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𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗧

chapter eight:
carry me home

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SERENITY REGRETTED NOT bringing any Band-Aids.

She sat down on the hood of an old car and brought her knee up to her chest so she could better inspect her wound. Serenity shuddered and felt lightheaded just looking at it. There were four deep gashes on her leg, and blood was built up onto her skin as more leaked from the cuts. The bottom of her jeans were completely soaked with blood as well.

"Shit," Serenity let out.

She looked up. Dustin, Lucas, and Max were staring at her injury in something that resembled horror. Steve, on the other hand, just looked sad and pained, almost as if he could feel how much it hurt.

"We don't have time to clean it," Serenity stated. "I just need to tie something around it to stop the bleeding."

"Here," Max offered, taking off her green hoodie, leaving her in just her white shirt with yellow stripes. "Take this. I don't care for it much, anyways."

"I can't ask you to do that, sweetie."

"It's okay, really. I'll be fine. As long as it helps you."

Serenity stared at her for a moment before taking the green hoodie. She watched as Max crossed her arms, clearly getting cold from the chilly November air. Serenity then took off her leather jacket and held it out to Max. Max gave her a tiny smile and took it.

"It's my brother's," Serenity explained as Max put it on. "It'll keep you really warm. You can give it back to me whenever."

She then took a deep breath. Carefully, she wrapped the hoodie around her leg tightly. Serenity then took the two arms of the hoodie and tightened them together around the cuts. She winced as she tied the arms in a knot. Max's hoodie was already getting stained with blood, but Serenity knew that she had tied it tight enough so that the bleeding would stop.

"You're really good at that," Lucas commented.

Serenity gave him a small smile. "Well, I've had to deal with your injuries before, so I can definitely deal with my own." Serenity held out her hand to Steve. "Help me up?"

Steve took her hand. Serenity lowered her leg back down and stood up. Pain instantly flared through her leg and her cuts stung. She flinched from the pain and took a step on her bad leg. It was all right, she just couldn't put a lot of pressure on it.

Serenity looked back at all of them. "Everyone ready to go?"

"Let's go," Dustin replied.

"Wait," Steve protested for a moment before handing Serenity his backpack, putting the bat back in it and zipping it. "Here."

Serenity took it, her eyebrows knit in confusion. "What?"

"You're getting carried on my back. Come on."

"Steve, no way."

"You're not walking on a hurt leg, Serenity," Steve insisted, bending down in front of her. "Hop on, let's go."

Serenity sighed and put the backpack on her shoulders. She then — careful not to hurt her injured leg — climbed onto Steve's back. Steve placed his hands underneath her thighs, and Serenity felt her skin ignite. He hiked her up further to sit more comfortably on his back and Serenity wrapped her arms loosely around his neck.

"This is ridiculous," Serenity admitted as Steve started to walk, the kids trailing behind them. "What if the Demogorgons come?"

"I'll run the other way," Steve responded.

"Yeah, because that'll work against an army of them."

"It just did, like, five minutes ago."

"Barely," Serenity argued. "You should just let me walk on my own."

"Serenity, you just got cut by something from a parallel dimension," Steve continued. "They could not be just any normal cuts. I'm not taking any chances. You're keeping off your leg until we can clean it properly."

She honestly found it kind of nice how much Steve was caring her right now. It made her feel seen. And maybe he was right. Maybe cuts from a Demogorgon could get infected faster or something. She was also just glad that it didn't hurt as much when she wasn't on her leg. Nevertheless, she felt very useless just being carried and not being able to do anything.

They got back onto the train tracks. Dustin and Lucas had flashlights pointed ahead, and Serenity had taken one as well, holding it as her hands rested on Steve's chest from her arms being around his neck.

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asked.

"Yes," Dustin answered. "He had the same exact yellow pattern on his butt."

"He was tiny two days ago," Max voiced.

"Well, he's molted three times already."

"Malted?" Steve questioned.

"Molted," Dustin corrected. "Shed his skin to make room for growth like hornworms."

"Well, when's he gonna molt again?" Max inquired.

"It's gotta be soon. When he does, he'll be fully grown, or close to it. And so will his friends."

"Great, an army of full-sized Demogorgons," Serenity muttered. "This is great. Just great."

"Yeah, and he's gonna eat a lot more than just cats," Steve added.

"Wait, a cat?" Lucas cut in, making them all stop. He placed a hand on Dustin's chest and lightly pushed him back. "Dart ate a cat?"

"No, what?" Dustin refused, trying to lie but failing miserably. "No."

"What are you talking about?" Steve said, completely oblivious to what was going on right now, making Serenity sigh. "He ate Mews."

"Mews?" Max repeated. "Who's Mews?"

"It's Dustin's cat."

Serenity patted Steve's chest. "I'm so amazed by how clueless you are, buddy."

Dustin's head whipped over to him. "Steve!"

"I knew it!" Lucas exclaimed. "You kept him!"

"No!" Dustin shouted. "No. No, I — no, I . . . he missed me. He wanted to come home."

"Bullshit!"

"I didn't know he was a Demogorgon, okay?"

"Oh, so now you admit it?" Lucas asked.

