Drowning • Billy Hargrove

Chapter 46

We began sprinting as everybody screams at us from inside the lab. We neared the gate, now clearly hearing and seeing everybody's expressions.
Billy, Joyce, Murray and Doctor Owens were all yelling about how we should run faster. Meanwhile, Tyler, El and the Military men looked terrified about what was going to happen next.
"Hurry up!" Doctor Owens yelled.

Finally, we reached the gate. Dad was the first to go in, then it was me.
Unfortunately, he struggled to get through the gate, giving us less and less time to escape from the nearing monster.
Billy and Joyce ran over to grab his hands to tug him through the gate. I pushed his back, paying close attention to the Demogorgon.
"Oh my gosh!" I say, now pushing harder. The Demogorgon was now closer than ever and it had its eyes on me as it's next target.
Billy used all of his strength and pulled my father into the real world. He landed with a hard thud on the ground, and now it was my turn.

I took my father's spot and grabbed onto Billy's hand. I turned my head to see that the Demogorgon leaped at me. I screamed and closed my eyes as I expected to be the Demogorgons next meal.

I opened my eyes to see that I was laying on a very sweaty Billy. He had his arms wrapped around me, cradling me from the fall.
I also hear the sound of gunshots and El screaming, obviously closing the gate.

"That was a close call." Doctor Owens says, wiping his forehead after everything and everybody was safe.
"Yeah, no shit." Dad replies, rolling around on the ground.
"You alright?" Billy asks me as I get off of him.
"Ask me that in the morning." I reply, pushing myself off of him and stretching.
The feeling of someone's hands wrapped around my waist startle me.
"What are you doing?" I ask, struggling to break free from the strong grip. I turned around to see that it's one of the men who came with Doctor Owens.
"We have to make sure you're okay." The man replies.
"What?" I ask, knowing that this was not apart of the deal.
"We're just going to take you back to our lab and do some tests on you guys. To make sure nothing got in you, if that makes sense."
I look at Billy, then back at Doctor Owens. "Okay."

They airlifted Joyce, my dad and I to the lab, which was about fifteen minutes away.

"This is ridiculous." I complained as I rolled through the dark halls.
The man pushing my stretcher shrugged. "It's necessary."
I rolled my eyes and leaned back in the stretcher, listening to dad and Joyce complain behind me.

About two hours later, they released us with positive signs. Surprisingly, everybody, especially my father, were in good health. We all exited the lab and were immediately joined by Billy, El, Murray and Tyler.
As soon as El saw our dad, tears flooded her eyes as she sprinted over to him, jumping into his arms. I wiped my eyes and smiled as I watched them reconnect. My smile widened even more as soon as I saw Billy.

"You scared me there." Billy says as I walked over to him.
"Oh yeah?"
He nods his head and hugs me. "I didn't think you were going to make it out."
I smile. "Well, we're all safe and that's the only thing that matters."
Billy returns the smile. "Right.
An arm wraps around my waist and hugged me from behind. I looked down and I could tell it was El.
"You did it!" I say, turning around to look at her.
She nods her head. "We did it."
"I agree." Billy speaks up from behind us. "It was all your idea."
I smile and look over at my father who was talking to Joyce and Murray. "I guess." I respond.
A familiar face caught my eye and I realized that Tyler was just awkwardly standing there by himself.
"I'll be back."

"Hey stranger." Tyler says, greeting me.
"Hi." I respond.
"That was even crazier than you talking to the walls."
I nod my head. "Being in the Upside Down was crazier." I reply.
"I bet. I don't know how you did it. I would have freaked out and got myself and everybody killed."
I started to laugh. "There were some times that we were close to death, but we're alright."
He nods his head. "By the way, I don't think your boyfriend likes me very much."
I laugh and look over towards Billy. We made eye-contact since he was watching Tyler and I talk. "He doesn't like a lot of people." I say, still looking at my boyfriend.

A couple of hours later:

El, Billy, Joyce, Hopper and I all finally arrived back at my old house, the cabin. Tyler and Murray decided it would be best if they headed home before it got dark.
"It's good to be home." Dad says getting out of the car.
I nod my head. "It is."
He opens the front door and the memories start flooding back to me. For some reason I felt guilty about leaving. I definitely missed this place and I wanted to move back in.
The living room and kitchen looked just as we left it, while mine and El's bedrooms were empty, other than our beds and dressers.

"Thank you." Dad said as I sat down on the couch beside him.
"For what?" I asked.
"Ya know, saving my life." He says smiling.
"Oh yeah. I was just doing what you would do for me."
We both smile. "How's school?" He asks, thankfully changing the subject.
I shrug my shoulders. "It's fine but I want to come home. Like really bad."
"Then why don't you?"
"I don't know." I respond.
"Take a year off. Pick up a small job in Hawkins and live at home." Dad says.
"Okay." I respond, knowing it was the best option for me.
"Kate." Billy calls my name.
"I'll be back." I say to my father.

I stand up and walk over to Billy who was standing by the door. "Yeah?"
"He wants to talk to you." Billy says, looking out the window.
I follow Billy's gaze to see Steve standing outside, leaning against his car smoking a cigarette.

I open the front door and walk out to Steve. "Hey! You could've come inside." I call out.
He smiles and puts out his cigarette. "I know. This is kind of private though."
"Oh." I say, thinking of what he could be telling me about. "What's the matter?"
"It's about that guy who was in a coma."
"Brandon." I say.
"Yeah him." Steve agrees. "He woke up."