CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CODE RED

Kimmy was nervous as she held the telephone to her ear, patiently waiting for Aaron to pick up the phone. She could have called him on his walkie, but Kimmy didn't really like using the walkies she'd much rather call on the phone.

She found when talking to her friends on her walkies it was just awkward. She hated having to talk like she was apart of an undercover investigation or something.

The second she had returned home after school that day, she rushed to the phone, dialling the number to the Harrington household as fast as she could.

She hoped that Mike would apologise to Aaron for what had happened that day, but she couldn't guarantee anything. Frankly, the Wheeler boy had bigger problems.

Will's episodes had gotten much more frequent and it was quite clear to Kimmy that it was stressing Mike out tremendously.

Despite the treatment she had faced in regard to the boy, Kimmy always made it a point to remind herself why he was lashing out.

Obviously he was struggling with the loss of Eleven, that much was clear to everyone, even though he was a lot better then he had been a few months ago.

Will was also stressing the boy out. Well, not anything Will had done but more what was happening to Will.

Despite it hurting the girl, she could handle it when the boy would lash out on her. At least she could pick reasons for her to twist it and try under stand his sudden rage.

However with that said, she did not appreciate Mike going after Aaron like he had done earlier that day. Obviously the boy had felt bad afterwards and the group often bickered. But Kimmy felt like the boy had taken it too far.

Dustin, Lucas and Aaron would bicker - Mike and Will wouldn't. Kimmy got the impression the later two took everything much more serious than the other three.

Kimmy wouldn't have batted an eye at what had happened that morning if it had been over anything else. But everyone knew what Aaron was like with germs - he wouldn't even let people touch his bare arm or hand, unless it were the four boys in the party and even then it was just hand shakes.

Everyone knew Aaron would flip out with the garbage bag, and what Mike had done was wrong. But Kimmy found herself feeling almost saddened for the boy when it was only Kimmy and Max who had gone after him to see if he was okay - the two who were apparently not loyal or good enough to actually be counted as members of the friends group.

"Hello?" A voice from the other end of the phone pulled Kimmy from her thoughts.

Kimmy began to panic, it was Steve Harrington on the other side of the phone. Truthfully, Kimmy was scared of the older boy. She had seen how he could push Aaron and how he had pushed people around last year. She'd heard lots about him and to be perfectly honest Kimmy didn't want to do anything to piss the boy off.

"Hello," Kimmy replied in a shaky voice, trying not to let the boy hear the slight fear in her voice. "I'm sorry to bother you, but could I talk to Aaron? It's Kimmy-"

"Kimmy?" The boy repeated, as if trying to remember who she was. "Who-"

Steve was cut off and from what Kimmy could gather someone had tried to grab the phone off of him, most likely Aaron seeing as his the twos parents weren't home.

"Steve," she could hear Aaron's muffled voice as the two fought over the phone. "Give me the phone-"

"I don't know..." Steve trailed off in a voice of faux seriousness, teasing the boy. "I don't think the phone is for you-"

"Give me the phone!" Aaron groaned, clearly growing annoyed with his brother.

Kimmy felt awkward hearing the conversation taking place on the other end of the call that she wasn't supposed to hear. She was going to tear the phone from her ear to give the siblings some privacy but instantly back tracked when she was mentioned.

"Oh, sorry, I almost forgot," Steve laughed teasingly, as if he'd only just remembered who the girl was from the time she'd been over to his house while Aaron tried and failed to help her with homework. "Wouldn't want to stop you talking to your girlfriend-"

"Shut up." Aaron snapped at his brother, Kimmy could just tell by the tone of his voice that his face was probably bright red. "Give me the phone right now."

The two went on like that for a little while longer, Kimmy placing a hand to her mouth so the two wouldn't hear her listening.

"Hello?" Aaron sighed after a minute, clearing his throat in attempt to come across as calm and unbothered.

"Hi," Kimmy replied, doing her best to pretend she hadn't heard what the boys had to say. "Um, I'm just calling to see if you're okay? After today?"

There was a momentary silence, none of the two of them sure on what to say next.

"Oh," Aaron mumbled, sounding embarrassed. "I'm fine."

