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   THE MARTEL SIBLINGS STAND in their living room, dark funeral clothes on each of them. Neither kid thinking their friend is dead but promising each of their friend groups they wouldn't say anything.

   "That dress isn't long enough, Brooke," Kathleen points to her daughter's exposed knees. "It's all I had," Brooke shrugs.

  The religious words that man is spewing makes Brooke zone out. She's surrounded by people she's never seen as the tiny casket sits in front of them, red flowers on top. Brooke stands behind Jonathan and Joyce, trying her best not to make the glares towards Lonnie obvious.

   Danny stands with his friends. Dustin nudges him and Lucas. "What?" Danny harshly whispers. "Look—just wait till we tell Will that Jennifer Hayes was crying at his funeral—" Karen Wheeler shushes the boy. Danny is just more annoyed she did it so loud next to him. He tries to cover up his facial expression and turn back towards the casket.

     Paisley, even though they have this theory that Will might be alive, chokes back her tears. Her and Brooke throw a yellow rose on top of the casket. Shawn gives Lonnie a tight hug next to the girls but they each send both men a disgusted look.

  Brooke rocks back and forth on her heel, a comforting hand reaching for Jonathan. Her eyes land on Joyce and her blanked out expression. She doesn't want to know what she's thinking. All the memories between her and her youngest son, the faceless monster. It makes Brooke hold her stomach thinking about it. More people start to clear out and eventually Nancy finds the three, pulling them away from the grieving people of Hawkins.

    "A map," Nancy holds it up. "Cool," Paisley can't think of much to say. In her head, it's a fake funeral, Will isn't dead but not to her dad or the boys, at least from what she knows. The church bell tolls as the four sit on the grass, gathering around the map. "This is where we know for sure it's been, right?" Jonathan points to the red X's

  Brooke leans over, her chin slightly resting on Jonathan's shoulder, "That's.....the woods, where we saw it." Her finger lands on the X in the woods. "And that's Steve's house," Paisley points to another X. "The woods is where they found Will's bike and.....that's my house," Jonathan moves his finger. "It's all so close," Nancy whispers. Brooke furrows her eyebrows, back hitting the metal fence behind them, "They're all within a mile. So, it can't travel far or something."

   Jonathan looks at Brooke and even though he doesn't say it, Brooke immediately knows. So does Nancy. "You want to go out there?" Nancy asks. "We might not find anything—"

  "I found something," Nancy softly says, "And if we do see it....then what?" She tilts her head at Byers. Paisley brings her knees to chest to warm herself up, "We...kill it? If that's possible."

  Brooke scoffs, "Anything can die. Just cut the head off."

   "I have an idea," Jonathan abruptly gets up. "An idea?" Brooke stands up, "What idea?" She doesn't wait for the other two, she just runs after Jonathan. He stops at his dad's car and he swings the door open. Nancy and Paisley catch up to them right as Jonathan starts to lock pick into the glove compartment. "What are you doing?" Nancy asks, nervously looking around the cemetery. "Just give me a second," Jonathan says.

   "Do you need help?" Brooke steps forwards as he gets it open, "Nevermind." Paisley walks around the door, "Jonathan," She jumps back when he finds the gun he was looking for, "Jesus—Byers!" She tries to keep her voice down.

  "Lonnie's gonna kill you. We can find a gun somewhere else," Brooke tries to reason with him. "Are you serious?" Nancy unfolds her arms as he loads the gun. Brooke is okay with having a gun—just not his shitty dad's who is sure to notice it's gone. "What? You want to find this thing and take another photo? Yell at it?" Jonathan closes the glove compartment. Brooke and Paisley move back as he slams the car door.

  "This is a terrible idea," Nancy says. "Yeah, I agree," Paisley points at Nancy. "Yeah, well, it's the best we've got," Jonathan says, shoving the gun in his jacket. Brooke wants to yell at him, that having Lonnie's gun is the worst part but Jonathan is determined to find Will and so is she. If this is really the only way, then Brooke will make it work.

  Nancy keeps nervously looking at the people walking around. "Nancy, no one is gonna believe you. Joyce tried. I tried to tell Paisley—"

  "But Paisley believes you now!" Nancy cuts Brooke off. "Yeah, because I know you and Jonathan aren't that crazy. Brooke could've had too much weed that night and hallucinated for all I knew. Cops aren't just believe a fucking faceless creature eating people," Paisley adds on. "Joyce would believe me," Nancy tells them. "She's been through enough," Jonathan says and Brooke nods in agreement.

