"Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on"

Anthony let out a groan when his body smacked on the floor. He slowly pulled himself up, his eyes looking at his surroundings. "What the hell?" He asked as he looked at where he was. He reached his hand out and tried to touch a particle that was floating in the air before taking a few steps back.

He was walking around the woods with Jonathan and Nancy before he strayed from them and found the portal. Anthony, being Anthony. Walked right in it and here he was.

Anthony!

He heard Jonathan shout his name but it was more like an echo.

Anthony where did you go?!

Nancy then shouted next. The same thing. Their voices both sounded like an echo, but he didn't say anything back. He kneeled down, picked up his flashlight. It flickered a few times so he gave it a few good hits before shinning it around. That's when he started to walk.

"Tori!" He called out. "Tori, you out here?" He moved his flashlight around as his eyes scanned the dark woods. "Will? Barbara?!" He kept shouting then heard a screech. That's when he stopped.

Anthony whirled around, his hair hitting his eye slightly as he pointed his flashlight to where he thought he heard the noise. However, he didn't see it nor' hear it again. "Where are you guys?" Anthony whispered to himself.

Jonathan!

Nancy's voice shouted, but this time it didn't sound like an echo. She shouted a few more times and Anthony turned around, quickening his speed to where her voice was growing louder. Jonathan shouted back, but his voice was an echo.

"Nancy." Anthony called when he saw her figure. The girl quickly turned around and seemed to feel a bit more relaxed, knowing someone she knew was here as well.

"Anthony." She sighed in relief and met him half way. "Where did you go? We looked back and you were just gone?" Nancy asked and Anthony looked at her. "Guessing you went through some type of portal?" Anthony asked, not answering her question.

"Yeah..." She nodded.

"Jonathan! Get us out of here!" Anthony shouted.

Just follow my voice!

Another screech went off and when the two looked back, they saw it. "We need to get out of here, now. Come on." Anthony placed his hand on Nancy's shoulder, pushing her forward gently. "Go!  Jonathan pull her out!"  Anthony shouted as he was shoving Nancy through the substance that was somewhat blocking them from getting out.

Jonathan grabbed onto Nancy and pulled her out, Anthony quickly following as the portal closed just as he got out.  Anthony stumbled slightly when he got out, looking back as the tree was what it was before. 

The three walked back to the road, Jonathan helped Nancy get into his car then turned to Anthony.  "You alright?"  Anthony just nodded at his question as his hands were placed in his hips.  He clicked his tongue then pointed to his car.  "I'm going to head home now."

"You sure you're okay?"  Jonathan asked.

