||3rd Person POV||

No one spoke to her on the ride home after Kali's lecture, especially Kali. Jane immediately dismissed herself to her room when they returned and there she sat in a dreadful silence. Her mind was racing. Thoughts of the cabin, thoughts of the lab, thoughts of tonight. Thoughts of what she believed living here with them would be like. And what it really was.

But what kept coming back to her was Y/n's voice. Their last conversation before she left.

"Just, hear me out, please! You didn't hear the things she was just planning. The things she just said to her friends out there, you don't understand-"

"No, Y/n. You don't understand me."

Jane shakes her head in disgust, unable to believe the words exchanged between them. Why had that happened? How did things go so wrong so quickly? There was still anger and resentment towards Y/n, but it was faded and dying out. More than anything, she missed her.

She found her feet were carrying her to the ends of the bed where the remainder of her things lay forgotten. The remnants of what felt like a life long forgotten. Peeking from the half-opened zipper of her bag was the flannel shirt she had worn just hours ago. Her legs folded beneath her as she knelt before her belongings, her fingers running over the fabric. With a heavy heart, she plucked it from the bag to bring it close only to find her brows in a hard crease.

Jane's eyes had fallen to the outside zipper where the sleeve had caught, and what surprised her is she didn't remember opening it. Setting the shirt aside, she inspected the pocket to find nothing but the photo of Kali she had used to get here. And that's when her heart stopped.

The Missing Experiment files. They were gone, missing. And so was the remainder of her money, though this was not what bothered Jane.

Now Y/n knew. Now Y/n knew that she had withheld the files. Jane deflated with a heavy sigh, feeling a crushing weight on her conscious. She knew she would come to regret it and low and behold. Of course, she had meant to share them with her, why else would she have brought them? But after seeing Y/n, she was overwhelmed with relief and she was swept up in their reunion and then their plans of getting to Becky's.

But the last night on the bus.

《•••》

"Like I said before, Mike hasn't been himself since you left. And now Will is acting up, in fact, he's... completely different. He's sick, he's really sick and he's angrier than usual. The party is falling apart, and I've felt more alone these past few weeks than I have in a really long time. And on top of it all," Her voice lowers, and her eyes scan the area before leaning in. "I'm still finding stuff I didn't know I could do. I've been having trouble, controlling my powers."

El's eyes widen, and subconsciously her hand finds the pocket of her bag. The files! She needed to see them. But a terrible thought struck her.

If she gave her friend the files, what would stop her from wanting to leave? Go back home? She'd be alone again, her only hope was the girl from the rainbow room but who knows what she was like? El noted the animated look in her friend's eye, the way she lit up and she felt a heavy feeling clench her heart.

"The point is, you showing up has been just what I needed. And yes, it's really scary, but thanks to you I found out how I got here, where I came from. That's really good! I have you to thank for that."

Against her better judgment, her mind and body screaming at her, to tell the truth, and show her the files, El only smiles weakly. Her lips sew shut and her hand returns to her lap.

《•••》

Jane feels her legs grow damp, and she realizes she is crying. Silent tears streak her cheeks and she sniffles, hanging her head.

What Y/n must think.

Y/n had been nothing but kind to her, ever since that night Mike took her in. And looking back on the previous night, she only had her best interests at heart even if she did upset her.

But friends don't lie, she reminds herself.

And Jane of all people knew how it felt to have been lied to.

But what could she do now? Y/n was gone, and even though she now had someone who understood the life of the lab, she felt awfully alone.

A knock on the door ripped her from her thoughts. She jumped slightly but she turned her head, mentally brushing it off. She found Kali in the doorway. She gestured with her eyes to the bed across from Jane.

"May I sit?"

Jane merely shrugged, and Kali stepped forward and took a seat across from her on a swivel chair. She took a deep lingering breath before speaking.

"I was once just like you, you know that? But that's why I'm hard on you, because I see in you my past mistakes."

The disgust returned to Jane's face, and she nearly shook off her words. "They were kids."

"Does that excuse that man's sins? Were we not also children?"

Jane only looks away with no reply.

"Do you remember what I told you last night? That when your friend, Y/n had escaped everything changed?"

This drew Jane's eye, but her glower remained. Kali was treading on thin ice.

"When she escaped, they spent years looking for her. Do you know why? Because she was rumored to be the most powerful of us all." Kali croaked, tears forming in her eyes as they drifted to the other side of the room.

