chapter five , the flea and the acrobat

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Kennedy chewed on the inside of her cheek as she sat on the stairs of the Wheeler Basement. It wouldn't be long until she'd walk Lucas and Dustin to their houses and Steve Harrington would come pick her up. At least, that's the current plan. Mike was on the couch with a resting Eleven, Lucas was in a chair, and Dustin was next to Kennedy.

"What was Will saying?" Mike was looking at his lap, his hands shoved in the pockets of his sweatshirt. "Like home. Like home." Mike stood up, beginning to pace in thought. "But dark?"

"And empty." Lucas added, his hands clasped together. His elbows were on his knees and his head hung low.

Dustin nodded, "Empty and cold." The boy frowned. "Wait, did he say cold?"

Lucas shrugged, "I don't know. The stupid radio kept going in and out." He snapped with an annoyed tone.

"It's like riddles in the dark.

Kennedy looked across the room at Eleven. The blond girl stared at her, still clearly tired and groggy. "Like home. Like his house?" Asked Mike.

"Or maybe like Hawkins!" Lucas suggested, pointing at the Wheeler.

"Upside Down."

Everyone looked at Eleven. That was the first time she spoke since they left the school. "What did she say?" Asked Lucas with a scrunched face.

Kennedy stood up from the stairs. "Upside down." She whispered.

"What?"

A lightbulb seemed to have gone off in Mikes head. "Upside down!" He shouted. Kennedy watched Mike rush to his DnD board on the table. He flipped it to its front side. Lucas and Dustin sat in their usual chairs, and Kennedy sheepishly took Will's seat. "When El showed us where Will was, she flipped the board over, remember?" He flipped it again. "Upside down. Dark. Empty."

"Do you understand what he's talking about?" Lucas asked as he looked across the table at Dustin.

"No."

"Guys, come on, just think about it." Mike exclaimed, "When El took us to find Will, she took us to his house, right?"

Lucas leaned back in his chair, "Yeah. And he wasn't there." He reminded the Wheeler.

"But what if he was there?" Countered Mike. "What if we just couldn't see him? What if he was on the other side?" Lucas looked up in thought. Kennedy kept her mouth shut, watching Mike flip the board back to the front side. "What if this is Hawkins and," He flipped it upside down again. "This is where Will is? The Upside Down."

Dustin's eyes lit up, "Like the Vale of Shadows." He suggested to the boys.

Kennedy sat up straight in her chair. "The Vale of Shadows? What's that?" She asked as she looked at Mike and Lucas.

Dustin climbed out of his chair, rushing over to a binder on a shelf. It was obviously heavily used and old. It was Mike's. Dustin flipped through some pages about Dungeons and Dragons before opening up to a larger page. He began to read what was there. "The Vale of Shadows is a dimension that is a dark reflection or echo of our world. It is a place of decay and death." Kennedy looked across the table at Mike, who seemed just as freaked out as she was. "A plane out of phase. A place of monsters." Dustin slowly looked up from the book, saying the next line in a quieter tone. "It is right next to you, and you don't even see it."

"An alternate dimension," Mike mumbled.

"But," Lucas stuttered as he looked towards Dustin, "How do we get there?"

"You cast Shadow Walk."

Lucas rolled his eyes "In real life, dummy."

Dustin shrugged, "We can't shadow walk, but," Dustin looked over at the space between Lucas and Mike, "Maybe she can. Maybe both of them can." Lucas and Mike looked over at Kennedy.

The girl with auburn hair frowned. "What?"

"El said you're connected to the bad men. Maybe you have powers like her!" Mike suggested as he moved his hands, gesturing toward the girl in the wig.

"I think I'd know if I have powers, Mike." Kennedy countered as she rolled her eyes.

Mike shook his head. "Would you?" The teenage girl frowned in confusion. "You weren't with her and the bad men, were you? So maybe you never learned how to use your powers!"

"Mike, this is insane." Lucas cut in as he waved his arm.

The Wheeler boy turned in his chair, looking at the blond girl. "Do you know how we get there? To the Upside Down?" Eleven looked at them all, slowly shaking her head. The three boys sunk in their seats in dismay.

Kennedy started gathering her things. "I'm gonna start walking you guys home." She said. Lucas and Dustin chorused in disagreements. "Boys, come on."

Steve Harrington was waiting outside Lucas Sinclair's house when she got there.

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Kennedy called out to the boy. He waved her off, rushing to his front door. Tomorrow was Will's funeral. Steve unlocked the doors to his car, letting the Theroux clamber inside. "Hey, thanks for coming to get me."

"Carol is worried sick about you. I had to make sure she wasn't hiding in my trunk." Steve joked. Kennedy tried to laugh, but she couldn't. The last 24 hours had been so weird. The last week had been even weirder. It was like she couldn't organize or even fathom the thoughts and the things she had learned. None of it made sense, she couldn't even make it make sense to her if she tried. And she did. She tried a lot.

Kennedy looked over at Steve with pursed lips. "How did you know?" She blurted. Steve stared at her blankly. "About me and Jonathan?"

