003 (Stranger Things Season 2 OC Insert)

Chapter Six: Life's next chapter

It's been a few minutes since everyone saw El and Bruce but it was time to be serious, Joyce brought El to a word they made

"You opened this gate before, right?"

"...Yes"

"Do you think if we got you back there, that you could close it?"

El looked at her and pondered on the thought, wondering if she can. The group gathered around the table and started to ponder on the idea

"The gate, it's not like the last time. It's grown. A lot. And, I mean, that's considering we can get in there, the place is crawling with those dogs"

Dustin corrected him "Demo-dogs"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I said, uh, Demo-dogs. Like Demogorgon and dogs. Put them together and it's pretty badass-"

"How is this important right now?"

"It's not, I'm sorry"

El looked at Hopper "I can do it"

"You're no hearing me"

"I'm hearing you. I can do it"

Bruce stepped forward "I'll be able to take care of those...Demo-dogs. They're like paper to me"

He revealed his claw which surprised Hopper, but he would ask later

Mike pitched in "Even if El can, there's still another problem. If the brain dies, the body dies. 

The redhead, Max, seemed confused "I thought that was the whole point." 

"It is, but if we're right about this I mean if El closes the gate and kills the mind flayer's army.

Lucas realized his point "Will's a part of that army."

"Closing the gate will kill him."

Everyone seemed at a hard place right now and Joyce got up and went in Will's room with everyone except Bruce. El looked back and saw Bruce looking rubbing his forehead while taking a seat, her face became soft and walked over to him

"Bruce?"

He looked over and saw El with a worried face, he waved it off but she didn't take it

"O-three"

He flinched at the name but knew she wouldn't let it go and sighed

"El, can you do this? Without hurting yourself?"

She looked down for a moment and nodded, but Bruce was still worried

"I don't want to do this, I wish we're back at the cabin..."

El walked next to him as he laid against her stomach, she was surprised but didn't move him and lightly stroked his hair. A few minutes later they stopped and stood up when they saw Hopper carrying Will in a blanket outside, Joyce and Jonathan followed him.

Hopper came in and looked at the pair "Come on, we gotta go"

They nodded and followed him to his truck, Bruce looked to everyone and took in a deep breath before getting in next to El. The truck moved back and drove away from the group at the front and towards the Laboratory

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About twenty minutes later they pulled into the lab and get out, El looked up at it in fear of the memories. The fear subsided as Bruce held her close to him. Hopper grabbed a gun from the back and stood next to the two

"All right. You let me do the heavy lifting upfront, all right? You save your strength until we're below. Bruce will protect you if I can't"

El walked towards the building with Bruce and Hopper in tow. Once inside Hopper took the lead and walked through the facility with his gun ready, they got to a staircase and started their way down but say a trail of blood going down which Hopper found worrying