There's No Place Like Hawkins//Stranger Things. SH

THIRTY NINE

"It's okay." He comforted as they hugged each other. "It's gonna be okay." Bob reiterated as they pulled away from one another. "Remember, Bob Newby, superhero."

Joyce chuckled lightly.

"I'm going too." Cat spoke, stepping away from the wall.

"What?" Hopper asked her.

"I'm going. I know how to use a gun and he's gonna need protecting." She pointed at Bob.

"You're not going." Hopper firmly told her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Yes I am. Last year I saved myself and Nancy from a Demogorgon. I think I'll be okay." Hopper stared at her, still not letting her go. "I'll be fine. Trust me."

***

Nancy and Jonathan pulled up to the gates of the lab in Jonathan's old car. "Why are the lights off?" Jonathan asked as the two stepped out of the car, closing the doors as they did so.

"Maybe it's closed?" Nancy suggested, her words sounding more like a question.

"Security just took the night off? I don't think so." He walked into the booth that stood just in front of the gates and begun pressing the button that would usually open the gates.

"It's not working?" Nancy asked as she stood next to him.

"No! The power's off."

"Jonathan?" Nancy said, hearing approaching footsteps and rustling.

"What?" He stopped what he was doing and followed her gaze to the edge of the woods.

"I think there's something in the woods." They made their way closer to the edge of the trees, seeing lights moving through the branches.

"Hello?" Jonathan called out. "Who's there?"

The figures became clearer and in unison, the two teens let out a shocked, "Steve?"

"Nancy?"

"Jonathan." Both Dustin and Steve questioned.

"What are you doing here?" Nancy asked as the two groups made their way closer to each other.

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked them.

"We're looking for Mike and Will." Nancy answered. "Wait, Cat's not with you?" She asked, not seeing her best friend.

"I was hoping she'd be with you. Or with the other two kids." Steve told his now ex-girlfriend.

"They're not in there, are they?" Dustin asked worriedly, pointing to the lab.

"We're not sure."

"Why?" Jonathan asked.

Before either of the group could answer, more screeching from the monsters could be heard, the sound answering Jonathan's question. Their heads all turned in the direction of the sound that unfortunately came from the direction of the lab.

***

Inside the lab, Bob and Cat were hurriedly making their way down the stairs to the basement in the hopes that they could reboot the system and regain power in the lab. Cat held the gun tightly in her hands while Bob held the torch and was wired up to an earpiece so the others could pass them instructions.

After a few jump scares and Cat nearly accidentally pulling the trigger on the gun, the pair made it to the correct room where Bob was quick to turn the main power back on. "Yay." Cat grinned when the lights flickered back on. "No more being scared of the dark."