"Peter, son, you're gonna make me crash." Bradley spoke as Peter was basically having an anxiety attack in the front seat. "We're almost there."

"I'm sorry." he tapped his foot terribly. "I couldn't get ahold of anyone at Max's, no one's answering. I'm freaking out!"

"We're going." he promised. "I just don't want to get us pulled over."

"Of course." he clutched his chest. He squeezed the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes. "You're gonna make yourself sick."

"Holy f-oh my god." Peter clutched just forehead when they passed the Hawkins sign.

"I told you. The more you panic the worse you're gonna feel." Bradley dug into his bag while keeping his eyes on the road. "Grab that thing of tylenol."

"Yeah." Peter turned to rummage through his bag, finding the bottle. "You know where the trailer park is?"

"Yeah, I have an old friend that lives there." he nodded, taking a turn. "Where do we go if she isn't here?"

"Probably Lucas'." Peter bounced his leg again. "I should have never left Hawkins. I knew something was wrong, she wasn't okay yet. I mean, we did everything together and then I just leave her? I'm an asshole."

"You're not an asshole. You had no clue something like this was gonna happen." Bradley reassured him, slowing down as they drove through the trailer park. "Don't blame yourself for this."

"There's Steve's car!" Peter felt a rush of relief. At least he knew one person he carried about was okay, Bradley pulled up quickly. Peter got out before the car stoped. "Steve! Hey, Steve!"

"Peter?" he frowned his eyebrows when he saw him running toward him. "I thought you were in-"

He was cut off by his arms throwing around him, hugging him tightly. Peter squeezed his eyes shut. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, kid." Steve hugged him back, rubbing his back. "I'm okay. Are you okay?"

"Peter?" Lucas got out of the car.

Peter sighed in relief at the sight of him and Dustin. "Oh, thank god!"

He hugged them both together. Lucas sighed in relief as he laid his head on his shoulder. "Maybe this is selfish to say, but i'm really glad you're here."

"El's trying to help." he held them. "She doesn't know i'm here, but she's doing all she can."

"El knows?" Dustin pulled back from him.

"Yes, and she's doing what she can. I don't know where she is, but she's trying to stop this." Peter nodded, taking a deep breath.

"Bradley?" Steve frowned his eyebrows, seeing the boy who was just a year younger then he had been. "What-You're with my cousin?"

"What happened?" Bradley looked in a panic at the caution tape around Eddie's trailer. "Eddie, is he..."

"He's okay." Dustin turned to gave him. "I mean, there's a bunch of jocks and police after him, but he's safe. Alive."

"Shit." Bradley breathed out. "I thought- after all Peter said-"

"You know Eddie?" Lucas frowned his eyebrows.

"What all did you tell him?" Dustin looked to Peter for an answer.

"All of it. I had to come home and he needed an explain." Peter shook his head. "I'm sorry. I asked El first and she said it was okay."

"More then merrier." Dustin nodded, looking to Bradley. "How do you know Eddie?"

Bradley glanced at Peter, hesitating. He was cut off by the trailer door swinging open. Max stormed down the steps in a panic, Peter turned around quickly. Her footing froze, standing still. "Peter?"

He never in his life felt as relived as he was to see her. "Holy shit, you're okay."

She dropped her bag quickly and hugged him tightly. Scared. She was scared. He could feel it in the way her latched onto him. Peter inhaled as he hugged her so tight he feared he might be hurting her. "I should have never left you here."

"I'm so glad you're here." she took deep breaths. "There's a lot you need to know."

"This is bullshit! This is my brother you're talking about!" Wesley ranted to the group of Owens partners. "He just left for Hawkins? He just went home?"

"I'm sorry. I guess i'm having trouble understanding any of this." Jonathan spoke from the couch, his tone passive aggressive. "I mean, what exactly is going on in Hawkins? What's doing these killings?"

"And why the hell would you send my baby brother right back into its arms?" Wesley glared, holding DP in his arms.

"We didn't sent him back, he went on his own." she reassured hum. "We're still trying to ascertain."

"Where is El, like, right now?" Mike demanded an answer. "Does she know about Peter? She's gonna freak!"

"She wanted him to stay here, but he seemed to be worried about Hawkins more." the woman shook her head.

"Moron." Wesley rolled his eyes. "Where's El, then? They aren't together?"

"No. For her safety, it's best you don't know." she shook her head at them.

"This is insane! This is insane!" Mike stood up quickly to pace around.

"So this training to get El's powers back, how long is it gonna take?" Jonathan tried to remain calm. Will put his hand on Wesley's knee to try and help calm his nerves.

"It could take weeks, could take months." she shrugged.

"Months?" Will called in disbelief.

"Until then, agents Harmon and Wallace will stay with you." she cut in before any of the boys could start to argue again.

"We're not the ones in danger." Mike shook his head.

"Our friends live in Hawkins." Will snapped at her. "I mean, Peter is running right into this danger and non of you bothered to stop him?"

