chapter eight , the upside down

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"Wait, so you guys thought I was eaten by that monster so you bought a bunch of weapons to try and kill it?"

Kennedy was in the backseat of Jonathan's car, looking between the Wheeler and the Byers in shock. "And then you found out Tommy, Carol, and Steve slut shamed you with spray paint?" Nancy nodded as Kennedy scoffed. "What the hell! Did you punch him?"

"I did." Jonathan deadpanned. "Numerous times." Nancy Wheeler went on to explain everything else that happened the day before. Steve and Nancy's fight, the spray painted words on the theater and around the town. The cruel words that spat out of Steve's mouth as he tried to push Jonathan Byers's buttons. Which, he did. And he got his ass kicked in the process.

The Theroux huffed as she scooted forwards. "Nance, you know I would never have let them do that if I was there," She said as she looked at the brunette.

Nancy looked back. "No, I know." Nancy said softly. "It was just so stupid! I mean, Steve thought I was sleeping with Jonathan cause he must have saw him in my room." The girl explained.

"And you couldn't tell him we were monster hunting, so you had to let him think the worst." Kennedy mumbled as she leaned back. Nancy clicked her tongue, nodding slowly. Kennedy was fuming. She shook her head. "The next time I see them, I'm gonna swing his ass to the ground so fast-"

"We're here."

The girls clamped their mouths shut as they pulled up to the Byers house. Kennedy climbed out of the backseat as Jonathan opened the trunk. Kennedy looked at the box in his hands, seeing a bear trap and other things inside.

Kennedy followed Nancy and Jonathan into the house, looking at it in surprise. Letters were painted on the wall and christmas lights hung from the ceiling. Except there were no bulbs. She frowned as she looked around. "You redecorated!" She chirped as she nodded. She tried her best to sound hopeful, but this place looked like it belonged to a crazy person. To be fair, it kind of did.

Jonathan placed the traps down, sighing as he looked around. "We gotta set up the lights," He breathed. Kennedy looked at Nancy, the three of them getting to work.

Every light Hopper had taken out days before we're out back in by the teens, at least the lights they could find. Jonathan set a bear trap in the hall, letting Kennedy test out its security. After all, she was the one who now had super strength.

Nancy loaded her gun, which was originally Lonnie's. Jonathan hammered excessively nails into the bat. And Kennedy? Well Kennedy sat in Wills bedroom, flicking her claws repeatedly. She tried her best to get used to the new feeling. The new anatomy that she had been unaware of for so long. The claws that replaced her nails. The fangs that formed in her mouth. The seething, animal like sounds she'd release. They set up traps, and soaked the floor with gasoline.

Nancy and Kennedy went through the house with gas cans. The brunette looked over, seeing the disgusted look on Kennedys face. "Are you okay?" She asked softly.

The Theroux blinked, trying to focus. "Sorry, the gas  smells. A lot." Nancy rose a brow, nodding in understanding. Kennedy sighed loudly. "I hate super senses."

"Hey," Nancy's voice caused Kennedy to look over. The brunette pressed her lips together as she thought about what to say. "I want you to know I'm really proud of you. You know, for everything you've done."

"I haven't done anything." Kennedy shrugged. She dunked more gas, letting it sink into the carpet.

Nancy stood up straight. "That's not true. You kept my brother safe. You helped Mike and his friends when you didn't need to." She listed off, "And you saved me in The Upside Down."

Kennedy rolled her eyes. "I did what anyone would've done-"

"Do you seriously think Carol Perkins would've saved me?" Nancy asked with a playful smile. Kennedy chuckled, shaking her head slowly. "Exactly." Silence settled between the two girls. Nancy ran her fingers through her ponytail. "And I think this whole werewolf thing is super badass." She added, tilting her head to the side.

The Theroux sighed, waving a finger. "Still not a werewolf." She corrected as they began to walk towards the hallway.

"Yeah, whatever."

༺❀༻

Jonathan Byers stood in front of Kennedy and Nancy. "Remember," He began, looking between the two girls.

"Straight into Will's room. And,"

"Don't step on the trap." Kennedy said as she recited the plan the three of them had set up.

Nancy nodded. "Wait for the yo-yo to move." She recalled.

"Then," Jonathan lit his match, looking between the two girls. "All right. You ready?"

Kennedy looked over at the Wheeler. "Ready."

As Kennedy now has super healing, she wasn't apart of this portion of the plan. She didn't mind this as she scrunched her nose at the sight of them putting knives to their palms. "On three." Jonathan looked up at Nancy, looking into her eyes. Kennedy looked between them, a thought stirring in her head. "One... two..." Jonathan watched the expression on Nancy's faces "You don't have to do this—"

"Jonathan, stop talking." Nancy blurted loudly.

"I'm just saying, you don't have to—"

"Three."

Kennedy flinched away as Nancy and Jonathan sliced their palms. The smell of blood shot through her and Kennedy blinked in confusion. She stepped back, pinching her nose with her fingers. "God! That's so weird!"

"Ow," Nancy whined as she watched blood seep from her band. Kennedy sighed as she held up the gauze and ducked tape.

"Doctor Kennedy, to the rescue."

Kennedy wrapped Nancy's hand first. It was a bit of a deeper cut, and Jonathan muttered he'd be fine. "You tend to do this a lot." Nancy hummed, "Bandaging people up."

She knew what Nancy was talking about. Kennedy was the one who helped Barb with her cut from the can opener. The Theroux shrugged sheepishly. "When we were kids, I'd help Steve wrap up his scrapes from falling off his scooter." She informed the two. Nancy nodded, thinking about a young Kennedy.

"Have you always been like that?" Nancy asked. Kennedy looked up, frowning. "Helping people all the time?"

The Theroux girl shrugged as she tried to think. "I guess so." She answered honestly. "My grandmother used to tell me helping someone might not change the world, but helping someone might change their world." Kennedy scrunched her nose in thought. She thought about her grandmother who she recently started to miss more than anything. She laughed softly. "It was so cheesy, but growing up it really stuck with me." She wrapped Nancy's hand, finishing up fairly quickly.

Nancy had noticed the tension between Jonathan and Kennedy. And not the sexual kind. When Kennedy finished Nancy's palm, the brunette could see the two awkwardly stare at each other. "Hey, I'll do Jonathan's hand." The Wheeler girl suggested, causing Kennedy to look over.

