CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE GATE

An hour later, and Kimmy was sat on the couch in the Sinclair household living room. It appeared Lucas was the only one home at that time, although Kimmy couldn't find it in her to stress over this, seeing as it was a Sunday and many were most likely off doing things that day.

The two boys were re-packing their bags of 'weapons' as the three prepared to leave. Lucas tying a burgundy bandana around his head while Aaron switched out his usual woolly black hat for a dark green bandana. The twos dramatic antics causing Kimmy to roll her eyes.

However she paused and stilled in shock as Lucas shoved a navy blue colored bandana in her hands. Kimmy turned to him with furrowed brows and a confused expression pulling on her features.

"What's this for?" She stupidly questioned, the question baffling both boys as they turned to face her with shocked expressions.

"For you to wear, obviously." Lucas replied instantly, Kimmy being able to tell from the tone of his voice that her question was unnecessary. "We're on a mission, Kimmy."

Kimmy fought and amused smirk as well as an eyeroll at the last part, knowing he was completely serious.

"I still don't-"

"Jesus, Kimmy," Aaron sighed and made his way over to her, grabbing the material from her hands. "We have to be careful. For all we know, this gate thing killed Will and it will kill us next if we don't watch-" Aaron cut himself off as Lucas smacked him over the head at his words. "But... it's unlikely."

If she could have, she would have rolled her eyes once more. But she couldn't, because Aaron was stood behind her tightly tying the bandana around her head, although because he couldn't see the front of her face, he had accidentally tied it over her eyes instead of her forehead.

"Aaron?" Kimmy questioned with a scoff, not bothering to wait for an answer before continuing. "You've tied it over my eyes."

"What?" He mumbled, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around to face him, Kimmy didn't need to see him to know he was rolling his eyes. "Whatever, at least I tried- you tie it, Lucas."

Kimmy heard the Sinclair boy scoff and move to walk behind her, tying the bandana over her forehead like the other two boys had done.

Just as Lucas opened his mouth to speak again, he was cut short as the doorbell rang loudly causing the trio to flinch.

Lucas let out a dramatic groan as he made his way out of the room and towards the door, leaving Aaron and Kimmy to finish packing the bags.

"What do you want?" The two heard Lucas ask roughly, causing the two twelve year olds to snap their gazes onto one another with looks of surprise.

Aaron went to press his ear to the wall and peek around the corner to see who was there, but Kimmy quickly stopped him. Grabbing onto his arm and dragging him back with a wide eyed expression before he could ease drop.

However, Kimmy couldn't fight the curiosity bubbling within her at the long silence which followed Lucas' question.

Soon, a smack was heard, and Kimmy was unable to keep Aaron from sticking his head out from around the corner to see the stranger stood at the door.

He snapped around to face Kimmy instantly, his hand over his mouth as he whispered. "It's Mike and Dustin."

Kimmy didn't respond, she didn't get a chance to because he was already back to his spot behind the wall where he could listen and see without being caught.

"I drew first blood, so..." Kimmy heard Mike trail off, his voice sounding nothing but bored as he spoke.

There was another silence, one which went completely unanswered. Kimmy grew even more confused.

She watched as Aaron jolted, suddenly moving from his spot near the wall to sit on the couch at the other end of the room at a rapid pace. Kimmy's brows raised as she watched him, but he simply opened his bag and pretended to look through it.

Lucas then entered the room once more with an almost angered expression on his face, closely followed by Dustin then Mike.

Dustin offered Kimmy a smile and a wave as he past her, Kimmy returned the gesture as she went to sit on the couch were Aaron was sat.

The room was definitely tense, Lucas, Aaron and Mike unsure of what to say to one another. Leaving Kimmy and Dustin in an awkward position.

"Oh," Aaron spoke up with a faux voice of surprise as well as furrowed brows. "Mike, Dustin- I didn't realise you two were here-"

Kimmy gave him a light smack on the arm to shut him up, causing the youngest Harrington to scoff, roll his eyes and fold his arms over his chest all while sinking further into the couch he sat on.

