MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Eye Spy (E)

Walking to Hawkins Lab wasn't the greatest thing Marley should have been doing considering her condition but she pushed on nevertheless. Her arm draped around Max's shoulder and torchlight in her other hand, Marley illuminated the way for the two of them to see, it was dark out, and the trees that masked the moonlight from basking over them wasn't helping their situation. This all reminded Marley of a camping trip she had gone on with Will and Mike, it wasn't so much a camping trip as it was a stakeout in the Byer's backyard, however, it still counted in little Marley's mind. She smiled.

"What are you smiling about?" Max whispered and Marley turned to her, shaking her head in amusement.

"Nothing...just reminiscing I guess," she mumbled. Max remained silent for a moment and then smiled, interlacing her hand with the one that was hung across her shoulder. "You scared or something?"

"A little," Max shrugged, "but I thought you might be too."

"A tiny bit," Marley admitted. The group at the front slowed down slightly as they neared the treeline and both Marley and Max exchanged looks, almost preparing each other for what was to come, "See you on the other side."

"Hello! Who's there? Who's there?" A voice called out and Marley furrowed her brows.

"Is that...Jonathan?"

They finally pushed through the green, coming to a stop in front of one Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler. Marley grinned letting out a sigh of relief and all but dropped her weight on an already struggling Max.

"Steve?" They both cried out in unison, no doubt confused as to why the older boy was surrounded by middle schoolers.

"Nancy?" Steve questioned, lowering his torch.

"Jonathan," Dustin stated as both groups met in the middle. Everyone was incredibly confused besides Max and Marley who were both struggling to keep one of them up.

"What are you doing here?" Nancy asked.

"What are you doing here?" Steve retorted.

"We're looking for Mike and Will."

"They're not in there are they?" Dustin said motioning to the Lab. Marley got her bearings again and quietly apologised to Max, who in turn only laughed and shook it off.

"We're not sure..." Nancy voiced, slowly looking over to Marley who was stood staring up at the sky. "Jesus Mars, what happened to you!?"

"Demogorgon..." Marley got out in a pained breath.

"Wha-"

Deafening roars erupted from the bowls of Hawkins lab shaking the group all to their very cores. Marley looked to the building, hoping, praying to whatever god her friends weren't in there.

*** 

Marley watched from the sidelines as the group argued and got their stories together. It was all very nostalgic and overwhelming as she remembered the year prior, how their stories had fit and produced a bigger picture all so seamlessly. She laughed a dry laugh. She hadn't known what she was going to get when she came back but it wasn't another life or death mission. Strangely enough, though, it felt like home. Like if nothing shady or unnatural was happening in Hawkins something must be wrong.

"I'm sorry for this," Marley muttered, still looking at the group but leaning her head toward Max who was stood beside her, looking quite confused, "You having to look after me."