"Yeah," Kennedy said softly, watching Jonathan avoid her gaze. "Yeah. I'll be lookout."

The three fell into a silence. Kennedy stood by the door and frowned as she looked at Jonathan and Nancy every now and again. Kennedy wasn't stupid. At least not stupid enough to not notice Jonathan's eyes. She felt jealousy sink into her bones, but instead of saying anything she turned to look out the window.

Did they even tell the kids they were leaving? Kennedy realized they had failed to do so, and they had left the group by themselves. Granted, they were safer there than here, but there was little to-no comfort in that. Oh, she was so getting fired.

A creaking sound caused Nancy to look up. "Did you hear that?" She whispered. Kennedy froze, attempting to use whatever senses she had. But, considering she had been a werewolf for less than 24 hours, she hadn't fully adapted.

"It's just the wind." Jonathan reasoned. Nancy looked at Kennedy, who shrugged. The Wheeler looked at the body hand "Don't worry. My mom, she said the lights speak when it comes."

"Speak?"

Jonathan shrugged, "Blink." He corrected. "Think of them as alarms."

Kennedy looked back towards the door as Nancy wrapped Jonathan's hand. "Is that too tight?"

"No, it's fine." Jonathan watched as Nancy taped the gauze. "Thanks." Kennedy closed her eyes as she could hear every movement the pair made behind her. Nancys fingers lingering on Jonathan's. She tried not to be jealous. She had no reason to be.

Kennedy snapped her head at the door, catching Jonathan and Nancys attention. Someone began to bang on the door rapidly. "Jonathan? Are you there, man? It's... it's Steve!" The three shared wild looks. What the hell was Steve Harrington doing here? Kennedy quickly backed away from the door, afraid he'd know she's there if she stood too close. "Listen, I just want to talk!"

"I can't open the door!" Kennedy hissed as she pointed. Her voice was just above a whisper. "I can smell him and it's really weird to smell his blood!" She whined as she threw up her hands. Her eyes were wide with fear and anxiety. She was freaking out.

Jonathan nodded as he looked at the Wheeler. "She's right. Steve thinks she's missing if she opens the door he'll flip." He explained. Nancy bit her lip, looking at the front door.

Nancy jumped off the couch, hoping to get Steve out of there as fast as possible. Kennedy stumbled, pressing her back against the wall as Nancy swung open the door. Kennedy closed her eyes, half expecting Nancy to slap her in the face with the door. "Steve, listen to me," She vegan.

"Hey-" Steves brows tilted in confusion. He had expected Jonathan Byers, not his girlfriend. Or ex-girlfriend. He didn't know anymore. "Nancy, what-"

"You need to leave."

Kennedy stood on the other side of the door, trying her best to keep quiet. "What? No, I'm not trying to start anything, okay?" Steve tried. She closed her eyes, praying to whatever higher power there was that Steve would just go away.

"I don't care about that. You need to leave."

"No, no, no. Listen, I messed up, okay?" Steve hit the side of the door as he tried to speak. His word stuttered over themselves and he sighed. He was trying, seriously trying. "I messed up. Okay? I just want to make things right. Okay? Please. Please," Steve paused as he looked at Nancy's hand that had been holding the door. Kennedy felt like her heart had stopped beating. "Hey, what happened to your hand?" Steve grabbed Nancys wrist, seeing the bandaged palm. His eyes widened in alarm at the red stain seeping through. "Is that blood? Are you-"

"Nothing. It was an accident." Nancy said as she pulled away from Steves grip. Kennedy began to look at Jonathan, knowing this wasn't going to go well.

"Yeah, what's going on?"

"Nothing."

Steve looked over Nancys shoulder. "Wait a sec. Did he do this to you?" Nancy tried to decline his claims, but Steve was already pushing his way inside. His protective nature came into play, and he was much stronger than Nancy. "Nancy, let me in!" Kennedy's eyes widened as the door swung open. Kennedy caught the door before it hit her, her eyes following the high-school juniors eyes. Steve looked around. The lights. The wall. The messy house. The weapons. "What is... What the..." Steve spun around to see Kennedy. His eyes were wide with alarm and relief at the same time. "Kenny, what-"

"Steve, you need to get out of here." Kennedy tried to reason. She needed him to get away as fast as he could.

Jonathan grabbed Steves shirt. "Listen to me. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you, get out of here!"

"What is that smell?" Steve shouted as he pushed Jonathan. "Is that," He scrunched his nose. "Is that gasoline?" Kennedy rubbed her temple with her fingers.

"Steve, get out!"

Everybody froze as Nancy Wheeler held up her gun. Jonathan backed up and Kennedy pushed herself into the corner again. Steve held up his arms. "Wait. What? What is going on?" He asked loudly, trying to figure out why his girlfriend (or ex, he still didn't know) was holding a gun.

"You have five seconds to get out of here."

"Okay, is this a joke? Stop. Put the gun down." Steve said as he waved his hands to the brunette girl. What the hell had he walked in on? This morning, Nancy was crying saying Kennedy was missing. Now, here they were in Jonathan Byers seriously screwed up house with guns and weapons and Kennedy is no longer missing.

Kennedy and Jonathan looked around. The lights began to flicker. "Oh, shit." Kennedy whispered. She looked between Steve and Nancy. She sucked in a breath. It was too late now.

"Nancy." Jonathan called out as Steve and Nancy began to shout.

"Three. Two." Nancy counted down as Steve began to shout no repeatedly.

"GUYS!" Kennedy's voice boomed throughout the Byers's house, causing everyone to look at her. "The lights!"

Jonathan reached for the bat. "It's here."

Steve watched in confusion. "Wait, what's here? Easy with that!" He shouted as he pointed at Jonathan. He jumped back from the flinging bat.

Kennedy looked around the house as Jonathan and Nancy stood back to back. "Where is it?"

"I don't know. I don't see it."

"Where is what!?" Steve shouted. He couldn't piece together what the hell they were shouting about. Kennedy looked up at the ceiling, inhaling sharply. "Hello? Will someone please explain to me what the hell is going-"

Kennedy shouted as the ceiling began to cave in. Something inhuman began to try and crawl out of it. Kennedy jumped back in shock, watching Nancy shoot her gun. It was the creature. Jonathan grabbed Nancy's waist, screaming to run.

"Let's go!" Kennedy shouted as she grabbed Steve, pushing him down the hallway. Steve almost couldn't believe it as he saw the extremely large creature.

