*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ CRUEL SUMMER ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ WAKE UP ! ❫ ❞
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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ SEASON THREE ☀️ ⁺⑅

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SUPER FREAKS SERIES ⋆ 🚲.
♯ ❝ I'M NOT REALLY HERE ! ❞
CHAPTER FOURTEEN ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 1985, July 4th ─── episode six
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THE HOSPITAL LIGHTS FLICKER WITH A HAUNTING HUE, PULSATING IN QUICK BEATS LIKE HIS HEART HAMMERING INSIDE HIS CHEST, ready to burst and break free. He skidded around a corner, the dead and decaying vines slithering around the floor in chase. Heaving lungs longing for fresh air, for a reprieve but Milo Hopper could not stop running.

There was a dull pounding in his skull, like an alarm clock ringing in the distance, beckoning him away from this nightmare. His sneakers squelched on the linoleum floor, hands outstretched to push open the double door in front of him. They slammed open, cracking the plastered wall with a deafening bang.

He twisted his head around to look over his shoulder, brown fearful eyes watching as the shadows danced unnaturally on the ground and wall, a shadowy hand reaching around the corner in search for him.

But with his focus on the mindflayer, he was unable to watch the vines wrapping around his ankle.

He was swung from his feet, crashing into the ground, head banging on the floor, the throbbing only increasing despite the fact that his body wasn't really in the Upside Down. He groaned, pushing himself up by his elbows before skirting back to his feet.

But the vines continued their onslaught, and Milo cried out as he was slammed against the wall, air leaving his lungs. He gasped, tears in his eyes as he trashed in the deadly and constricting grip. Ignoring the pain in his back he screamed and clawed at the thick vines in desperation.

One strong pull and a quick twist of his body had him falling back to the ground and he scrambled to his hand and knees, dashing for another set of doors at the end of the hallway. His thoughts were racing and scattered, and now more than ever, did Milo wish Eleven was there or even Hopper. His family. The only clear trail thoughts lead him back to their last conversations, their fights.

Tears were now freely streaming down his face as he ran through the door, and up a set of stairs. 

"Eleven!" His call was desperate, hoping, praying that wherever she was, she would hear him. "Eleven please!" He was running on adrenaline alone, surging through the building. Onward and around corners without a second thought. Everything seemed endless and on good fate he pulled open a door, slammed it close with his back before locking it and heaving in a deep breath.

The Hospital room was small, a single bed, a nightstand and a foldable chair. Clambering forward he grabbed the chair and placed it under the doorknob as extra measure.  

Falling to the ground, he pressed himself further against the furthest wall, the cold seeping through his clothes and cooling his sweltering skin. He let his head fall back, shoulders shaking before he repeatedly slammed his palms forcefully against his head. "Wake up! Wake up!"

God he wanted out, he wanted away, away from the Upside Down, away from the Russians, away from this goddamn cursed town.

Every breath he drew was high pitched and burned his throat, begging for something to drink—even his teeth were hurting.

"Are you there?" A voice suddenly sounded from behind the door, but it wasn't as human as it tried to be. It was darker. "We know you are." The voice taunted. "We've been growing stronger."

Milo covered his mouth with his hands, trying to silence his laboured breathing.

"You knew I was there right? You felt me?" There was a dark chuckle, "Yes, yes I've been close, I've been growing my army."

He whimpered, the hairs on his arms raising.

"You were once a part of it—" The voice hissed and the doorknob rattled.

Pushing himself back up to his feet, Milo looked around the room for a way out.

"Eleven!" He tried again in desperation. "Steve! Dustin!"

"Get me out! Get me out!" He bellowed, voice cracking, "Juno! Juno!"

"They can't help you now."

"You can't hurt me!" Milo shouted in desperation, "I'm not really here!"

"It doesn't work like that Milo Hopper. You and me we are the same—there is not one without the other." It cackled.  "Growing stronger, inside your mind for so long. You are me."

He frantically looked around, before his gaze settled on the window—lightning flashed before his eyes. His chest heaved—shadows reshaping into claws, reaching out for the building he was in.

He scratched at the window latch, skin tearing at his hysterical movements as it slid open with a loud creak whilst the slamming against the hospital door only grew louder—the sound of splintering wood sounding from behind him.

He jerked his head around as he heard the chair fall, and an hand reached through the gabing hole to unlock the door.

