Worlds Colliding (Stranger Things) Book 2

Chapter Nine: The Gate

Hopper sighed. "You're okay, kid. You're okay. I'm sorry, kid."

∰

Living Room

Eleven and Hailey were hugging tightly.

Hailey smiled. "Hey, El."

Eleven smiled. "Hailey."

Lucas and Dustin both hugged Eleven, as she hugged them both back too.

"We missed you," Lucas told her.

"I missed you, too," Eleven told them.

"We talked about you pretty much every day," Dustin explained.

Eleven noticed something about Dustin, touching his mouth. "Teeth."

"What?" Dustin asked.

Eleven frowned. "You have teeth."

Hailey, Niko and Lucas chuckled.

Dustin smiled. "Oh, you like these pearls?"

Dustin did his purr.

Hailey rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Don't do that."

Lucas hit Dustin on the shoulder. "Told you Hailey wouldn't like that."

Nadia walked closer. "Hey, El. Niko, Mama and I really missed you."

Eleven nodded, smiling emotionally. "I missed you, too. You and Niko helped me, Nadia. Natasha helped us all... in the Void."

"That's right," Niko agreed. "Come here, El."

Eleven, Niko and Nadia embraced tightly.

Eleven turned to embrace Natasha as well.

Natasha held her close. "Hey. Hey, sweetheart. Hey."

They pulled away, as Natasha brushed back some of Eleven's hair.

Max stepped up hesitantly. "Eleven? Hey. Um, I'm Max." She held her hand out for Eleven to shake. "I've heard a lot about you."

Ignoring Max because she was still jealous of the scene she witnessed of her and Mike, Eleven walked past her toward Joyce so they could embrace.

Joyce sighed. "Hey."

"Can I see him?" Eleven asked.

Joyce sighed, nodding.

∰

Will's Room

Eleven and Joyce walked in, looking at the unconscious Will lying in his bed.

Joyce sat down. "He's not doing well."

Eleven knelt next to Will. "I know. I saw."

"What else did you see?" Joyce asked.

Eleven looked from Joyce to Will.

∰

Kitchen

Natasha, Niko, Nadia and Eleven were standing at the table, looking at the note pad that said "Close Gate".

"You opened this gate before, right?" Niko asked.

"Yes," Eleven answered.

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