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𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗧

chapter four:
mother serenity

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"SERENITY, DO YOU copy?"

At the sound of Mike Wheeler's voice — that sounded slightly panicked — ringing from her Walkie, Serenity's eyebrows instantly knit in concern. She had a Walkie in her backpack at all times just in case the boys needed to contact her quickly. It was their idea after Will had gotten back from the Upside Down, and Serenity was more than happy to oblige.

Serenity stopped in her tracks in the parking lot, Steve doing so as well. The school day had just ended and he was about to give her a ride back to her house. Serenity already assumed Steve would stay at hers a little longer so they could do homework together (and by homework, she means laying on her carpet laughing and talking about stupid shit while music played softly in the background.)

Ever since his argument and breakup with Nancy, Steve had been spending more and more time with Serenity, more than usual. Not that she minded. He would drive her to school some days, and he would join her, Jonathan, and Steve when she drove to school.

"Your children are calling," Steve commented.

Serenity rolled her eyes. "I've heard." She moved her backpack to the front of her body and opened it, bringing her Walkie out, pressing the button to speak into it. "Yeah, I copy. What's going on?"

"We need you," Mike told her. "Right now."

Her stomach twisted in concern. "Are you still at the middle school?"

"Yeah. We'll be waiting inside. Meet us by the AV room."

"Okay, I'll be there in, like, a minute." Serenity put her Walkie back in her backpack and looked at Steve apologetically. "I'm sorry, I know I said we'd hang out, but the kids—"

"Need their mother," Steve joked, making Serenity roll her eyes. "Mother Serenity always comes to save the day."

"Shut up, Steve," Serenity insisted, her eyes brightening when he laughed. "I'll call you later, all right?"

"Wait, don't you want me to wait for you? I can just chill in the parking lot until you're done doing . . . whatever you're doing."

"No, it's okay. I can walk home." She sighed noticing Steve's expression. "Steve, I'll be fine. Promise."

Steve pointed at her. "Call me if you need me."

"Got it."

Serenity gave him a fleeting smile before quickly walking over to Hawkins Middle School, which was conveniently right next to Hawkins High. She pushed through the groups of middle schoolers and entered the middle school. Serenity instantly got a wild sense of déjà-vu from being in there, remembering when she had gone there.

Her feet acted before her mind did, knowing exactly where to go. The hallways soon became empty, the sound of her Converse hitting against the linoleum floor being the loudest thing in the entire school. Finally, she made it to the room where Mike had told her to go, which was the room with the radio in it. Standing outside was Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will, and a girl with red hair.

"Okay, I'm here," Serenity announced, making them all turn to her. "What's going on?"

"We will explain everything inside," Mike rushed out, grabbing her hand and tugging her closer. He then turned to the girl with red hair. "You, stay in the hallway."

"Oh, come on," the girl complained.

Serenity's eyes widened and she pointed at her. "Hey, I know you. You were in Billy's car the other day."

The girl rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately. He's my step-brother."

"Oh, wow. That sucks for you. He's a dick."

"Tell me about it."

"I'm Serenity," Serenity told her.

The redhead glanced at Lucas. "This is Renny?" She turned back to Serenity. "He's told me a lot about you."

"Max, this is Renny," Lucas introduced them. "Renny, this is Max. She just moved here from California."

"California?" Serenity repeated, excitement swelling in her chest. "I've always wanted to go—"

"We do not have time for this," Mike complained. "Get inside."

He tugged Serenity inside the AV room. Dustin, Lucas, and Will followed in after them. Max tried to sneak in, but Mike closed the door and locked it so she couldn't get in. Serenity frowned, wondering why Mike was being so stand-offish towards Max. She seemed nice.

"Okay," Serenity began as they all gathered around a desk, Mike putting down a proton pack that they had used as their Ghostbusters Halloween costume on the desk. "You said you needed me, and here I am. So please tell me what's going on."

"Dustin found this thing in his trash can," Mike explained. "He thought it was a pollywog, and decided to keep it as a pet."

Dustin grinned at her. "I named him Dart. Short for D'artagnan. He likes 3 Musketeers."

"But it's not a pollywog. It's something from the Upside Down. Will saw something that looked exactly like Dart last year when he came back."