"Okay," Kimmy replied calmly. "I just wanted to check."

Kimmy didn't want the boy to think she was harassing him, she was just worried about him. Earlier that day was the most upset Kimmy had ever seen him.

"Okay," Aaron spoke quietly, "do you want to do something today?"

Kimmy bit the inside of her cheek hard, unsure of what to say. She couldn't bail on her plans with Max, but she also felt bad declining the boys offer.

"I'm sorry," she blurted after a moment, her voice rushed as she was slightly stressed. "I have plans with Max tonight. I can hang out tomorrow if you're free?"

"I'm free tomorrow." Aaron answered instantly.

"Okay, um... I'll see you tomorrow then." Kimmy trailed off glad the boy was feeling better.

"See you tomorrow." Aaron replied, quietly.

Kimmy left soon after, heading to the arcade where her redhead friend was waiting for her.

Kimmy didn't have any money on her so she wasn't playing any games unlike Max, instead Kimmy settled on just watching the girl play.

Kimmy had no interest in playing or watching someone else play any of the arcade games, so she found herself talking to the girl as she played. However, because Max was so focused on playing her games, she hardly answered the girl talking to her, never hearing her.

Kimmy went home that night deciding that maybe it would be better if the two didn't go to the arcade the next time the two hung out.

Kimmy went to bed that night excited to see Aaron the next day, knowing she would have nothing to worry about as it was just the two of them.

When Aaron and Kimmy hung out just the two of them the girl knew she didn't have anything to worry about.

However, Kimmy's plans came crashing down around her the next morning. It seemed whenever Kimmy had something she was excited for, the universe would do everything in its power to ruin it for her.

The morning she was supposed to meet Aaron, Kimmy made sure she was up in plenty time so she could get ready in time to meet him and ensure she wasn't late.

The two were meeting in the town centre in twenty minutes, but this meant that Kimmy would have to leave right then to be right on time seeing as she was walking.

However, just as Kimmy went to leave her room, the walkie on her bed began to blare, startling the girl.

"Guys, this is Dustin, again." The boys annoyed voice came blaring through the radio, causing Kimmy to panic and rushing over to it. "Does anyone copy? This is a code red. I repeat, a code red!"

"Dustin?" Kimmy asked, talking into the radio as she began to panic further, worried for the boy on the other end of the radio. "I copy, what's wrong?"

"Thank Christ!" The boy sighed in relief before turning serious again. "Kimmy I need your help, I need you to come over right now - it's urgent!"

"Okay, okay," Kimmy blurted, her hands beginning to sweat as she feared the boy was in serious danger. "I'm on my way, I'm leaving right now I swear."

"Okay, hurry!" Dustin rushed out before the radio cut off and Kimmy was left listening to static.

Kimmy sighed, rushing over to the phone and quickly dialling the number for the Harrington household, hoping Aaron hadn't left yet.

No one answered.

Kimmy groaned, conflicted on what to do. She knew she had plans with Aaron and she was never one to cancel on her friends, but she was extremely worried for Dustin. She knew what a code red was and it was no good.

Kimmy slammed the phone back on the receiver, rushing back into her room in search for her walkie as she frantically tried to get ahold of Aaron.

"Aaron, are you there?" Kimmy asked, by this point on the verge of tears due to pent up panic. "Aaron do you copy?"

She waited for a moment in hope she would get a response, she didn't get one.

"Aaron? If you're there please answer." Kimmy tried again, her voice frantic as she spoke. "It's urgent I need you to answer."

Again, the boy didn't answer.

Kimmy sighed, swallowing down the nerves which were seemingly eating her alive and left the house. Heading for the Henderson household and not the town centre.

...

Aaron sat in the front seat of Steve's car incredibly pissed off. Steve had offered to drive him into the town so he wouldn't be late, but Steve hadn't told the boy this meant he would have to make a million detours on the way.

Aside from the occasional fight, Aaron felt the two brothers relationship was slowly getting better.

Yes, the two still bickered everyday - but that's all it was, bickering. It was nothing in comparison to how bad the two boys had been a few months ago.

The two weren't best friends, but they were definitely getting along a lot better.