"Signs of her power showed months before she was born, and they became obsessed. The idea of her became an impossible standard that we were forced to meet. They searched for her for years, I remember hearing whispers of her not long after I arrived. But I let myself forget about it all when you came along. Because finally, I wasn't alone. Finally, I had a friend."

There is more silence from Jane. Now more than ever, she senses the scared little girl she once knew a life ago in the rainbow room. A girl whose life was stolen from her, not unlike herself. A girl whose journey to survive had slowly clouded her heart and mind, laid out perfectly in a path Jane now faced.

"But when they gave up hope, that is when everything changed. Jane, why do you think we were beaten? Imprisoned? They were so desperate to recreate what they had lost that they were willing to do anything to get it back."

Hot tears stung Jane's eyes and she shook her head, refusing to believe the harsh truth.

"No," she croaked.

"Yes, Jane. Yes, listen to me. That is why men like Ray treated us the way that we were treated. Not only were you their guinea pig, but you were also her replacement. All those years, spent in the room, all those years beaten and starved, they were pushing you. Testing you, and forcing you to be someone you are not."

Tears of her own slipped from Kali's eyes, she now held Jane's hands firmly in her own grasping her tightly. But Jane continued to cry, shaking her head as she was forced to relive the memories. She no longer felt like Jane, she felt like Eleven again and she hated it. She despised it. Kali finally stopped, the pad of thumb swiping across the back of Jane's hand in an act of comfort but it only made Jane feel worse. It reminded her of Y/n, and once again she was torn. She missed her friend terribly but the truth sickened her.

Kali continued, her voice more gentle.

"I remember the day that I came to the rainbow room and you were gone. Shortly after I was taken away and I shared with, I was relocated several times. I never saw you again. And that's when things got worse... So when my gifts were strong enough I used them to escape. And I ran. I ran away as far as I could."

She gulped, swallow the lump forming in her throat at the memory.

"And it was there, far away. That I found a place to hide. A family. A home. Just like you and your policeman. But they couldn't help me. So, eventually, I lost them, too."

Jane looked down at her feet, she was overwhelmed with the memories of her first night outside the lab. At Mike's. And Y/n took her in when the boys did not understand. But it is quickly soiled by the memory of the cabin. Her feeling trapped and isolated once more.

"So, I decided to play the part. To stop hiding. To use my gifts against those who hurt us. You're now faced with the same choice, Jane. Go back into hiding and hope they don't find you. Fight, and face them again."

"Face who?"

Kali hesitates but speaks firmly. A silent decision made up in her mind.

"The man who calls himself our father."

Jane shook her head, speaking through clenched teeth. "Papa is dead."

"That man tonight disagreed."

Jane felt her blood run ice cold, her stomach dropped through the floor and her she swore her heart stopped beating at the all too familiar voice behind her. Her head whipped over her shoulder and in the doorway stood a figure she never thought she'd see again. The man who abused her all her life, the very reason she felt so broken. The virus that destroyed anything he got his hands on. But she was smart enough to know.

"You're not real." She says, rising from the floor and slowly stepping forward.

He simply grins and tilts his head. His tell of disappointment.

"All this time? And you haven't looked for me? Why? Because you thought I was dead?"

Jane steps forward, wanting to be braver than she appeared. Though no matter the facts before her, even if he was nothing more than what Kali was telling her was real, she did not feel like Jane. She was Eleven. No more than a number. She hated the feeling, and she was furious and betrayed her sister would do such a thing. But all she could think of was the fear. The pain. Him.

"Or because you were afraid of what you might find?"

Bravely, she swallowed her fear. She shook her head, shrugging him off in anger.

"Go away." She ordered.

He steps forward, his tall figure towering over her like a shadow. A shadow she can never seem to escape.

"You have to confront your pain. You have a wound, Eleven,"

Eleven backs away, ashamed of her fear but she attempts to hold her ground as he pokes and prods once more.

"a terrible wound."

He continues to advance, and she continues to cower just as the man named Ray did. Her composure breaks and tears begin to flow once more. Eleven chokes back a whimper.

"And it's festering."

Her feet hit the bag and she collapses to the ground, gazing up at him through her blurred vision.

"Do you remember what that means? Festering?" His eyes never leaving hers, never blinking, he lowers himself in front of her. "It means a rot. And it will grow. Spread."

