IT WAS NIGHTFALL BEFORE ANY MORE WEIRD ACTIVITY HAPPENED WITH THE COMPASS. 

Carla's legs were sick of walking as she trudged along, eyes darting between the people ahead of her and the ground to make sure she wasn't going to stumble on some random stick. 

For hours, Dustin had led the group through the forest, weaving in and out of bushes and trees in an attempt to get his compass acting wonky. For the last few hours, little has happened—there's been some false alarms in which the Henderson started screaming in glee only to realize he was wrong, but otherwise it's been a bunch of useless walking.

 For being a gate to an inter-dimensional world, this gate certainly wasn't easy to spot out.

There's only one flashlight being used by Steve, the rest of the group trying their best to navigate the forest in pitch black. It doesn't help that a few moments ago, Dustin started sprinting in a random direction, adamant that he was fully right this time—which he'd claimed the other three false alarm—leaving the rest of them to try and navigate the woods in the dark to catch up.

Carla jogs after the Henderson, hoping that they're finally right. If not, it's too late to really keep continuing—Karen was certainly growing worried that none of the kids had returned, let alone her own two girls. And if they had to return home, that meant another day was wasted. Another day that could have been spent trying to get Max's life being saved. 

"Something's happening!" Dustin announces, voice a mixture of glee and curiosity. 

"Dustin? Can you slow down?" Eddie bellows, first in line behind the boy. "Dustin?"

Carla sighs as they enter a clearing, "God, that kid is going to be the death of me."

"Tell me about it." Steve replies, shining the flashlight outwards. Dustin's been a pain in the ass  to him the past few days. 

The Henderson leads them all into a small clearing, turning his head back to state, "I think we're getting close."

Eddie lurches forward, grabbing a hold of the curly haired boy before he can step into Lover's Lake. He presses a firm hand against the boy's chest, stopping him. "Watch your step, big guy."

Carla halts in her steps, clumping beside Eddie and Dustin. She eyes up the terrain to recognize it as Lover's Lake. Of course Dustin's fucked up compass had led them here—the place where Vecna had killed Patrick less than twenty-four hours ago. Great.

"Oh, man." Steve groans as he recognizes the lake. He shines the flashlight over it. "You've got to be shitting me."

"Yeah," Eddie comments, eyeing up the place which he'd been the prior night. "I thought these woods were familiar."

Robin rasps, "Lover's Lake." 

"This is confounding." Dustin breathes.

"Unless we somehow missed a gate in the middle of the woods, the gate is down there." the Wheeler jabs a finger to the dark waters ahead, looking rather displeased. How were they supposed to find an underwater gate? 

Max's brows furrow, "There's a gate in Lover's Lake?"

"Whenever the Demogorgan attacked, it always left an opening." Nancy recalls their first fight with the creature at the Byers home, picturing the slimy tear it left in its wake. "Maybe Vecna's the same way."

Steve replies, "Yeah, only one way to find out."

Eddie headed down for the shoreline where Reefer Rick's boat was hidden from the earlier night, ripping the tarp off. From there, him and Steve took initiative and  worked together to push the item into the water so they could use it.

"Easy." Steve insists, expression growing pointed and annoyed when Eddie roughly shoves it It thumps against the water as the boy complains, "I...I said easy, man." 

Eddie apologizes with little remorse, "Sorry, dude."

The Harrington and Munson crouch down on either side of the boat, using their strength to keep their source of transportation still for entrance. 

Steve raises one hand to help his friends get in without stumbling against the slightly swaying boat. "Here you go.

Robin ignores the helping hand, instead pressing both of hers down against Steve and Eddie's heads, pushing them outwards as she uses them as leverage. "Yeah, I'm just gonna to that. Thank you."

"Yeah, that works too."

Eddie goes in next, doing so without any help. He outstretches a hand to grasp, Nancy's. "Wheeler." 

"Thanks," Nancy steps in.

Carla comes forward next, already looking at Steve. Waiting for him to stop her. She knows he's going too.

Steve's gaze softens as he looks up at Carla, his hand already reaching out instinctively. He knows the risks—they all do. In his opinion, she should be staying back because God knows what Vecna could do if she got close to his gate. His world. 

But, he knows that she wants to go, no matter the risk. That she feels she has too because it's one-step closer to saving Max and that's all she wants to do. Steve knows that Carla will argue with him if he tells her to sit out and it's the last thing he wants to do right now.

Carla takes his outstretched hand. 

"You don't have to do this." the Harrington murmurs, his voice just loud enough for her to hear over the gentle splash of water against the boat. His thumb brushes over her hand, steadying her before she even steps in. "You'd be safer up here." 

