"This has to be a sick joke."

Theo watches Amelia pace back and forth, packing her suitcase and overnight bag. 

"Amelia, Joyce and Murray said it themselves.  He's dead." Theo states.

"Well, tell that to my heart...and this nagging feeling inside me.  I've been ignoring it for eight months." She turns and faces him. "Something has been screaming at me that Jim could still be alive out there. Think about it, Theo. Can you feel a teeny, tiny spark of hope that Jim is still alive out there? But every time I dig into that hope, something yanks me back and I grieve again. I'm tired of grieving." She states and shoves the last piece of clothing into her suitcase and zips it up.

Mike had his club tonight for D&D, El was going for support and since Lucas had his game, Erica subbed him for his spot at the club. But she couldn't think of anything besides that message in the doll.

Sitting at a table in her shop, Amelia reads the letter over and over again, drilling this message in her head.

"Hop (Hopper) is alive. He looks ford too date. Pleeze to make resarvazion, call 7-415-218-4642. Open twelve day P.E.T.T. No govt, pls. Kind regards, Enzo."

Amelia smooths out the paper and places it on the table, keeping her hand right on top of it. She takes a deep breath and opens her minds to the Goddess Ozark. Banishing anything that would keep the truth away from her. Controlling her breathing, she closes her eyes and welcomes the vision that fills her mind. She could feel her mind fly through the night sky to be welcomed to a cloud covered sun that led her to an empty field that carried a rail track, covering the dead grass and dirt with blankets and blankets of snow. Prisoners were lined up as they hammer away with armed guards surrounding them. One stood taller than most of the prisoners. He slowly turns, removing his winter hat that carried ear flaps, exposing his face to her. His bald head. It was Jim! He looked so skinny. They even shaved his mustache off! He looked so terrible. His skin was pale and sunken in like he hasn't had a good meal or a bath in so long.  He was suffering, she could feel it.

Amelia gasps and snaps her eyes open. Panting heavily with emotion, she burst into heavy sobs. It was true. He was alive! She covers her mouth, muffling her sobs but she couldn't stop crying. Tears streamed down her face as it grows red from the heavy crying.  She was so happy and, yet so scared for Jim. He was trapped in Russia, and she needed to get him out of there. Fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Theo whistles as he strolls on to the high school campus, watching several people head into the gym.  He sighs, boredom overpowering him once again.  Honestly, he was worried about Amelia.  After discovering that message in the doll, she was now on a diehard mission to find Hopper.  If he was alive, then that means he could be in Russia.  But first, she needs to find out exactly what happened that night at the mall and the only one who witnessed everything...was Joyce.  So, Amelia still plans to go to California and talk to Joyce and plan from there.  Until then...Theo needed to prepare for anything.  He watches many females walk by him, giving him sly, flirty smiles at him, making him wolf-whistle at them and grins.  Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he sees Mike, Dustin walking into another part of the school...with Erica?  Oh, ho ho ho, this he's gotta see.

Strolling through the halls, wearing an American Flag around her, Erica walks with a smirk side by side with Dustin and Mike.  Since Lucas ditched them for the basketball game, they were short on a player and, basically, the whole school said no since the newspapers now labeled D&D a gateway to devil worship and murder.  Their last resort of a player...was Erica.

"Fe, fi, fo, fum, what desperation did you crawl from?"

Mike, Dustin, and Erica both jump at the voice and see Theo leaning against the lockers, chuckling at them with a grin.

Mike and Dustin both sigh, rolling their eyes, "What are you doing here?" Mike scoffs.

Pushing himself off the lockers, Theo moves and throws his arms over Mike and Dustin, "Tonight is the big bad basketball game and I wanted to support Lucas, cause that's what friends do.  But!" He snaps his finger up so fast, it made Mike and Dustin jump.  "The gym stunk of sweaty, hormonal teenagers and some girl name Tammy began to sing.  I have been tortured in ways your little minds cannot imagined but that...doesn't hold the candle to what they do to you in the Underworld." Theo snorts.  "Then, who do I see from across the parking lot." He jerks them both in his arms, "My two best friends!" He grins and looks down at Erica, "And the lovely Miss Erica." He bows at her.

"Who the hell is this?" Erica scoffs at Mike and Dustin. 

With a loud dramatic gasp, Theo lets go of Mike and Dustin, making them nearly fall to floor, "Erica, I'm shocked with you." He moves and kneels in front of her.  "You don't recognize me? Your....friend?" Theo's voice changes to a familiar hiss as his eyes glow yellow and slit like a feline.

Erica gasps, "THEO?!" She exclaims as she looks at him up and down in shock. 

Theo's eyes become a normal color, which was light brown, "Yes!  Hi!" He pulls her into a hug, and she returns it on instinct, but quickly pulls away. 