Realization wiped over his face. "I saw you and him talking after Nancy went to class." He began. "I was confused. But then I started thinking about the weird stares he always gave you, how you acted around him, compared it to how you act around me and Tommy," Steve explained quietly. He moved his hands as he spoke, one of them falling into his lap while the other was on the steering wheel. "I just put two and two together." His brown eyes moved back toward Kennedy. She had an expressionless face and she nodded. Maybe she wasn't as good at hiding things as she thought.

"Do you think you could drop me off at his house?" She blurted suddenly.

Steve frowned. "What?"

Kennedy shifted in her seat. "I need to talk to him about something. A lot of somethings, actually," She explained to the Harrington. Steve didn't seem sure. He didn't love the idea of leaving Kennedy alone with Jonathan anymore. Especially after the photos incident.

However, Steve knew better than to try and argue. So, he first drove Kennedy to her house to grab some things, and then drove her a few miles to the Byers's home.

༺❀༻

Kennedy watched as Steve drove off. She sighed, watching the cold air surround her breath. The girl slowly turned to face the Byers house, welcomed with a figure standing at the door. "Who are you?" The man asked.

"I could ask the same thing." She scrunched her nose in slight distaste for this stranger. He was older and reeked of alcohol. She looked over and saw a hole in the Byers's house. She wondered if Joyce had done it. "Where's Jonathan?"

The man looked Kennedy up and down for a moment. "You're a tad too pretty for that boy, don't you think?" He chuckled, not moving.

Kennedy kept a straight face. "Where is he?" She bitterly asked. She watched as the man frowned, moving to look into the house.

"Jonathan! A pretty lady is here to see you!"

She stood there and waited. She could see Jonathan stumble out of his bedroom angrily, though his eyes became softer as he saw Kennedy. She stood in his doorway in her long mauve shirt and jeans, and she had a small bag hanging off her shoulder. "Kennedy?" He walked closer, surprised she was standing in front of him.

Kennedy looked at her bag. "I figured I'd come to check on you guys. See how you're doing." She slowly gazed over at the unfamiliar man.

"Uh, Ken, this is Lonnie." Jonathan muttered under his breath. Kennedy looked over in realization, now knowing this was Will and Jonathans dad. No wonder why he was such a douche.

Instead of speaking to Lonnie, the girl with auburn hair looked back at Jonathan. She gave him the smallest smile as she did. "Can we talk?" Her voice was warm like melting honey, leaving a sweet taste on Jonathan's tongue. He clenched his jaw as he stepped back, letting Kennedy further into his house.

Lonnie craned his neck. "No girls in your room!" He shouted. However, Jonathan and Kennedy ignored his yells, stepping into the teenage boys room and shutting the door behind them.

Kennedy fiddled with the strap of her bag awkwardly. Jonathan's back was against the door. He watched her. He watched her movements and he watched her tense under his stare. "Sorry I came without calling. I was babysitting Mike all day-"

"It's okay." Jonathan finally said. Kennedy swallowed the lump in her throat. It was Thursday night. Usually she'd be here taking care of Will. Hell, she was supposed to be here yesterday. The thought made her stomach sink. "Is everything okay?"

She had to tell him. She couldn't not tell Jonathan. He was just as involved in this as she was. Kennedy sighed as she pulled off her bag, tossing it onto his bed. Jonathan frowned as Kennedy turned to look at him, her fingers sprawled apart. "I'm going to tell you something crazy. Like, looney-bin crazy. But I am telling you the truth and you have to believe me."

"I have something to tell you too," Jonathan confessed. Nancy and him had been together all day, figuring out what was in the background of a photo Jonathan took. It was a man, or a creature of some sort at Steve's house the night Barb disappeared. The crazy part was that Joyce had said she'd seen it in their house but only now they had proof. And if Joyce was right about the creature, maybe she was right about Will being alive.

Kennedy nodded, "Okay, do you wanna go first?" She said as she shrugged.

"No, you can."

"I don't want to go first."

"Well, neither do I."

"Someone has to go first!"

"Then let's say it at the same time!"

Kennedy sighed as she closed her eyes. She brought her fingers to her temple and shook her head. "Alright, fine! We'll say it at the same time, okay?" Jonathan nodded in agreement, inhaling deeply. Kennedy put her hands to her sides. "One, two, three,"

"Will's alive.

"Will's not dead."

The two teens stared at each other for a moment. Did they just say the same thing? How did they know? Jonathan shook his head. "Wait, what? You know?"

"Of course I know! That's why I'm here!" Kennedy threw her hand up in frustration. "How do you know?"

Jonathan stuttered as he walked to his bag. "Nancy came to me today, talking about seeing something at Steves." Kennedy followed Jonathan, watching him pull out a photo. "I took this that night, and we enlarged and brightened the photo. Look." The Theroux looked over Jonathan's shoulder, seeing what looked like a humanoid figure, tall and skinny. Except she couldn't see its face. Where was its face?

"Oh my god." Kennedy whispered. "That's what took Barb?"

"And Will too," Jonathan said as he looked over. "My mom wasn't lying when she said she saw this come out of the wall. She saw it. She saw Will."

Kennedy's eyes were wide as she looked at the photo again. "I heard him too." Kennedy whispered. Jonathan looked over in confusion. "Um, on a radio. He was yelling for Joyce. That's how I know." She left out Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and the girl with superpowers. She figured she'd be able to keep them out of trouble if she did.