"Aaron," Lucas called, the boy already walking out of the room as he motioned for him to follow. "We need to talk over their offer."

Kimmy wore a dumbfounded expression on her face as she watched the group interact. She couldn't believe how seriously each of them where taking the situation.

Kimmy looked down at her hands as the heavy silence followed, unsure of what to do as Dustin and Mike pretended to be interested in the ceiling or their shoes instead of filling the silence.

"Okay, we'll shake." Lucas announced as the two made their way over to the other two boys. Dustin smiled at Lucas' words while Mike briefly let out an annoyed breath, quickly sticking his hand out. "On one condition."

Dustin's smile faltered and Mike looked more and more annoyed with the two with each passing second.

Aaron spoke up when Lucas nudged him, seemingly forgetting whatever the two had agreed on moments before. "Oh, uh, right- as long as we forget the weirdo and go straight to the gate-"

"Then the deal's off." Mike snapped instantly, and despite not saying, Kimmy sort of agreed with him.

They couldn't just abandon the small girl knowing she had nowhere to go, it wouldn't be right.

"Don't you think that's a bit harsh, Aaron-?" Kimmy's question was cut off by Lucas and Aaron yelling right back in Mike's face.

"Fine!"

Kimmy could see Mike was being pushed to his limits just by the way his nose flared as he took a breath, stepping forward the slightest to emphasise his point. "Fine!"

"No, no, not fine! Guys seriously?" Dustin cut in, grabbing ahold of Mike's shoulder and pulling him back just as Kimmy went and stood by the curly haired boys side. "Do you guys even remember what happened on the Bloodstone Pass?"

Kimmy couldn't help but feel relieved as she watched Lucas, Aaron and Mike all exchange shrugs and looks of confusion. Glad she wasn't the only one confused.

Dustin looked appalled by this. His eyes went wide and his mouth dropped, physically taking a moment to recollect himself and fight of his shock.

"We couldn't agree on what path to take, so we split up the party, and those trolls took us out one by one?" Dustin sighed, his frustrations evident in his voice. "And it all went to shit, and we were all disabled!"

Dustin was practically shouting by the time he finished what he was saying, whether it be the volume or tone of his voice, or the actual words he had spoken, Kimmy couldn't help but think he was being dramatic. Just a tiny bit.

"So we stick together, no matter what!" He continued, sounding distraught at the idea of his friend group splitting up.

"Yeah, I agree. But this is the party," Lucas spoke up quietly after a moment, motioning to each of the twelve year olds in the room - including Kimmy. Causing the girl to smile to herself. "Right here in this room."

Mike took another shaky breath in hope to calmly get his point across. "El is one of us now-"

"Um, no, she's not." Lucas snapped, rolling his eyes. "Not even close!"

"That is such bull!" Mike snapped back, abruptly pointing to Kimmy as if to prove his point making Kimmy's eyes go wide. "El isn't a member, but Kimmy is? El has more of a reason than she does-"

"No she doesn't." Aaron interrupted, his tone matching Lucas' from moments before as his face scrunched up in offence. "Kimmy's apart of the party, Mike, deal with it! None of the rest of us have a problem with-"

"Well, no one else but you two has a problem with El!" Mike retorted, his brows furrowed and his lips curled into a scowl.

To be fair, the boy was right. Neither Mike, Dustin or Kimmy had a problem with befriending the girl. However Kimmy felt to uncomfortable to say anything about this, seeing as she had already been made an example out of in a negative light.

"Yeah! Because she's a liar and a traitor!" Lucas yelled, throwing his arms up in frustration. "She will never be a member of-"

"She was just trying to keep us safe!" Mike attempted to reason. "She didn't mean to hurt you, it was an accident!"

"An accident?" Lucas scoffed disbelievingly.

"Alright, accident or not..." Dustin trailed off, looking between the two cautiously obviously unsure who to believe. "Admit it, it was a little awesome-"

"Awesome?" Lucas repeated, sounding furious.