However, Steve was really testing Aaron's patience that morning.

Not only had he insisted that he had to go to the store and get roses for Nancy on his way to drop Aaron off, but he had also insisted on actually giving them to Nancy before taking the boy where he needed to go.

Steve had gone on and on about how he had messed up with the girl and that he had to make it better. Aaron didn't really know, he had stopped listening to him.

"I won't be long," Steve muttered to Aaron as he got out the car, fixing his hair in the mirror.

Aaron checked the watch on his wrist and automatically wished he hadn't. "Hurry up, Steve. I'm already ten minutes late-"

Aaron was cut off by the slamming of the car door, leaving Aaron sat in the front seat with an annoyed expression etched onto his features. Aaron sat glaring angrily out the window.

Steve knew it was Kimmy Aaron was going to see and he had made a point to tease him relentlessly over it, causing Aaron to turn red in the face everytime.

Aaron would never ever admit it but he had realised that maybe he did like the girl in question - just a tiny bit.

Aaron had decided he would not tell anyone about this - especially not Kimmy, not ever. He had just recently managed to salvaged his relationship with his brother to the point he would talk to him, he didn't want to have to relive being ignored because he had embarrassed himself in front of the girl.

There was not a chance in hell Aaron thought the girl would ever like him back, even if he only liked her just a tiny bit as he insisted.

It was no secret that Aaron's self confidence was not very high, seeing as he had been ignored most of his life as well as all his flaws which came along with him.

Aaron was still embarrassed about what had happened at school the day before where he'd freaked out over the garbage. The boy hated the fact he couldn't handle germs to the point it was probably an actual phobia, Aaron was sure no one liked germs, but no one would act the way he did over it. That being one of the many flaws he didn't like about himself.

Aaron flinched as there was sudden yelling from outside the car, the boy shifting in his seat to see out the back window, surprised to find Dustin and Kimmy standing talking to his brother.

Aaron furrowed his brows as he watched the three, suddenly scared the girl had ditched him to hang out with Dustin instead. With that panic set in his brain, Aaron went to get out the car and make his way over to the small group.

He didn't manage to do this though, seeing as Dustin snatched the roses from Steve's hands, he and Kimmy storming towards the car Aaron was sat in and climbing in the back seat.

"What are you guys doing?" Aaron asked the two as they sat in the car, Kimmy turning to face the boy with wide eyes as Dustin was still yelling over at Steve from his spot in the backseat next to Kimmy.

"Aaron why the hell have you not been on your walkie?" Kimmy stressed, looking the most worked up Aaron had ever seen her. "We have been trying to get ahold of you all for the past thirty minutes!"

"What?" Aaron asked, his face scrunching up. "I thought we were hanging out?"

"I know and I'm sorry for bailing, I tried to call you but I had to." Kimmy blurted, talking at an alarmingly fast pace. "There is bigger problems right now. You won't believe what Dustin has done-"

Aaron raised his brows, looking to her with a mix of confusion and hesitancy. But before he could ask what she meant his voice was drained out by Dustin's yells.

"Hurry up, Steve!" Dustin yelled, evidently frustrated. "I have told you a billion times that this is a code red!"

Steve rolled his eyes, reluctantly making his way over to the car.

"We need to go!" Dustin demanded the second the older boy was in the car, causing Steve to roll his eyes.

"Relax would you?" Steve muttered, scoffing as he started the car.

"I will not relax!" Dustin panicked from next to Kimmy, his voice cracking as he spoke. "Not when there is a monster in my house-"

Aaron felt his eyes widen, turning to look to Dustin with a horrified expression.

Steve scoffed again, rolling his eyes once more as he went to shut down Dustin's claims. "I swear to god, man, it's just some little lizard, okay?"

"It's not a lizard." Kimmy retorted, shaking her head with her eyes wide.

Steve raised his brows as if to say he was unimpressed. "How do you know?"

"Because his face opened up and he ate my cat!" Dustin yelled, obviously panicked as he grabbed the back of Steve and Aaron's seats and stuck his head between them.

"What?" Aaron gasped, looking to Dustin with a panicked glance. "How the hell did you get-"

"It was Dart." Kimmy replied, rolling her eyes as she leaned further back into her seat.