"Guys, who cares?" Max interjected. "We have to go."

"I care! You put the Party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!"

"So did you!" Dustin argued.

Lucas blinked. "What?"

"You told a stranger the truth!"

Max flinched from Dustin shining his flashlight in her face before scoffing. "A stranger?"

"You wanted to tell her, too!" Lucas insisted.

"Yeah, but I didn't, Lucas, okay?" Dustin yelled. "I didn't tell her!"

Serenity rolled her eyes, trying to drown out the sounds of their argument. She knew she should've probably intervened, but then again, they also had to work some things out for themselves. Serenity could always get involved if things got too intense.

Suddenly, Steve started to walk away, forcing Serenity to come along since she was basically clung to him. Her eyebrows knit in confusion as he walked off the tracks. And then she heard it. Screeching. Her eyes widened and she pulled her head back as Steve turned his head as far as he could. They exchanged a look. Serenity swallowed her nerves and nodded.

"Hey, guys?" Steve began.

They were still too busy arguing.

"Turn me around," Serenity ordered. Steve did as he was told, and Serenity raised her voice as she looked at the kids. "Hey!"

Steve winced as she screamed in her ear. "Jesus, Ren."

"Sorry, Steve."

More screeching that was more prominent this time. Serenity turned back to where it sounded from, her stomach twisting with nerves. Somehow, just that noise seemed to make her gashes from the Demogorgon sting again.

Steve adjusted Serenity again. "Hold on, sunshine."

Serenity held onto him a little tighter as he took off through the woods in the direction of the sound. She turned back, and Dustin and Lucas were trailing behind them. The only one that was missing was Max, who was still standing on the tracks.

"Hey, guys, why are you headed towards the sound?" Max called after them. "Hello? Hello?"

"Come on, Max!" Serenity shouted. "I don't want you getting left behind!"

The screeching continued. They followed the howling noise for a bit before they made it to a clearing at the edge of the forest. Serenity peered over Steve's shoulder. Down below them was Hawkins, covered slightly by the clouds but still visible from the lights and winding roads.

"I don't see 'em," Dustin admitted.

Lucas pulled out his binoculars. "It's the Lab. They were going back home."

Hawkins Lab. The place where Eleven had escaped from, the place that the opening to the Upside Down had appeared, the place that had caused all of this. Serenity had never been to the lab, but she resented it already.

Naturally, the group all collectively agreed that they had to keep going there. They needed to figure out what was going on at the Lab and why the Demogorgons went back there in the first place.

They followed Dustin and Lucas because they apparently knew how to get to the Lab from the train tracks. It was taking them quite some time to figure out how to get out of the woods. However, as they continued on, Serenity started to notice how Steve kept adjusting her weight on his back more and more.

"You can put me down, you know," Serenity offered softly. "You've been carrying me for a while."

"But you're hurt," Steve protested.

"And you're going to get hurt if you keep carrying me." Serenity hesitated for a second before leaning her head forwards, pressing a kiss to the skin right behind her ear. "I'll be okay. Put me down, Steve."

Steve stopped in his tracks. Serenity slid off of his back, letting Steve stretch for a moment. He then tapped the backpack strap on her shoulder. Serenity took it off and handed it back to him. Steve took out the bat and zipped his backpack back up. He put the backpack on and rested his bat over his right shoulder. Steve held out his arm, and Serenity ducked into his side. He wrapped an arm around her waist and allowed her to lean some weight on him.

"Better?" Serenity questioned.

"Yeah," Steve answered. His eyes then widened. "Oh my God, please don't take that the wrong way, I didn't mean—"

"Steve," Serenity cut him off, laughing slightly. "I know you didn't mean it like that, it's okay. Relax."

Steve couldn't really relax with his arm around Serenity's waist like that. His skin seemed to be on fire even through the fabric of her clothes. Not to mention, she looked quite angelic in the moonlight. However, through her smile, he could still see the fear, the anxiety, the nervousness that was coursing through her veins.

"You promised me you would tell me if you got scared or weighed down by this," Steve reminded her. "And you better not break that promise, Serenity."

"I'm okay right now," Serenity replied. "I think the scratches really shocked me into realizing that we have to stop whatever this is." She glanced down at her leg. "They've stopped bleeding, I think."

Steve raised his eyebrows. "You think?"

"Well, I'm not just going to stop and look down when it's already tied up. It should be fine." She looked up at him. "Hey, you said you wanted to talk to me earlier back in the bus."

"Oh. Right." Steve cleared his throat. "I — I think it's more of a later conversation. You know, one where we're not walking to our potential doom."

"Well, I'm ready to talk whenever you are."

They fell back into comfortable silence, one that was just a tiny bit tense, and Serenity couldn't figure out why. It was maybe an hour later when they reached the edge of the forest by the Lab. Serenity could see the headlights of a car. She shared a concerned look with Steve and they got ahead of the kids, holding them back for a moment.

"Hello?" a very familiar voice called. Serenity's eyes widened and she continued walking, Steve helping her in doing so. "Who's there? Who's there?"

Serenity's flashlight shone on two people — Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers. She let out a breath of relief.

"Steve?" Nancy inquired.