"Uh- yeah?" Dustin replied with a calm voice. "She threw you in the air with her mind!"

"I could have been killed!" Lucas retaliated, now beyond angry.

"Which is exactly why we need her." Mike began, his voice much calmer now. "She's a weapon! Do you seriously want to fight the Demogorgon with your wrist rocket? That's like R2-D2 going to fight Darth Vader."

Kimmy fought the look of perplexity forcing its way onto her features, instead pretending to get the last reference which fell past the Wheeler boys lips.

Mike looked to Lucas blankly. "We're no use to Will if we're dead."

"If you two want to waste your time looking for a traitor, go ahead." Lucas muttered, although one would have had to have been an idiot not to have heard the anger in each word. "Cause we aren't spending our time on her anymore. No way!"

Kimmy understood he was upset, but a part of her couldn't help but worry for the small girl, afraid something would happen to her if she had really run away.

"We're going to the gate." Lucas continued, motioning once more to Aaron and Kimmy. "And we're gonna find Will."

...

After Dustin and Mike had left, immediately the three left at Lucas' took out a roll of tape and taped both Lucas and Aaron's walkies and compasses to the hand-bars of their bikes, in order to follow where the compass would naturally be pulled in. Leading the three to the gate.

Kimmy was confused at what the aim of taping the walkies was though, but she didn't mention it. Probably being supplied with an answer that she should have already known.

They left his house soon after, Kimmy back sitting on the back of Aaron's bike - much to her dismay. She hated being stuck on the back of his bike, not only was it uncomfortable but he went too fast for her liking. She did not feel safe one bit.

Just as the three went to speed off, Kimmy noticed a man sat in a large white power and light van, one of which she had never seen before.

She held eye contact with the man for a moment, however this only made her feel uneasy. She didn't bother pointing him out to the other two, despite the fact he was parked right across the street and was clearly watching them, she didn't want either of the two to make a fuss. She just wanted to get away from him.

It wasn't long before the trio were in the woods once more, although Aaron and Lucas were now pushing their bikes and the three were all now walking as they followed the compasses.

The compasses lead them to a large barbed-wired fence, going on for as far as Kimmy could see.

"Oh, man." Lucas huffed to himself as he too looked side to side to catch a glimpse of the fence which seemed as if it were almost unending.

He then grunted, picking up his bike and pushing it along to the left in hope to reach the end of the fencing.

Kimmy heard Aaron huff from beside her at this, rolling his eyes and groaning in annoyance as he followed his friend.

The three went on to walk in that direction for what felt like hours, but Kimmy knew it hadn't been, seeing as it was still light out.

Lucas suddenly came to a halt at a certain part of the fence, causing Kimmy to walk right into the back of Aaron as she had been watching her shoes.

"I think this is it." Lucas told the two, squinting his eyes in attempt to look through the fence.

"Yeah, I think you're right." Aaron murmured thoughtfully, never taking his eyes off his compass.

Aaron then dropped his bike abruptly, causing Kimmy to flinch. Tilting his head up, he looked around frantically above him, sighing and making his way backwards a few moments later, leaving his bike behind.

"Uh- hello?" Kimmy called to him, her face scrunched up in utter confusion. "Where the hell are you going, Aaron?"

Aaron shrugged and turned back to face her with a dumbfounded expression on his face, pointing to the tree next to him. "I'm climbing the tree."

This confused Kimmy more than anything. She thought the idea of climbing a tree would be absolutely out of the question for the boy, although it were as if he wasn't even thinking twice about it.

She watched Lucas shrug and go to follow him, leaving Kimmy to trail behind the two.

Kimmy didn't miss the way Aaron psychically tensed up and cringed when his bare-hands touched the trunk of the tree. He had a look on his face as if he looked like he would throw up any moment. The boy quickly shook his head, as if reminding himself of something before he both psychically and mentally forced himself to climb the tree. Lucas doing so after him.