The four teens ran down the hall, "Jump!" Shouted Jonathan as they reached the bear trap.

"Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" Steve shouted repeatedly as he jumped over, Kennedy close behind them as they ducked into Will's bedroom. Kennedy flung the door behind her, hearing the sign fling off on the other side. "Jesus! Jesus! What the hell was that?"

Nancy and Jonathan spun around. "Shut up!" They snapped at the Harrington. Kennedy was up against the door, closing her eyes as she listened closely. Nancy pointed her gun while Jonathan held the lighter and the bat. Kennedy backed away from the door, turning to face it.

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Kennedy could hear its movements. "What's it doing?" Asked Nancy.

"I don't know. I can't hear anything." Kennedy explained as she shook her head. Her eyes trailed to the yoyo on the chair. It didn't move. Why wasn't it moving? Kennedy looked at the door, and she couldn't hear it anymore.

The lights flickered on.

Everyone shared confused looks. "Do you hear anything?" Asked Nancy. Jonathan closed the lighter as he shook his head.

"No."

The four teens came out into the hallway. Steve was close behind Kennedy as they all stood in the hallway. There was no sign of the monster. Kennedy stepped out, her eyes rushing through. She shook her head. "It's not here anymore," Kennedy whispered as she stepped over the bear trap. "It's gone."

༺❀༻

You can imagine how confused Steve Harrington was.

The three other teens looked around the empty house. Steve stood in the hallway, muttering to himself as he tried his hardest to process this. But he couldn't! How the hell was he supposed to process a monster!? "This is crazy," He repeated over and over again. Kennedy looked out the windows, listening for any sign of the creature. "This is crazy! This is crazy!" Steve shouted as he reached for the Byers phone. Nancy stormed over and pulled it from the boys hands, throwing it to the ground. "What are you doing? Are you insane!?"

"It's going to come back!" Nancy shouted. Steve was shocked. He hadn't heard Nancy yell this much. She was so angry. Maybe that wasn't what it was but Steve couldn't tell. "So you need to leave. Right. Now."

Steve looked over Nancy's shoulder, seeing Jonathan and Kennedy. He looked at the girl he had known since he was a kid. This morning he thought she was missing, something happened to her. Maybe something had, he realized as he saw something tattooed into her wrist. 010. He didn't understand what was going on, but it was clear to him these three did.

Kennedy walked over, grabbing Steve's arm. "Steve, I'm begging you to go." She said as she searched the Harrington's brown eyes. "I need," Kennedy closed her eyes as she tried to fight back tears. She hated crying when she was overwhelmed. She hated crying in general. And yet all she could feel was crippling fear and the need to protect her friends. All of them, including Steve. "I need you to get in your car and drive as fast as you can and as far away as you can. You hear me?" She looked up at Steve, who nodded. "And if I live to see tomorrow I am so kicking your ass." She pushed him towards the door, letting him run off.

Nancy watched as Steve slammed the front door behind him. She saw the tear-filled look on Kennedy's face. She didn't know what it was. Maybe Kennedy just wanted Steve out of here alive. Yeah, that was probably it. Or maybe Kennedy wasn't saying something. Something about tonight.

Steve stumbled to his car as he looked around wildly. He expected this...this thing to come out and attack him at any moment. Faster, faster, he thought as he unlocked the car door. He looked around, hearing something. Screw this. He swung open the car door, stopping as he looked at the house. The Byers house lights flickered on the inside. He thought about only a few minutes ago. What happened when the lights flickered. Nancy was inside. Jonathan was inside. Kennedy Dawn Theroux was inside.

The flickering lights surrounded the three teens. "Where is it!?" Nancy asked as she looked around.

"Come on." Jonathan said through gritted teeth. "Come on you son of a bitch."

Kennedy paused, looking out the front window. "I never heard a car," Kennedy whispered. Nancy and Jonathan didn't hear her. They were too engrossed in the fact there was a monster looming near by.

"Do you see it?"

"No."

Jonathan swung around, "Come on!" He shouted. Fear flooded Nancy as she realized this thing could be anywhere. Kennedy couldn't hear it. Somehow, she couldn't hear it. Claws poked from Kennedy's hands as she looked around. She froze, hearing a sound.

The lights went out.

Kennedy went to spin around when she was shoved by the slimy creature. She landed in the kitchen, smashing some dishes and such as she landed. "Jonathan!" Nancy shouted as the creature tackled him to the ground. It's face opened like a flower. It's saliva dripped onto Jonathan's face, slipping into his mouth as it let out a roar. Kennedy groaned as she sat up from the other room, watching as Nancy aimed her gun.

"Go to hell, you son of a bitch!" Nancy shouted as she fired shot after shot. Kennedy shouted in pain, feeling glass sticking out of her pant leg as the creature stood over Nancy Wheeler. Jonathan coughed out as he rolled to his side, the monster's spit still in his mouth. Nancy's eyes widened in fear as she fired her bullets once more. The monster stumbled after each shot, but it didn't do much damage.

And then Nancy was out of bullets.

Kennedy pulled herself off the ground, yanking a shard of glass from her leg. "Nancy!" Kennedy yelled out in horror.

And then, all of the sudden, Steve ran in front of Nancy.

He swung Jonathan's nail-filled bat into the monster's side. Nancy's eyes widened in shock. "Steve!" She shouted. Steve ducked from the monster and Nancy looked over. "Kennedy! Now!"

Steve jumped back as the monster swung at him. He stumbled into the wall as Kennedy leaped in front of him. An echo of a roar was heard throughout the Byers house. It shook the walls, and everyone froze. Steve Harrington stumbled as he saw Kennedy's eyes. They weren't hazel anymore. They were gold.

She now had claws instead of nails, and fangs instead of normal teeth. She growled lowly at the creature in front of her. What the hell? What the hell? What the hell?

The kids were right, Dustin was right, Nancy and Jonathan realized as they watched the monster and the Theroux do their stand-off. Kennedy was just like Eleven. She was a test subject. Except...Kennedy wasn't what they expected. The creation of a real-life werewolf.

What the fuck?

Kennedy roared as she swung her claws. The monster fell back as it hit the girl. She fell into the wall, but was back on her feet quickly as she flung herself at the monster. Nancy gasped as the monster stumbled backwards, a growling Kennedy wrapped around it. Steve watched as the monster stepped on the bear trap, howling out in pain.