"Nancy?" Steve responded.

"Serenity?" Jonathan asked.

"Jonathan?" Serenity replied.

"What are you doing here?" Nancy demanded, walking up to Steve.

"What are you doing here?" Steve countered.

"We're looking for Mike and Will."

"Mike and Will?" Serenity repeated, her veins feeling like they turned to ice. "Oh my God, are they okay?"

Dustin nodded his head to the Lab. "They're not in there, are they?"

"We're not sure," Nancy revealed.

"Why?" Jonathan questioned.

The Demogorgons screeched again, much louder now because they were by the lab. Serenity's head whipped over to look at the Lab. She suddenly felt extremely sick and all of her breath was knocked out of her. Her head started to spin. Mike and Will were in there, with the Demogorgons. A whole pack of them.

Serenity left the group, heading towards the gates of the Lab. She tried to walk as fast as she could as she limped, ignoring the pain that was coming from her leg. Serenity then heard quick footsteps from behind her and Steve suddenly appeared in front of her. She tried to move past him, but Steve blocked her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"'Renity, you can't," Steve insisted.

"I can," she voiced, trying to brush past him again. "We have to get inside—"

"The power's out, Renny," Jonathan told her.

"Then I'll fucking climb the fence."

"Like hell you will," Steve stated firmly. "You're staying out here with us."

"Not while they're in there!" Serenity shouted. "Those are my kids." Her voice dropped to a whisper, noticing her slip up. "My kids. I've failed them before, and they need me right now."

"Renny, you've never failed us—" Lucas began.

"I need to get inside. I need to help them."

Steve shook his head. "I'm not letting you do that."

Serenity's eyes flashed with anger. "And who are you to make decisions for me?"

"The Demogorgons could scratch you more, or worse—" Steve cut himself off, not even baring to say it. "You're not going in there, do you hear me?"

"You don't understand! Please, Steve, you have to let me." Her eyes involuntarily filled with tears, all of her emotions rising up into her chest. "They're inside with the monsters that have haunted me for months. If something happened to them, I — I don't know what I'd do."

"The power's back," Nancy announced.

Serenity looked over Steve's shoulder. She sniffled and wiped a stray tear with the back of her hand. Sure enough, all the tiny squares that were windows instantly filled with light.

They all ran over to the box that would open the gate. Jonathan pressed the button repeatedly, but nothing happened. Serenity's stomach twisted. Her mind spun with panic. She didn't know what to do.

"Let me try," Dustin said.

"Hang on—" Jonathan mumbled.

"Let me try, Jonathan!" Dustin also pressed the button a lot, but nothing happened. "Son of a bitch! You know what . . ."

He was cut off by a beep. The gate then slid open, quite slowly might Serenity add, rattling as it did so. Jonathan instantly got into his car, Nancy sitting in the passenger seat. Serenity limped over and placed her hand on the door of the backseat. She had to go with them. However, she didn't notice the pleading glance Steve sent to Dustin. He knew it was selfish, but he didn't want her going anywhere near that Lab. And the only one who could convince her to stay away were her kids.

Dustin mouthed you owe me before turning on his best pleading voice. "Renny, can you stay with us?"

Serenity looked back, her eyebrows knitting in confusion. "What?"

"Yeah," Lucas agreed, playing along. "We just — we're really scared, and we need you right now."

Serenity didn't believe them. Not for a second. But, hesitantly, she nodded, letting go of the car. Jonathan pressed his foot onto the gas pedal, and his car zoomed away.

She didn't know how long they were standing there for. It felt like an eternity. Serenity had her back pressed up against the gate box, her arms crossed across her chest as she stared at the ground. She hated being left behind, especially when it had to do with such a dangerous situation involving two of her kids like this.

"Guys?" Max stated.

Serenity looked up. There was screeching, followed by two pairs of headlights. One was Jonathan's car, and another one was a police cruiser. Jonathan honked his horn a couple of times. Serenity's eyes widened and she ran forwards, grabbed onto Dustin and Lucas' jackets, and pulled them out of the way. Meanwhile, Steve had grabbed onto Max and pulled her away as well. Jonathan's car completely sped past them while the police cruiser stopped.

Hopper, Hawkins Chief of Police, looked at them through the window, wearing hospital scrubs for some reason. "Let's go."

Steve lurched forwards and opened the car door, moving the seat forwards so it was more accessible. He handed off his bat to Max, who took it and climbed into the back, followed by Dustin and Lucas. Serenity glanced anxiously back at the lab. The screeching of the Demogorgons was getting louder.

Finally, all of the kids were in. Steve pushed the seat back to its original position. He climbed into the seat and grabbed Serenity's waist in his hands, practically lifting her into the car. Serenity let out a small shriek from the sudden movement as she was placed onto his lap.

Steve shut the door. "Okay, let's go!"

Serenity wrapped her arms around Steve as Hopper sped away from the Lab, leaving the screeching Demogorgons behind. She focused her gaze on Jonathan's car, hoping, praying that Mike and Will were in there.

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okay listen I don't know a lot about injuries but I'm assuming if she got deeply cut at the bottom of her leg it would hurt to walk?????