(      darkest before dawn      /      act three    )
episode eight   |   stranger things

❛  MADE IT OUT ALIVE  ❜

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     AURORA WHEEZED, TRYING TO fill her lungs with air. Her chest burned as she slowly pushed her arms behind her, trying to sit up. The pain in her skull was blinding, and Aurora screamed as someone reached for her arm.

"Shit," an almost familiar voice shouted, "Rory, god it me. It's Max."

"Where...where are we?" Aurora mumbled, flexing her fingers in front of her eyes as they slowly came into focus.

"How much do you remember?"

Aurora glanced at Max, wincing at the blood that caked her hairline and the cut that fell across her cheek. "Me and Dustin and Erica were looking for...Steve and Robin. Why?"

Max glanced to the side, and Aurora found Mike watching her intently, "shit."

Mike stood up, and Aurora followed suit, stumbling over her legs to look at the blood on his head, "what happened?"

"Um, look," Aurora glanced back over to Max, "Eleven is in danger and we need your help. Okay, the Mind Flayer is here and—" Loud explosions sounded overhead, and Max looked around wildly for a moment, "we've got to go!"

Her memories and ideas were slowly coming back to her, Eleven, the Mind Flayer, Billy. "Let's go."

      Mike held her hand tightly, leading the two girls through the yellow-lit halls. The turns seemed unfamiliar to Aurora but Max assured her they had come this way. Mike wasn't running but the two girls almost had to with the length of his strides. The loud booms sounded overhead, growing in volume as they headed back towards the center of the mall.

      Mike turned left and the three found themselves in front of a final door. Mike turned back to them, "this leds up back to the Gap, we get El, and we get out."

      "El and out," Aurora repeated softly, as Mike nodded and shoved the doors open and chaos surrounded them.

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      FAUNA HAD THOUGHT THE boys plan wasn't going to work. Fireworks? It sounded insane, but almost everything that had occurred leading up to that moment sounded insane, and Fauna had to block out her negative thoughts.

      She handed another lighter to Lucas before glancing at the scene below them. The creature—the Mind Flayer—as Lucas had called it, screeched, the blob growling as the fireworks hit it. Eleven was still lying on the ground unmoving as an older boy stood over her. Fauna dismissed herself, running around the top level before heading down through an employee entrance and making it to the main level. She was almost right in front of the creature, Eleven and the boy.

      The lights flashed above her, and she faintly heard Lucas shout something about running out. Fauna didn't stop to think, she didn't stop to think about the calculations of how to win, she just ran. She was the youngest of her sisters, and was the one that voiced her options of them doing martial arts. While Mary and Flora only did a few classes, Fauna stayed and made it to a Black belt.

      It wasn't hard to throw a punch towards the boys face, disorienting him enough for her to send a kick to his chest that pushed him back, away from Eleven. Fauna then turned, "RUN!"

      It took three seconds to turn, scream and turn back. By then, Billy Hargrove was on top of her, throwing punch after punch towards the woman. Fauna only had enough energy to cover her face. He kicked her legs out as she collapsed to the ground, the air knocked out of her as an enormous amount of strength overcame him. He grabbed her legs, and began pulling her towards the creature. Fauna never stopped kicking as she fought against his hold.

      Billy threw her towards the creature as Aurora screamed. The blonde girl ran forward, ignoring the pain that filled her body. She watched as a tentacle shot forward from the creature, and grabbed her aunts body. She watched at her Aunt Fauna convulsed, her mouth open in a silent scream before another tentacle covered her face. Aurora ran forward running towards Billy and Eleven, the boy hadn't even given her aunt another thought as he reached for Eleven who had managed to get only a few feet away. Billy climbed on top of her.

      The world around her became background noise as Mike pulled her back, worried for her safety. Aurora fought against him, kicking and screaming as she watched her aunt disappear into the creatures mouth. The fireworks died out as the world came into focus again. Pain ricochet through her body as Mikes hold dropped, but Aurora didn't run. She couldn't run.

      She just watched as Billy stood above Eleven, blocking her from the same tentacle that had just killed her aunt moments before. He stopped it with his hands, screaming at Eleven to move. Aurora watched as more tentacles attacked Billy, blood leaking from the wounds as Aurora finally found her footing, running forward as she dug into the pit of her power, searching for the bottom. When she found it, she forced all her power out, finding place in the Mind Flayer. Though, it only stumbled for a moment, its motions slowing as it growled before dropping to the ground. Dead.

