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"CHECK THIS OUT." EDDIE PLACED A NEWSPAPER BETWEEN THE GROUP, SEBASTIAN GLANCING ALL OVER THE PAGE. "The War Zone. I've been there once." Eddie told everyone, Sebastian's eyebrows furrowing as he was sandwiched between Steve and Eddie. "It's huge." The latter spoke further, glancing at Sebastian. "They got everything you need for, uh... well, killing things, basically." Robin leant forward, hand on her hips. "Do you think fake Rambo has enough guns? Is that a grenade? I mean, how is any of this legal?" Robin looked to Steve and Nancy, Seb gulping. "I'll make up for it if they don't have enough guns." He uttered, Nancy looking to him. She felt awful for proposing the idea of Sebastian being used as a weapon. In her defense, more people were going to die. Max was going to use herself as bait to a monster that wants to kill her. "I know you don't want to use me. But I'm not doing it for anyone else but me." He looked to Dustin as he spoke, the boy needing the most assurance.
"I'll protect you guys from danger whilst I do it." Seb nodded, Dustin gradually doing the same. Eddie cleared his throat awkwardly, directing Steve's attention. "Lucky for us," The Munson boy looked to Robin. "This place is legal. It's just outside of Hawkins. As long as we steer clear of main roads, we oughta be able to avoid cops and, uh, angry hicks." Eddie stated, Erica looking to him. "If we're trying to avoid angry hicks, maybe we shouldn't go to some store called the War Zone." She let out, Nancy humming. "Normally, I'd agree, but we need the weapons." She glanced to Seb, the boy nodding. "Me too." Lucas spoke, earning a look from his sister. "But is it worth the time? It'll take all day to bike there and back." Dustin spoke, Eddie shrugging. "Who said anything about bikes?" He shot back, Steve huffing. "You got some secret car we don't know about?" He asked, Eddie raising himself to meet eyes with the Harrington over Seb. "It's not exactly a car, Steve. And it's not exactly mine, but uh... it'll do." Seb watched Eddie speak, as did everyone else.
"Hey, Red, uh, you got a ski mask or a bandana or something like that?" Eddie turned to Max, pointing to Seb. "Preferably two?" The group watched Max glance at the floor, a knowing look on her face.
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SEBASTIAN'S BREATH WARMED THE FRONT OF HIS OWN JOKER MASK, THE BOY BEING THE FIRST ONE TO LOOK PAST THE BACK OF EDDIE'S TRAILER. Dustin kept the joker mask with him at all times since the year beforehand, having it in his backpack. The Munson boy looked over Seb, wearing a distinctive mask of the Michael Myers. Max's Michael Myers mask two Halloweens ago. Glancing around, Seb nodded as Eddie hummed, waving for everyone else to follow. Steve huffed, believing it to be unbelievable that he's following Michael Myers and the Joker. The group ran lightly, Eddie holding a small bag filled with tools as Seb jogged behind him. The boy was utterly exhausted by the events of the past week or so. But he had to stay awake. For them. For himself. The group past a couple sitting by their trailer, Eddie leading the group to the opposite side of it. Scaling the vehicle, the group watched him slide open a small window and easily climb through, faceplanting the couch below.
Seb inhaled deeply, Robin watching the boy's legs writhe as he pushed his upper body through the van. "That was suffocating." Eddie gasped after taking off his mask, looking back to see half of Steve in the trailer as he took Seb's mask off. "At least yours has, like, space to breathe." Eddie huffed, Seb shrugging to him. "Come on!" Steve urged the rest of the group in, them climbing in one by one as Seb locked the trailer door. He had a newfound energy. A newfound purpose. And he knew exactly how to achieve it. Eddie took his seat messily, digging through his small pouch of a bag as Seb rested his back against the door. Pulling the wires from the driver's seat, Eddie held heavy duty scissors in his mouth as Steve and Robin joined the two. Eddie rolled his eyes as Steve leant on the back of the seat. "Where'd you learn how to do this?" He asked, Robin glancing at the boys as Seb did the same. "Well, when other dads were teaching their kids how to fish or play ball, my old man was teaching me how to hot-wire." Seb watched Eddie do whatever he was doing, doing it quickly.