  "She deserves to know—"

  "Yeah, and I'll tell her......when this thing is dead," Jonathan walks away from them again. Nancy sighs, holding her head in her hands like a stressed teacher, "You guys are okay with this?"

   "Whatever the hell gets us to Will, then yes. I'm okay with this. You should be to if it means Barbs is out there," Brooke zips up her hoodie, going to find Jonathan.

  PAISLEY AND BROOKE SIT on the roof of the Slora's one floor house. They can hear the gunshots of Jonathan practicing in the distance. The woods behind her house that leads to a field seemed to be the perfect place for him. Paisley drags the cigarette away from her mouth, "I shot a gun once."

   Brooke laughs, "I know. You were shaking from adrenaline when I came over." She giggles at the memory of little 12 year old Paisley opening the door, body shaking so bad Brooke thought she'd start crying.

   "I've never shot a gun. Is that hard to believe?" Brooke asks, genuinely curious as to what her best friend would say. Paisley hands the cigarette to Brooke with a side smile, "I mean—no but yes? A gun would fit you though."

   Brooke shrugs, "I don't know. I kinda prefer melee but whatever kills this thing is the best." A thud from a rock hitting the roof makes both girls carefully lean over to see who threw it. Nancy and Jonathan smile up at them. "Need help?" Nancy asks. The girls easily hop down from the roof, landing right in front of the other two. "Nah, we're okay. Let's get huntin'," Brooke says.

 
THE NOVEMBER AIR HITS all four teenagers. Hoodies zipped up and glove covered hands are shoved into pockets. Nancy and Jonathan walk ahead of them. Paisley tries her best not to trip on the piles of leaves and branches. Brooke can hear them talking but not really making out what they say.

  "You think those two like each other?" Brooke whispers. Paisley scrunches her nose, "Wheeler is with Steve. She was like, pining after him for so long. Maybe Jonathan likes her but I don't think the feeling is mutual."

     It's quiet for a little bit, you can only hear the distant chatter of Nancy and Jonathan as well as the leaves crunching beneath them. "Do you like Eddie?" Paisley blurts out and Brooke is completely taken back. "Jesus, no. First off, he's been held back so he's technically two years older than us. Which I mean, whatever. Shit happens but no. No one from Hawkins deserves my time. If I had a crush I'd tell you," Brooke shakes her head at Paisley.

  Paisley presses her lips together, "Right. Sorry." Her eyes go to Nancy. She's just so cool and smart and pretty and—

  "....Bullshit!" Nancy curses. Jonathan stops and they catch up with them but Nancy walks a bit ahead. Completely confused as to why Nancy felt the need to curse. "What?" Jonathan stutters. "I am not trying to be someone else! Just because I'm dating Steve and you don't like him—"

  "You know what? Forget it. I just thought it was a good picture!" Jonathan starts to walk away now. "Whoa! What's wrong with everyone?" Brooke jogs ahead of Jonathan, walking backwards very carefully. They're hunting for some alien and they think it's the right time to discuss drama?

  "He's actually a good guy!" Nancy tries to defend her boyfriend. Brooke laughs, "You know damn well that's not true, Nancy." Brooke turns so that she's walking correctly now alongside Jonathan. "Brooke, stop. He is a good guy. Steve just—he has bad friends," Nancy tries again. Brooke cannot believe what she's hearing. Steve Harrington is not a good person. Brooke throws her hands in the air, "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

  "Yesterday, with the camera....he's not like that at all. I'm not even mad Brooke beat Carol and Tommy up!"

  "Well, no shit. I did nothing wrong," Brooke rolls her eyes but doesn't look at Nancy as she does so. Brooke doesn't wanna admit she understands why Steve did that, personally, she might've done the same if someone took nasty pictures of her girlfriend. "He was just being protective," Nancy says. "Yeah, because the slick comments he's made since elementary is just protective," Paisley whispers. She doesn't expect anyone to hear her but when she looks up from the leaf she has focused on, everyone is staring at her.

  "Yeah, that's certainly one word for it," Jonathan starts to walk away again. "And what you did was okay?" Nancy says, referring to the photos. Brooke doesn't want to deal with the bickering. She actually thought this would be kind of fun. Yeah. Monster hunting with your best friends and childhood best friend—fun.

   "No. I...I never said that!"

   "He has every right to be pissed—"

   "Okay, alright. Does that mean I have to like him?" Jonathan turns around, face to face with Nancy. Paisley and Brooke have no idea what to do. Both girls feel like they need to have this argument to finally discuss the pictures and the camera but just not right now. "No—"

  "Listen, don't take it so personally, okay? I don't like most people. He's in the vast majority," Jonathan walks away. That's true, very true. Brooke is surprised Jonathan hasn't walked away from her permanently. She just guesses knowing each other since before they could talk really makes two people bond. "You know, I was actually starting to think you were okay," Nancy comments. Brooke wants to open her mouth but Paisley puts a hand to her chest, watching the two of them argue even more.