Kimmy succeeded in climbing the tree two times as quick as what the two boys before her had done. If there was one skill Kimmy would allow herself; it was that. She climbed the tree by her house each time she needed a quick escape from her father and couldn't reach the front door.

The idea of sitting in the tree branch didn't startle her one bit, and she could tell from Lucas' face that it didn't startle him either. Aaron however, looked as if he could pass out. Refusing to even open his backpack like Lucas had done as he squeezed his eyes shut and refused to let go if the branch below him.

Unlike Aaron, Lucas had his binoculars out and pressed to his face, doing his best to see over the fence. Kimmy suspected he succeeded in this seeing as he gasped loudly seconds later.

"What?" Aaron asked instantly, going into panic as he looked to the two sat next to him with wide eyes.

"There's people over there, over the fence." Lucas spoke, his voice coming out quiet. "Like, douchebags in suits and everything!"

"What?" Kimmy gasped, snapping her head over to the boy sat in between her and Aaron. "Let me see."

Lucas handed over the binoculars for her to have a look, and sure enough, a bunch of important looking men in suits filling into a big, tall, plain looking building  with some sort of radio looking station on the roof in groups. 

Kimmy felt herself frown, it must have been something to do with the government. That's what she figured.

Although just as she went to pass the binoculars back, she stilled, catching a glimpse of rows of empty white and blue power and light vans parked outside.

The same ones she had seen the man drive earlier.

"Guys, i don't like this. I think we should go back." She blurted, yet felt as if she couldn't tear her eyes from the binoculars in her hold.

"Why?" Lucas questioned in a puzzled tone.

"What's wrong?" Aaron rushed out at the same time, clearly panicking. "Oh, my god, this is so bad guys. What if people come after us? What if-"

"Aaron." Lucas cut off sharply, before clearing his throat and talking once more. "What do you see, Kimmy?"

Kimmy removed the binoculars from her face and handed them to Lucas as she allowed him to look. "See those white power and light vans?" She questioned, pausing until she saw his nod. "When we left your house one was there. A man was watching us, like in a really weird way, he really creeped me out-"

"Oh, my god." She heard Aaron sigh from next to Lucas. "We shouldn't have done this, we've messed with stuff we shouldn't have. Oh, christ! Oh, god, I bet the creepy guy followed us! We are so, so dead-"

"Wait." Lucas spoke up again, his own lips twisting into a frown. "The vans are leaving. A bunch of men just drove away in them, and they definitely weren't power and light workers, they're dressed in suits."

Kimmy looked to Lucas as he removed the binoculars from his face, the two seemingly catching on quite quick.

Those were the bad people. Like, the really bad people.

What if they had taken Will? What if there were other missing kids in there?

Kimmy then jolted in fear, freezing entirely as her face dropped as she recalled what Aaron had told her about the small girl when Kimmy hadn't been allowed to join the group at Mike's.

The bad men. The bad men Eleven claimed to have been after her. The bad men Eleven claimed wanted to hurt her.

Eleven was missing, and the bad men were all filing out in disguised vans.

They were after Eleven.

"They aren't after Will." Kimmy whispered to the two boys sat to her left, almost scared the men would here her. "It's Eleven."

Lucas nodded, looking terrified. Aaron appeared to be confused, but that didn't stop a look of horror filling his features.

"What about Eleven?" Aaron asked in a whisper, but it sounded as if he already had an idea.

"It's the bad men she told us about, this must be where she escaped from. Where she tried to keep us away from and why she messed with the compasses." Kimmy explained in a quiet voice, trying to stop herself from shaking from shock and fear.

"They weren't just watching us earlier because the guy was weird, they're after Eleven." Kimmy forced herself to continue. "They want to find her and they know we know where she is. There leaving to drag her back there."

The two boys looked horrified, Lucas taking a breath as he shook his head and looked between Kimmy and Aaron. "We have to warn the others."

...

Omg season 1 is almost finished??????

Anyway I'll be updating ALOT in the next few weeks because I want to get as much done before Christmas, so expect lots of updates in the next few weeks!!!!

- AJ :)