afterlife ➳ stranger things [2]

Chapter 18: Post Trauma

"Guys," Erin paused, talking into the walkie talkie. "We have a huge problem."

"What type of problem?" Max asked, stealing Hopper's walkie talkie.

"Like holy-shit-the-entire-portal-is-open, type of problem." Erin responded.

"What do you mean, entirely open?" Max asked, looking over at Hopper.

"I mean, I'm staring at a hole and I can see the Upside Down directly." Erin explained.

Hopper grabbed the walkie talkie, "Don't move, can you see any black goop?"

Erin looked around at the walls, the walls and ceiling dripping with the goop. The floor too, as it was practically dripping from the portal. The goop dripped from the portal and onto the ceiling, weirding Erin and scaring Kali.

"Yeah, it's literally everywhere." Erin spoke back.

"Burn it." Hopper stated.

Kali open the gasoline without hesitation, spraying it on the walls, ceiling, and somewhat of the floor that was left. Erin grabbed the lighter from her pocket, taking deep breaths. The flashbacks came quickly, making Erin faint.

"Erin, what happened?" Her mother asked. Erin stood in horror as her childhood home burned down. "Erin, tell me what happened."

"F-f-fire." Erin was 4, and crying.

"Erin, did you start this?" A police officer asked, making Erin look up at him.

"N-no," Erin bit her lip. "Momma where's sissy?"

"She's with your father, remember?" Her mom said, looking down at her.

"Erin." The voice was faint, but soon became louder.

"I have to-" Erin opened her eyes frantically, holding herself up by her hands. "Wake up."

Erin looked around her and noticed the white flakes in the air. She thought it was odd, but remembered the tunnels and how the flakes where there too. Except she wasn't in the tunnel anymore, but a dim version of there own world. As if all color was drained out, the sky was covered in clouds. She recognized the area was downtown Hawkins, only it seemed off. Then it clicked.

She was in the Upside Down.

She coughed into her arm, sitting onto her knees. Her jeans now had holes in them and she was bleeding. She didn't know where, besides the fact that there was now blood on her hand after wiping off the panicked sweat from her forehead. She cautiously felt her head, feeling the gash on the corner of her head.

Tears trickled down her cheek as she stood up, wobbling back and forth. Her jeans were now ripped, and her knee was also bleeding. Noises came from the walkie talkie that was surprisingly still attached to her, sounding clearer and clearer as the noise went on.

"Erin," Hopper's voice was static. "Are you there?"

Erin held the walkie talkie up to her mouth, "Yeah I'm here."

"You fell into the other side, are you okay?" Hopper continued.

"My head is bleeding, and pounding. My knee is also bleeding as my jeans are now ripped. How far did I fall?" Erin asked.

"Can you find anything that could patch up your head? Can you see us?" Hopper asked.

"No," Erin looked around. "Can you see me?"

"I can see you through the portal." Kali answered.

"What does it look like down there?" Hopper asked.