The wind blew harshly against his skin as he climbed through the window, almost falling back when he saw how high up he was. The door creaked open, almost in slow motion and footsteps sounded behind him.

A man—no a teenager stood in front of him, sunken eyes and pale sweaty skin. But it was the eyes that startled him the most. They looked completely dead, despite the crooked grin he was sporting.

"There you are." The teen taunted. "Nowhere to run." Shadows spread across the floor like smoke, inching closer.

His foot slipped and Milo latched onto the windowsill, knuckles turning white before he glanced back outside, at the ground, hair whipping wildly in the wind.

This was it. He closed his eyes, waiting for the familiar attack.

"Milo?" an angelic whisper.

His eyes snapped open, and he watch the teen's eyes narrow dangerously as he stepped closer.

"Milo? Milo wake up! Milo!"

Juno. That was Juno's voice.

"I'm not really here." He whispered to himself.

Gathering the last remaining bit of his courage, Milo glared at the possessed teen. "I'm not really here." He spat out.

The possessed teen leaped forward, shadows following his movement, but Milo already closed his eyes, released his hold on the windowsill and let himself fall... fall... fall—all the way down.

"You cannot hide from me."

Its words echoed on his mind.

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˚ ₊ ♡ 1985, July 4th ─── episode six
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THE MACHINE RUMBLED, THE GLOWING TEAR IN THE WALL PULSATING AND RIPPING AS THE GROUP OF FIVE watched with fear. But it was Dustin who broke the spell. "The Gate."

"Gate?" Juno whispered nervously, "What kind of gate?"

Dustin swallowed, wringing his hands together, "To the Upside Down. Will was trapped there—it's where the Demogorgon and the Mindflayer live."

Juno frowned, mouthing the names before she realised where she heard those terms before. "Aren't those D&D terms?"

The curly haired boy perked up at her knowledge. "You know D&D?" He asked excitedly.

"Uh—yeah, I used to play in Middleschool..." She trailed off before shaking the memories away. "That doesn't explain that though." She pointed at the gate.

Steve rolled his eyes, "You're dearest daddy made superchildren, what's so unbelievable about Demogorgons and Mindflayers?"

Juno crossed her arms indignantly, "Because those are from a fantasy game!"

"Did you ever read a comic book?!" Steve threw his hands up, "Those are full of people with superpowers! They made that real!"

"You've been reading a lot of comic books lately?" She raised an eyebrow.

Steve stammered, blushing before Robin interrupted them.

"Guys! Sorry to interrupt your philosophical debate, but we have much more serious things to worry about!"

"Right—right." Steve ran a hand through his hair. "It doesn't matter."

"Back to that Gate. You guys have seen this before?" Robin inquired, looking between Steve and Dustin as they all rushed back down the stairs.

"Not exactly." Steve denied.

"Then what, exactly?"

"All you need to know it's bad." Dustin explained hurriedly.

"It's really bad." Steve added.

"Like end-of-the-human-race-as-we-know-it kind of bad."

"Alright! It's bad!" Juno grimaced, "What do we do?"

"How do you guys even know about this!" Robin asked, irritation laced in her voice and Juno crossed her arms, jutting out her hip as she waited for the two boys to elaborate.

"um...Steve, Juno—" Erica intercepted the conversation. "Where is your Russian friend?"

"He's right—" She pointed at the wall." There..."

He clearly wasn't anymore.

Red lights flickered on, an annoyingly loud alarm blaring. "Shit."

Steve ran forward, peeking through the door to see the chaos outside the small communications room. Soldiers were running about, brandishing their weapons and shouting unfamiliar words.

"Halt! Halt!" A soldier spotted the teens and Steve's eyes widened as he pushed Juno back before slamming the door close and locking it.

"Shit!" He cursed, "Go! Go! Go! Go!"

"We still have to find Milo!" Juno cried out as they dashed away, going wherever the hallway would lead them.

"Move!" Dustin bellowed, throwing the door open, "Let's move."

They skidded to a stop as they entered the observing deck they had only just seen from above. Scientist were staring at them in confusion before realisation set in and they started shouting.

Pushing Erica forward, toward a set of stairs, Steve, Robin and Juno took the rear. "Go! Shit!, shit, shit!"

Dustin screamed as he pushed the people in their way to side, while the Russian soldiers chased after them.

The humming from the strange contraption only grew louder, and the temperature only becoming hotter as they came closer.

"Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit."

"This is crazy!" Juno exclaimed with fearful wide eyes as there was no way of crossing with the machine on and blasting its laser.