"Now, I swore to myself I wouldn't wind up like he did, but now I'm wanted for murder, and soon, grand theft auto." Eddie nodded to Seb, the boy mindlessly nodding back even though he had no clue what he was nodding to. "So, uh, I'm really living up to the Munson name." Eddie scratched two wires together, Seb watching sparks fly as Robin cleared her throat. "Eddie, I'm not sure I love the idea of you driving." She suggested, Eddie looking up to her. "Oh, I'm just starting this sucker. Harrington's got her." He grinned, Seb watching him lean closer to Steve's face. "Don't ya, big boy?" He asked, Steve genuinely lost for words as Eddie harshly scratched the wires. The trailer jolted, starting suddenly as the couple outside flinched in sudden fear. "What the hell?" A woman spat, immediately getting up and rushing to the door. Seeing someone's back, she hit the window, Seb yelping as he turned to meet eyes with her. The three teens froze, seeing the man round the front of the van, the woman yelling at Sebastian. "They locked the door!" She yelled, pointing at Seb's face.
"You little shit!-" "Go! Go!" Eddie urged, getting up quickly as Steve took his seat. Eddie pulled Seb away from the door, smiling awkwardly at the woman. "Everybody, hang onto something!" Steve yelled, Seb quick to grab onto the handle near the roof of the trailer. "Oh my God! Go!" Lucas yelled, everyone getting in as Seb looked back to the woman. "Sorry!" He yelled, flinching back once the woman hit the window in return, a crack opening. "Please leave now!" Max glanced between the two, the woman tripping as the man dived out of the way, Steve pressing the accelerator as hard as he could. Peeking his head through the now broken window, Seb watched the couple attempt to run for the trailer. "They look annoyed!" Seb spoke, Dustin glancing back. "They look pissed!" He corrected towards Max, Robin nodding. "It's not everyday you lose your house and car in one fell swoop." She let out, Steve turning quickly. "Hold on!" He urged, the bumpy grass causing Seb to fall back into the passenger seat of the trailer, gasping.
"Stop 'em!" The woman screamed, heaving as Dustin and Max watched the two stop. "God bless it!" She screamed, kicking the bin bag on the floor. Tires screeched, Seb eternally grateful that Steve made it onto the road, the journey smoothing.
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"MY BROTHER. I SAW HIM WITH MY FRIENDS. YOU SAID THEY WERE SAFE." EL SPAT AS SHE STORMED DOWN THE CORRIDOR, OWENS TURNING TO HER. "Your brother?" He asked, El feeling the man hold her shoulders. "My brother is alive and is in danger. Again-" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, okay." Workers around the two froze, Owens waving them away. "Give us a second, please." He ordered, everyone leaving without decline. "Okay, first things first. We're not gonna let anything happen to your friends, okay, kiddo?" He assured, El's face staying monotonous. "What about Sebastian?" She spat, Owens watching her cross her arms. "Uh, I'll personally make sure that nothing happens to any of them." The man tried to hide his shock. Seb died... but now he's in Hawkins? That's the worst place for him to be. "Did you see where they were?" He asked, El glancing to the floor. "They were at... They were at Max's house. They're planning to take my brother to the Upside down to kill him." El declared, tears gathering in her eyes, her breath shaking. "To kill Henry-" "Okay, okay. This... Does this Max have a last name?" Owens asked, El gulping.
"Max... Max Mayfield." She answered, not being able to stand still. "Okay. So here's what's gonna happen. I have people in Hawkins, and I'm gonna send some over to Max Mayfield." He declared, nodding to El. "And they will stop him-" "Her." El corrected quickly, Owens nodding. "Stop her. And your brother. And the rest of them from whatever foolish, although well-intentioned, mission that they're attempting, alright?" El shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "No, no. Do not send your men. Send me-" "Your brother nor your friends are not prepared for this fight, Eleven. And neither are you." El and Owens looked to their right, Brenner moving down the stairs. "You must understand, when One kills, he doesn't simply kill. He consumes. He takes everything from his victims. Everything they are and everything they will ever be. Their memories... their abilities." El inhaled sharply, Owens glancing between the two. If Sebastian goes to One, the man will kill him... and take his abilities. Sebastian is the better of the two twins... if he's taken,
there's no trying valuable to save the world.
"And we do not know where he's been these lost years." El faced Brenner as he walked closer, hands on his hips. "But if he has survived this long, we can only assume that he has grown in strength. To underestimate him, to act rashly, would be very dangerous." He spoke, a glare on El's face as she watched Brenner. "I don't want to upset you, Eleven." He spoke, placing a hand on her shoulder as he led her away from Owens. "What you've accomplished is nothing short of a miracle." He spoke, leaning down to meet her eyes. "You came to me broken. And you've learned to walk again. But if you want to stop One, you will need to do more than walk." El met eyes with him. "You will need to do more than run. You will need to fly. And you're not ready." He straightened his posture, El gulping once more. "My friends need me." She declared, looking to Brenner. "I've stopped him once. I will again." She spat, Brenner sighing. "I'm sorry. You can't. It's impossible-" "Nothing's impossible." Owens interrupted, the two looking to him.
