked, confused.
Then it continued.
C... K...
"Stuck!"
"They're stuck in the Upside Down!" Lucas realized.
"Uh, you can't get back through Watergate?" Dustin asked loudly.
No response came for a few seconds.
Then more letters appeared.
G... U... A... R...
"Guar?" I muttered, confused.
D... E... D...
"Guarded," we realized together.
"Uh, okay. Watergate guarded," Dustin exclaimed.
"We think we have a theory that can help with that!" Dustin yelled. "We think Watergate isn't the only gate, that there's a gate at every murder site."
A question mark appeared, and Dustin sighed.
"Okay, seriously? How many times do I have to be right on the money before you guys just trust me?" Dustin yelled.
Erica and I both groaned.
More wording appeared on the board.
B... I... K... E...
"Bike," I said. "We're using bikes for something."
Then another message began.
E... D...
I waited, already knowing.
D... I... E...
"Ah, Eddie's," Dustin nodded in understanding.
"Okay, we'll meet you there!" Dustin yelled. A little check mark appeared on the board.
I quickly ran downstairs, motioning for Max to come over. She frowned but followed.
We explained everything fast, words tumbling over each other, and within minutes we were jumping out Nancy's window and sprinting to the garage. We grabbed our bikes, Max riding with Lucas.
We muttered to each other as we moved. Faster. Be quiet.
Then we heard a shout from above.
We looked up to see Officer Callahan in Nancy's room.
"Excuse me! No, get back here!" he yelled.
We took off. Erica jabbed a puncture into Callahan's bike tire before hopping on her own and racing after us.
Behind us, parents shouted as we pedaled away, disappearing down the street.
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Sorry for short chapter yet again! Kind of a disappointment...