Jonathan cleared his throat in realization. "Kenny," The auburn-haired girl looked up. Jonathan slowly put the photo down, letting his fingers brush the wood of his desk. "Hopper said you were in the woods night went missing. You, you heard him."

"I thought it was a dream." She whispered.

"But it wasn't. Something grabbed you." Jonathan met Kennedy's eyes, seeing the confusion swimming in hazel. "What if that's what it was?" Kennedy's gaze trailed back to the photo. "What if you were almost taken too?"

Kennedy shook her head. "But why wasn't I?" She asked softly. "The last thing I remember is being dragged through the woods. The next thing I know I'm in bed completely fine." Her hands moved as she spoke and she began to pace Jonathan's bedroom. Her mind spinning with endless possibilities. None of this made sense! She couldn't even think straight.

"I don't know what happened. But maybe, maybe we can figure it out. If Will's alive, then maybe Barb is too." Jonathan watched Kennedy pace back and forth. He could see the anxiety on her face. She was so used to knowing everything, being able to do anything. And now? Now she had no idea what to do. Jonathan finally stepped forwards, grabbing Kennedy's hand and pulling her toward him. "Hey, look at me." Kennedy's skin felt warm as Jonathan's hands framed her face. She leaned into his touch, finding some sense of peace in his warmth. "We're gonna figure it out. Tomorrow, you, me, and Nancy. Okay? We're gonna figure this out."

Kennedy stared up at him. His familiar brown eyes were filled with uncertainty. He didn't know what would happen. He didn't know what the hell was going on in Hawkins. What he did know? Was that he was finding Will.

Kennedy took a moment, looking at the little space between them. She raised her hand, putting it on the center of his chest. "Why were you really there that night?"

Jonathan knew what she was talking about. "I was really looking for Will. I heard screaming and ran to see what it was. And there you guys were." Kennedy listened to his words. She could feel his stare but she didn't look up from her hand. She studied the shape of her fingers and the way the fabric of his shirt moved under her touch. "I don't know why I stayed. And I never should've taken those photos," Jonathan looked at his bed, trying to find anything to say. "I'm sorry."

Kennedy slowly looked up, her eyes lighter than before. "You're a freak, you know that?" A smile began to tug onto her lips as Jonathan looked back at her.

"I thought you were into freaks."

"Oh, shut up." Kennedy rolled her eyes playfully, shoving Jonathan's chest. He laughed, moving his hands to grab her arms so he could steady himself. She looked back at him, "I'm sorry about your camera."

Jonathan shrugged, "It's alright. I'll figure something out." He mumbled softly. Kennedy nodded, tilting her head as she looked around. Jonathan cleared his throat, looking at her bag on his bed. "Are you staying the night?" He asked, pointing in the bags direction.

Kennedy looked back, her mind getting back on track. "Yeah. Uh, if that's okay," She said as she turned back to the Byers.

"It's always okay."

His words caused tingles to rise up Kennedy's spine. She looked up at him, and it was obvious he was feeling the same way. Avoiding his gaze, Kennedy moved around him. She opened her bag, shifting through it quickly. "I'm gonna go change in the bathroom, and, uh, I'll sleep on the floor," She suggested as she grabbed her things. Jonathan stood there, not saying anything as he watched Kennedy walk around him. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she reached for the bedroom door.

"Kennedy?"

The girl slowly turned, seeing Jonathan facing her. His hands were at his sides and his face was almost expressionless. Almost.

"You don't have to leave."

All of the air in Kennedy's lungs had practically left her body. She felt tingles up her entire body and the pit of her stomach buzzing. Her body wanted to move, but she couldn't. She was stuck in place as she clenched onto the clothes in her hand tightly. Jonathan turned toward her fully, both of them waiting. Neither of them moved to go in different directions. She didn't move for the door, and he didn't move anywhere else in his room. The silence in the room was almost deafening. Kennedy could hear the TV in the living room blasting. Lonnie seemed to try and tune out the entire world with an action movie. The sound blasted throughout the house. Kennedy felt her hand tighten around the clothes in her hand, and Jonathan looked her over. It was as if he had never seen her before. His eyes memorized every pattern of her body.

He moved.

It only took Jonathan three strides before he finally stood in front of Kennedy. His hand was on the back of her neck as he pulled her in. Their lips collided like a car wreck. Their bodies pressed together like their lives depended on it.

Kennedy's back pushed against the door, her hands all over the Byers boy as she tugged his jacket off. His hands found her body, feeling every curve she had and feeling her move under his touch. Her teeth grazed his lip as she smiled, her hands fumbling with his belt.

Jonathan breathed heavily. He was on autopilot as he kissed down Kennedy's neck. He felt her breath as she sighed. Her fingers wrapping into his shirt as his hands slid under her shirt, feeling her warm skin. Kennedy leaned her head back, her mouth hanging open as she let out the quietest sound. Jonathan hid his smile, but Kennedy knew he was loving every minute of it.

She grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it off of him. Jonathan stepped backward, letting Kennedy follow him. Her eyes never left his as she pulled her top off, leaving her in her white bra and jeans. Jonathan kicked off his shoes, and Kennedy did the same. They mirrored each other's actions before the back of Jonathan's legs hit the bed. He sat down, looking up at her. Kennedy swung a leg over, sitting in his lap. Jonathan's hands traveled up the back of her thighs as she sat down. Kennedy's arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him in.