"It's in the trap!" Steve shouted as he held the bat.

Kennedy looked up, her eyes still gold. "Jonathan, now!"

"Wait, no!" Nancy protested, seeing Kennedy still wrapped up in the monster. The three teens watched as Kennedy and the monster struggled.

Time seemed to slow for a moment. Kennedy shouted in pain as the monster dug its nails into her side. She snarled as she slashed through it's chest. Her eyes landed on the three people across the hall. Nancy Wheeler, the girl next door she never expected to get along with. Jonathan Byers, the friends with benefits weirdo she wished would love her back. Steve Harrington, her asshole friend that needed his own redemption arch.

She realized, as she struggled with the trapped creature, that it was now or never. It seemed the other three realized this too. Nancy Wheeler realizes this was what Kennedy was hiding. Kennedy wasn't intending on making it out of this alive, as long as it meant the others were safe. Nancy's eyes filled with tears, and Steve shook his head in disbelief. Kennedy's eyes locked with Jonathan's. The storm in his eyes brewed as he realized whah she was asking him to do. Could he? Could he do something like that? Jonathan wasn't sure, but he gritted his teeth as Kennedy gave him a small nod. He returned it, holding back tears.

"Now!"

He flicked the lighter.

And he threw it.

The Byers hallway ignited into flames, Kennedy and the monster with it. Kennedy let out a loud scream of agony as the searing pain shot through her skin. The monster let out screeches as it flung the teenage girl, sending her into the wall on the other side of the flames. Steve stumbled back as he watched the monster throw itself around, but it couldn't go anywhere.

Jonathan ran to the living room, grabbing the fire extinguisher he and Nancy took from the station. "Get back!" He shouted as he triggered it. The carbon dioxide filled the hallway, the lights of the flames dimming as it did.

Screeches had died down and the flames lights did too. The three teens coughed wildly as the carbon dioxide substance cleared out. Jonathan dropped the fire extinguisher, leaning on the wall tiredly.

"Kennedy!" Nancy called as they stepped closer to the bear trap. Steve held the bat in his hands, ready to swing. Nancy coughed, tears brimming her eyes as there was no reply. "Kennedy!?" She was panicking, visibly shaking as she looked around for the familiar girl with auburn hair.

"Where did it go?" Steve asked as he looked at the empty bear trap.

Jonathan shook his head. "No, it has to be dead. It has to be." He reasoned as he looked at the sizzling substance on the bear trap.

Nancy looked around. "Where's Kennedy?"

The three fell silent. They studied the now empty hallway. Grief and the idea of losing their friend settling in the air like a million pounds of brick. Then, they heard it. Coughing, maybe? Steve looked down the hall, rushing to Joyce Byers's closed bedroom door.

Inside, was Kennedy. She was leaning against the bed on the floor, coughing up wildly. Steve rushed in, Jonathan and Nancy staying outside in the hallway just in case of the monster returning. Steve crouched down, placing the bat on the ground. "Ken, hey," The girl with auburn hair groaned as she looked up. "Why the hell did you do that?"

The Theroux girl blinked as she felt Steve's hand on her shoulder. She attempted to swallow the lump in her throat, but it only came out in coughs. She was covered in burns, blood, cuts, and more. He wrapped an arm around her and her hands wrapped around his wrist. Her hazel eyes he always remembered met his brown ones. "I did it to save you." She said softly, looking over Steve's shoulder to look at Nancy and Jonathan. "All of you."

Nancy looked up into the hallway, "Guys?" She called out. "The lights."

Steve wrapped his arm under Kennedy's and pulled her up. The two of them walked back out to Jonathan and Nancy to see a trail of lights coming down the hall, right towards them. Steve held the bat tightly, letting Nancy grab Kennedy. Nancy could see wounds on Kennedy beginning to heal, even now.

The lights began to move, some turning on or off. Steve looked back at Jonathan, the group following the lights. Kennedy grunted as she walked, looking up at the Christmas lights that now danced around the room in a pattern. What were they following?

Jonathan stopped as he watched the lights go out into the living room, and towards the front door. Jonathan watched as the lights seemed to freeze. They followed the lights outside. They could see a lamp outside of the Byers house flickering before going stagnant. "Where's it going?" Asked Nancy.

"That's not the monster," Kennedy whispered softly.

A sinking feeling burned into Kennedy's skin. Like something was picking at her brain. She winced as she tried to sort out her thoughts. What was it? What the hell was that? Kennedy closed her eyes, trying to slow her breathing. She could hear cars. Shouts. She could hear Dustin, Mike, and Lucas. Kennedy's eyes shot open as she heard the voice of Dr. Brenner. If the monster was gone, that mean there was blood elsewhere. The school. It had to be the school.

Kennedy pushed off the porch, her wounds had already mostly healed, "Oh, God." She whispered in realization. The girl felt fear grabbing at her skin, and she realized it was now or never.

Everyone watched as Kennedy began to run down the steps. "Kennedy, where are you going!?" Called out Nancy.

"The kids! We left the kids!"

"Nobody knows where they are!" Jonathan pointed out.

Kennedy shook her head as she pointed at him. "No. No, we thought that at the junkyard. I have to go." Kennedy turned back, limping down the drive way and moving behind Steve's car.

"Ken, we can go together!" Nancy shouted. She moved to follow the girl, the group not understanding what was going through her head.

"No time! I'll be faster on my feet! Or..paws!"

Steve shook his head, "Wait did she just say paws?" He asked the others. Before either of them could answer, they all jumped back as there was a howl. A large white wolf came out from behind Steve Harrington's car, looking at them with glowing yellow eyes. "Holy shit! She has paws!"

༺❀༻

Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair put cans upon cans of chocolate pudding on a cafeteria table in front of Eleven. "This will charge your battery right up, I'm telling you." Dustin explained as he held up a can.

Mike Wheeler came running in with wide eyes. "Guys! Guys!"

Lucas looked over, "What is it?" He asked, the three kids confused.

Mike panted as he looked at his friends. "They found us."

Men in all sorts of police uniforms and suits swarmed Hawkins Middle School. Dr. Martin Brenner walked into the gym, looking at the salt-water-filled pool in the center.

A man outside waited at an exit for the kids to come rushing out. Rustling sounds caused him to pause. He looked at a nearby bush, aiming his weapon. "Freeze!"