"I'm not sitting this out." Carla shakes her head, mind already made. Truly, she didn't care about the risk of her being close to Vecna's gate. She wanted to save Max and they needed to see this gate to do it.

After a beat, Steve gives a small nod, reluctantly letting her go as she steps carefully into the boat—his lips stay sealed. He steadies her hand until she's balanced, not dropping it until she's settled beside him. 

Carla takes a seat beside her sister and Robin, letting out a breath.

Coming in next is Dustin, who spares a moment to smugly salute off Lucas and Max before stepping into the boat. However, he is quickly stopped by Eddie, the Munson shoving him lightly back. "Hey, hey, hey, you trying to sink us?" 

Four people was already pushing it with room in the boat. 

Dustin blinks. Eddie proceeds, "This thing holds four people tops, okay?"

"It's better this way, okay?" Nancy tries her best to reassure the clearly offended Dustin. "You guys stay here with Max. Keep an eye out for trouble."

Dustin fires, "You keep an eye out!"

The Wheeler looks taken aback by his show show of defiance, sending him a look. Was he seriously testing her?

Dustin sends a look right back at her, "It's my goddamn theory!"

From her crouched position, Robin comes to the Wheeler's defense, looking at Dustin as if he were a child being reprimanded by his mother. "You heard, Nance."

"Who put her in charge?"

Proudly, the Buckley nods, "I did." 

Used to his attitude by now, Carla stands up and walks towards him, wanting to speak softer with him rather than continue to add gasoline to the fire. "I know it's your theory, Dustin. And believe me when we say we appreciate that you got us here, but it's much safer for Max if she has more than one person watching." 

"You're literally cursed, too! You stay!"

Well, he has her there. Carla holds back a huff and holds out her hand for the compass, "Dustin, just give us the compass."

Dustin pouts like a child.

The Wheeler pulls out a more stern, "Dustin."

Begrudgingly, the Henderson hands over his compass to Carla, holding back mutters under his breath. The Wheeler clasps it in her hands, happy the boy gave in, "Stay safe and watch Max, okay?"

"Okay..." Dustin steps back, voice defeated.

Carla sits back down across from her sister and beside Robin. Steve gets up from off the ground, tossing his younger companion his giant book bag. "Hey, there you go."

"Ow." 

The Harrington gives the boat a light shove before hopping in himself, despite there already being the max of people in the boat—Eddie might have said four, but if Carla was going, so was he. It was simple as that.

Carla isn't surprised by the ordeal, moving over slightly so her boyfriend could take a seat next to her.

Dustin, however, didn't and his eyes widen in betrayal and annoyance, "You said four!"

"Sorry," Steve whispers, though it's obvious he's not really regretting  leaving the kids for the older teens. 

Robin and Eddie grab ahold of the oars and start to paddle away, water splashing as the paddle pushes through. Carla stares out at the kids, watching as they grow further and further away—she doesn't think Dustin blinks as he watches them do so from the land. 

"Bedtime at nine, kiddos!" Robin teases, unable to resist the vulnerability of Dustin being pissed off. Expectantly, the Henderson boy holds up the middle finger as a reply, which edges the Buckley even further, the girl standing up to wave. "Miss you already!"

Carla shakes her head, "He's going to kill you when we get back, you know?"

"I know." the Buckley smiles, happy that she pissed the Henderson off further.

"Keep watch of the compass." Nancy nods at her sister, who holds the item in her outstretched hand at the reminder. "Tell us if it starts going crazy. That's when we'll know when to stop."

Carla nods, looking down at the small item.

From there, the boat ride was silent. They passed through the pitch black waters, Robin and Eddie waiting for the call to halt as they paddled further and further through Lover's Lake—in no time at all did they make it to the middle of the lake. Steve shined his flashlight back and forth, looking for visible signs of the lake. Nancy was watching her sister.

At some point in the middle of the lake, Carla's attentive gaze picks up the quick shift in the compass. It's needles start flying around in every direction, clearly trying to battle another force. The gate. 

"It's going crazy." Carla warns, eyes not leaving the darting needle.  "Slow down."

Nancy echos her twins words, "Slow down, guys."

Robin and Eddie both maneuver the paddles so the boat halts in movement, turning their heads to get a look at the compass. Steve moves closer to his girlfriend and shines his flashlight down to her palm and Nancy leans forward to see it, too.

 The needle continues to go haywire and spin in a circle, unsure on what way the poles truly sat anymore.

"Woah." Steve lets out.

"Guys, what's going on?" Dustin's voice cuts through the walkie—even though he isn't allowed to tag along, he's still going to question as much as he can. "Come on, guys. Talk to me. What's going on?" 