She was addicting like a drug. He loved basking in her kiss and feeling her hands in his hair. Jonathan loved the way she grabbed his arms and pulled him closer, even when it wasn't possible. He loved feeling her heartbeat against his and her breath hitching when he touched a spot of her body. Jonathan loved it. He loved every second of it.

Kennedy pulled back as Jonathan unclasped her bra, letting it fall off her arms. She let it slide off her body, landing on the floor beside Jonathan's feet. His hands were all over her as he kissed her. He kissed every inch of her as she searched his body. Kennedy pushed him back onto the bed as she unbuttoned his jeans. Clothes were discarded until there was nothing left.

Every small sound coming from one of them only pushed the other to go further. Every kiss. Every touch. Sloppy kisses and quiet moans. Jonathan's hands gripping Kennedy's hips tightly. Kennedy's nails dug into Jonathan's back or his arms, leaving little crescents in his skin. He'd nip at her skin and kiss her again. They marked each other with their lips and their hands. Their fingers linked together and their backs pushed into the mattress. Their unspoken emotions lingered in the back of their minds, but both tried not to think about it.

The night ended with the two of them. Jonathan was fast asleep as he kept his arms around Kennedy's bare waist. She didn't sleep. She couldn't. Not when there was a whisper in her ear. A ticking sound, or something. It was so soft if she was loud enough she couldn't hear it. But she was in silence now, all she could hear was Jonathan's slow breaths and her own heartbeat. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

༺❀༻

"Will! Will, it's us! Are you there?"

"Mom?"

"Why can't he hear us?"

"I don't know!"

"Mom, it's coming!"

"Will? WIll, it's Kenny!"

"Mom!"

The man put the headphone back down on the table. He was in a room with a bunch of other people listening to radios and other strange things on machines. He looked at the headphones as he nodded. "She was there." He said, thinking about the little girl who had escaped his facility only a few nights ago. He then clenched his jaw. "Search up the name Theroux. See who comes up in Hawkins. Specifically anyone with the name Kenny."

The man stood up, walking out of the room with nothing else to say.

Kennedy didn't know when she fell asleep. She wondered if she had.

She wore a black dress. She stepped into Jonathan's room as he slammed a tie onto the dresser. "Do you need help?" Her voice was soft and small. Jonathan looked back at he to see her standing there. The front of her hair had been tied back into a bow, so there were only a few pieces framing her face. She was wearing just a simple black dress and heels, her jacket on her arm.

"No, I don't want to wear the stupid thing anyway," He muttered softly as he walked over. Kennedy closed her eyes as Jonathan's hands cupped her jaw, kissing the top of her head softly. He looked down at her as he sighed. "I don't want to do this."

"I know," she whispered, reaching up and taking Jonathan's hand in hers. "But we'll talk to Nancy after the service, and we'll get straight into figuring out what the hell is going on, alright?" Jonathan clenched his jaw as he nodded, Kennedy linked their fingers together, "Come on,"

The service was what you'd expect. There were thirty or so people. Kennedy joined the Wheelers in the crowd, every now and again sharing a look with Nancy or Jonathan who sat by his mom. There were the usual apologies and condolences. Everyone gave Lonnie shaking hands and giving hugs. Joyce didn't participate. She stared at the coffin with the white and yellow roses. Kennedy ignored Lonnie, walking straight to Jonathan with Nancy in tow.

They sat in a secluded part of the cemetery, Jonathan holding a small map. "This is where we know for sure it's been, right?"

"So, that's," Nancy pointed to the paper.

"Steve's house." Jonathan explained, "And that's the woods where they found Will's bike and
that's my house."

Kennedy reached over, "And that's mine," She said as she pointed to another X on the paper. Nancy was surprised to hear what Kennedy knew, but she was thankful they had someone else in on it. Of course, Nancy was now terrified of the fact whatever is attacking people tried to attack Kennedy. What if it came back for her?

"It's all so close." Mumbled Nancy.

"Yeah. Exactly. I mean, it's all within a mile or something." Jonathan explained to the two girls. "Whatever this thing is, it's, it's not traveling far. Jonathan looked over at them. Nancy was in between Jonathan and Kennedy, looking up at the Byers.

"You want to go out there." Nancy muttered softly.

Jonathan shrugged, "We might not find anything." He informed her.

"We found something." Nancy reminded the boy. Her blue eyes shifted toward the paper. "And if we do see it," Her hands fiddled with her jacket as she looked at Jonathan again. "Then what?"

Jonathan sighed as he looked out. He thought about what this thing did. It took Will. It took Barb. It almost took Kennedy. He looked back at Nancy and Kennedy. "We kill it."

The two girls stood outside of Lonnie's car. Jonathan took out a knife, fiddling with the glove box. "What are you doing?" Kennedy asked with a glare.

"Just give me a second." Jonathan mumbled. Nancy looked back at the people, hoping Lonnie won't come walking over.

It only took a moment for Jonathan to open the glove box, pulling out a gun. Nancy's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"What? You want to find this thing and take another photo? Yell at it?"

Nancy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "This is a terrible idea." She snapped as Jonathan climbed out of the car.

Jonathan took the box of ammo from his dads car, putting it in his suit jacket pocket. "Yeah, well, it's the best we've got." Nancy rolled her eyes again. "What? You can tell someone, but they're not gonna believe you. You know that."