Silence.

The man narrowed his eyes as he stepped closer. "You're not getting out of this one, kid," He said as he placed his hand on the trigger, ready to shoot.

And then something jumped at him.

Mike and the others ran through the back of the school. "How did they find us?" Asked Lucas.

Mike ran behind Lucas and Dustin, holding Eleven's hand tightly. "I don't know, but they knew we were in the gym." Mike countered.

"Lando." Dustin affirmed as they stopped. Two men came walking in.

"Go, go, go, go!" Mike shouted as the group began to run the other way. One of the men was yanked down a different hallway, shouts heard from him.

The group of four kids ran every direction they could, but it wasn't long until they were surrounded. A woman named Connie Frazier raised her weapon as she stood in front of the kids. Mike and the boys looked around as they heard low snarls from behind them. Eleven glared down Connie, narrowing her eyes.

Connie seemed to shake, feeling something. Dustin and Lucas jumped as a creature tackled one of the men in suits. Connie's eyes began to bleed, along with the people behind her. Another man in a suit was tackled to the ground. It was a white wolf, its fur now stained in blood.

Suddenly, all of them dropped dead.

Mike looked at Eleven, who blinked tiredly before falling to the ground. The three boys rushed to the girls aid. "El. El, are you okay?" Mike shook the girl with shaved hair. "Somethings wrong."

"She's just drained." Dustin reasoned.

"No, she wont wake up. El!"

Lucas slapped Dustin, "Look." The two boys watched as the white wolf stood in front of them, shaking its head wildly.

Dustin's eyes widened in shock. "It's Kenny." He whispered, causing even Mike to look over. "Kenny's a werewolf!" Dustin looked around. "Quick, grab her a jacket!"

Lucas and Dustin rushed to a dead body, pulling off the jacket of one of the men. They threw it to the wolf, who fell back as it caught the fabric. It rounded the corner where they could not see it anymore. After a minute, they saw bare feet come back around the corner.

Kennedy Theroux.

Her eyes were still gold as she walked back out into the hall. The jacket nearly fell to her knees and swallowed her whole. She craned her neck and shook her head. "I guess I do bark." She informed Dustin, causing the boy to give a toothy smile.

"She's barely breathing!" Mike exclaimed. Kennedy rushed over to Eleven, kneeling down to look her over.

"We gotta go." Lucas replied.

"Leave her." The three boys shot up as a new man came into view with his employees behind him. Kennedy's eyes turned yellow again and she let out a low growl. "Step away from the child."

"No!" Mike shouted as he stood in front of Eleven. "You want her? You have to kill us first." Lucas and Dustin stood next to Mike, and Kennedy looked up at Dr. Brenner.

Dustin chimed in. "That's right!"

"Eat shit!"

Suddenly, a herd of men grabbed the boys. Kennedy growled as Dr. Brenner stepped towards Eleven. She shook her head. "Stay away from her."

Dr. Brenner rose a brow. Kennedy narrowed her eyes when she felt a needle in her skin. She spun around and growled loudly, the security guard falling back. She swung her fist, sending him to the ground quickly. Another guard came from behind, grabbing the teenage girl. Kennedy stumbled as she felt dizzy. She clenched her fists, trying to fight it.

Dr. Brenner kneeled down, picking up Eleven. "Eleven? Eleven can you hear me?"

The girl had a bloody nose and bloody ears as her tired eyes fluttered open. "Papa?"

"Yes. Yes, it's your papa."

Eleven looked over to see a guard grab the drugged Kennedy's arms. Mike and his friends struggled against the men's grips. "Ler her go, you bastard!"

Eleven whimpered as she tried to push Papa away. He shushed her, running his hand on her face. "You're sick. You're sick, but I'm going to make you better." He explained to her softly. "I'm going to take you and your sister back home, where I can make you well again." Kennedy fell into the security's arms, her eyes fluttering slowly as she did. "Where we can make all of this better, so no one else gets hurt."

Kennedy could feel the drugs in her system. Like, physically. Her veins ached as the unfamiliar fluid shot through her. She tensed up in the man's arms and the girl felt pain throughout every bone in her body. Her blood sizzled against her bones and she could feel something happening. Something changing. Kennedy felt the drowsiness sinking from her brain, down her face, down her neck, and her chest. She could feel it until it landed in her feet, disappearing as if it was never there.

"Bad," Eleven said softly. Dr. Brenner's brows tilted downward as Eleven reached for the boy a few feet away. "Mike. Mike." She continued to push Dr. Brenner's hands away from her. "Mike."

Dustin looked over, seeing Kennedy. Her fingers wrapped around the security man's shirt tightly. Dustin tried to think about everything he knew about werewolves. Super strength, super agility, super speed (kind of), and super healing. HEALING! Kennedy was healing from the drugs, Dustin realized as Kennedy began to regain consciousness.

The lights began to flicker. The boys froze in fear as they realized something very very bad was going to happen. "Blood," Mike mumbled, looking at the dead bodies around them.

"What?" Lucas asked as he looked at his friend.

"Blood!"

THUD. THUD. The walls of the middle school shoot as something began to pound against it. Some of Dr. Brenner's men stepped back as they aimed their weapons. Dustin looked over at Kennedy, hoping she would heal a little bit faster.

The wall broke through, and there it was. The tall and slimy gray creature with a face that opened like a flower. It roared wildly. "Demogorgon." Dustin realized.

Kennedy's eyes shot open. Her eyes turned yellow as she snapped the security guards arm. He shouted as he and the girl fell to the floor. All of Dr. Brenners men dropped the boys and started to pull out their weapons. Kennedy spun around, picking up Eleven with more ease than she had before. The three boys ran, a panting Kennedy close behind. Kennedy looked back, just in time to see Dr. Brenner get tackled to the ground by the said Demogorgon.

"Come on!" Mike shouted as they ran away from the gunshots and screeching. Kennedy jumped around another screaming guy with a gun, the group ran into a classroom.

Kennedy placed Eleven on two lab tables in the back of the room. Kennedy breathed heavily as she looked around. These were kids. Twelve-year-olds who had no idea how to fight a monster, even if they tried. But Kennedy could. She knew she could. She didn't have the greatest odds in winning, but that didn't stop her from trying.

Mike stumbled as Kennedy grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him, Lucas, and Dustin to look at her. "I need you to promise me something." She said as she looked between them. "If you hear me. I don't care what you hear, promise me you won't come out of this room."

"Wait, you're going out there!? Alone!?" Dustin exclaimed, "Are you nuts?"

"I am totally looney-bin crazy," Kennedy laughed as she fought back tears. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked at them. "But just, promise me that, okay? Promise me you won't leave this room."

The boys shared looks. They didn't know if this would be their last time seeing Kennedy. What if it was? Mike looked over, nodding his head solemnly. The two others followed suit, and Kennedy pulled them into her arms. The three young boys hugged the girl they've known as their babysitter for the last two years of their lives. Her arms wrapped around them tightly, her tears landing on Lucas's jacket. Kennedy kissed Dustin's cheek, which even now caused him to turn red. She pulled away, smiling softly as she stood up straight, smiling down at a weak Eleven. The younger girl didn't move, even though she wanted to. A tear ran down the side of her face as Kennedy kissed her forehead.

And within thirty seconds, Kennedy was out of the room, Lucas locking the door behind her.

Kennedy stepped out into the hallway, her feet covered in blood after running past dead bodies. She watched as a man was flung into the wall from down a hallway. This was it. Kennedy narrowed her eyes as the creature let out a low roar, stepping into her line of sight. It was definitely injured, but it wasn't dead.

The boys listened as gunshots stopped. Mike had just told Eleven he would take her to the snowball, that everything would be okay. The boys waited for Kennedy to walk in, saying the Demogorgon was already dead. But that's not what they heard.

A roar shook the entire middle school. A werewolf-formed Kennedy snarled as she ran right at the Demogorgon. It grabbed her by the throat, shoving her into the stone wall. She grunted, her head pounding at the feeling. She slashed her claws through one of the creature's flower-petal-like sides of its mouth. It screeched as it threw her to the ground. Kennedy slid across the tiled floor, shaking her hair out of her face as she looked up. She roared again, running at the monster that had tormented her and her friends for a week.

Kennedy didn't know much else about what was going on in Hawkins. She didn't know that Joyce and Hopper had found Will, though she hoped they did. She didn't know Steve had been screaming at Nancy and Jonathan about how they just let her run off (in wolf form, might I add) and she could be dead by now. She didn't know Diana Theroux was speeding through Hawkins, fighting against traffic and police cars to get to her granddaughter.

Perhaps this was fate. Kennedy going head-to-head in a battle with a monster, knowing she'd lose. Maybe it was Hawkins's destiny to go down in a blaze of blood and monsters. Who knows? Maybe she'd get a badass funeral out of it. Filled with pink and white flowers, but nobody wore black. That's what Kennedy hated about funerals. No, she'd want everyone wearing their favorite colors. Not hers, as she would want her own funeral to still somehow be about everyone else.

The boys listened as suddenly there was silence. No growls, no Kennedy. Just silence. Mike Wheeler waited. He prayed to whatever higher power there might be that Kennedy was alive. That this was all over.

"Is it dead?" Asked Dustin. Nobody answered him. They waited.

The door to the classroom fell to the floor, the Demogorgon on top of it. The boys shoved at Lucas. "Go, go, go!"

"Get the wrist rocket! The wrist rocket now!"

Lucas moved as fast as he could as he dug into his backpack. Dustin and Mike were screaming and shouting as the monster stepped further inside, snarling loudly. Lucas moved in front of Mike and Dustin while they began to pull out the rocks they gathered a few days ago.

"Kill it! Kill it!"

Lucas hit the demogorgon with a rock.

You can imagine how much good that did.

"Kill it! Bastard!" Lucas shot it again. The demogorgon didn't even flinch. "Come on, kill the bastard!" Dustin screamed.

"It's not working!"

Mike and Dusitn continued to shout. This was their only defense, so why stop now? Dustin grabbed the third to last rock, shoving it in Lucas's hand. The boy with a bandana wrapped around his head put the rock in its slot and began to pull back. The monster's face opened up as it roared at the three boys. Lucas scrunched his face, letting go of the band.

The Demogorgan flew back across the room, landing against the chalkboard. The three boys fell back in shock. Okay, even they knew a wrist rocket couldn't do that. Mike looked over, causing his friends to do the same. Eleven was up and off the table. She was sickly pale, almost purple and blue. Her eyes were red and her ears were still bleeding.

"Eleven, stop!"

Eleven waved her hand and Mike flew to the ground. He slid across the floor and harshly handed against the cabinets. Dustin looked over, his mouth hanging in shock. The monster was pinned up to the wall, letting out loud screeches as it tried to fight back. Eleven just walked up closer. And closer. And closer. Until she was only a few feet away.

She looked back at them. The boys she had grown to know as friends. Lucas Sinclair. Dustin Henderson. Mike Wheeler. She could see the tear rolling down Mikes face, which only made her heart shatter. She pressed her lips together tightly, knowing what will happen after she does what she needed to do.

"Goodbye, Mike."

He didn't say anything. He was simply frozen in time as he watched Eleven look up at the monster in front of her. She thought about all the people this creature has hurt. All the people her papa had hurt. She thought about Kennedy, who she now believed was dead.

"No more."

Eleven raised her hand to the monster. The boys didn't know what she did, but knew it was powerful as the mosnter let out a loud deafening screech. Everyone groaned out in pain as they covered their ears, the volume excruciatingly loud. The monster tried it's hardest to reach for the girl with mind-control powers. Her face became paler and her veins became more apparent. She didn't stop.

She screamed.

She pushed farther than she ever had before. The monster pushed further into the wall as suddenly it's chest opened up. It's entire body pulling away at itself, leaving it's charred particles sitting in the air. Dustin and Lucas turned away, their eyes scrunched close. Mike watched as the monster was slowly torn apart, its screeches matching Eleven's. He closed his eyes tightly, his head ringing.

The particles, or whatever they were, seemed to have swallowed Eleven and the monster whole. Until all there was was the final screech, the wall crumbling, and then silence.

Dustin was the first to look over. He was expecting to see something. A dead body, or something. Lucas and Mikes looked up. There was nothing. No Demogorgon. No Eleven. Just the falling ashes that fell to the ground or disintegrated into the air.

Mike crawled to his feet, "El!" He screeched, "El!"

"Eleven?"

The boys all looked around the room in hopes they would find the girl. "El, where are you!?" Shouted Mike. There was nothing. No replies. Tears brimmed his eyes. "Eleven! El!?"

Dustin ran into the hallway. "Kennedy!" Lucas and Mike ran out, seeing their babysitter in the middle of the hallway. She spit up blood as the boys circled her. "Oh, god. What do we do!?"

"How are we supposed to know?" Lucas snapped anxiously, looking down at the girl. "Isn't she supposed to be healing?"

"Not when she's this badly hurt!" Dustin shouted as he looked down. "We need to do something. We," Dustin looked around, his mind spinning. "Sometimes," Mike and Lucas looked up at the boy with the lisp. "Sometimes pain triggers healing."

Mike shook his head. "Isn't she hurt enough!?"

Dustin shouted back. "Just listen to me for once!" He shouted as he stood up. Dustin let out a scream as he stomped his foot onto Kennedy's hand. Crackling sounds caused the boys to groan in disgust as Kennedy shot up, shouting in pain. Dustin's eyes lit up, "Yes! It worked!"

"Ow!"

Mike and Lucas sighed in relief as the Theroux blinked repeatedly. They could see the cuts and bruises on her face already beginning to heal. Kennedy looked at each of them. Where was Eleven? Kennedys shoulders slouched in realization. She didn't need them to say anything. Eleven had saved them. Kennedy grabbed Mike, pulling him into her. Mikes face pressed against his shoulder and he felt tears running down his face. Lucas leaned into Kennedy, and Dustin crouched down and wrapped his arms around Mike and Kennedy. She closed her eyes, trying to slow her breathing.

The boys were okay. And so was she.

It wasn't long for ambulances, police cars, and firetrucks to swarm the school. More of the government and those behind Hawkins Lab coming to clean up their messes. The parents of the three boys reuniting with the, and hugging them tightly. Kennedy sat an an ambulance, wrapped in blankets as they checked her for injuries. Of course, she was okay physically.

Mentally, not so much.

The girl with auburn hair looked around. She watched Mike cry into his moms arms. She watched Lucas hug his parents tightly. Dustin ran to his mom for the first time since he was five. She smiled sadly, glad that all three of them were okay. They had their parents comforting arms around them. Like little shields to protect their kids from now on. Sure, it was unrealistic, but it was every parents dream.

"Kennedy!"

Kennedy spun around at the sound of her name. Her hazel eyes widened in shock as she slid off the ambulance. "Grandma?"

Diana Theroux came running from her car. Kennedy ran at the same time, the two meeting in the middle in the worlds biggest hug. Diana cried as she held onto her granddaughter tighter than she ever had before. "Oh, my baby, I'm so sorry," She cooed as she ran her fingers through Kennedy's matted hair. "I'll never leave you again."

"I'm okay. I'm okay." Kennedy whispered as she clutched onto her grandmother. Kennedy looked up slowly, seeing another figure in the crowd.

Steve Harrington.

She didn't see Nancy or Jonathan, maybe they had found Will after all. She wasn't sure. Kennedy smiled softly at the boy, who only smiled back. He didn't walk towards her, he didn't move from his car. He had a lot to apologize for. To Nancy. To Jonathan. He said things he never would've said if Kennedy was there. He did things he never should've done. So, he didn't mind if by the time the sun rose Kennedy will have given him another black eye. Or maybe she clawed his eyes out with her new claws. He just stood there, smiling at the fact that Kennedy Theroux was a real life superhero. Whether she knew it or not.

༺❀༻

They had finally found Will Byers.

And he was alive.

Everyone was at the hospital. Kennedy sat with her grandmother, holding her hand tightly as they waited silently. On Diana's left was Jim Hopper, who had his arms crossed as he stared at his shoes. On Kennedy's left, was Steve Harrington. Karen and Nancy Wheeler sat by each other, while Dustin and Lucas slept on each other, and Mike stared at the floor.

Every now and again, Mike would look in Kennedy's direction. She would look at him and give him a gloomy smile. She wanted him to know it was okay to be happy and sad. Happy that Will was okay, but sad because Eleven was gone.

Diana Theroux looked at another seat, rolling her eyes at a sleeping Ted Wheeler. She nudged Kennedy, gesturing in the mans direction. Kennedy looked over, snickering at her grandmothers angry hand movements.

The door opened, and everyone turned to look at Jonathan Byers. He looked right at Mike, who nodded his head in understanding. Mike shot up from his seat, waking up Dustin and Lucas. Jonathan looked over at Kennedy, who rose a brow in confusion. Jonathan waved his not-bandaged hand at her. Kennedy looked at her grandmother, who nodded with a smile. Dustin and Lucas woke up, groaning in disgust at each other as they shot out of their chairs. Kennedy laughed as she grabbed Dustin's wrist, tugging the boy down the hall.

Will's eyes lit up as soon as he saw his three friends. "Byers!" Mike shouted as he ran. Mike and Lucas quickly hugged their friend tightly before Dustin yanked them back to hug Will himself.

"Guys, guys, go easy on him." Jonathan said as he walked in behind Kennedy. The Theroux girl looked back, giving the older Byers a small smile. He returned it.

Kennedy turned back to look at the boy she had missed more than anything. "Hey, buddy," Kennedy said soothingly as she leaned down. Will wrapped an arm around Kennedy as he smiled wide. Kennedy kissed his cheek, "Welcome home."

"You won't believe what happened when you were gone, man." Exclaimed Lucas as Kennedy pulled away. She stood at the end of the bed with Jonathan, watching Wills excited eyes.

"It was mental!" Dustin added.

"You had a funeral."

"Jennifer Hayes was crying."

"And Troy peed himself!"

Will looked between Lucas and Dustin in shock. "What?"

"In front of the whole school!" Dustin threw up his arms.

The boys all laughed, but Will began to cough. The boys all fell silent into concern, waiting for Will. "You okay?" Asked Mike.

Will nodded his head as he looked up. "It got me." He told the Wheeler boy and their friends. "The Demogorgon."

"We know." Mike replied. "It's okay. It's dead." Will nodded as he looked down. "We made a new friend. She stopped it. She saved us." Kennedy smiled sadly, watching the boys. "But she's gone now."

Mike looked down sadly. Dustin spoke up. "Her name's Eleven."

Will scrunched his brow. "Like the number?" He asked.

"Well, we call her El, for short." Lucas shrugged.

"She's basically a wizard."

Lucas whispered, "She has superpowers."