"I can call Stinson. She's got connections at Nellis. That's two hours away." Owens missed the slight glare on Brenner's face, El looking to him. "And if we hustle, I'll bet we can be in Hawkins before nightfall." He held El's shoulder, a smile on his face. "That would be a grave mistake." Brenner simply put it, Owen facing him. "Waiting would be an even greater mistake. Seven is alive, Dr Brenner. What happens when One makes his move before we've had a chance to throw a punch? Then what is the point of all of this-" "That's a risk we're going to have to take." Brenner interrupted once more, Owens looking to him blankly. "We pushed her before and look what happened." Owens met Brenner as he was walking away, El watching the two. "She lifted a 10,000-pound tank into the goddamn air. He brother is alive. I don't reckon his mental state is as stable as yours or mine. We can't sit here whilst he walks right into danger." Owens stated, El squeezing her lips shut. "You don't understand what he's capable of!" Brenner's voice raised, Owens shrugging.
"Maybe you're right. Or maybe you are overestimating him. Either way, doesn't matter because this is not our choice." Owens spat, glancing to El. "We agreed this was not gonna be a prison. We'll show her what this is, what we can offer, and then it is her choice whether she wants to stay or go." He reminded, Brenner looking to El. "Right, Doc? You may not agree with it, but here she is, standing before us, making a choice." Brenner inhaled deeply, looking to the floor as Owens moved to El. "You're sure you wanna do this?" He asked, El nodding quietly. "Okay. Pack your things, say your goodbyes." Owens walked past her, El awkwardly watching him leave. Turning back, Brenner met eyes with her, the girl silently walking away herself.
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"COME ON, THIS WAY." YURI URGED, THE GROUP FOLLOWING HIM OUT THE VAN. "If I get a whiff of any funny business, smuggler..." Dmitri started in Russian, Yuri walking simply. "I will not hesitate to kill you." He reminded, nodding. "In fact... I am just looking for a reason. Understand?" He added, Yuri getting some keys from his pocket. "Are you a parrot, cop? You keep repeating the same thing." Yuri shot back, unlocking the door as everyone surrounded him. Stopping himself, he turned and placed a hand on Hopper's shoulder. "You were trapped in a cell with this dull man and you didn't take the opportunity to smother him." The man tutted, Hopper quiet as they watched Yuri unlock the door. Vocalising, Yuri grinned widely, everyone pouring into the room to meet a dusty helicopter. "Beautiful, yes?" Dmitri slammed the door shut behind them, Yuri turning to meet everyone staring at him blankly. "Please tell me this is another poor joke." Murray groaned, Joyce walking forward. "You said you had a plane." She hit the man, yelling. "A plane!"
"No, no, no. I told you I could fly you home. And Katinka can fly you home, little bird." Yuri smiled, giving the helicopter a name. "She was named Katinka after my first lover." Yuri spoke, the three men with them observing the aircraft. "Katinka also had very beautiful, very round buttocks." Yuri laughed, suddenly pointing to the windows of the helicopter. "Uh, mu... much like this." Wheezing, the man hugged the front of the helicopter, Joyce staring at him disgustedly. "This cannot fly us to America." Dmitri let out, Yuri turning around slowly. "Why not?" He shot back sassily, feeling very insulted that Dmitri doubted Katinka's talents. "As long as the winds are not too strong and your military friends do not shoot us out of sky, we can make it to the coast." He announced, looking back to Hopper. "There, while we refuel, we skin dip in ice-cold water and wash off this muck." Yuri said way-too happily, Joyce scoffing. "Then we fly her rest of the way. Happy ending." He smiled, Joyce sighing. "Okay, what is the furthest... Katinka has ever flown?" She asked, everyone looking back to Yuri.
"For me, she is still a virgin." He chuckled at his own joke, Joyce scoffing more. "Uh, not real Katinka. Goodness, no. That Katinka, no." Hopper simply looked to anything, not wanting to hear about a random woman. "But this Katinka is pretty much unspoiled. But I'm sure she will soar when given a chance. She just needs a little... tune-up." Dmitri watched Yuri speed over to a tool box, grabbing specific ones. "I did warn you, Jim." Murray spoke over Katinka, Dmitri nodding. "Okay. Should I shoot him now? Or later?" He asked, Joyce inhaling sharply. "What about Owens? He... He's gotta have contacts or spies here that could help us." Hopper looked to the woman as she spoke. "Can we do that?" He asked, walking forward desperately. "Can we make a call to the States?" He asked Dmitri, Yuri busy with his tools as everyone watched Dmitri ponder on his answer,
a nod occurring.
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[2631 words!]
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