"And i'll work to contain the situation until Eleven is ready." she rose her voice in just the slightly toward them. "In the meantime, it is of vital importance for you not speak to anyone about this."

Mike scoffed. "No. No way."

"I know this is difficult." she tried to be sincere.

"What is? The fact that my brother is in danger and I can't help him or the part about my future sister in law getting her powers back in months?" Wesley asked her in disbelief.

"There are factions within our government who are working directly against Eleven, who are, in fact, searching for her as we speak." the older woman rose to her feet. "We can't risk contact. If they learned about any of this, it will jeopardize Eleven. And if Eleven is jeopardized, so are your friends and so is Peter."

"So, what? We're just suppose to trust that you're the good guys?" Mike scoffed in disbelief.

"How do we know you didn't string up El and Peter and have them rotting somewhere?" Wesley narrowed his eyes.

"We're friends of Owens." she promised the pair. "Eleven trusted us. Peter trusted Eleven. Now we're asking the same from you."

She pulled an envelope from her jacket. "Wesley?"

He held his hand out. Wesley set DP down as he pulled it open quickly.

Wes, i'm sorry for leaving you, but you'll be safer in California. I couldn't leave the rest of our friends alone, I felt like I needed to at least try to keep them safe. I hope you can understand and if El comes home, tell her i'm sorry for not staying like she asked. Take care of DP for me. I love you so much.

-Peter

"This is insane! This is literally insane!" Peter spoke as him and Max rode in the back of Bradley's car together, Steve and the boys behind them. "I mean, Nancy and Robin are really smart. They'll figure it out, right? They will."

"Peter, just, stop." Max sighed loudly. "I need you to listen to me really closely, okay?"

"Okay." he faced her. She pulled her bag open and tossed a file infront of him.

"You were seeing Ms.Kelley." Max nodded, trying to stay calm. "Why?"

"Just...stuff with my Dad." Peter shook his head. "What does that have to do with anything? How'd you even get this?"

"Listen to me!" she yelled at him, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Have you been having night terrors? Headaches? Nose bleeds?"

"Max, no!" he was freaking out. "What is happening? What aren't you telling me right now? Are you gonna die on me? I don't-"

"I don't know! I don't know!" she tossed her hands up. "Probably! That's why i'm doing this, but I have to make sure you're okay first before that happens."

He was quiet a moment. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

Bradley turned back to look at the pair. Max scanned his face over. "Headaches? Nose bleeds? Nightmares?"

"He got a bad headache right around the time we came into Hawkins." Bradley spoke up for him as Max looked over. "And his nose was bleeding in the locker room on Thursday."

"Today was your first headache? Just today?" Max seemed hopeful.

"I mean, just from soccer." he shook his head.

"Soc-" she faced Bradley. "Do you get headaches from soccer?"

"No." he said honestly.

"Because he's a better player then me!" Peter ranted. "Max, i'm fine. I swear."

"When did you get your first bad headache? Not just a normal one, but a bad one?" Max gripped his arms again. "Tell me. Right now."

"Tuesday." he shook his head. "But it was-"

"Four days." she breathed in, panic setting in. "Stay here."

"Max!"Peter called, but she slammed the door.

She walked to Steve's window as he rolled it down. She stared. "Whatever happens to me today, figure this out before tomorrow or so help me God, I will come back and haunt every single one of you."

Bradley and Peter were quiet. He looked back. "El will fix this. What you told me...she doesn't seem like the type of girl anyone should mess with."

"Only if she gets her powers back." Peter shook his head, tossing his hands up. "And then what? I have to worry about loosing her to this thing too? And he might take me? And all my bones start popping out? I mean-"

"Hey." Bradley shook his head when his voice cracked, Peter held his head as he tried to keep it cool, Bradley being the last person he wanted to cry in front of. "If I were to put you in the care of anyone in this universe, it'd be Nancy freaking Wheeler, okay? That girl...she scares me because she's so smart. Nothing bad is gonna happen to you. Nothing."

Peter stared at him, shaking his head. "I was suppose to protect them and now they're having to protect me."

"You'll protect each other." he nodded at him. "We all will."

Peter inhaled deeply, nodding his head. He looked out the window to see Steve walking toward Max. "I've never seen you and Eddie talk before."

"What?" Bradley frowned his eyebrows.

"Back at the trailer park, you seemed like you were really worried about Eddie. I've just never seen you guys talk. I mean, we've walked right past him in the hallway and you didn't even seem to know he was there." Peter spoke gently, staring at Bradley's softened eyes. "What happened?"

"Childhood friends. We aren't close anymore." he shook his head at him. "You don't stop caring about your first friend though."

"Max was my first friend." Peter nodded. "My friend real friend. If I lost her-"

"You won't." he promised him. "Remember what I said."

"Peter!"

He turned his head quickly, seeing Steve violently shake Max while Lucas and Dustin ran over. Bradley and Peter both hurried to get out of his car. Peter was faster though, always had been. "Max! What is this? What's going on?"

"This is what happens to Vecna's victims!" Dustin's panicked as he shook Max. "Max! Max! Wake up!"