"Your mom would." Nancy argued. Kennedy rose a brow, shocked that Nancy actually made that argument. Not that it wasn't true, Kenedy just never expected the Wheeler to argue in the first place.

"She's been through enough."

"She deserves to know."

"Yeah, and I'll tell her," Jonathan pursed his lips as he looked between the two girls. "When this thing is dead."

Kennedy looked at the ground, puckering her lips in thought. "Okay, then let's go find this thing."

༺❀༻

Nancy swung her bat, trying to mentally and physically prepare for whatever she was going to face in the woods. Kennedy stood in the Wheeler's garage, pulling out a hammer from Mr. Wheelers tool box. The two girls had both changed clothes. Kennedy was wearing one of Nancy's jeans and a yellow sweater.

"So, are you and Jonathan," Nancy trailed off, turning to look at Kennedy.

The Theroux looked up, "What? No," She laughed as she quickly shook her head. "We're not like that."

Nancy shrugged, "I remember Steve saying you two were-"

"Well, yeah," Kennedy confessed. Nancy rose her brows in surprise. "But it's nothing romantic, really." She assured the Wheeler as she waved her hand.

Nancy pursed her lips, nodding softly. "I wouldn't judge if it was," She said. Kennedy looked up in surprise. Nancy gave a reassuring nod, and Kennedy almost smiled as she thought about the Byers boy.

Kennedy tried to steer the conversation. "Should I bring the hammer or should I bring this?" Nancy smiled as Kennedy held up a golf club, swinging it around.

"Definitely the golf club."

Kennedy grinned, adjusting her grip. Nancy smiled back, the two looking at their newest choice of weapons. Nancy yelled as she saw something behind her, moving to smack it with the bat. Steve Harrington jumped back, holding out his arms in surprise. Kennedy frowned. "Steve?" She said in obvious confusion.

Nancy put her hands to her side. "What are you doing here?" Nancy and Steve hadn't spoken since their fight. Nancy told Steve she was gonna tell the police the truth, and instead of worrying about Barb, Steve worried about getting in trouble with his parents.

"What are you doing?" Steve glanced at the bat and the golf club, putting his hands on his hips.

The two girls looked at each other. "Nothing," Nancy mumbled.

"I hope that's not meant for me." One of Steve's hands fell to his side as he gestured to the bat in Nancy's hand.

"What?" Nancy looked down, stuttering. "Oh, I was just," The brunette pursed her lips as she adjusted the wooden bat in her hands. "Thinking about joining softball," She lied.

Kennedy chimed in, "And I just crave violence," She said as she waved the golf club. Steve didn't question that, considering he had known Kennedy since she was ten years old.

Steve looked back toward the Wheeler, "Well, listen, I'm really sorry." Nancy leaned onto the bat as she looked up at Steve in surprise. "I mean, even before you threatened me with a baseball bat."

"Okay," Nancy mumbled as Steve walked past her, leaning against the car. Kennedy puckered her lips as she listened, leaning onto the golf club.

"I panicked and," Steve took his hands out of his pockets. "I mean, I was a total dick."

"Yeah, you were."

Kennedy rose a brow, smiling at the fact Nancy Wheeler hadn't been such a suck-up to Steve. Steve sighed, letting his shoulders fall. Kennedy snickered, causing the couple to look back at her. She shrugged, holding up her free hand. "Sorry," She mumbled before looking at her shoes.

Nancy shifted on her feet. "Did you get in trouble with your parents?" She asked.

"Totally, but, who cares? Screw 'em." Steve replied. Kennedy wasn't so sure if Steve Harrington actually meant that, but it was nice he was trying. "Any news about Barbara? Parents heard from her, or..." Once again, Kennedy didn't know if Steve cared. Nancy shook her head, trying not to make it obvious she was lying. There was news about Barb. Like she might be alive. Steve stood up, stepping toward Nancy. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he spoke. "Hey, listen. Why don't we catch a movie tonight, you know? Just kinda pretend everything's normal for a few hours." Kennedy chewed on her lip as she looked away, knowing there was no way that 1: Nancy could even make it to the movie, and 2: even if she could, she couldn't be able to pretend everything is normal. "All The Right Moves is still playing. You know, with your lover boy from Risky Business?"

Nancy looked down, "Yeah, I know," She hummed softly.

"You know, Carol thinks I actually look like him." Steve hummed as he turned his head. "What do you think, huh?" Kennedy scrunched her face as Steve Harrington started to sing into the bottom of the baseball bat like it was a microphone.

The Wheeler shook her head, "I just, I don't think I can." She uttered out. "I've been really busy with this funeral thing and with my brother," Nancy half-lied as she inhaled. "It's been really hard on him. That's why Kennedy's here."

Kennedy spoke up, "Trying to make sure the Wheeler ship doesn't sink!" She chimed as she saluted.

Steve looked between the two, realizing his attempt to fix things with Nancy half-way-failed. "Yeah, sure, yeah." He mumbled as Nancy took the bat back from him. He nodded, "I should go."

"Sorry," Nancy said sheepishly, "I'll call you later. Is that okay?" Steve nodded as Nancy gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"Yeah. Yeah, of course." Steve gave a small smile back to Nancy, turning away from her as he waved to Kennedy. "Call me if you need anything, Kenny," The auburn-haired girl nodded in reply. Steve began to sing again, walking out of the garage.