"Yeah...it was just weird."  Anthony furrowed his eyebrows, standing there for a moment before he finally went over to his car and got in.  He placed his hands on the steering wheel, his mind spinning with thousand of thoughts then turned his car key.

~~~

It was the next morning and Anthony didn't sleep at all. He had different pieces of paper all over one of his walls. Words were highlighted in different colors and he even drew a few drawings with words on them.

Anthony stepped back for a moment before he went back over to the wall and wrote down a few more words. "Anthony! Phone!" He heard his mother call. He gave one last look before he made his way downstairs. His mother smiling as she handed the phone to her son.

Anthony grabbed the phone and leaned against the wall. "Hello?"  He asked.  "Tony!"  Steve's voice filled his ears.  "Listen.  Some of us are going to do some cool shit.  I can't tell you, because it's a surprise." 

"I don't like surprises."  Anthony told him seriously.

"Come on man, it'll be fun.  I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."  Steve groaned.

"I saw you a few days ago-"

"Exactly!" 

"I'm busy."  Anthony sighed.

"With what?"  Steve asked and Anthony didn't answer for a bit, his eyes just flickered from the bottle of bourbon on the counter to the stairs.  "Just research."

"rEsEArcH."  Steve mocked.  "Laaaaaame." 

"Bye Steve."  Anthony pulled the phone away from his ear and he could still hear Steve talking before he put the phone back on the wall.   Anthony's eyes locked once again to the bourbon.  It was quiet and the only thing he could hear was his heartbeat thumping in his chest slowly. 

He clenched his hand, his veins in his arm popping out slightly before he rubbed his upper arm.  He could still hear his heart thumping as his eyes stayed glued to the half filled bottle.

Thump

Thump

Thump

Thump

"Anthony where are you going?"  His mother asked as he opened the front door.  He turned his head, smiling slightly as he held up the black trash bag.  "Taking out the trash and going for a walk."  He answered.

"Alright.  Just be back in time for dinner."  She smiled to her son.

"Will do."  He nodded before stepping out and walking over to the trash can.  He opened it up and through the trash bag inside...the empty bottle of bourbon sitting in it as he shut the lid before walking away.

Anthony was walking for awhile, he doesn't really know how long he was walking for. He just kept going where his feet took him. He stopped though when something unusual caught his eye. He took the cigarette away from his mouth as he blew smoke out of his mouth as his stared up.

ALL THE RIGHT MOVIES STARRING NANCY THE SLUT WHEELER

"Anthony do you know who did this?" Jonathan asked. Anthony not knowing him and Nancy suddenly came up behind him.

"Nah man. I just got here. But I have an idea who did." Anthony spoke, placing the cigarette back in his mouth. The sound of laughter and the shake of spray paint caught all three of their ears.

"Wait!" Jonathan called to Nancy as she heading down an alley.

"Uh, oh." Anthony muttered as the cigarette was still between his lips then followed after her.

Anthony shook his head as he saw who it was. Yeah, he expected Tommy and Carol, but Steve? "Really Steve? I expected them, but you?" Anthony asked, scoffing as he took his cigarette out of his mouth and threw it on the ground, walking over just in time as Nancy slapped him.

"What is wrong with you?" Nancy asked.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? I was worried about you and you." Steve looked over Nancy's shoulder to Anthony. "I thought you were doing research." He gave his best friend a look of betrayal.

"What are you talking about?" Nancy asked.

"I wouldn't lie if I were you. You wouldn't want to be known as the lying slut now would you?"

"Put a sack in it Carol." Anthony rolled his eyes at the girl.

"Speak of the devil. Hi." Tommy spoke up, jumping down from his spot as Jonathan stood slightly next to Anthony.

"You came by last night." Nancy looked back to Steve.

"Ding! Ding! Ding! Does she get a prize?" Carol asked.

Anthony put his hands up and shook them slightly. "Ding! Ding! Ding! Are you ever not a bitch?" Anthony mocked back.

"Fuck off Anthony, you traitor." Carol hissed.

"Traitor?" Anthony raised an eyebrow, chuckling slightly.

"Yeah! You're hanging out with the freak and the slut." Tommy pointed at him.

"One they're not a freak or a slut and two, they're a whole lot nicer than you guys." Anthony told them, looking at Steve when he said nicer.

"Look, I don't know what you think you saw, but it wasn't like that." Nancy said.

"What, you just let him into your room to...study?" Steve looked at Jonathan then back to Nancy. Ignoring what Anthony said.

"Or for another pervy photo session?" Tommy smirked.

"We were just-"

"You were just what? Finish the sentence. Finish the sentence." Steve stepped closer to her and when Nancy didn't finish he stepped back. "Go to hell, Nancy and you..." Steve looked to Anthony. "Did you know about it too? Is this why you blew me off last night?" Steve asked.

"I don't even know what you're talking about Steve." Anthony shook his head.

"Not surprised. You were probably too wasted to get your ass off the ground." Steve hissed, glaring at him.

Anthony shook his head as he looked away. "Shut up, man." He bounced on his feet slightly, biting his tongue.

"Come on guys, let's just leave." Jonathan went up to Nancy.

"You know what, Byers? I'm actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer, but I guess you're just a little screw-up like your father." Steve pushed Jonathan's back.

"Don't listen to him Jonathan." Anthony told him as the three started to walk away but Steve kept following.

"Yeah. All screw-ups. You know, I guess I shouldn't really be surprised. A bunch of screw-ups in your family." Steve kept rambling as Jonathan stopped walking.

"Jonathan, leave it." Nancy looked to him.

"I mean, your mom..."

"Steve! Knock it off." Anthony looked at him.

"I'm not even surprised what happened to your brother."

"Steve!"

"I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you, But Byers." Steve shoved his back again.

"Steve! Stop talking." Anthony yelled.

"But their family is a disgrace." Steve looked to Anthony who was only a few feet away from him. "Your sister was friends with him and look what happened to-"

Steve didn't get to finish as Jonathan turned around and punched him straight in the face, knocking him over to the wall. Anthony breathed out as his eyes widened. He wasn't expecting Jonathan to throw the punch...well before he could anyways.

Steve shared at Jonathan and knocked him over. "Steve!" Nancy shouted while Tommy and Carol looked entertained. "I need a cigarette." Anthony ran his hand through his hair as he watched the two fight.

"Knock it off!" Nancy kept shouting.

"Kick his ass, man!" Tommy yelled.

"Get off! Stop!" Carol suddenly shouted.

"Get in there he's going to hurt himself." Nancy looked to Anthony as Tommy stepped forward between the two.

"I'll stop it when it gets out of hand." Anthony sighed, looking to her.

"Hey. Hey! Get out of here! Get out of here!" Steve yelled to Tommy as Jonathan went to throw a punch but Steve dodged it and punched him in the face. However, Jonathan got some punches back, sending Steve to the ground and continued to punch him.

"Jonathan that's enough!" Anthony shouted and police sirens filled their ears as the car pulled in the alley.

"Stop it! Come on!"

"Cops!

"Just go Carol!" Tommy told his girlfriend then turned to Anthony. "I can smell the alcohol on you, you better get out of here man." Tommy told him seriously but Anthony's eyes flickered to Nancy who still looked worried.

"Go." She mouthed and Anthony watched the cops get out of the car. Anthony quickly turned on his feet and ran in the direction that Carol and Nicole did.

"He, he's had enough, man! I said he's had enough!"

Anthony could hear Tommy yell before the shouting of the police officers as well. Anthony continued to run and when he saw a fence, he easily hoped over it

"Get back here you little punks!"

But Anthony kept running. He just kept running. He had too. And as he ran for his life all he could think about was that his kid sister was probably running for hers as well. The only difference was...she was truly running for her life.