"Wait, wait, wait!  But...how? I mean, last time I saw you..."

"I was a butt-ugly 7-foot monster." Theo finishes for her, making her snicker.  "It never occurred to me that I ever considered what it would be like to be...you know...human.  So...I conjured up myself an image and..." He gets to his feet and gestures at himself, "What 'cha think?"

"Hmm..." Erica puts her finger on her chin, tapping it as she moves around, scanning him up and down.  "Not a bad job."

"Thank you. Thank you very much, little lady." Theo's voice changes into Elvis Presley, which was a perfect mimic.

Her face scrunches up, "Don't do that.  If you want people to actually like you and socialize with you, you need to act more normal, not so weird.  We have enough of that around here." She says and looks over towards Mike and Dustin. 

"And pray tell, what is normal?" Theo asks, his voice back to normal.

Erica places her hand on his back and walks with him, "Walk into my office, Theo.  I'll be happy to teach you everything I know.  But first, I need to deal with these nerds and play their game."

"A game, huh?  Is this something in your little Hellfire Club?" Theo asks over his shoulder, towards Mike and Dustin.

"Yes, and you can't be here.  Eddie doesn't like unwanted people he doesn't know interfering with the campaign." Mike says exasperatedly.

"He could possibly kick us out of the club." Dustin exclaims.

Theo simply grins, "This I gotta see." He chuckles and throws his arm around Erica as she leads him towards the room that held the D&D club. 

Mike and Dustin watch in dread as they walked closer and closer towards the room, "This isn't going to go well." Mike says.

"No shit, Mike.  Eddie's going to freak!" Dustin grits his teeth. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Who dares to invade my land?" Eddie demands as he glares at the two trespassers in their club.  

Eddie Munson was the typical heavy metal headbanging, held-more-than-once-back high schooler.  Theo estimated him as possibly 20 years old, maybe 19.  He carried long, shoulder length shaggy hair and carried a look that screamed 'rock n' roll drug dealer'.  

Theo and Erica stood side by side before the leader and dungeon master of the Hellfire Club along with its followers and members.  

"Um, Eddie." Mike clears his throat, "We found a new member to replace Lucas." 

Eddie and his two friends look at them with a snort, "Absolutely not." He says as he eyes Erica and points at Theo.  "Him, maybe." 

"No, ignore Theo.  He's not into D&D." Dustin pats Theo's shoulder.  

"Then, why is he here?" Eddie scoffs. 

"Actually, Dungeon Master, I am here to play." Theo holds a hand up, stopping Mike and Dustin from talking.  He walks around to move closer, "I am a level 13 Warlock of the Great Old One. Master...of Insanity." He grins and bows, "Call me...Theodore...the Eternal." 

(I don't know my D&D sadly...I tried looking up something that could fit Theo's benefit)

Eddie arches his brow as his two friends look at each other, trying to hide their shock, "Very interesting." He entwins his fingers together and points at Erica, "But the child..." He tks.  "This is Hellfire Club. Not Babysitting Club."

"I'm 11, you long-haired freak." Erica sneers. 

"My, my, the child speaks." Eddie scoffs with a grin and gets up to move towards Erica while his friends chuckle. 

Toe to toe with her, Eddie smirks down at her, "So, what's your name, child?"

"Erica Sinclair."

Eddie chuckles in amusement, "So this is Sinclair's infamous sister." He scoffs. 

Erica looks over to Mike, Dustin, and Theo with a snort, "He's sharp."

Theo snickers while Eddie's friends laugh, Eddie glares at his friends, shutting them up.  Theo clears his throat and crosses his arms over his chest, eyeing for any trouble that might happen.  

"What's your class and level? Level one dwarf?" Eddie scoffs. 

His friends laugh at his D&D joke while Erica rolls her eyes at him, "My name is Lady Applejack. And I'm a chaotic good half-elf rogue, level 14. I will sneak behind any monster you throw my way and stab them in the back with my poison-soaked kukri. And I'll smile as I watch them die a slow, agonizing death. So, we gonna do this, or we gonna keep chitchatting like this is your mommy's book club?"

Eddie's friends look at her in shock and impressed with her credits and knowledge.  They patiently wait for what their dungeon master says. 

With a grin, Eddie holds his hand out, "Welcome to Hellfire."

Erica smirks and shakes his hand.

Eddie looks over to Theo, "Well, Theodore the Eternal...this team could use a warlock, especially tonight.  They'll need all the help they can get." He gives him a knowing look.  

From across the lot, in the gym, the loud cheering was muffled around the building, but it didn't stop the Hellfire Club from continuing their campaign.  What Eddie had for them sent chills down their spines.  