Kennedy leaned onto her tip-toes. "Carol's a filthy liar!" She called out, earning a middle finger from Steve Harrington. Kennedy grinned, watching as he walked down the driveway and to his car. Nancy fiddled with the bat, looking at the ground as she tried to sort out her thoughts. Kennedy noticed this, she could tell Nancy had something on her mind that was too personal to share for now. So, Kennedy stood up straight, "Hey," The Wheeler girl turned around, watching Kennedy hold up her golf club. "Sword fight?" She asked with a grin.

Nancy rose a brow, "We don't have swords."

"No, but we have a bat and a golf club." Kennedy chirped as she held up the golf club. Nancy laughed as Kennedy tried to do ninja-like moves (and failed miserably). The Theroux stood up straight, "Come on, I'll go easy on you."

Nancy tried to hold back a smile, but she couldn't. Nancy parted her feet as she held up the bat, the two of them beginning to play fight with their golf club and bat.

༺❀༻

Jonathan Byers sighed as he let the gun down. He had been trying to aim at the cans on the stumps of trees but had missed every single shot. "You're supposed to hit the cans, right?"

Jonathan turned to see Nancy Wheeler and Kennedy Theroux walking up to them. He looked between them both, seeing the playful smile on Nancy's face. "No, actually, you see the spaces between the cans? I'm aiming for those," He sarcastically explained. Nancy hummed in reply, placing her bag and her bat down. Kennedy did the same. "You ever shot a gun before?"

"Have you met my parents?" Nancy asked, laughing under her breath. Kennedy wasn't really a part of the conversation, not that she minded. She looked around the woods, ignoring the aching feeling around her ankle.

"Yeah, I haven't shot one since I was ten." Jonathan explained as he began loading it. "My dad took me hunting on my birthday. He made me kill a rabbit."

Nancy rose a brow, "A rabbit?"

The Byers boy nodded. "Yeah. I guess he thought it would make me into more of a man or something." He said as he shrugged. "I cried for a week." He confessed.

"Jesus," Nancy whispered, shaking her head at the thought of ten-year-old Jonathan having to do such a thing.

"What? I'm a fan of Thumper."

Nancy chuckled, shaking her head. "I meant your dad."

Jonathan sighed, "Yeah," He mumbled. He was still fiddling with the gun as he spoke. "I guess he and my mother loved each other at some point, but," He cocked the gun, looking at Nancy. "I wasn't around for that part."

Nancy held out her hand, waiting for the gun. Jonathan looked at her in surprise, giving her the weapon and basic instructions. Kennedy looked over, stepping closer to see Nancy taking the gun. "I don't think my parents ever loved each other." Nancy blurted, making a confession she never really said out loud.

"They must've married for some reason." Jonathan countered, trying to be optimistic for the Wheeler.

"My mom was young." Nancy raised the gun, squinting one of her eyes. "My dad was older, but he had a cushy job, money, came from a good family." Nancy pursed her lips as she thought about it. "So they bought a nice house at the end of a cul-de-sac, and started their nuclear family."

Kennedy scoffed as she pushed her hair back. "Screw that." Jonathan muttered. Nancy nodded as she aimed the gun.

"Yeah. Screw that."

BANG.

The beer can flew off the stump. Nancy had hit it perfectly. She looked over at Jonathan in surprise, the Byers boy clearly impressed. Kennedy bounced on her feet excitedly. Nancy looked over, smiling in triumph. "Your turn,"

Kennedy looks at the Wheeler, smiling. She took the gun, looking at it in her hands. She hadn't shot a gun before. Her grandmother would have killed her. But, here she was, with Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers. "I never met my parents." Kennedy blurted. "My grandmother says they weren't good for each other. Toxic, cheating, fighting all the time. Borderline abusive type of shit." She explained as she looked up at the beer can on the second stump. Nancy and Jonathan listened. Kennedy hadn't talked about her parents before. Why would she? Kennedy clenched her jaw tightly. "I guess she and my grandpa were the same way. You know, like the Theroux's are currsed to have these shitty relationships with men." She raised the gun higher, rolling her eyes. "Screw that."

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Nancy flinched as Kennedy fired three shots. She shot every can, barely moving the gun to aim. Kennedy sighed as she let her hand fall, and she looked over at Jonathan and Nancy. "It's like free therapy."

Meanwhile, in Hawkins lab, files of a young girl were sprawled out in front of the old man from before. He was tall with white hair. And he was wearing a suit rather than lab tech like some of the other people. He picked up a folder from Hawkins High School, opening it to see a photo fo Kennedy Dawn Theroux. A girl with dyed auburn hair and a bright smile. She had good grades, she was in a lot of extracurriculars throughout the years. Her emergency contact was her grandmother, Diana Theroux.

Of course it was.

"This is her." The man, whos name was Dr. Martin Brenner, looked up at the multiple staff members. Some on lab coats, some in suits, some in security gear. "I want to find her. Tonight." Staff began to scurry, whispering on finding the girls location. Dr. Brenner picked up another photo from his own file. He tilted his head, a small sad smile on his face. "We've found each other again, my sweet sweet number ten."