      Aurora crumbled to her knees where she stood, watching the creature as it stopped moving. Tears fell from her eyes as she begged for her aunt to come back, to walk out of her hiding spot and say she was alive. Glancing to the side, she watched at Max sobbed for her brother, his body lifeless on the floor. Aurora swallowed her pain as she crawled to Max, holding the girl as she cried for the loss of her brother.

      Mike pulled her away, as Eleven took her place. Only when she was in the comfort of Mikes arms did she allow herself to cry. And once she had begun, she couldn't stop. She didn't move, didn't allow her eyes to move from the spot she had last seen her aunt until first responders and police ran into the mall, helping everyone out. Aurora wouldn't let go of Mike, holding onto him so tightly, as if he would disappear just like her Aunt had done.

When she was pulled away from him, Aunt screamed until they allowed him back at her side. She wouldn't let go of his hand as she was placed into the back of an ambulance, and her wounds were looked over. "A minor concussion, she might not remember everything about tonight. Lots of cuts, and bruising is going to happen, make sure she cleans them every night. Any pain and head to the ER just to make sure it's nothing series." Mike listened as the EMT spoke to him, Aurora staring off into the Mall, waiting for her aunts to walk out—but she knew only one would.

When Mary found them, she wouldn't let go of Aurora. Running a hand through her hair as she sobbed over the loss of one of her parents. Mike stayed next to her, holding her hand as Mary had to walk away to get checked out as well. That's when Aurora and Mike both noticed Mrs. Byers walking towards them. She watched as Will ran to hug his mom, Aurora jumping up to find Flora as Eleven did the same to find her father.

Only, she wouldn't find her aunt. Nor would Eleven find her father.

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three months later . . .

AURORA NEVER THOUGHT SHE would've ever moved out of Hawkins. She had grown up in that small town of Indiana; every friend, every teacher, every memory Aurora ever had was in Hawkins.

      Flora and Fauna were in Hawkins.

      Aurora stood at her window, watching as their realtor hammered into the SOLD sign into their lawn. After...Starcourt, Mary had decided it was time to leave Hawkins behind. To make new memories somewhere else. Somewhere where when the two girls looked at something they weren't constantly reminded of the loss of their aunts and sisters.

      "Aurora," a knock sounded at her door, and the girl glanced around to see her Aunt Mary standing there. There was always some part of her that hoped she would turn around and Flora and Fauna would be standing there. "Rory."

      She jumped slightly, "oh, um yeah?"

      Mary sighed softly, "it's ten to noon, I thought you were meeting everyone at Wills five minutes ago."

      Aurora jumped from her place and scrambled to put her shoes on, "shit right!"

      "Aurora," Mary's tone was full of warning.

      Aurora nodded, "I know, I know. Watch the language." She kissed Mary's cheek, before heading out of her room.

      "Be home by six! We've got an early drive tomorrow!" Mary shouted after the girl, watching as she ran through the woods she had grown up in. "And—"

      "Mike can come over, but he's got to leave by eleven! Got it!" Aurora shouted back, still running from the house. She didn't hear a response, but Aurora kept running.

      She had gotten in the habit of running everywhere, even selling her bike at the yard sale a month ago. Mary was hesitant to let it go, but Aurora insisted that they couldn't bring it to California. Besides, running let her be free of her problems for at least a few minutes.

      Making it to Wills house, Aurora was hardly out of breath. Aurora hugged the older woman who pressed a kiss to her head before sending her inside where she knew everyone was. The party finishing packing up the rest of the house. After everything, Mrs. Byers had adopted Eleven and decided to follow in the Briar family's footsteps and move to California, even finding neighboring houses that felt just like Hawkins.

      Inside, Lucas and Max were singing a song to Dustin, a smirk coming both of their lips as Max paused. "Did we get that first verse right? It's 'unfold behind the clouds'?"

      Dustin sighed, "yeah, but you're butchering it so could you please stop."

      "So then join in," Lucas blew a kiss towards the boy, "Dusty-bun."

