Gasoline(A Stranger Things Story) OCxEleven

Chapter Five:The Flea And The Acrobat

     I woke up, and it was still night.. Mike asked,"What was  Will saying? Like home. Like home..But dark?" Lucas said,"And empty." Dustin said,"Empty and cold..Wait. Did he say cold?" They kept discussing about how Will might have meant our house, and Lucas said,"Or like Hawkins." Eleven whispered,"Upside Down." Mike said,"Upside Down! When El showed us where Will was, she flipped the board over, remember? Dark. Empty." They kept talking, as I faded in and out, and Dustin said,"Like the Vale of Shadows.The Vale of Shadows is a dark echo or reflection of our world. It is a place of decay and death. A plane out of phase. A place of monsters. It is right next to you, and you don't even see it." Mike said,"An alternate dimension." Lucas said,"But- But how do we get there?" Dustin answered,"You cast Shadow Walk." Lucas said,"In real life, dummy!" Dustin said,"We can't Shadow Walk, but-Maybe they can.." They looked at me and El. "Do you know how we get there? To the Upside Down?" El shook her head, and I stayed silent.The boys exclaimed,"Oh my God!" I said,"Night, El.." She said,"Night, Sarah.." I closed my eyes, and fell back asleep.

     I left and went home early the next morning, so I could get prepared for the fake body funeral. When I got home, Johnathan was just getting home, too, and he asked,"Sarah?" I ignored him, and went inside. He followed, and we both stopped, as we saw Dad sitting with Mom on the couch, both of them drinking."Dad" looked at us, and said,"Hey, kids." Johnathan asked,"What's going on?" Mom said,"Your father's going to uh, stay here on the couch tonight.." Lonnie said,"Yeah, I'm here as long as you need me, okay? How are you guys holding up?" I said,"Like you care, Dad." Johnathan walked over to a tarp covering the wall, and pulled it back to reveal a large hole that went straight through the wall to outside. Johnathan asked,"What happened?" Lonnie said,"Oh, don't worry about that." Johnathan ignored him, and said,"Mom, that thing you saw before, did it come back?" Lonnie said,"Johnathan, that's enough!" Johnathan asked,"Can we talk? Alone?" I sat down next to Mom, as Johnathan and Lonnie went to talk. I stared at the floor, and Mom asked,"Sweetheart, what happened to your face?" I sighed, and said,"Some bullies.. They were picking on Mike and said some things about Will. So I pushed them. And then, they punched and kicked me.. I'll be fine." Mom reached over and hugged me, and said,"Oh, sweetie! I know- I know I haven't been there for you like I should.." I said,"No, no, it's okay Mom. You just take care of yourself. Will is out there, no matter what that drunk ass Dad of mine says. I know he is! I can't tell you how..But I do know." She nodded, and I went to my room to change for the funeral.

    I took a long, hot shower, the cuts on my face stinging, and I watched the blood and dirt wash down the drain. I slowly pulled on the long black dress that I never wore except for really special occasions, and then pulled on some black stockings, and threw on my black boots. I looked down at the number on my arm, and sighed, grabbing a leather bracelet, putting it over the number. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and stared at myself in the mirror. I didn't recognize myself. I was paler than usual, I had circles under my eyes, and the cuts and bruises stood out on my face. I sighed, and went out into the living room, where Lonnie was waiting with Mom and Johnathan, and he said,"You look all grown up, Sarah. How old are you again? Sixteen?" I walked past him out the front door, and answered,"Thirteen" I'm thirteen! How could you forget that? Oh, right, because you don't give two shits about me!" I climbed into the back seat of the car, while Mom and Johnathan sat in front. Lonnie was taking his own car. Thank God.. Mom said,"Sarah- I know he hasn't been there for you. But give your Dad a chance.. He's trying." I said,"No, Mom! He's using us and using you! All he wants is money!" The car went silent, as we arrived at the cemetery. We climbed out, and walked over to where chairs were seated near the open grave, where the casket lie. We sat in the chairs, and as Pastor Charles began talking, I saw Mom shaking her head, and Johnathan looking bored. I looked up to see Lucas, Mike, and Dustin standing by Mrs. Wheeler, looking anxious. We all knew Will wasn't in that box. Dustin elbowed Mike, and pointed to a girl crying nearby. He whispered,"Wait till we tell Will Jennifer Hayes was crying at his funeral." I tried not to laugh, as Mrs. Wheeler shushed him. Then came the part where we threw flowers onto the casket, and, even though I knew my brother wasn't in there, I swore on that casket, as I threw my rose, that I would find and save Will from the Demogorgon, even if I died doing it. I saw Johnathan and Nancy over in a corner by the fence, talking about something, and I walked over. I asked,"Is that a map of the town?" He said,"Uh, yeah.. We were- Um-" I sighed, and said,"Look..I have to tell you both something. Okay? But you have to believe me. No matter how it sounds.." They said,"Okay." I said,"The monster is real. And it's after Will..I've seen it."