༺❀༻

"You never said what I was saying,"

Nancy Wheeler said this to Jonathan Byers. The three teenagers were walking through the woods. Kennedy had explained to them what she had heard from the radio, and her experience in the woods and the pool. There was nothing in the pool, though. They knew that for a fact. So the group wasn't sure what it meant. But now, Nancy was asking about the photos. The photos Jonathan Byers took.

"What?"

"Yesterday." Nancy hummed, "You thought I was saying something and that's why you took my picture."

Jonathan stuttered over his words, feeling Kennedy's gaze on him. "I don't know." He said quietly. "I guess," They walked through the woods. "I saw this girl, you know, trying to be someone else. But for that moment, it was like you were alone, or you thought you were. And, you know, you could just be yourself." He explained to the Wheeler.

Nancy looked at the ground, shaking her head. "That is such bullshit."

"What?"

Nancy looked over, "I am not trying to be someone else." She replied. "Just because I'm dating Steve and you don't like him—"

"You know what? Forget it." Jonathan began to walk away. Kennedy rose a brow as she looked between the two. What the hell was this conversation turning into? "I just thought it was a good picture."

Nancy began to walk after him, "He's actually a good guy." She declared.

"Okay."

"Yesterday, with the camera," Nancy stuttered as she spoke. "He's not like that at all. He was just being protective."

"Yeah, that's one word for it."

Kennedy tried to object, "Guys, can we not-"

"Oh, and I guess what you did was okay?" Nancy snapped. Kennedy clamped her mouth shut, knowing she wasn't stopping anything now.

"No,  I never said that."

Nancy continued to speak. "He had every right to be pissed—"

"Okay, all right. Does that mean I have to like him?"

Jonathan turned to look at Nancy. The Wheeler shifted on her feet. "No." She deadpanned.

The Byers shook his head at her. "Listen, don't take it so personally, okay? I don't like most people. He's in the vast majority. Kennedy gets that, and so should you." He turned to walk away from Nancy. Kennedy stood a few steps back, looking away awkwardly.

Nancy scoffed in disbelief. "You know, I was actually starting to think that you were okay."

"Yeah?

"Yeah." Nancy snapped back. "Yeah, I was thinking, Jonathan Byers, maybe he's not the pretentious creep everyone says he is." She listed off. Kennedy's eyes widened, and she started walking over to stop the conversation from getting worse.

Jonathan walked back towards Nancy. "Well, I was just starting to think you were okay." The brunette girl rose a brow. "I was thinking, "Nancy Wheeler, she's not just another suburban girl who thinks she's rebelling by doing exactly what every other suburban girl does." Kennedy's mouth hung open as she listened. Nancy's blue eyes widened as she realized he wasn't holding back. "Until that phase passes and they marry some boring one-time jock who now works sales, and they live out a perfectly boring little life at the end of a cul-de-sac. Exactly like their parents, who they thought were so depressing, but now, hey, they get it."

Kennedy's mouth was still open as Jonathan walked past the two girls. The girl with auburn hair blinked, unsure how to comprehend what she just witnessed. Nancy scoffed in frustration, following after Jonathan. Was he right? Maybe. But maybe Nancy wasn't ready to hear that.

༺❀༻

Night had fell on Hawkins. The three teens had continued their search in silence. Kennedy didn't want to break the silence. Okay, she did. She hated silence. But she didn't want to spark another argument between the two.

Kennedy hadn't really thought about the photos Jonathan took of Nancy. She thought it was weird and something he shouldn't have done. He had apologized, but Kennedy wasn't sure of that's what she or Nancy wanted from him. Maybe it was a mistake to sleep with him again, Kennedy thought as she stepped over a large stick on the ground. I mean, Kennedy had forgiven Jonathan without really letting him face the consequences of his actions.

But the truth was, Kennedy liked Jonathan. She really liked him. Of course she wasn't going to say that. Not to him, not to Nancy. It was her own little secret that she kept locked away. Maybe that was why she forgave him so quickly. Because she didn't want him to not like her back. Kennedy rolled her eyes at herself. Was she really that pathetic? Was she really ignoring all the signs and all the red flags just because she was so desperate for Jonathan Byers to look at her the way everyone else did?

Nancy Wheeler stopped walking. Kennedy slowed down, looking at her in confusion. Jonathan turned around, his lips tilted downward as he spoke. "What, are you tired?" He bitterly asked.

"Shut up."

Jonathan was confused. He watched as Nancy looked around. Kennedy turned to look behind them, gripping the golf club in her hands tighter than before. "I heard something." Nancy whispered. Jonathan and Kennedy held their breaths as they waited. A whimper. Kennedy snapped her head at the sound of an indistinct whisper in the distance. Nancy began to walk, Kennedy and Jonathan close behind.

Kennedy still hated the woods. Her ankle was throbbing and she felt like she was gonna be sick. She even stumbled over her footing, leaning on to a tree for support. Nancy and Jonathan looked back at her in worry. Jonathan quickly put his arm under hers and began helping the girl limp to the unfamiliar sound. What had happened? She was fine minutes ago, and now it felt like she had completely snapped her ankle.

Nancy looked at her with wide eyes. Every step Kennedy took the auburn-haired girl let out a sharp breath. It was really hurting, and yet nobody knew how to help. Kennedy blew air out of her mouth and puffed her cheeks. She nodded, pushing to keep going.