"The hooded cultists chant, 'Hail Lord Vecna. Hail Lord Vecna'." He reads the storyline as the players listen carefully.  You could feel the ominous aura thickening the air, tightening around their throats. "They turn to you, remove their hoods. You recognize most of them from Makbar. But there is one you do not recognize, his skin shriveled, desiccated. And something else. He is not only missing his left arm, but his left eye!" He shouts as he hides his own arm and covers his eye.

Everyone shouts in shock and disbelief, "No! No! Vecna's dead."

"He was killed by Kas."

With a wicked grin, "So it was thought, my friends. So, it was thought. But Vecna lives." Eddie declares. 

The campaign goes on for what it felt like hours, rolling the dices and getting hit left and right by the dark wizard of D&D.  

"You are scared. You're tired. You are injured. Do you flee Vecna and his cultists? Or stand your ground and fight?" Eddie asks the players.  

"I say we fight. To the death." Theo grins.  "To the death." 

"To the Death." 

"To the death. To the death."

Soon, they all begin to chant, 'To the death'.  Determined to bring down Vecna..

But they were starting to regret their words, Vecna was too strong.  Dice after dice after dice, they weren't hitting hard enough.  Eddie cackles at their battle.  Soon, Dustin makes a 'T' with his hands.  

"Time-out. Time-out. Time-out!" Dustin pulls everyone into a group circle, leaning to whisper a plan, "Guys, I hate to say this, but we've got to flee." 

"I concur."

"Didn't we just agree 'to the death'?" Erica scoffs. 

"We did and I'm not one to give up a good battle." Theo states. 

"That wasn't literal. Vecna just decimated us." 

"We can't kill him with two players."

"You too?" 

"He only has 15 hit points left."

"Don't be pussies." Theo scoffs. 

"Yeah." Erica agrees. 

"Pussies? Really? 'Cause we're not delusional?"

"Delusional? How about not cowards?" 

"Hey!" Eddie calls out, growing tired of their delay, "If I may interject, gentlemen, Lady Applejack. Whilst I respect the passion, you'd be wise to take Gareth the Great's concern to heart. There is no shame in running. Don't try to be heroes. Not today, 'kay?" 

Dustin holds up a finger, "One sec. What do you think? How many hit points do you and Applejack have left?" 

"Twelve." "Twelve." Erica and Theo say. 

"Give me the dice, I can do it." Erica says determinedly.

" It's risky as hell. But you're the ones on the battlefield. So, it's your call."

"What do you say, Lady Applejack?" Theo grins down at Erica. 

"You really gotta ask?" Erica snorts. 

"Screw it." Dustin breaks the circle and turns towards Eddie with a serious look, "Let's kill the son of a bitch."

"The chances of success are 20-to-1." Eddie warns.  

Holding up a warning finger, Dustin glares at Eddie, "Never tell me the odds. Give me the D20."

Dustin makes the first roll, shaking the dice in his hands and exhales sharply. Trying to remain focus. He tosses the dice, and they all watch them roll then finally land on numbers.  

"That's a miss!" Eddie shouts and cackles while everyone groans in despair. 

"No! shit! shit!" Dustin shouts in fury.  

Next, it was Erica's turn. She was their only hope.  She takes the dice and shakes them in her hands.  Concentrating.  Finally, she rolls them as everyone shouts around her. 

"Please!"

"Come on!" Dustin shouts as everyone prays for victory.  

As if time slowed down, they watch the dice roll and roll, till they finally turn and land on the numbers.  

"Crit hit!" Mike cheers.  

Everyone erupts in shock and cheers as they all jump up and down, hugging each other while Eddie looks at the board in shock.

"Yeah!" Theo yells and hugs Erica. m

"What? What?" Eddie backs away in mocking shock, but grins at the players.  As Erica faces him with a proud smile, he lowers and bows before her.

He straightens and grins at their victory, "That's why we play."

"Yes! Yes! " Dustin continues to cheer with Mike and everyone.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eddie burst into Sweet Talk, cheering with his friends, his club members, and Erica and Theo.  All of them were bursting with energy after the gameplay they just had. It had to be the best battle ever.  

"Oh, baby!  I never been so proud in my life." Eddie exclaims as he throws his arms over Mike and Dustin's shoulders, hugging them tightly.  "That was the best game night in the history of Hellfire.  You two have proven yourselves worthy on so many levels." 

Mike and Dustin both grin and look over to see Eleven and Amelia sitting at a table.  Mike moves away from Eddie as Eleven rushes to him and hug him tight with a big smile.  

"Hey!" Mike grins and kisses her. "We did it.  We won tonight." 

"Thanks to me." Erica gloats.  

