Downside Up [W.Byers]

007

Back In Hawkins

"What was Will saying?" Mike asks. "Like home.. like home..but dark?"

"And empty." Lucas adds. "Empty and cold. Wait, did he say cold?" Dustin questions. "I don't know. The stupid radio kept going in and out." Lucas sighs. "It's like riddles in the dark." Dustin states.

"Like home. Like his house?" Mike squints his eyes. "Or maybe like Hawkins!" Lucas suggests. "Upside down." Eleven mutters. "What'd she say?" Lucas asks.

"Upside down." Mike repeats. "What?" Lucas squints. "Upside down! When el showed us where will was, she flipped the board over, remember?" Mike takes a seat at the table.

"Upside down." He repeats, flipping the board. "Dark. Empty."

"Do you understand what he's talking about?" Lucas looks to Dustin. "No." he replies. "Guys, come on, think about it. When El took us to find Will, she took us to his house, right?"

"Yeah. And he wasn't there." Lucas responds. "But what if he was there?" What if we just couldn't see him? What if he and that girl were on the other side?" Mike explains.

"Girl. I hurt girl." El speaks up. "001." She adds. They all turn to her, then look away. Mike flips the board to the normal side. "What if this is Hawkins and.." He turns it. "This is where will is. The upside down."

"Like the Vale of Shadows." Dustin says in realization.

Upside down

"The lab is trying to track me. At least, I think." Ruby sighs. "What do you mean?" Will asks. "When I was there, they tried to give me some other power. Kind of like.. like.. telekinesis or something.. they failed and ever since then, they've only used it as a torture method whenever I wouldn't do what they say. They'd force another girl.. I don't remember her number." She sighs.

"It hurts. It's like a ringing in my ear when it channels near me."

"You think the lab knows where we are?" Will asks worriedly. "I don't know, Will. I don't know." She sobs.

Ruby walks through the forest, collecting any water she finds and filling the bucket. Suddenly, she finds a light shining at her. She spins around, finding a teenage girl with brown hair, now covered in small chunks of slime.

"Who are you?" She asks. She doesn't shine her fire in risk of attracting any attention. "My name's Nancy.." The girl responds. "How did you get in here?" She asks.

"There's a.. there's a hole in that tree.." She shivers. Nancy looks around, her flashlight flickering. "You mean, there's a.. there's a way out of here? I have to get Will!" Ruby smiles.

"Will? You know where will is?" Nancy asks. "Yeah, you know him?" The blonde squints her eyes. "He's my brother's friend." She nods.

The two turn around, gasping as they find a demagorgon far up ahead, eating a deer. "Slowly back away. If it gets close, I know what to do." Ruby places an arm in front of Nancy, protecting her.

The two back away slowly, trying to remain silent. They fail as Nancy steps on a piece of bark, causing it to crunch. The monster roars as is turns to them. "Johnathan!" Nancy shrieks, running away.

"Stay away from her!" Ruby screams, shining her fire threateningly. The demagorgon growls, charging at her.

Ruby follows with her fire behind Nancy. "Johnathan! Johnathan!" Nancy calls. Her voice echoes through. "Johnathan, I'm right here!" She sobs.

"Nancy! It's gone! Don't make it come back." Ruby says, grabbing her arm. "Come on!" Another voice echoes through the forest. "Johnathan, where are you?"

"Nancy!"

"Johnathan! Johnathan, I'm right.. I'm right here!" She looks around, confused by her surroundings. "I'm right here!" Johnathan yells back. "Johnathan! I'm with a girl! She knows will! She knows where he is!"

"Nancy! Just take her and follow my voice!" He yells. "Johnathan!"

"Follow my voice, Nancy! I'm right here!"

The two continue to search for a way out. Ruby turns around, coming face to face with the horrifying monster. They scream, running away further. "Go where you came in! Where was that?!" Ruby ask, out of breath.

"I don't know!"

The two hide behind a tree, breathing heavily. "I can't leave will alone for this long." Ruby sighs. "We're gonna get you out of here, then we're gonna bring more people to come look for him, okay?" Nancy says reassuringly.

"But, I can't leave him alone." Ruby shakes her head. "You know the way around here. We need you to help him."

The monster begins coming closer as the two pray not to be seen. Ruby takes Nancy's hand, holding it tight in fear.

"Nancy! Follow my voice!" The echo calls. "Come on." Nancy whispers, pulling Ruby towards the nearby tree.

She reaches through. "Johnathan!" She screams. "Nancy!" He grabs her hand, then takes Ruby's as she makes it. He pulls the girls out through the tree, bringing them to safety.

Ruby quickly gets up from the ground, curiously looking around and breathing in the air. Nancy, on the other hand, sobs as Johnathan holds her tightly.

"I got you." Johnathan says, watching as the tree slowly closes off. "No! Will! He's in there!" Ruby screams, running to the tree and banging on the bark.

"You know where will is?" Johnathan asks. Ruby nods. "He's alone in there now! How is he gonna make it?! I left him! How could I be so stupid?"

"Is will okay?" Johnathan asks worriedly, standing up to face the girl. "He won't be for long. He's alive."

"Oh. Thank god." Johnathan cries in happiness, surprisingly hugging the girl. "Are you.. his brother?" She asks. He nods. "You look alike." Ruby sighs.

"Come. I'm sure my mom will be able to help you, um.." Nancy says. "Ruby." The girl responds.

"Come on. It's safer if we bring you somewhere warm." Johnathan says quietly.

They arrive back at the house, entering silently to not wake anyone up. "Ruby. I can't tell my mom right now, but tomorrow morning we'll explain everything. You can sleep in the basement tonight if that's alright." Nancy whispers.

Ruby nods sadly, following Nancy as she leads her down the steps. "You see that blanket over there? The one over the table? You can take that and sleep on the couch."

Ruby nods, watching Nancy leave up the stairs. The blonde falls onto the ground, sobbing silently into her hands.