nine. THE GATE pt. 2

BACK at the Byers house, the kids were cleaning the mess of broken pieces of glass and papers that laid around the floor. Billy, Steve, and Dustin were in the kitchen planing on shoving the dead Demogorgon into the fridge; to Dustin's request.

Dustin and Billy were emptying our the fridge while Steve held the dead Demogorgon. 

Dustin threw the last jar of food onto fhe floor and looked to Steve. "Alright. It should fit now."

"Is this really necessary?" Steve and Billy questioned at the same time.

"Yes, it is, okay? This is a groundbreaking scientific discovery." Dustin tells them. "We can't just bury it like some common mammal, okay? It's not a dog."

"All right, all right, all right." Steve gives in. "But you're explaining this to Mrs. Byers, all right?" He starts to shove the dead Demogorgon in the fridge with Billys help.

"Ew!"

"Jesus!"

Steve and Billy complained as they shoved it completely inside. The head touched Steves's shoulder and the slim from the Demo-dog gettng all over Billy.

"Get the door, Dustin!" Steve orders the young boy. He quickly grabbed the door and the there shut it together before the Demogorgon could fall out from hrs place.

"That was disgusting." Billy states.

"Honestly." Steve agrees while Dustin nodded his head.

"That lab is swarming with hundreds of those dogs!" The three turned their heads to the direction the loud voice was coming from. It was Mike yelling at Lucas and Max in living room.

"Demo-dogs!" Dustin corrects.

"The Chief will take care of them." Lucas comforts, trying to get Mike to calm down.

"Like they need protection." Max points out.

"Listen, dude, a coach calls a play in a game bottom line, you execute it. All right?" Steve tells the young boy while he wipes away the slime from the Demogorgon with a rag.

Mike squints his eyes together. Wondering what the hell Steve was talking about. "Okay, first of all, this isn't some stupid sports game. And second, we're not even in the game. We're on the bench."

"So my point is..." Steve stammers, looking around trying to think of what to say. It was quiet for a few seconds while they all looked at him, waiting for a response. "Right, yeah, we're on the bench, so, uh, there's nothing we can do," Steve mutters as he throws the rag over his shoulders.

"That's not entirely true." Dustin speaks. "I mean, these demo-dogs, they have a hive mind. When they ran away from the bus, they were called away."

"So, if we get their attention..." Lucas trails.

"Maybe we can draw them from the lab." Max says.

"And clear a path to the gate." Mike concludes.

Steve and Billy looked at the kids in disbelief. How do they come up with these crazy-ass ideas and theories?

"Yeah, and then we all die." Steve chimes.

"That's one point of view." Dustin said.

"No, that's not a point of view, man. That's a fact." Steve told Dustin.

Billy scoffs, "those things are fucking crazy and killer machines. They'll kill us instantly." He says, looking at the kids.

It seemed like an idea popped up in Mikes's head as he pushed through Steve and Dustin, "I got it!"  He makes his way to the other side of the living room while they followed after him. "This is where the chief dug his hole. This is our way into the tunnel." He points to one of the drawing that was taped to the wall, "so.." he gets up and moves to another part. "Here, right here. This is like a hub." The others saw him standing in the middle of where all the drawing of the vines connected too. "So you got all the tunnels feeding in here." He kneels down, "maybe if we set this one fire..."

"Oh, yeah? That's a no." Steve interrupts.

But the kids ignored him.

"The mind flayer would call away his army." Dustin said.

"They'd all come to stop us." Lucas joins.

"Hey!" Steve calls his hands on his hips.

"We circle back to the exit." Mike adds.

"Guys!" Billy now calls. Trying to help Steve gain their attention, but listening closely to their plan.

"By the time they realize we're gone—"

"Phoebe and El would be at the gate." Max concludes.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Steve yells, clapping his hands together to get their attention. "This is not happening!"

"But-"

"No, no, no, no." Steve cut Mike off. "No buts. I promised I'd keep you shitheads safe, and that's exactly what I plan on. We're staying here. On the bench. And we're waiting for the starting team to do their job. Does everybody understand?" Steve said, putting his foot down and laying out his plan that he insists everyone follows go keep them safe.

"This isn't a stupid sports game." Mike argues.

"I said does everybody understand that?" Steve repeats. Glaring at them, "I need a yes." He looks at the kids who all seemed frustrated by his words.

"Maybe they're right, Harrington." Billy speaks. Gaining everyone attention. "If we do this we could be helping Phoebe and that little girl out."

Steve then looks at him, "yeah, maybe but that means putting these little shitheads life in danger and I promised I wouldn't do that."

"So did I, but if we could do something to help Phoebe and her sister out, I'm down for it. I'd do anything to keep those demo-whatever away from them." Billy said, "I know you promised, but we will be there for the kids. We can do this." Billy includes as well. Steve releases a long sigh and placed his hands on his hips once more.