      Max and Lucas kept poking fun at the boy, as Aurora walked past the living room, running into Will. She smiled at the boy, hugging him tightly as she silently grabbed some of the books from his hands. She followed him into the kitchen, where she watched him drop them into the donation box, Aurora wasn't going to comment, but someone else chose to.

"Dude, that's the donation box," Mike pointed out, grabbing the books from Auroras hands as he kissed her softly.

"I know, I'll just use yours when I come back," Will added.

Aurora gasped dramatically, "but Will! We were going to create our own party in California and forget all about everyone else!"

Will laughed, shoving at her shoulder softly before walking out. Aurora didn't follow him as she turned to Mike, his hands already falling to her waist as he held her.

"Do you really have to go?"

She smiled up at him, "well our house is already sold, so we would have to live on the street."

Mike kissed her again, "you could live with me."

Aurora laughed, pushing at the boys chest, "you're funny. My aunt would never go for it."

Mike sighed dramatically, pressing another kiss to her lips as a pillow slammed against Auroras head. She pulled away to watch as Eleven laughed from the hallway. Aurora laughed, and ran towards the girl, pulling her into a hug.

"We're all going outside," Eleven added, a teddy bear clutched in her hands.

Aurora and Mike nodded, their fingers interlocked as they headed out to the front lawn. Their bikes were littered in the front lawn like they always did. But something was missing. It was the homey feeling that Mrs. Byers home always felt like. Mike and Aurora immediately joined in on the hugs, this was her goodbye too. And Aurora didn't know when she was going to see any of them again. The Byers Family and Eleven—they would be neighbors—but Mike, Dustin, Max and Lucas? Aurora didn't know when she would see them again.

      When the last of the group gave their goodbye, the five kids didn't leave until the cars were long gone from their view. Aurora and Mike rode away from the house for the final time, the two finding themselves in Auroras room just lying on her bed. The home was empty, her bed stripped as most of her stuff was already on the way to California.

      They never moved from their spot, watching as the sunset across the wall and the moonlight shone through her window. And when it was time for Mike to leave, Aurora led the boy out of the house and stood on the porch. She fiddled with Mikes fingers and as refused to look at his face.

"Rory," Mike asked, watching her carefully as he lifted her chin up to look him in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

      "What if...we never see each other again?"

      Mike sighed, grabbing her hands tightly, "nothing could keep me from you."

      "Are you sure? Because I mean, we're going to be states away! What if, there's a new girl and you think she's cute and then we never see each other again and then..."

      Mike quieted her by pressing a kiss to her lips, "Aurora. I promise, I will only ever look at you like this. Because I am in love with you, Aurora Rose Briar. Why would you even think that."

      "I've never had someone like I've had you, and I guess I got scared. But if you do find someone else..."

      "I will write you letters every day until I see you again. I will dream every night about kissing you again. Aurora, you are never not on my mind, and I will think about you every day until I see you again. I"—Mike pressed a kiss to her right cheek—"love"—another kiss to her left cheek—"you." He finished with a kiss to her lips.

      "I love you too Mike."

      He kissed her one last time before walking away from her, never turning his back to her until he climbed onto his bike and rode away from the girl. Taking a piece of her heart with her. 

      The front door creaked, and Aurora didn't have to turn around to know it was her aunt. Mary wrapped an arm around her nieces shoulder, pressing a kiss to her head.

      "I miss them."

      "You're going to see them next summer, and Mike probably within a month or so."

      Aurora shook her head, "No, I miss Flora and Fauna."

      Mary swallowed, "I miss them too. But they're forever with us."

      "I just feel like, nothing good is ever going to happen to us."

      Mary pressed another kiss to her head, "they say it's always darkest before dawn, and I feel like this is the darkest it can get."

      "Yeah, I guess you're right," Aurora nodded. Watching the sky above them, the stars blinking softly, as if they were watching her just as she was watching them.

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(      LET ME SPEAK    :      )

ACT THREE IS DONE!!!! my baby went through
it i swear...but she's here. she "made it out alive"
hehe ALSO this chap is 10000000000% decidated
to that's so true by gracie abrams!

act four divider should be out soon, but it might be
like a couple weeks or so before the first official
chapter is out!

credit goes to fivehxrgreeves