"More like a yoda." Added Mike.

Dustin nodded, "She flipped a van with her mind, and these agents were trying to shoot us," The boys began to ramble about Eleven and how cook she was. "And Kennedy's a freaking werewolf now!"

Will looked over at the girl with auburn hair. "What!?"

Instead of letting Kennedy talk, the three boys began to ramble on about Kennedy's new powers. Nancy Wheeler stood in the door, smiling softly at the boys. However, her smile soon fell as she remembered Barb. Her best friend who never made it out of the Upside Down. The guilt once away ate at the girl. She began walking out of the room, both Kennedy and Jonathan noticing. Kennedy's eyes landed on Jonathan as he turned back. Jonathan could tell Kennedy knew something. Something about him. He avoided her gaze as he turned his attention back to his brother. Kennedy pressed her lips together, looking at the boys again.

༺❀༻

A month had past and Christmas time began. Life began to feel normal again in the town of Hawkins.

Even the Theroux house began to feel normal again. Diana had gotten the broken front door replaced and she spent an entire weekend decorating while Kennedy was at Nancy Wheelers. Now, Diana was preparing a feast. Not that a small family really needed one.

Rockin' Arount the Christmas Tree played through the house. Kennedy danced around, wearing a pair of light blue jeans and a red sweater as she slid her socks along the hardwood floor. She sang along to the song, letting the lights of her Christmas tree highlight her figure. The fireplace hummed a soft tune and the train tracks around the tree buzzed as the train continued it's circle.

Diana Theroux was walking around the kitchen, preparing cookies for Santa (a tradition they never stopped, even when Kennedy got older), and cooking the nights dinner. She was wearing a Christmas sweater and black pants, and a seasonal christmas-themed apron to finish it off. She hummed along to the music, glad she had taken the month of December off work to spend time with her granddaughter.

The doorbell rang and Diana looked up from the oven. "Kennedy! Can you get that!" She called out, turning back to check on the ham.

Kennedy stopped dancing, humming quietly as she walked through the living room and towards the front door. She swung it open, pausing. "Steve?"

"Hey, Kenny," The boy smiled kindly. He was wearing a jacket, but she could see his Christmas sweater. He chuckled as he looked down. "You like?"

"Very festive," Kennedy hummed as she looked up. "What's up?"

Steve pursed his lips, bringing his hands out from behind his back. He held out a small present, causing the Theroux to frown. "Merry Christmas."

After Will came home, Kennedy had a long talk with Steve Harrington. It consisted of yelling, swearing, slapping his arms and his legs whenever he tried to argue back. A lot of people asked questions when he came to school the following day, his arms covered in bruises and even a scratch mark when she remembered all of the awful things he said to Jonathan about Will. So, in the month Steve waited for Nancy to decide if they were getting back together, he spent his time with Kennedy to make himself a better person.

Now that Steve Harrington was no longer friends with Carol Perkins or Tommy Hagan, he didn't exactly have a mold he needed to fit into. He could be whoever he wanted, in a weird way. However, he didn't know what that meant. So, to start, he just asked Kennedy to help him be less of a douche bag. And she obliged, glad her friend had finally came to the good side after spending so many years in the darkness.

She blinked as she looked at the red wrapping, surprised. "Steve, I," Kennedy looked back into the house, "I didn't get you anything," Her lips turned downward, her eyes guiltily meeting Steves.

"What, like saving the world isn't enough?" He asked with a grin. Kennedy rolled her eyes playfully. "I, uh, just wanted to thank you. You know, for everything."

Kennedy gave a confused as she shook her head. "I didn't do anything," She said softly.

Steve shrugged, "I mean in general. You know, ever since we met." He attempted to explain. Kennedy nodded softly as she looked at the box again. He truly meant it. Kennedy was his closest companion, and probably the only person who knew who Steve Harrington truly was, even if he didn't.

"Thank you, Steve," She whispered as she stepped onto her tippy-toes. Steve smiled as she planted a kiss on his cheek. Her finger tips grazed his as she took the small box from his hands. Kennedy cleared her throat, "Do you wanna stay for dinner?"

The Harrington shook his head. "No, no, I'm going to Nancy's." He told her. Kennedy hummed, nodding. Nancy had chosen Steve after all, Kennedy realized, now wondering how Jonathan Byers would feel. She almost selfishly hoped he was as heart broken about Nancy's rejection as she was about his. Perhaps that was the bitter side of Kennedy, she didn't know.

"Yeah, I guess it's not the best idea." Kennedy laughed awkwardly. She rolled on the back of her feet as she chirped up. "Tommy and Carol are coming."

Steve rose a brow. "You're still friends with them?" Kennedy pursed her lips together and slowly nodded. He was surprised. Kennedy was smart. She knew what Carol and Tommy had been saying behind her back. And she knew she was better than them. And yet she still chose to be friends with them again. Perhaps this was the first sign. The first sign of Kennedy choosing them over whatever bond she had formed with Nancy, Jonathan, and himself. Steve shoved his hands in his pockets. He cleared his throat as he looked at her again. "Well, uh, I'll see you around then, huh?"

Kennedy leaned against her door, placing her right hand on the frame. "Yeah, for sure." She hummed as she stepped back. "Merry Christmas, Steve."

Diana looked up from the stove as Kennedy walked into the kitchen. The teenage girl slipped into a barstool, resting the wrapped box on the countertop. Kennedy's eyes never fell from the box, and she stared at it for a long long moment. Diana turned slowly, raising a brow. "Well?" She hummed with a hand on her hip. Kennedy looked up, scrunching her face in confusion.

"Well, what?"

"Are you going to open the box or keep making googly eyes with it?" Diana huffed as she gestured to the present. Kennedy pursed her lips tightly as she slouched. She pulled at the paper, tearing it off the box.

It was a small teal box. Kennedy's eyes widened as she read TIFFANY & CO. She looked up at her grandmother, who gave an impressed smile. Diana hummed as she turned back to the food, not saying anything to the girl. Kennedy opened the box to see a gold necklace with a single pearl. She stared at it in her fingers as she looked back at the front door, knowing Steve Harrington was long gone. She could still hear his car driving down the street.

Kennedy smiled to herself, looking back at the necklace as she unclasped it. Her hands fumbled as she put it around her neck, letting the pearl rest comfortably on her chest. She leaned against the counter, singing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree once more.

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