"Even if we follow through with this plan, how are we going to get there? We don't have our cars." Steve points out.

"Wait, Billy, didn't you leave your car at Mikes?" Dustin asked Billy. The teenage boy nods his head remembering that, "then we can run to Mikes and get his car quickly. It's not that far."

"Fine, but me and Billy are in charge. Not you little weasels. Got it?" Steve explains to the kids who all nod their heads. "Let's get some flashlights, goggles, scarves, and all that shit to protect us when we go down there." They nodded once more and split into groups looking for the things Steve asked for.

Max walks into Joyce's room and sees Billy gathering some of her scarves up.

"Hey." She greets. Billy lifts his head up and sees his step-sister standing by the door entrance.

"Hi."

"I-I think it's...um, cool of you to be helping us out." She managed to speak while she played with her hand behind her back. She was a bit nervous to speak to Billy. They never really had an actual conversation unless it was them arguing or spitting hurtful words to each other.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks." He replies, not knowing what to say. Most of the time the hurtful words would be coming from Billy. He regrets doing so. It really ruined their relationship, but he felt like he was protecting her. Him being harsh and rude was the only way he knew how too. No one ever treated him with tenderness or kindness. His mother uses too, but that stopped a long time ago. Until Phoebe came into his life and slowly restored that heart of his. "I'm sorry for always being such a dick to you, Max." Billy apologizes, keeping his eyes on the dresser in front of him. He was scared of her response. He was never good to her and he knows that.

"It's alright," Max whispers. Billy lifted his head up and looks towards her - shocked at her easily forgiving him. "You were just trying to protect me." She utters, wrapping her arms around herself. Trying to justify his actions from before as she walked into the room.

Billy shakes his head. "No. I was just being an asshole. I should not have done it that way. I should have been more generous and kinder to you because you didn't do anything wrong for me to act that way towards you. I tried to protect you from all of these guys I thought were bad when I should have been protecting you from guys like me. I was a terrible stepbrother." He admits, taking a sear on the floor. Ashamed of himself. He looked so small and he genuinely felt terrible for all the things he's done to her.

Max releases a sigh and takes a seat next to her brother. "You're not a terrible brother. You weren't raised in a healthy household. You've been abused by Neil for years. He has never made it easy for you. I should have been a better sister and try to stick up for you when dad beats or abuses you."

"No." Billy disagrees. "I don't ever want you to blame yourself for what that man does to me. It isn't your fault. He's a coward. A sick man." He states, looking towards the dresser that was in front of them.

Max looks over to Billy, "Why don't you stick up to him? I know you can beat him." She notes.

Billy's shoulders slumped and he moved his gaze to the floor, "I don't know. Maybe because I'm...afraid of him." Billy confessed.

Max felt her heartache. She has noticed the times fear would sting in Billy's eyes every time Neil took steps closer to Billy. When he would raise his hand, Billy would flinch in fear. Bilt felt so small to Neil. He felt worthless. Like a piece of trash. Max would never understand why Neil does the things he does to Billy. There would be some days when Bully does absolutely nothing and Neil would just beat him, senselessly. When he's drunk and angry, it would be much worse for Billy. Max wish she could do something about it, but she's just a little girl. What can she do? So no one does anything. Susan just stands there and watches. Billy doesn't fight back, he just takes the hits and it destroys the teen. That is mostly the reason why he's so messed up and angry all the time..

Max release a sigh. Breaking away from her terrible thoughts and heartache for Billy. Deciding to change the topic to something else. "I'm glad you and Phoebe are together. She's amazing and she seems to help you become a happier person." She says.

Billy smiles at the mention of Phoebes name. "She is amazing. I don't know what I did to deserve her." He replies.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. You can fix your mistakes. One apology at a time and working on yourself. You can stop smoking, fighting, all that. You can get better Billy and things will start to get better for." Max comforts. She moved a little closer to him an laid her head on his shoulder. A position and a heart touching conversation she never thought would ever happen between them. "We're in this together now."

[HAWKINS LAB]

"Stay behind me, girls." Hopper told Phoebe and El as they walked through the terrifying  lab. Hopper lead the group with a flashlight and gun in his hand. The girls struggled to keep up with him because he was walking so fast. The alarms to the building were sounding loudly. They still haven't had an encounter with a demogorgon, and dead bodies were scattered around the entire lab. The lights in the halls were dim and flickering on and off. The three were panting as they carefully and quietly paid attention to their surroundings.

They turned into the stairwells and began to walk down the stairs. They walked down a flight of stairs until Hopper's flared his flashlight on the railings and saw a trail of blood.

"Stay here." He told the two girls as he continued to follow the blood. He walked down the stairs and the girls watched him. When he turned the corner he spoke, "Oh, shit." Hopper walked down the stairs and the girls listened to him talking to someone.