   "This is weird," Brooke whispers as the two throw their assumptions about the other at each other. "I don't think Nancy is that boring. I don't know what he's saying," Paisley criticizes.

    Jonathan finishes it off by saying that Nancy is basically gonna live the life she hates, with a man that doesn't love her on a boring cul-de-sac. Slightly a low blow but Brooke doesn't say anything, she just follows Jonathan. Paisley steps towards Nancy, smiling, "I don't think you're boring." Nancy looks up at the other brunette, a glimmer of happiness in her eyes. "Thanks, Paisley," She says softly before walking away.

   DARKNESS FALLS ON THEM and it feels like they've been walking for hours. Jonathan probably wishes it was complete silence but Brooke singing random songs throughout the whole walk made sure it wasn't silent. She hates silence after an argument. It makes her think the worst, even if the argument had almost nothing to do with her.

   Their flashlights lead the way as crickets chirp. An unfamiliar yet familiar sound of an animal or something almost whooping, makes Nancy and Brooke stop and stare at each other. Jonathan turns around, "What? You guys tired?"

  "Shut up," Nancy and Brooke tell him. "I heard something," Brooke whispers, looking at Nancy to make sure she isn't crazy. It makes the same sound again. "It sounds like it's in pain," Paisley whispers, pouting a bit at the thought of an animal being hurt. They all nod, wordlessly deciding to follow the noise.

   The four flashlights land on a dying deer. "Oh, shit. I don't wanna see that," Paisley turns away. Brooke approaches it, sad but knowing it shouldn't have to slowly bleed out. Nancy touches it, "It was hit by a car." The deer's neck slowly moves, probably hoping it'll just die soon. "We gotta put it out of its misery, guys," Brooke sighs. The three of them look at each other, none of them wanting to do it and knowing Paisley would never.

   Nancy looks down at the gun in her hands, she points it at the deer, finger lingering over the trigger. Brooke puts her hand out, "Give me."

  "I—Its fine—"

  "I can do it. I promise." Nancy hands the gun to Brooke. They stand up, slightly backing away from the deer. Brooke points the gun and takes a deep breath, she cocks it, staring at it as it whimpers. Her hand shakes as her finger rests on the trigger.

    She doesn't get a chance to shoot it though. They all yell as it gets dragged away and into the darkness. Panting, trying to process what just happened. "What was that?" Nancy whispers.

  "Is it dead?" Paisley whispers back. She slowly steps over to Brooke and grabs the back of her hoodie. They follow the blood trail past the tree but can't find the deer. "Where the hell did it go?" Brooke scratches the back of her neck. "You see any more blood?" Jonathan asks. Brooke points the gun all around them, trying her best not to freak out. "No," Nancy replies.

   They walk around the woods, Paisley still attached to Brooke. "How did it just disappear?" Paisley asks, her words wavering. Brooke turns each corner ready to shoot. "It probably didn't. It's gotta be here," Brooke can't tell if she's reassuring herself or Paisley.

   A scream that sounds like it's from Nancy echoes around the woods. "Nancy?!" Brooke and Paisley yell, running in the direction it came from. The two meet up with Jonathan standing over Nancy's bat. Brooke pants, "She's not here?"

  "Obviously not, Brooke," Jonathan sarcastically says, "Nancy!" He calls out. Their flashlights do their best to light up the dense forest. "Shit. Nancy!" Paisley yells. They continue to call out for their friend, walking away from the portal closing up behind them.

   It feels like hours that they've been calling after Nancy. Their hearts raced more and more by the second. "Where are you?" Jonathan yells, holding the flashlight out. Brooke points the gun out in front of them. "Johnny, where the hell could she have gone? If that thing got her she'd be dead and—"

  "Don't say that! God, Brooke," Paisley smacks Brooke on the arm. "We can hear her, Brooke. She's not dead," Jonathan shakes his head at her. Always assuming the worst. They continue to call out for her, the echoing of Nancy screaming back driving them all mad with anxiety.

   "Jonathan, I'm right here!" Nancy echoes. "Here? Where is here?" Paisley yells but she doesn't get a proper response, just Nancy panicking. "Shut up!" Jonathan impatiently yells, "Nancy, follow our voices!"