"This way!" Steve waved them over before tackling a guard climbing the stairs to the ground.

"Oh shit! Oh shit!" He almost ran into more guards, but Juno grabbed his wrist, hauling him to the right and they crashed into a couple of round, metallic containers—that to their luck, blocked the path of two soldiers.

"Come on! Come one!" Erica urged them on.

"This way!" Robin shouted, slamming open another door, the red and blue lights flashing of the walls. "Come on, quick!"

"Hold the door!" Steve instructed as he slammed his body against it with full force.

"Robin!"

The girl cursed before rushing over to help Steve.

"Shit!"

"Now what do we do!" Juno cried out when there was no other pathway.

"Here! Come on! Let's go." Erica shouted, opening a grate on the floor.

"Come on!" Dustin waved frantically at the two teens by the door.

"Guys! You have to leave, now!" Juno pleaded, heart thundering in her chest.

"Guys come on!" Dustin was already manoeuvring himself down into the airduct.

"No! Just go get some help okay!?" Steve countered but Dustin paused, wide eyes looking at the trio. "What are you doing!? Go!"

"I won't forget you!" Dustin shouted before disappearing down the airduct.

Juno gave them one last look before dropping down after the two younger kids.

The grate had just fully fallen down again when the Russian broke in.

Juno breathed in deeply, the two younger kids clutching on her hands as they listened.

Shouting and the cocking of guns was heard. The trio waited paralysed as Robin and Steve screamed and trashed above them, before the sounds faded away as they were dragged off.

"Now what?" Erica whispered fearfully.

Juno took a deep breath, mustering all her courage before addressing the kids. "Like Steve said, we go get help—even better; you two need to get help."

Dustin furrowed his brows as he looked at the older girl. "What about you?"

Juno grinned, "I'm going to find Milo."

"Are you sure it's not safer to stay together?" Erica asked softly.

"Hey." She placed a hand each on their shoulders. "Everything will be alright. But Milo has been with these assholes long enough. It will be quicker this way. I'll maybe even find Steve and Robin. You guys just get out here safe and get me some backup alright?"

"Alright." Dustin nodded bravely. "What will you do if you come across more of those soldiers?"

Juno detached the lightsaber flashlight from her belt and held it up proudly. "I go this badboy."

Dustin chuckled, before he became more serious. "Be safe alright."

"Of course, you two stay out of trouble alight? She whispered, before pivoting around to crawl the other way and slowly but surely the sound of Dustin and Erica crawling and whispering faded away.

Her skin was sweltering and soft grunts blew past her lips as she moved around the tight spaces, not a clue about how much time had passed since she departed from Dustin and Erica. Her skin was raw from crawling and her knees were hurting when she heard voices down at the end.

Quickening her pace, Juno held her breath as she peeked through a grate. She squinted as she tried to see what was happening before he breath hitched. A Russian officer stood with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, skin covered in blood and sweat—but it was the boy stuck in a chair that had frozen her limbs.

Tied to a chair, with his head slumped was Milo Hopper. But the boy gave no sign of life as the soldier punched him right across his jaw. The man huffed, as if annoyed by the lack of reaction he was receiving.

Cracking his knuckles he gave one last hit, swearing under his breath before he disappeared from the room.

Juno listened carefully with bathed breath to see if he would return. When a minutes passed, Juno carefully tried to unscrew the grate. After a couple tries she finally manged to wiggle it loose enough to open.

She was breathing heavily as she lowered herself from the ceiling and landed on the ground with a louder thud than she intended. She winched and stopped breathing for a moment, but no one came barging in the room.

Rushing to Milo's side, she fell to her knees and with shaking fingers, Juno pushed his hair away from his eyes, clutching Milo's sweaty skin.

His pale skin was littered with fresh bruises and cuts, blood trickling down from his temple.

He gave no reaction, and only then did she noticed his closed eyelids. But that wasn't such a strange thing. It was the fact that his eyes were moving frantically behind his eyelids that startled her.

She frowned. "Milo?" She called out worriedly before grasping his arms more firmly to shake the blonde boy. "Milo? Milo wake up! Milo!"

Milo's eyes flew open and he gasped. "Juno?"

"It's me, it's Juno." She cried out, wrapping her arms around his body and Milo let his head drop in the crook of her shoulder.

Safe. He was safe again.

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Look at me, updating two days in a row ✨💪