"Get out of my head." She whispers.

"And eventually, it will kill you."

She feels herself snap, the lights flicker around them and she screams with all her might.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

She collapses into tears, cradling the flannel close to her for any scrap of comfort. Sobs wracked her body and when her head lifts, she finds Kali looking up at her with a smile.

"This is not a prison, Jane. You're always free to return to your policeman. Or stay, and avenge your mother. Let us heal our wounds, together."

No more words are spoken, and Kali rises leaving the room and a dismayed sister.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Unknowingly, a squad of police cars and SWAT team snake the streets of Chicago, growing ever closer to the hideout minute by minute. Mick sits in her usual perch, her attention focused solely on the lookout at her usual window while Funshine slams his cards against the steel table with a deep rumbling laugh.

"Full house." He cheers.

Axel swipes his arm across the table with fury.

"Screw this. I'm out." He rises from the table, beer in hand as he marches away.

Dottie chortles and calls after him.

"Out of money, you mean. You are broke!"

She collects the discarded money as Funshine cackles. The two divide the money and Dottie looks over her shoulder.

"You want in, Mick?"

She scoffs, taking a puff from her cigarette.

"Nope."

"Aw, come on! Just one hand." She whines.

"You're the worst."

"How I am the worst?"

"Because, one hand leads to hands, and two hands lead to three. And before you know it I'm as broke as Axel."

"Are in or out?"

"Out."

Lost in the argument, Mick fails to notice the swarm of guards circling the place. They break off and take several paths and their presence remains unknown.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Jane sits on her side of the bed, her mind and heart still calming from her previous encounter. The flannel still clothes tightly in her hands, she holds it up before bringing it close to her heart. Her mind takes her back once again to the first night outside the lab. The good moments, the ones she thought of so often.

《•••》

Mike smiles softly at her, a wonderous gaze in his eyes. No one had ever looked at her like that before. With appreciation. And awe.

"Maybe we can call you 'El.' Short for Eleven?"

•••

The bullies flee in her path, and the boy who once asked too much of her after their first meeting, the boy who quickly became her friend, called after them. A mix of fury and pride as he declared his loyalty after she hurt them.

"YOU'D BETTER RUN! SHE'S OUR FRIEND, AND SHE'S CRAZY!"

•••

Mike leans over her, an untamed smile on his lips as he once again stares at her in awe. Even when she had confessed her darkest secret, the secret she feared would ruin their friendship.

"No, El. You're not the monster. You saved me, you understand? You saved me."

•••

She was used to people speaking of her harshly when she was in the room, not taking into consideration her feelings. But the girl was full of surprises. She dismissed the behavior, and for the first time in her life she was told - she was shown - that she didn't deserve it. And she even offered her comfort.

"If you ever need anything or someone to talk to, even after we get everything sorted out, well, I'm here." Y/n smiled at her, and a warmth spread through her chest.

•••

"Co-compromise?" She asks, her face scrunched up in confusion.

"It's something that's kind of in-between. Like halfway happy."

Hopper reaches out a hand and ruffles her curls bringing a large smile to her face. The warmth returns.

•••

His odd movement the first day in the cabin. The music played and an odd look crossed Hopper's face, and much to her embarrassment, he began to bounce around.

"Once we fix it up, it's gonna be nice. Real nice. This is your new home."

[END OF FLASHBACKS]

She opens her eyes, finding herself in the void yet again. When she sees who is with her she realizes who her mind was searching for.

Hopper.

He is strained and scared, he paces the floor next to a strange panel that reminds her of the lab. This worries her. His palms dig into his eyes and he grunts, silently processing. He begins to pace once more, his hand on his hips and Jane approaches him slowly. He looks to the console, grief, and despair overwhelm as he leans his weight on the ridge.

"That's where I was. It's a damn graveyard."

"I need to get through! I need to get through."

Mike, it was Mike. He was approaching the distance and desperation and fear rang in his voice. She watches as an invisible force pushes him back. But his desperate calls do not concede.

"I need to warn them! It's a trap! I need to get through. It's a trap. I need to tell them it's a trap!" He shrieks, his voice cracking.

"Mike!"

She wasted no time in running for him. He does not see her but he continues to jump and fight over against an invisible force as he calls out to someone.

"IT'S A TRAP. IT'S A TRAP!"