Robin picks up the walkie from the bottom of the boat, bringing it to her lips. Her eyes stay locked on the compass. "Uh, Dustin, your—your compass has gone wonky to wonky with a capital 'ahh'!"

There's a small thump from beside her and Carla blinks, breaking attention on the compass to look at her boyfriend—the side from which the noise had come from. There, she sees him hunched over, pulling off his shoes and socks. 

Carla's brows furrow. Why the fuck was he taking off his shoes and socks? 

"Steve, what are you doing?" Nancy asks, just as confused as her sister. 

"Somebody's gotta go down there and check this thing out." Steve states, as if it weren't too big of a deal. "Unless one of you four can top being a Hawkins High swim co-captain and a certified lifeguard for three years, then....it's gotta be me." He can see Carla opening her mouth from the corner of his eye a hold a finger in her direction, "No complaints, alright?"

Carla doesn't really care that they didn't have the time to argue—Steve can't go down to the gate. He can't swim down God knows how deep into a pitch black lake and expect her to feel okay with him doing it. It was unsafe as hell. 

Immediately, she pushes his finger down and calls out, "Steve—"

"No complaints."

"Hey, I'm not complaining," Eddie leans back in the boat, shrugging. Better Steve then him, in his opinion. "I do not wanna go down there." 

"Steve, no. You can't just swim down to that gate—this isn't a swim meet." Carla tries to argue, as pointless as she knew it was—Steve was already standing up on the bow of the boat. "We don't know what's lurking down there. You can't go. Not alone like this."

"Baby, you're not coming with me. It's not safe for you." Steve spares her a soft and reassuring glance to try and ease her worry. "I can handle myself—I'm examining for a few minutes tops and then I'll be back up. Safe and sound."

Defiantly, Carla replies, "That's not a promise you can keep."

 "And you're one to talk about promises?" He counters gently.

Steve ignores the incredulous look he receives at his retort and lifts his sweatshirt over his head. Carla feels her words evaporate off her tongue as she just stares. "Steve..."

His chest is toned, a fine dusting of hair leading down from his collarbone, glistening slightly under the fading light. She's never asked him to shave it; in fact, she actually liked it, though she'd never actively tell anyone that. 

Robin snickers from the side. Carla blinks profusely—she doesn't know why she's staring. Steve sleeps that way every night.

"I promise I'll be quick. Just trust me, okay?" Steve hands his girlfriend his yellow sweater, to which the Wheeler clutches. He places a hand on the side of her cheek. "I love you."

Carla just nods, putting his sweatshirt in her lap as he pulls away. The loss of warmth against her cheek is eminent.

"Hey." Eddie hands over a plastic bag-covered flashlight so the Harrington had some light. "Good luck."

Steve takes it. "Thanks."

The Munson sticks a cigarette in his mouth—of course, on the run, Eddie manages to keep a pack of cigarettes on him—and reaches for a lighter from his pocket. 

Robin is quick to snatch the stick right out of his lips and flick it into the ocean before the flame touches it. "Gross." 

"Be careful." Nancy turns to look at her ex, eyes soft.

Steve nods. He spares a final glance at Carla, who's already staring back. With that, he dove into the water.

The boat rocks slightly with the shift of weight before settling. Eddie, Nancy, Carla, and Robin all peer over the edge of the boat, watching as the light from the flashlight got dimmer and dimmer until all that was left was the black waters.

No one spoke to each other as they waited in tense silence.  The only sound was the boat lightly rocking in the water. Carla's hands clench and un-clench against Steve's sweater as she tries not to worry. Steve would be okay. He'd never broken promises. Only she did that. 

"Where are we at, Wheeler?" Robin breaks the silence, growing slightly worried herself.

"Closing in on a minute." Nancy snips, glancing at her watch.

"...Okay."

Carla's almost reminded of when her, Dustin, Lucas, and Max were all trapped in the bus with the Demo-dogs and Steve put himself outside as prey. Always the fucking hero. 

Another minute of silence passes. Carla stares at the water like her life depends on it.

She knew Steve was on the swim team and had training. He could hold his breath longer than most. But he couldn't hold it forever. He had to come back sooner than later—

There's an abrupt splash and water gets on the Wheeler's clothes. Nancy head whips around for cover and Robin yelps. Carla flinches back for a split second, alarmed, but her heart slows as she focuses in on Steve's figure, resurfaced. His hair is stuck to his face and he gasps for breath for moment, but he's okay.

"Oh Christ!" Eddie screams, annoyed at how abruptly Steve had resurfaced.

Steve swims closer to the boat. "I found it."

Nancy's eyes widened. "You found it?"

"I found it. Yeah, I found it." the Harrington puts his hands on the edge of the boat, the item supporting his weight.