"Come." Phoebe grabbed El's hand and the two made their way down to their father. Seeing an injured man down there. The twos girls knew exactly who he was. Sam Owens. He looked at the two girls and Hopper noticed. He turned around and saw them standing there.

"Oh, yeah, I've been meaning to tell you. This is Eleven. Eleven, doctor Owens. Doctor Owens, Eleven. And you already know Phoebe." Hopper introduces as El just looks at Owen. "She's been living with me for about a year and she's about to save our asses with the help of Phoebe. Maybe, when this is all said and done, you can help her out, too, you know? Maybe you can help her lead, like, a normal life?" Hopper suggests, referring to help keep Eleven from trying to be taken away from Hopper, so she can be experiment on and not being able live a normal life like a regular preteen. "One where's she not poked and prodded and treated like some kind of lab rat." He was wrapping his belt around Doctor Owens leg, he groans when Hopper tighten it. "Just a thought you know. Think about it."

"Dad, I can hel-" Phoebe began to speak but Hopper held her back.

"No, it's okay. Let him think about what I said." He tell hers. Hopper handed Doctor Owens a gun and walks away with the girls following after him.

"Why didn't you let me heal him? You know I could've." Phoebe says, glancing up at Hopper.

"Because he needs some time to think." He replies as they continued to walk down flights of stairs. Phoebe lets out a low chuckle and turned into the hall Hopper had entered. They walked down a gloomier hallway. Hearing the soft chittering and growling of the demogorgons ahead of them.

"Stay here." Hopper orders, once again. Phoebe and El watched Hopper walk ahead of them. El grabs onto Phoebes hand, a bit afraid.

When they began to hear the demo-dogs screeching, they bolted towards where Hopper went. Entering one of the lab rooms to see him standing there looking through a broken glass door.

"Are you okay?" Phoebe frantically question, running up to Hopper.

"Yeah. I'm fine." He nods, patting her head.

El and Phoebe stood besides him. Looking out the glass door and the horrifying image in front of them.

"Chief, are you there? Chief, do you copy?" The three hear Johnathan call through Hopper walkie talkie.

"Yeah I copy."

"Close it." Johnathan says, panting heavily.

When those words left his mouth, the three looked at each other. Then glancing back out the window. Looking at the open gate that allowed those disgusting and crazy creatures through. A red light shining through the crack.

"Let's do this." Phoebe speaks.

Hopper leads to the a small open elevator that takes them down to the gate. They all get inside and Hopper closed the door behind them. The two girl held onto the railing as Hopper pressed the bottom to take them down.

The more they went down, the faster their heartbeat picked up. The two girls were a bit afraid. The entrance was huge and an ugly few. A bright red light glowing, as if it was a heart, pumping. The girls grabbed onto each other hands, terrified and worried about how much power this is going to take out of them. Mentally preparing themselves for what's about to happen.

Hopper punched the button for the elevator to stop once he believed they were far down enough.

"Are you guys ready?" He questions, looking at them both. The two girls nodded and lifted their free hands up; not letting go of each other's hands from before. The focused on their powers to close the powerful gate. The moment they see the strings starting to attach, a low growl was heard and they see a huge head moving around behind the red lights.

The mind flayer.

Phoebe released shacks breaths and found herself closing her eyes. Not wanting to stare at the monster. She felt blood coming out from her nose and rolling down her lips. She tried to clear her mind and steady her breathing. Images started to appear in her head why she was doing this for. She needed to find things that would help her become more stronger and to release all of her powers to close this gate. It was hard. It wasn't an easy job. She could feel her powers draining her.

Behind her she could her Hoppers gun going off. Shooting at the Demogorgons.

She suddenly remembered all the terrible things that happened to her as a child. Her parents dying when she was young. Being taken in and experimented on. It was horrifying, but it made her angry.

Phoebe opens her eyes when she heard an unusual sound. She sees a swirling shadow coming out of the gate. The two girls released hands and lifted it up towards the gate. Blood was coming out both of their noses, a piercing scream was coming out both of their mouths as they were being levitated off the ground. Suddenly, just before the twirling showdown could touched them, it was as if there was an invisible shield it crashed into.

Hopper looks over his shoulders and sees his two girls levitating off the ground. Their powers closing the gate and sending the twirling shadow right back inside. He could hear theirs screams of how much power they were using. Soon, the gates fully close and it was dark.

Phoebe and El dropped to the floor, drained. Hopper quickly made his way towards them and held them both to him. All you could hear were the demo-dogs falling down the deep hole, dead.

Hopper held onto Phoebe and El, tightly as they both let out a few tears and sniffles. Happy that this was over, but remembering their tough and painful past as involved.

"You did good, girls. You did so good." He told them. Hopper was happy that they were both okay after almost being completely drained from closing the gate.