Her arms extend to catch him, but he fades at her touch. She turns frantic, looking around the room but in her heart, she knows she lost the connection.

"Mike! Mike! Mike, where are you? Mike! Mike! Mike!"

She spins in circles, though all sense often direction is lost. Hopper has disappeared as well and she is now all alone. It's eerily quiet apart from the sound of her drumming heart. Though she quickly realizes this is not the case.

THUMP

THUMP

THUMP

Jane is ripped from the void and she finds herself back in the bedroom. The sounds of the steel door being thrown open echo throughout the warehouse and she flies to the window. Troops swarm the lower flower and she gasps silently when she feels a hand upon her shoulder.

"Let's go." Kali whispers lowered tongue floor.

Jane complies, immediately followed her lead and she sinks to the ground. Her hand clasped tightly in Kali's they dart across the landing and up the stairs to the others, unfortunately, giving themselves away. Klai hears their orders and knows they are after them.

"The hell's going on?" Axel asks.

"They found us!"

"Jesus Christ!"

Axel whips out his gun, but Kali reaches for it.

"No, no, no!" She orders, gesturing for everyone to freeze.

She silences them, ordering them to pack in and freeze, they all comply without question.

The guards round the corner, and begin sweeping the area. They all tense, but they watch holding their breath as the guards begin to scan the area. They do see them. Kali is hiding them. They watch, frozen as statues their hearts pumping as the officers snake right by them. Jane and Axel have to silently step out of their path but the illusion remains and no one moves a muscle. All the officers see in an abandoned room.

When they pass, Kali gives the okay and they run noiselessly for the exit. They have to take the back entrance, and Kali manages to keep the illusion up as they flee. It finally gives when they escape the building through the side but they are quickly spotted.

"We gotta go, now!"

"HEY! HEY!"

"Jane, come on!" Mick senses her lagging and grabs her hand pulling her through.

Axelnis last to approach the van but he turns and begins firing over his shoulder.

"Come on, hurry!"

Jane is pulled to safety behind the van, and the others dive for cover. They each manage to squeeze behind the van, sharp pings echo out in the night as the bullets hit the side.

Axel manages to get a few shots in from the corner, and Funshine uses himself to shield Dottie and Jane as glass rains down.

"Do something, Kal! Do something!"

But she is already at work. Her mind reaches out to find each of the officers and it begins to paint a picture. Enormous beams of steel erupt from the ground and rise to the stars, higher than any skyscraper, completing separating them from the men. Convincing them of that at least. The shots cease as they stare on shock and awe, iron and steel walls rising up from nothing and they are unable to do anything but stare.

Funshine opens the van door, ensuring everyone makes it okay and they do. Kali is the last to enter, her illusion to still holding. She turns to find Jane lingering by the door, but she cannot enter.

"Jane, get in."

Something is stopping her.

"It's a damn graveyard."

"Mike!"

"IT'S A TRAP! IT'S A TRAP!"

She shakes her head no.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I have to go back." She says, bringing tears to Kali's eyes.

"My friends... My friends are in danger."

"This isn't time for a talk. We have to go right now!" Axel orders, cutting in.

And like that the illusion begins to crack and splinter, revealing their location briefly to their pursuers. But Kali does not care, refusing to give up one person who understood her.

"Your mother sent you here for a reason, remember? We belong together. There's nothing for you back there. They cannot save you, Jane."

She merely shakes her head. This was not who she was.

"No,"

《•••》

El marches forward, her eyes fixed on the bullies ahead of her, where they tortured her friends. Nearly killed Mike, if she hadn't returned.

《•••》

"But I can save them."

With one final lingering glance, she turns and flees down the ally, wiping away the tears that fall as her sister's call is drowned out in the returning fire.

"Jane? Jane. Jane! JANE!"

The illusion breaks and the van pulls out, the door sliding shut. The world around to her fades and the voices and presence of her friends are drowned out in her grief.

With a trembling hand, Kali swipes away the drop of blood streaming from her nose and turns away. She looks out the window before anyone can see her cry. Her world breaks in two, and once again the piece of her that made her whole, is lost to her once again. Her lost sister. All she sees is the passing lights as the van weaves through the streets and her tearstained reflection in the rain spotted window, just as Jane does.

Jane now found herself on a bus once more, her head hung glumly against the glass as she dwells. A soft and friendly voice calls out to her from across the aisle, and she turns.