The whimpering sounds got louder and Nancy stumbled upon the creature. It was a deer, bloodied and battered. Kennedy and Jonathan reached Nancy, their eyes landing on the animal. "Oh, God," Nancy said in despair. Kennedy gulped, looking away from the whimpering deer. "It's been hit by a car." Jonathan stared at the animal covered in blood. It wasn't going to make it. He knew it from just seeing it. Nancy looked at the two. "We can't just leave it." She whispered. They knew what she meant. They couldn't let it suffer any longer.

All three of them look at the animal again. Nancy fiddled with the gun in her hand. They had to. It was only fair. It'd be quick and painless. However, Nancy felt her hand shake as she aimed her weapon. Kennedy leaned against a nearby tree, watching as Jonathan reached for the gun. "I'll do it." He declared, holding his hand out.

Nancy looked over. "I thought you said-"

"I'm not nine anymore." The Byers deadpanned. Nancy looked over Jonathan's shoulder, seeing Kennedys clenched jaw and furrowed brow. Kennedy had lifted her leg off the ground, trying to keep as much weight off her ankle as possible. The Wheeler pursed her lips sadly, handing Jonathan the gun.

They stood up straight and looked down. The deer continued to let out whimpering sounds, echoing in Kennedys ears. Jonathan inhaled deeply, trying to sort his thoughts. Nancy turned her head, ready to close her eyes. As the gun cocked and his finger landed on the trigger, something happened.

Something took the deer.

There was a small growl as suddenly the deer was pulled into nothingness. Kennedy stumbled backwards as Nancy and Jonathan jumped toward her. The three of them stared in shock, gasping. Nancy held her flashlight tightly. "What was that?" She whispered.

Kennedy stood up straight, angling her flashlight in the direction of the bloodied trail. She limped, moving slowly with Nancy and Jonathan. Jonathan kept the gun pointed as they looked around. They were in a clearing of the forest, and yet there was no sign of the deer or whatever took it. Kennedy looked around in confusion, her golf club basically becoming her walking stick.

"Where'd it go?" Nancy muttered as she looked at the bloodied bones.

"I don't know." Jonathan replied. Kennedy hissed in pain, looking around. "Do you see any more blood?" He asked the girls.

Nancy shook her head, "No." She whispered in confusion. Kennedy looked around, her and Nancy walking together. Jonathan walked away, looking the opposite direction. Kennedy tried to ignore whatever pain she felt, looking at the forest around her "Kennedy do you see that?"

The Theroux looked at what Nancy was gesturing towards. It was a tree with an opening on the bottom. Except it was dripping. Kennedy and Nancy shared looks as they walked closer. Nancy put down her bat as she kneeled down. Kennedy, on the other hand, kept her bat in hand. The two girls looked at it closely, Nancy's flashlight highlighting the strange textures. The blood trail was there. That's where the deer went.

Kennedy leaned closer to the tree. "What the hell is this?"

"Jonathan!" Nancy called out, trying to get the Byers boy's attention. There was no sound. Nancy and Kennedy turned to look, waiting for Jonathan to come into view. But he never did. "Jonathan?"

Kennedy looked at the goo-like texture on the sides of the tree. She scrunched her face. "Nancy," Kennedy warned as the Wheeler began to take off her backpack. "You don't think-"

"We won't know, will we?"

Nancy poked her head in first. Kennedy scrunched her face in disgust as she began to follow. Goo and such stuck to their clothes and their hair. Slimey textures on their skin. Nancy came out, standing up from the other side of the tree as Kennedy came out next.

This was different.

The world was darker, colder. Something was falling from the sky. Nancy's flashlight began to flicker. Black like vines covered the surfaces. Nancy began to walk, and so did Kennedy. Kennedy's foot didn't hurt anymore, she realized as she began to walk. She kept her golf club in hand (which was difficult to bring through the tree). Nancy looked down at her flashlight, which began to flicker even more.

A snarl caused the girls to gasp. They turned to their right to see a creature. It was gray and it was humanoid-esque. But it's head. It was like it didn't have a face, just a mouth that bloomed like a flower. Their eyes widened as they watched this...this thing eat the deer they saw before.

Somehow, Kennedy knew. This was what took Will. This is what took Barb. This is what almost took her.

Nancy stepped back, trying to be as quiet as possible. Kennedy gripped the golf club tightly. The heel of Nancy's shoe stepped on a vine, and suddenly the creature turned, roaring loudly. Kennedy and Nancy screamed, running. Nancy's flashlight fell to the ground and Kennedy nearly dropped the golf club.

Somewhere in the woods, Jonathan's head whipped around at the sound of their screams. "Kennedy! Nancy!" He shouted as he ran. He ran in the direction of the sound, stumbling upon a tree.

In front of the tree were Nancy and Kennedys backpacks, Nancy's bat, and a flashlight. But no sign of either girl. "Nancy!?" Jonathan shouted as he looked around. "Kennedy!? Where are you!?" The sounds of screams echoed. He looked around in confusion. "Nancy!"

As he shouted for both girls, he stumbled away from the tree with the open stump. It seemed to have slowly stitched itself together, repairing the birch of the tree as if the hole the two girls had found was never there.

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