   "Nancy! We're right here!" Brooke yells. She's used to staying calm in horrible situations, it's an older sister instinct but God, is Brooke panicking inside. Everything Brooke hides from the outside, besides her judging looks, is internalized. The anxiety that runs through her is starting to make her hot in Hawkins, in November.

    Nancy's scream bounces off the trees. The three of them look at each other, panicked wide eyes. They run in the direction it came from only to realize they ended up where the bat was found. Squelching noises from the tree makes Brooke and Paisley turn their faces in disgust. Jonathan drops his bag, ready for anything. "Jesus, how does that happen?" Paisley points her flashlight at the hole in the tree.

    Jonathan gets closer to it, crouching down right in front of it. The light shows red stuff in the tree. "Nancy! Follow my voice!" Jonathan yells into it. "The fuck are you doing?" Brooke grabs him by the shoulder. "I'm trying to help Nancy!" Jonathan moves her hand off his shoulder. "No shit. You think she's in the hole?" Brooke gestures the gun towards it.

   "Can you not wave that thing around?" Paisley sighs. Jonathan rolls his eyes, calling out again for their friend, inching closer and closer to the hole. Brooke bites the bullet and leans towards it as well, not wanting Jonathan to get hurt.

    A hand shoots out through the webbing on the tree bark. Brooke and Jonathan fall on their back sides while Paisley screams bloody murder. "Jonathan! Guys!" It's Nancy's hand.

   Jonathan and Brooke jump to the tree, each grabbing a part of Nancy's arm. They groan and strain themselves as they pull Nancy through. "Oh my God!" Paisley cries. Nancy is finally out. She lands on top of Jonathan, sobbing as he holds her. "I got you," Jonathan whispers. Brooke rests a hand on Nancy's back, gently rubbing her up and down. She has no idea what to say.

    Brooke pants and quickly rummages for the gun she dropped in the leaves. Paisley starts crying because Nancy is crying now but Jonathan has his eyes on the hole closing up in the tree, completely getting rid of whatever the hell Nancy was rescued from.

    BROOKE'S FINGER GLIDES ACROSS the bookshelf downstairs in the Wheeler's home. She hasn't been inside in years, neither has Paisley. "You think she's okay?" Paisley softly asks. Jonathan and Nancy currently sit upstairs, comforting her after whatever just happened. Brooke bounces on the couch, folding her legs over each other.

   "Kind of a stupid question, Paisley. She sobbed the whole way home," Brooke frowns. She can hear the shower upstairs turn on and someone starts to walk down the stairs.

   Jonathan walks into the living room, "Hey, you guys okay?" He leans against the wall. Paisley shrugs, "What has she said?"

   He sighs, "She saw that—thing—in there. Exactly what Brooke and my mom described. It was dark and it was like it's home or something." Jonathan pauses, waiting for a reaction from either girl.

   Brooke stands up, walking over to him, "You stayin' here tonight?" Jonathan nods, yes, "Do you guys wanna go home? I can take you."

   Paisley and Brooke look at each other. Paisley would rather stay here but it'll probably be awkward. Nancy just went through hell and they're probably the last two people she'd want to see. "I'll call my dad to get us. You know where to find us if needed," Paisley smiles at him and he returns it. She makes her way over to the yellow phone on the wall.

   Brooke chuckles at Jonathan, stepping forward enough to elbow him. "What?" Jonathan deadpans. "You like her," Brooke smirks. Jonathan scoffs, "No I don't."

  "Then you're fucking stupid—"

  "Wha—"

  Brooke throws her hands up, "Anything is better than Steve," She teases. "Is that supposed to be a compliment? It sure as hell didn't feel like one," Jonathan keeps his deadpan face. Paisley walks back to them, "He's on the way. He was making mixtapes so expect him to be blasting music," She turns towards Jonathan, "Let us know how she is tomorrow."

   Brooke and Paisley start to walk out when Jonathan stops them. "Wait," They both turn around concerned, "Thank you guys."

   Brooke opens the door as she smiles, she can see the bright headlights coming down the road, "Hey, I saw that thing first. At least Paisley believes me now. Goodnight, Jonathan."

    She shuts the door behind them and they get into Cory's car. "Hey, girls. I have a new mixtape. Wanna hear?" Paisley sighs and rests her head against the glass. She just knows she's about to have a wild headache tomorrow. As much as Brooke loves an excited Cory, she denies the mixtape. She feels like every little noise right now will make the pit in her stomach worse. Each girl replays the hole and tugging Nancy out the whole ride to the Slora's and as they both try to fall asleep.

   Paisley's hand dangles off the bed when she finally knocks out. Brooke tugs the quilt up to her nose as she gently grabs it, providing her a little comfort as she closes her eyes once more.