"You all right, sweetie?"

She finds an older woman in the seat, she wears a friendly smile as reaches a hand out to adjoining seat.

"You were looking a little forlorn there. You mind if I join you?"

She doesn't say anything but silently gestures to the open seat next to her. The woman rises and joins with a soft hum.

"You are awfully young to be traveling alone, aren't you?" She asks worriedly.

She merely looks away, knowing better not to answer questions.

The lady hums a laugh and shakes her head.

"Well, you are quite the chatterbox."

The woman continues to attempt idle chatter, hoping to gift comfort to the troubled girl.

"So where you headed?" She quirks a brow, speaks soothingly. "To your parents, I hope."

Finally, she meets her eyes.

"To my friends."

She looks ahead of her, for once in a very long while she feels a swell of hope and that familiar feeling of warmth in her chest. The warmth she has longed for all her life, and only now does she realize she had it. With her policeman. With her friends. The one place she could truly be herself, not Eleven. Not even Jane, but El.

"I'm going home."

The warmth spreads through her chest, it's set ablaze in her and it spreads throughout herself. It stretches to her fingertips, to the tips of her toes and it even sparks a warm smile that curls her lips.

And El had never been more eager to return.

||Reader's POV||

It took hours but I finally reach Mirkwood. And although my eyes have adjusted well to the night, my eyes squint to find my bike. I curse my past self for hiding it so well when my heart bursts in my chest as my foot hooks and I fall to the ground. Groaning, I turn over, untangling my foot from what I assume is root when I realize it's my bike.

I forgot I had buried in under leaves and it must have been buried further in the wind. With a grimace, I look to my hands, mud and hook cling to my palms and I quickly dust them off before rising to my feet and lifting the poor slightly rusted thing.

It gives a terrible creak but I shift the handles and it loosens up. I swipe the seat with my sleeve, discarding the excess dirt from the leather but when my eyes return to the road I realize I do not see it.

Shit.

I wandered too far and once again I curse myself for my bike's hiding spot. Shaking my head, a great sigh escaping me my eyes sweep the area. I see a dip in the hill farther along the path that eagerly I inspect. I'm met with an eerily familiar scene, and only then do I get a sense of where I am on Mirkwood. The train tracks, we passed by here last year during our search for the gate. But something is different, it's an odd sight that I do not expect to see.

My head turns, I squint down the long stretch of tracks going either way and I notice that every seven feet or so, is a pile of meat? At the very least, I know I'm heading farther southwest. I mount my bike in the ditch beside the tracks and curiously I follow knowing eventually it will lead me out of the forest and I can ride from there.

I feel great relief in my feet when I sit, but I still have to push through the terrain as I ride. Though it does not worry me, my speed picks up considerably and I am already traveling at a much greater speed. Before long, I find myself out of the woods and into a further clearing. I stop, shifting my weight to one leg as I keep myself still as I study my surroundings.

There's a great deal of fog, but eventually, I find a revealing factor about my surroundings. The hill descends and there are several dark masses along the hill poking put from the white clouds but I finally recognize where I stand. The junkyard.

I'm about to head off when I notice two figured perched on top of a familiar-looking bus. I have to squint, but sure enough, my eyes siren when I recognize a full head of bright red hair and the bandana clad mini afro.

Max and Lucas! What the hell are they doing here? And more importantly, what was that distant growl?

Before I can piece together what is going on, I realize my bike is edging down the hill. It has gained momentum by the time I regain control, but luckily I am able to turn to take cover behind an old car. Thinking fast, I jerk my handlebars to the side and lean my weight on my right and just as I had hoped my bike skids to slow on its side. Out of sight. I'm thankful I have learned from last year when I was cornered by the vans but I know I am not out of the clear yet.

My landing definitely wasn't silent, but at least I was able to muffle the sounds. I realize it doesn't matter seeing as a bunch of fog was swept away during my crash. I freeze, my ears perked for any sign of movement and I feel my blood run cold and I flinch when Lucas's fearful cries echo across the yard.

"Three o'clock! Three o'clock!"

My first thought is he saw me, but the thought quickly disappears when I hear another growl nearby.

Against my better judgment, but anxious to know if I'm anywhere near the threat, I slip out from under my bike and cautiously peek from behind the tire.