Serenity instantly froze, feeling herself get all choked up to the point where it felt like she couldn't breath. All of this time, she had been scared, so fucking scared, that something else from the Upside Down would come back. And yet here it was, saying that Dustin had a pet from that stupid place. The thought of it being that monster, the one that haunted her basically every night, made her sick to her stomach.

Breathe, Serenity, she said to herself. Stay calm for your boys.

Max banged on the door. "Hello? Hello? Guys, come on. Can I come in yet?"

"No!" Mike shouted.

"I don't understand," Lucas admitted.

"What do you not understand?" Mike asked.

"Will saw something that looked like Dart last year?"

"Kind of, but there was no tail," Will responded.

"But then he heard it yesterday," Mike continued. "The exact same sound."

The chittering sound that Serenity could still hear, clear as day, in her mind.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Dustin demanded.

"I wasn't sure," Will insisted.

"So it's a coincidence."

"Or not," Mike stated. "What if when Will was stuck in the Upside Down, he somehow acquired True Sight?"

"True Sight?" Serenity repeated, her eyebrows knitting in confusion. "What's that?"

"It gives you the power to see into the ethereal plane," Dustin replied.

"I'm still lost. You need to give me more context, sweetheart."

"Maybe these episodes that Will keeps having aren't really flashbacks at all," Mike voiced. "Maybe they're real. Maybe Will can somehow see into the Upside Down."

"Hold on," Serenity cut in. "Episodes? What episodes?"

Will glanced up at her, his brown eyes swimming with slight fear. "Sometimes, I get . . . transported, back there. My body's still in Hawkins, but it's like my mind's still in that place."

Serenity gave him a small, sad smile and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, honey."

"So that would mean . . ." Lucas trailed off.

"Dart is from the Upside Down," Mike finished. "Serenity, I brought you here because we need advice. What do you think we should do?"

Serenity sighed and shrugged. "Best bet is to take him to Hopper. He'll know what to do. Hell, he's been in the Upside Down, too."

"No, no way," Dustin protested. "If we take him to Hopper, Dart's as good as dead."

"Maybe he should be dead," Mike responded.

"How can you say that?"

"How can you not? He's from the Upside Down."

Serenity agreed.

"Maybe," Dustin said. "But even if he is, it doesn't automatically mean that he's bad."

"That's like saying just because someone's from the Death Star doesn't make them bad."

"We have a bond."

"A bond?" Mike echoed incredulously. "Just because he likes nougat?"

"No, because he trusts me!" Dustin exclaimed.

Serenity blinked at him. "Dustin, you're telling me that a literal monster from the Upside Down trusts you?"

"Yes, I promised that I would take care of him." Dustin put on his pleading eyes. "Just like you promised to take care of us."

"Do not pull that card on me."

Suddenly, a screech sounded from inside the proton pack. Serenity's eyes widened and she started to back away, watching as the pack shook from Dart trying to escape. Serenity spread her arms out in front of the kids just in case — like she could do anything. She suddenly wished she had Steve and his bat here.

The pack shook more, making the table rattle. It flipped over onto its side. Serenity glanced around the room for something, anything. Her eyes then landed on the microphone used for the radio and picked it up, positioning herself in front of her boys.

"Renny, don't hurt him!" Dustin protested.

"It's just a precaution, Dustin," Serenity reassured him. "But if he attacks, I'm going down swinging."

"Just open it already," Lucas urged.

Dustin carefully grabbed the switch that he had made. He clicked it, and the pack opened. A creature that looked like a slug tumbled out of it, its skin shiny with slime. Serenity swallowed nervously as she heard it made the same chittering sound the Demogorgon did. She clenched onto the microphone tighter.

"Holy shit!"

Dart crawled out of the proton pack. Serenity was sure she was about to throw up when she watched Dart succumb into himself for a moment before his body burst, sprouting two new legs. He was getting bigger. Dart then opened his mouth, letting out a screech, a horribly familiar screech.

She had no choice.

Serenity raised the microphone above her head and brought it back down to the table.

"No!" Dustin yelled, pushing Serenity slightly to the side, making her miss.

Dart rolled off the table and landed on the floor, scurrying to the door with his new legs.

"Dustin, what the fuck were you thinking?" Serenity scolded.

Suddenly, the door opened. Max's eyes widened upon noticing the creature coming towards her. Dart went past her and escaped out into the hallway.

"Oh, shit!" Dustin shouted.

He was the first one out the door. However, since Max was blocking it, he basically tackled her to the ground. Serenity walked out of the room, her mind spinning with panic as she glanced around the hallways.

"Where'd he go?" Lucas questioned.

"What was that?" Max inquired once she recovered from her fall.

"Dart!" Mike replied.

"What?"

"You let him escape!"

"Michael Wheeler, do not blame this on her," Serenity stated firmly, Mike recoiling slightly into himself at the use of his full name while being scolded by Serenity (none of them ever liked to be scolded by Serenity.) "She had no idea he was going to be like that."

"Renny!" Dustin complained. "Why did you attack him?"

"He was screeching at me! What else was I supposed to do?"

Mike shook his head. "Come on."

"Don't hurt him!" Dustin insisted. "Don't you hurt him!"

"Okay, fine, but if he hurts me or one of you, I'm attacking!" Serenity called back to him as she followed Mike down the hallway.

They all came up with a plan of splitting up to look through the entire school. Each one of them — well, besides Max, who was with Serenity because she didn't have one — had their Walkies out to communicate. Serenity walked leisurely down the hallway with Max, the two of them occasionally ducking into classrooms to check.

"East is clear, no sign of Dart," Mike reported.

"West is clear, too," Dustin added. "Will?"

"South is clear," Will replied. "Lucas? Anything?"

"Nothing here, man," Lucas answered. "Renny?"

"Max and I haven't seen him yet," Serenity voiced. "We're looking through the gym now."

Serenity and Max entered the gym. She looked up at the ceiling (could Dart crawl up walls?) and down at the floor. Serenity peered through the cracks in the bleachers, but there was no sign of any shining slime from the creature.

"We should check the locker room," Serenity suggested.

Max nodded as she followed Serenity. "So you're their babysitter."

Serenity pushed the door open into the dark room. "Uh-huh."

"You seem really close to them."

"I am. I've watched over them since they were little, although my expertise isn't in the department of trying to find some weird creature Dustin thought would make a good pet." Serenity grinned at the way Max let out a small laugh, already taking a liking to the redhead. "What about you? How'd you meet the boys?"

"It all really started with Dig Dug," Max responded, laughing a little more at Serenity's confused expression. "I apparently beat Dustin's high score in the game."

"Ah. Dustin is very protective of his Dig Dug title."

"So when we met in school, they were, like, obsessed with finding out if I was MadMax, which was the name I put on the game. It was honestly kind of stalker-ish. But they're kind of cool, I guess. The only one who hasn't really accepted me is—"

"Mike?" Serenity guessed, sighing softly when Max nodded. "He's really protective over his friends. And he's had a rough past couple of months ever since . . . an incident occurred last year." She then nudged Max's shoulders. "But I can straighten him out for you, if you need."

They went quiet for a moment. Serenity and Max started to rummage through some objects in the locker room. She was in the middle of looking through a locker when a yell sounded from behind her. Serenity jumped and whirled around, only to see Mike standing there with a broom pointed at them. He instantly relaxed upon noticing it was her, but the stony look on his face appeared when he saw Max.

"Why are you attacking?" Serenity inquired, trying to break some tension. "I told you we were in the gym."

"This is the boy's room, Renny," Mike protested.

"Yeah, so?" Max argued.

Mike turned to her. "So you should go home."

He dropped the broom and walked out of the locker room. Serenity shared an exasperated look with Mike before trailing after him. Max, however, was determined, and sped up her walking.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Max asked as they went back out into the gym.

"I don't hate you," Mike replied. "How can I hate you? I don't know you."

"Yeah, but you don't want me in your Party."

"Correct."

"Why not?" Max demanded.

Mike whirled around to face her. "Because you're annoying. Also, we don't need another Party member. I'm our Paladin, Will's our Cleric, Dustin's our Bard, Lucas is our Ranger, Serenity's our Princess, and El is our Mage."

"El? Who's El?"

Mike seemed to notice his mistake. He looked at Serenity with wide eyes, and she sighed internally. Always cleaning up the messes.

"Someone we used to know," Serenity explained. "She used to be in the Party with the boys and I before she moved away."

"She was a Mage?" Max repeated, setting down her skateboard and skating over to Mike, who was walking away. "Well, what could she do? Like, magic tricks or something?"

Something like that, Serenity thought as she slowly followed after the two kids.

Max stopped and hopped off her skateboard in front of Mike. "Well, I could be your Zoomer."

"That's not even a real thing," Mike said.

"It could be." She got back on her skateboard and started to skate around the gym. "See? Zoomer."

"Mind-blowing," Mike commented.

"Come on, you know you're impressed."

"I don't see any tricks. You're just going around in a circle."

"I, for one, am impressed," Serenity admitted. "I could never skateboard. Steve attempted to teach me one time, but then I just ended up with scrapes all over my knees, and that was the end of my skateboarding career."

"Thanks, Renny," Max told her, and Serenity smiled at the use of her nickname. She focused on Mike. "If it's so easy, you try it."

"No," Mike refused.

"Why not?"

"I don't know how."

"So, then you admit it's kind of impressive," Max stated.

"I think if I spent, like, all day practicing, I could do that," Mike responded.

"I would give you a million bucks if you could."

"Okay, you're making me dizzy. Please, just stop."

"I'll stop when I join your Party," Max agreed.

"Come on, just stop," Mike complained.

"It's a simple question. Am I in or out?"

"The Party could use another girl," Serenity revealed, ignoring the slight glare Mike sent her way.

Serenity then looked over at the boy. His annoyance seemed to start to fade away, and a small smile started to appear on his face as he watched Max skate around. Serenity felt her heart warm. Mike hadn't really smiled too much since El disappeared saving them from the Demogorgon, and seeing it again was nice. All she really wanted was for her kids to be happy.

Suddenly, Max got launched off her board and landed on the hardwood floor. Serenity's eyes widened and she dropped to her knees next to Max, ignoring the way her skateboard rolled away.

"Honey, you okay?" Serenity questioned in concern.

Max clutched her side and allowed Serenity to help her up. "Yeah, yeah. I think so."

"What happened?" Mike inquired.

"I don't know. It was just, like, a magnet or something pulling on my board. I know that sounds crazy."

Serenity and Mike shared a look as Max went to go retrieve her board. It didn't sound crazy to them. There was only one thing, or, well, person, that they knew that could do something like that. But that would be impossible . . . right?

She sighed and shook her head. Serenity let Mike and Max go ahead of her so she could keep an eye on them as they left the gym. The three of them started to wander up the hallway to continue searching. However, it didn't seem like they needed to.

"Guys . . . I found him," Will revealed.

"Where?" Dustin urged.

"In the bathroom by Mr. Salerno's."

"Copy that," Mike voiced.

Mike started to lead them there quickly. Serenity kept up with him rather well. Lucas then joined them, and they all sprinted into the bathroom. Dustin was the only one in there, leaning against the wall. Serenity narrowed her eyes at him. He looked awfully suspicious.

"Where's Dart?" Mike asked.

"I don't know," Dustin replied. "Not here."

"What?"

"He said by Salerno's, right?" Max questioned.

"Yeah, maybe Will has him," Dustin suggested.

"Wait a second," Serenity cut in, her eyebrows knitting in thought. "Will's not here. Where is he?"

None of them answered her.

"Shit." Her mind spun. "Everyone split up and look for him."

They all followed her instructions. Serenity left the bathroom, her walk turning into a jog as she searched for the boy. Immense guilt started to weigh on her chest. She had promised Joyce to look after him, to keep him safe, and now he was missing again, nevertheless with a creature from the Upside Down with him. God, she had been so stupid! She should've stayed with Will, not Max.

He needed her, and she wasn't there. Just like when he got taken by the Demogorgon.

Serenity suddenly stopped in her tracks by the doors that led outside of the school, noticing a figure in the field. She approached the doors, her heart beating fast. Sure enough, it was Will, just standing in the middle of the field, staring blankly ahead.

She didn't even tell the others she had found him. Concern for Will consumed everything inside of her. She pushed open the doors and broke into a sprint onto the field. Her legs burned, but she ignored it and went up to the boy. He was standing completely still and his eyes were closed, almost like he was in a trance.

"Renny!" Mike shouted from behind her. "Serenity!"

Serenity ignored him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Will, come on wake up. Will, it's me. Renny. Snap out of it. Wake up!"

"Will!" Mike repeated, and turned. Serenity did so as well. Running towards them was Joyce, Dustin, Lucas, and Max. "Renny just found him like this! I think he's having another episode!"

"Will!" Joyce yelled, taking Serenity's place and standing in front of the boy and shaking his shoulders. "Will! Will! Sweetie, wake up! It's mom! Will!"

Mike inched closer to Serenity's side. She put a comforting arm around him, Mike immediately sinking into her embrace. Serenity rubbed a hand up and down her arm, tears pricking at the back of her eyes as she watched the whole thing unfold.

"Will, wake up! Can you hear me? Will, please, just wake up. Please, wake up! It's mom! It's me!"

Suddenly, Will gasped and his eyes shot open. Serenity felt her heart rate start to decrease and she let out a breath of relief. He was okay. Mike turned his head into Serenity's shoulder, and Serenity wrapped her other arm around him, holding him tight.

They took Will back inside for a moment. All of them were silent, not really knowing what to say. Serenity had decided to shove her shaking hands in the pocket of her jacket, needing to stay strong for the kids. She could break down later, like she always did.

Serenity, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Max all stood on the steps of the school. They watched as Joyce led Will out to her car, which was parked haphazardly in front of the school.

"Okay, that totally freaked me out," Max admitted. "Did that not freak you guys out?"

"Two episodes in two days," Lucas voiced.

"It's getting worse," Mike stated.

"You think it's True Sight?"

Max looked at Lucas. "What's True Sight?"

Lucas shook his head upon noticing the pointed look Mike sent him. "It's nothing."

Serenity frowned as she watched Joyce's car reverse into the street. She watched it go until it wasn't visible anymore. Serenity let out a sigh and looked at the kids.

"You guys gonna be okay?" Serenity inquired. "I have to get home, but you know I'm just a call away, right?"

"We'll be okay, Renny," Lucas reassured her. "You can go home."

"Ring me if you need me, okay?" She then squeezed Max's shoulder. "It was nice meeting you, MadMax."

Serenity descended down the steps and headed in the direction of the neighborhoods in town. Once she was away from the kids, she let the brave face she put on melt away, leaving her with her anxious one.

A creature from the Upside Down, Will having episodes, Max being pulled off her skateboard, Will having an episode, Serenity not being there for Will . . . something about this wasn't a coincidence. She swallowed nervously. If this was really coming back . . . God, Serenity didn't know if she could take it.

Her feet acted before her mind. Serenity just kept walking and walking, letting her mind succumb into itself, which was a much darker place than she'd like to admit. She could be sunshine for other people, but sometimes she couldn't be sunshine for herself.

Suddenly, she ended up on the doorstep of a very familiar house. Serenity stared up at the house, letting out a deep breath. Curse her for letting her mind bring her here. However, she guessed getting home to an empty house wouldn't help her. Even though she didn't like to admit it, she needed someone.

Serenity raised her hand and knocked on the large door. She stood there for a couple of moments, nothing but silence surrounding her. Serenity kind of felt like a loser just waiting. She was about to decide that this was completely stupid and leave until the door opened.

Steve stared down at her, a little bit confused. "'Renity? I thought you were with the kids."

She didn't respond. All she did was walk forwards and slump her head against his chest, her forehead leaning against his collarbone. Serenity felt Steve stiffen for a moment before he ultimately relaxed, putting his arms around her and rubbing her back softly, just like she had done to Mike not too long ago.

"You okay?"

No.

"Just tired," Serenity answered.

Of everything. Of the Upside Down. Of the Demogorgon. Of stupid shit haunting me until I can't even escape into my own mind.

"You can come inside and we can watch a movie?" Steve suggested.

"Yeah," Serenity agreed.

"I have Dressed to Kill."

"Sounds good."

"Are we just going to stand here and hug for a while?" Steve questioned, noticing that his best friend wasn't moving.

"Can we?" Serenity pleaded, not quite ready to pull away.

"Yeah." Steve pulled her in closer, resting his cheek on top of her head. "We can."

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I can't wait for serenity to get vecna'd

I mean what who said that