Robin fumbles to get the walkie up to her mouth, "Dustin, you're a goddamn Einstein. Steve found the gate."

"It was pretty wild," Steve admits, his breath coming in light puffs as he recalls the underwater gate. His eyes shine with the adrenaline still coursing through him. "It's more of a snack-sized gate than the mama gate, but still, it's pretty damn big."

"That was so stupid for you to do." Carla ditches Steve's sweatshirt at the bottom of the boat, leaning forward towards her boyfriend. 

"I know," He murmurs, voice dropping to something almost gentle, as if he's trying to reassure her that he's safe and okay, right here in front of her.

Carla leans in, her face mere inches from his, and for a moment, everything else fades. It's just him, her, and the sound of the water gently lapping against the boat. She closes the gap but never meets Steve's lips as the boy is abruptly yanked right down under the water.

Everything but his hands are jerked underwater and Carla's heart jolts slightly. The boat rocks in the direction force had been put onto and the group sways to the side, eyes wide. The Wheeler's hands fumble to grab his, trying to keep him up. 

What the hell?

For a moment the Wheeler thinks her boyfriend is trying to joke around. But as Steve comes up from under, his eyes hold confusion. The Harrington glances between the group, befuddled by what had happened, just as they were.

Carla feels her throat grow dry because if he didn't pull himself under....

Steve is yanked right back under before he can even catch his breath.

The Wheeler goes into flight or fight mode as she watches her boyfriend get dragged under the water. The boy's hands fumble into the air at a last attempt to keep himself up and Carla tries to grab one but it slides out from under, splashing right down into the dark waters below within seconds.

Robin, Eddie, and Nancy all hold similar reactions, screaming and lurching for the boy. The boat tips dangerously. Carla doesn't give a fuck.

"Steve!" Nancy peers into the water. "Steve!"

"What the hell was that, man?!" Eddie screeches, "Jesus!"

"No! Steve!" Robin cries, panic rising for her best friend. "Nancy, really, what happened?!"

Carla doesn't feel like she's leading her own body—her mind feels like it's on autopilot. Her heart slams against her rib-cage, the air feels like it's been sucked out of her lungs. There's no rational thought in her mind—there's no time to think of one.  Within about three seconds of Steve going down, she's jumping onto her feet and shrugging her jacket off.

 She can't lose him. She won't lose him.

"Wait, wait, wait—" Eddie is the first to realize what Carla is doing, eyes wide he stares up at her. He points a warning finger in her direction. "You're not going down there, are you?"

Carla doesn't give him an answer. She ignores the screeches of her name and plunges down into Lover's Lake.

Cold. The water is absolutely freezing as it makes contact with her skin, engulfing her whole. The Wheeler can't even gasp, lips sealed shut in an attempt to keep the air she managed to breath in towards her lungs.

She's swimming down without much thought, pressure causing a ringing pain within her eardrums.  Her arms go in and outwards, paddling herself further and further down. Her feet kick ferociously against the water. 

The water burns her eyes, but she strains to keep them open. They dart in every direction, searching. She doesn't even know what she's searching for, really—Steve just went down. So that was where she was going, too. 

The pressure of the water is like a suffocating blanket, squeezing her. Her lungs burn and ache for air, a warning that she had little time. Her ears were aflame with pain from pressure. Her limbs were struggling to go deeper. She could barely see shit—

Red. Carla's eyes get caught on a glowing red. The Wheeler turns her figure and starts swimming towards it, ignoring the stale air burning in her lungs as much as she can. She just had to get to Steve. She had too. 

 Swimming closer, Carla squints, the glow distorting in the murky water. She can just make out the ragged edges of something massive, like a wound torn into the fabric of reality itself. 

The gate.

It looms before her, a swirling, pulsating mass of crimson tendrils and twisted shapes, almost alive in the way it shifts and shimmers. Dark, inky shadows ripple within it, like the jaws of some dark creature waiting to pull her in. 

She doesn't even know if Steve's in there. But there's a chance.

And Carla will follow him to death if she has too.

Her eyes close and she plunges through the gate wondering if she'll come out. 

mara's misc!

this chapter was actually really fun to write!!

this week i have been SO SO SO busy with tech week and my show! it's been a wild ride and i'm going to be sobbing hysterically tomorrow during closing. if you want to see how it's gone, read my message board because i've posted about the whole week <3

if you're an obx fan, i've also posted a big yap on pt2 of s4 so definitely go check that out. 

i probably won't update before that but this monday i'm seeing an early showing of the wicked movie???? my friend's mom invited me and we surprised my friend with the tickets on opening night. i'm so excited like OH MY GOD???? 

otherwise i have like nothing to say??

hope you enjoyed! see you back with chapter 14