I gape as I see several dog-like figures stalking towards the very same bus we hid in, and equally as shocking I spot a figure climb out of the bus who I recognized as... Steve Harrington? He was swinging a spiked bat and he began whistling for, what again, I assumed was a beastly rabid dog. Thought deep down, some part of me knows that is not what these things are.

Without a thought, I returned to my hiding position, my breathing sporadic but I have no choice but to stay still. I freeze as I hear footsteps approach though somehow they don't sound human. They come in fours and I assume it's the dogs that are approaching.

I steady my breathing, praying that it doesn't hear me though that's even if it doesn't smell me first. But the last thing I expect comes into view.

That's impossible. It can't be.

I could swear up and down that before me was a Demogorgan.

It's on all fours and I do not know how it hasn't seen me yet. As if my luck hasn't pushed itself yet, it freezes at the sound of Steve's voice.

"Come on, buddy. Human tastes better than cat, I promise."

Wait, what?

The demogorgan turns and begins stalking back towards Steve and my eyes closed as a silent sigh rolls off my chest. Nevertheless, I know I have to help. Testing my luck once more, I peer around the corner to find several of these beast surrounding him, and that's when I hear Lucas's frightened cries.

"Steve, watch out!"

"A little busy here!" Steve snaps.

"Three o'clock! Three o'clock!"

I watch in shock as Steve dives across one of the roofs of the cars, just narrowly avoiding getting hit. He turns, and for a moment I think I might have been spotted and I panic. I try and understand why in the hell I'm hiding when I should be helping them. The answers all too clear when I find myself spiraling.

What if I can't handle it? I'm not fully prepared to take on a bunch of demogorgans yet, and what if I choke and endanger myself and others by trying to help.

No. I shake my head, scolding myself for wasting time. I was certainly not dealing with this now, and I'm already in. I have to help.

It's mostly the frightened screams that rip me from my daze and I realize that the voice I'm hearing is Dustin's!

"Steve! Abort! Abort!"

"Steve run!"

"Steve hurry!"

Getting into position, I ready myself to attack. I have the advantage, that I know for sure when I see them target the bus. Steve has made it inside, but they are still fighting to get in.

That's when my heart stops.

I spot one that seems to be peering down into the roof hatch and a shrill scream echoes out from the bus and pierces the air.

Fuck, here goes nothing.

I jump to my feet before I can allow myself the time to talk myself out of it, and I sprinted for the bus. A surprisingly vigorous cry erupts from my throat and my arms are thrown up into the air. Once again, I embrace the anger and I find it is quicker to summon. The scream is enough to grab the beast's attention, buying me time and I explode. The familiar hot burst of energy explodes from my palm and the beast is sent flying, it's screech is horribly familiar but there is no time dwell.

I pant heavily as I watch it disappear out of view and I look around. Several creatures are advancing on me and quickly, I scale a nearby car gaining ground. They come for me, but luckily, I'm too quick. This time.

Everything moves in a blur as I deflect their attacks. They are blown back with my burst of energy and I gape as I witness my own abilities. My knees give out and I tumble on the grass, and they begin to circle.

"Y/n?"

But I definitely hear shouts come from the bus as I fight but I barely register them as the demogorgons begin to surround me.

"Stay back!" I shriek, hitting them with another blast. "Stay the hell back!"

"What the hell is going on?"

I don't last as long as I hope, and using all using strength I attempt to stay awake when I hear and a loud thump behind me and I glance back to see the bus moving with heavy footsteps.

Not allowing another second of my attention wasted, I look back to the creatures to find them staring off in the distance. I tense, ready to strike at any moment when suddenly they begin to circle me, staring me down. I meet their eyeless gaze and I turn with them assuring my back is never exposed. But much to my surprise, they dart after the bus.

I panic, my arms reaching out to hit them with another blast as I follow but I come to stop when I see them each simultaneously part around the bus. Moments pass and not a single strikes, they merely flee the junkyard and disappear into the night.

I frown after them despite the relief and I allow my legs to give out. My palms hit the dirt and I wince, mostly from my empty lungs and there I sit, fighting the dizzy spell I'm suddenly under until I hear several footsteps approach.

"Y/n! Oh, my God, what the shit!" Dustin cries.

I look up and spot him running towards me and I jump back when he slides onto the grass, and nearly knocking me over.

A million things cross my mind, and for a moment I do not know what to say. All I can do is pant for breath, and with a weak chuckle, I grin halfheartedly.

"You're... welcome."