"Max!" Peter yelled in a panic, he hugged her tightly. "Max, wake up. Please. Please."

"Call Nancy and Robin! Call Nancy and Robin!" Steve yelled as Dustin took off.

"How much time do we have?" Bradley asked in fear.

"We aren't sure." Lucas grabbed onto Max. "Max!"

"Max!" Peter yelled with him, shaking her harshly. He pulled his hand back and smacked her across the face.

"Peter!" Steve and Bradley scolded him on sync.

"She's still not waking up." he started to panic. "Why isn't she waking up!"

"Hey!" Dustin ran over. "Peter! Your mixtapes!"

"What?" he gapped as Dustin threw them down.

"You made Max these mixtapes. What's her favorite one?" he asked quickly. "Trust me, this will help!"

"Ugh, number six." he nodded quickly as they scrummaged for the mixtape with a six on it. "It's the one I made her for her birthday."

"Here! It's here!" Bradley grasped number six first, Lucas took it quickly and snapped it into the walkman.

"Now!" Dustin called as he got the headphones on her ears.

Running Up That Hill began to echo in her ears.

"Come on, Max." Peter took deep, ragged breaths in fear and panic. Her body began to move, her limbs still as she was lifted into the air. "Max!"

"Max!" Lucas called with him.

"Holy shit." Bradley grasped his head. "We gotta get her down."

"Yeah, yeah!" Dustin agree, hurrying over as Steve, Bradley, and Peter forced a basket with their arms. Dustin stepped in and reached up. "Almost there!"

"Dustin, grab her!" Lucas called.

"A little higher!" Dustin yelled as the trio grunted and struggled to hold their balance.

"Shit." Peter squeezed his eyes shut.

"Are you getting a h- oh my god." Bradley dropped Dustin as he stared at Peter.

Steve turned his head, his heart fell as he saw the blood pouring from Peters nose. His hand came up when he felt it, pulling his hand back to stare at his finger tips covered in blood. Steve latched onto him quickly, wiping his face. "No, no. No. No, you're okay. You're okay. It's just a-"

Max's body fell.

"Max." Peter gasped, looking over quickly as she cried, Lucas wrapped her in his arms. Max cried out, trying to find her breathing. Peter leaned into Dustin in relief.

"I thought we lost you." Lucas held Max tightly.

"I'm still here." she breathed out, looking forward as Peter stared at her with teary eyes. She took notice of his nose. "You're okay too."

"Yeah." he leaned over to hug her tightly. Max held him tighter, tears escaping their eyes. "Don't die on me now, okay?"

"You better keep that same promise." she gripped onto him harder.

"Excuse me, sir?" Mike called to the man that was suppose to be watching them, his eyes focused on the golf channel. "Excuse me, sir?"

He huffed, looking over at the trio. "What?"

"We're hungry." Will stared, holding the pizza card up.

"Starving." Wesley corrected him.

He looked to Walter. "I could eat."

Wesley smiled to Will, their plan clearly working the way Jonathan planned it to. "Go pack."

"Yeah." Will grinned, just as he did, gun fire rung. Will ducked down and pulled Wesley with him.

"Shit!" Mike called out as the windows blew, shot after shot. The two men began to fire at the shooters outside, Wesley put his arm over Wills head.

"Get back!" Jonathan yelled as he grabbed the trio of boys and began to forcefully yank them toward the back room.

"What's going on!" Mike yelled in a panic.

"Get back! Get back!" he shoved them into his bedroom. "We gotta go, we gotta go now!"

A shot hit the window, Wesley fell against the door. "Shit! Shit!"

Mike grabbed his arm while Wesley grabbed Wills hand, Jonathan close behind as they ran. Wesley froze as he turned back. "DP! DP, come on!"

The dog ran from under Jonathan's bed, being hoisted into the older Clarke boys arms as Will pulled him with him again.

"Move! Move!" Harmon called as he waved them behind him from the other wall. They hurried over, Wesley clutched DP close to him as he breathed heavy and panicky. "Follow me!"

Jonathan gripped the man's shirt, the line of boys doing the same. The back door flew open as four more men began to shoot at them. They all yelled out and hurried to hide behind the wall. "What the hell is going on!"

"Just stay there!" Harmon called before disappeared behind the wall. Wesley hunched over as Will held onto him. "Get down!"

They all dropped to the floor quickly. Four more soldiers came through the door and the patio. "I shoot, you run!"

As he shot once again, the four boys took off behind the other wall. Wesley struggled to breath. "Hermon, where do we go!"

"Out the door!" he clutched his side where he had been shot, Mike and Will helping him as Jonathan ran to Argyle in the pizza van.

"What is going on?" Argyle asked in fear as Wesley jumped in with DP first, pulling Will with him as Harmon was laid down, Mike and Jonathan getting in after. Wesley leaned back into Will as he tried to catch his breath, checking to make sure DP was okay. "Is that real blood, man?"

"Drive!"

•

kylie speaks

if chaos was a chapter: