PANDEMONIUM [ 2 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

15. SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

PANDEMONIUM
CHAPTER FIFTEEN

➝ SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

COLLEEN STOOD STERNLY NEXT TO HOPPER AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AS HE EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AT HAND, her brown eyes were glued to Eleven with furrowed brows. She couldn't believe that after everything, El was just ready to sacrifice her life again for her friends. She was finally rekindled with Mike, and the rest of the party, and she finally had a safe home. And she was just prepared to risk everything to close the gate to the Upside Down. She was prepared to risk her own damn life in doing so.

"It's not like it was before. It's grown. A lot. And, I mean, that's considering we can get in there. That place is crawling with those dogs," Hopper explained, but he was interrupted by Dustin correcting him with demo-dogs. But the agitation grew on Hopper's face, "I'm sorry. How is this important right now?"

Dustin quickly apologized and turned away from Hopper but Eleven stayed persistent with her volunteering, "I can do it."

"You're not hearing me."

Colleen was relieved to hear that at least someone was on her side of this plan. She hated thinking about Eleven going down there and doing all of this alone. She hated thinking about how she might lose her again. She couldn't bear losing anyone else, "I'm hearing you. I can do it."

Mike joined in on the negative side of things, "Even if El can, there's still another problem. If the brain dies, the body dies. And if we're really right about this... I mean, if El closes the gate and it kills the mind flayer's army..."

Lucas caught on to what he was getting at, "Will's a part of that army."

Mike nodded, "Closing the gate will kill him."

After a few moments of talking, Joyce caught on to something. The mind flayer kept saying that he likes it cold, and so that's what they were giving it in order to help Will. But if the mind flayer doesn't like the heat, maybe they would be able to burn it out of him. Hopper helped Joyce carry Will out to Jonathan's car, as they got ready to go. Hopper was giving him directions before walking over to where Colleen and Eleven were standing.

Colleen placed her hands on Eleven's shoulders and leaned down. She still hated this plan, but she thought of something that would make her mind ease a little, "You be careful, okay? We have a lot to catch up on when you come home, and I mean a lot. Like you and Mike?" Colleen winked, making sure Hopper didn't see, and Eleven laughed lightly before shaking her head. She pulled the younger girl into another hug, before Mike made his way over. Colleen walked over to Hopper, "Be careful, all right?"

"You just stay put," Hopper demanded with a pointed finger in her face which she swatted away playfully. "We got this fight."

Colleen swallowed hard, and almost hated herself for what she was about to say next. But she knew this was the only way she would feel okay letting Eleven do this. She let out a deep breath, "Swing by the house on your way to the lab. And grab Six. I wanted to keep him safe from all of this, but he could help. And I'll feel a lot better with him helping El."