Eleven giggles, "I heard." She nods at Amelia.

Amelia grunts as she moves to get up, but Eddie walks towards her, "Uh-uh, Miss H.  Allow me." He gives her a bow and helps her to her feet.

Amelia chuckles, "Thanks, Eddie.  Ugh, it's getting harder and harder getting out of that chair." She rubs her stomach.  "I feel like a whale." She grimaces.

"What? Say what?" Eddie exclaims.  "Whale is far from what you look like, Miss H.  You are a glowing star." He frames her face and body.  

"A fat one." Amelia scoffs and moves around the counter.  "I could hear the cheers from miles away and knew you all were going to succeed.  So, I made you something." She grins and presents them a huge cake of the Hellfire logo.  

"Woah!" "Woah!" 

"That's badass, Miss H!" Eddie exclaims. "And look too good, I couldn't dare to stab a knife into it." 

"I made this for you all and you're gonna eat it." Amelia declares and chuckles.  

"Maybe just one slice.  Sadly, I can't stay long, I got a date tonight." Eddie smirks as he begins to slice into it and eats with his hand.  "As always, Miss H.  MMMM!  Most excellent!" His words were muffled by the cake in his mouth.  Icing smearing his lips. "For the road.  See you boys later." Eddie holds a large slice as he heads out the door with his friends as they carry many of their own slices.  

"Lucas scored the winning shot, by the way.  He won the game." Amelia adds. 

Erica and the boys look at her in shock, "Wait, my brother...scored a winning shot?" She snorts. 

"Yup, you're gonna hear it all about it tomorrow.  It's gonna be the talk of the town, so...beware...Lady Applejack." Amelia grins at Erica's shocked face. 

"How..." Erica frowns. 

Theo throws his arm over her shoulder, "Witch thing, my dear Erica.  It's a witch thing." 

Amelia sighs and sits back down at the table with them all, "Speaking of 'witch'...I need to talk to you about something."  She reaches into her pocket to pull out the note she received.  

"Amelia..." Theo warns. 

"They need to know." Amelia states and gives them all a serious look, "What is said in this place stays quiet.  And must go no further.  You got it?" She holds up a warning finger. 

Mike and Dustin frown, "Yeah." "Yeah." 

Eleven nods, "Yes." 

"You, too, Erica." Amelia states.

"Who's going to believe me?  I haven't said anything about what happened at the Mall." Erica scoffs at her.  

Amelia sighs deeply and unfolds the paper, handing it to Mike, "I just got this in the mail this morning."  She hugs herself, "It was hiding inside of a Russian doll." 

Mike frowns as he reads the message, "'Hop is alive'?" 

Eleven's eyes widen as she looks over to Amelia, "What?" She gasps. 

Amelia swallows a hard lump and sighs as Mike mutters as he reads, "This can't be real." He stutters. 

Amelia holds her hand out for Erica to take and nods at her to hold Dustin's. Dustin reaches and holds Eleven's as she takes Mike's hand.  Amelia takes Mike's and closes her eyes for them to see her vision.  The vision of Jim in a snow-covered field, looking god-awful.  

"Holy shit!" Dustin exclaims. 

Eleven sobs softly and Mike reaches to hold her close. 

"What was that?" Erica exclaims, frowning at her. 

"That was a vision I had when I touched this note.  Jim is alive...and he's in Russia." Amelia's voice shakes. 

"But...how...I mean, Mrs. Byers said..." Dustin stutters. 

"When we go to California tomorrow, I want you two to act like everything is normal.  Do not say one word to Will or Johnathan.  I'll talk to Joyce and Bob when we get there." Amelia says strongly to Mike and Eleven. She turns to Eleven, gripping her hands tightly, "I'm going to bring him back, Starshine.  I promise.  I'm bringing him home." 

Eleven sniffles and nods.

Amelia turns and looks at Dustin and Erica, "Not one word to anyone.  If anyone finds out what I'll be doing..."

"You'll be compromised.  Don't worry, Amelia.  We'll keep quiet." Dustin says, nodding in understanding.  

Amelia sighs, "Okay." She looks over at the clock, "It's getting late.  We all need to get up really early for our flight." She grunts and gets to her feet...with Theo's help.  "Theo is staying here.  He'll watch out for any troubles and mainly, watch over the shop." 

"And to make sure no one goes Scooby-doo over this." Theo states. 

"I mean it, guys.  This is our secret." 

*I feel like I didn't put much effort into this chapter.  Honestly, I just want to rush to the good parts and avoid the journey.  But I'm gonna try and pace myself and give this a proper story.  Next chapter, I'll work on the effort a little better from then to the end* Again, hope you guys are liking this still...  lots of love ~Song~*