"You kept him?" Aaron gaped, already knowing the answer as Dustin sent him a sheepish glance.

...

The group of four were stood at the trunk of Steve's car upon arriving at the Henderson household. Dustin having asked Steve to use his bat covered in nails for protection.

"How do you know he has that?" Aaron asked Dustin curiously.

"Because he had it when he helped Nancy and Johnathan fight off the demogorgon thing last year." Dustin shrugged as he replied, as if it was no big deal.

Aaron on the other hand thought it was a huge deal, he didn't even know that his brother had known about the upside down stuff let alone have been involved in it.

If anything, it made Aaron realise that he and his brother really needed to start talking more. Most other siblings would have known about something like that the second it happened.

How had Dustin known and Aaron didn't. It really put it all in perspective for the younger boy.

Steve slammed the trunk shut after grabbing his bag and a flashlight, seeing as the sun had began to set.

Steve led the way round the back of Dustin's house, the three thirteen year olds unapologetically terrified.

Dustin pointed at the locked bunker on the ground, letting the older boy know that was where the monster last was.

Steve stopped walking, listening for a moment to see if he could hear any sort of movement from inside. After a moment, the boy got impatient sighing as he turned to the group. "I don't hear shit-"

"He's in there!" Dustin insisted in a whisper, a look of fear on his face.

Steve then lifted his bat and banged it against the locked door, only to be met with silence once more.

"Alright, listen, kid." Steve sighed as he turned to face Dustin and Kimmy, flashing his light in their faces. "I swear if this is some halloween prank, you're dead."

"It's not a prank." Kimmy insisted, her eyes squeezed shut as his light was still in her face. "Can you get your light out of my face?"

The boy did so, adverting the light downwards as he then turned away from the girl and to Dustin. "Where's the key to this thing?"

Dustin quickly rummaged through his pocket, throwing the key at the older boy.

Steve crouched down and opened the door, peaking his head inside to look. Kimmy and Dustin took a step back due to fear, Aaron furrowing his brows in confusion.

Aaron was stood next to his brother holding onto his flashlight so he could see, handing it to Steve so the boy could get a better look.

"Nothings down there." Steve murmured as he continued to look with his flashlight.

"He must have moved further down." Dustin muttered in response, he and Kimmy shuffling foreword to see.

"Um... I'll stay up here in case he tries to escape." Kimmy said in a faux confidence, Dustin violently nodding his head.

Slowly, Steve turned to face the two scared teenagers with a dumbfounded expression. "Are you serious?"
The boy muttered as he stood, walking down the steps carefully, flashlight and bat still in hand.

Aaron began to panic as his brother moved further and further down the steps until finally he was out of sight.

Aaron felt his breathing pick up as he looked down into the darkness, the light from his torch not even visible anymore. Aaron began worrying something was wrong.

"Steve?" Aaron called, his voice slightly shaky from fear. "Are you alright?"

There was a moment of silence, until suddenly Steve was back in sight, his flashlight shining up at the standing three.

"Get down here." Steve called bluntly.

Dustin instantly rushed down the steps, Kimmy quick to follow. However Aaron hesitated, fearful as he was not knowing what to expect.

"It's okay," Kimmy whispered from the top step, looking up at him and waving her hand for him to follow her. "If Steve says it's okay to come down then it must be, right?"

Reluctantly, Aaron nodded, slowly following closely behind the girl.

Once all remaining three had made it down the steps, Steve used his flashlight to point towards something in the distance.

Aaron's eyes widened as he realised it was a huge hole in the wall, Kimmy gasping from next to him.

"Oh, shit." Dustin murmured quietly, sounding defeated.

Slowly, the four made their way over to the hole and looked in, Steve pointing his light so the group could see. The small tunnel must have went on for miles, the ground completely dug away.

"Oh, fuck." Aaron whispered as he looked at it, Steve nodding in agreement from his right.

...

Another chapter kinda juicy lol😲

anyway this hasn't been double checked or looked over so there are probably mistakes lol

hope you all are enjoying the story so far!!!

- AJ :)