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

❛  WILLINGLY KIDNAPPED ❜

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THEY WERE BEING FOLLOWED.

THROUGH THE tiny, barred window Aurora watched as three cars sped to catch up with her prison van. Two swerved around the van, cutting it off from the front while one stayed behind the van. Aurora was jolted against the van a moment later.

      She had some hope that it was Mike, but the rest of her body told her there was no way it was him.

      "Are you transporting an Aurora Briar?" A woman spoke as she stepped up to the van, a moment later she spoke again. "Perfect, I'll take her off your hands."

      The clicking of heels echoed around the van, as the driver opened the door and stepped out. Aurora had mere moments to figure out a plan. Light flooded into the back of the van, and Aurora threw herself at the person standing in front of her. She jumped from the car, only making it a few steps before she was grabbed at the waist. Aurora wouldn't go down with a fight, so she managed to throw herself elbow back, nailing someone in the nose and when another hand grabbed at her wrist she threw herself foot back.

      Someone stepping out of the car in front of her made her stop fighting. People rushed her, grabbing her arms and holding them out at her sides. Someone else stood behind her just in case, but Auroras focus was on the man stepping out of the car.

      "I've been very excited to see you again, Aurora." The man spoke, stepping closer.

      Aurora narrowed her eyes at him. "Really? You?"

      The man clicked his tongue, "I think you should be a little more greatfull for the rescue I just pulled for you Aurora. Maybe start with thank you?"

"Thank you?" Aurora laughed harshly, her arms being yanked father behind her as Owen's stepped closer to them. "Thank you for what exactly? Killing my parents? Almost killing my friends? Aiding and abetting my current abduction? What would you like my thanks to be addressed to?"

Owen's clicked his tongue, "a thank you for saving you from going to jail, would work. But, would you be up for some coffee? I don't like standing in the heat for too long, not good for my bones."

He nodded to the people behind, and Aurora was being forced to move a second later. She tried to drag her feet, sticking them into the ground but exhaustion consumed her soul, and she allowed herself to fall into its waiting arms.

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      UNFORTUNATELY, IT WASNT A DREAM AND Aurora woke up trapped between two bodyguards in the backseat of Dr. Owen's vehicle. True to his word, when Aurora woke up he drove them to a diner and brought her inside. Alone.

Of course, his bodyguards surrounded the outside of the diner, but they were alone inside. And that's when Aurora allowed herself to start scheming and escape.

"Now, I'd just like to apologize once more for all the theatrics out there," Owen's began once he had received his coffee and placed his food order. And as much as Aurora hadn't wanted to accept anything from him, she hadn't eaten in over a day, and if she was going to escape, she needed to be full. "But you did get yourself into quite the predicament, didn't you? You know, as a child I would've never expected you to be arrested."

"Well, you never really knew me, did you?" Aurora snapped back. Leaning farther back in her chair, as she eyed the condensation on the edge of her water glass.

"I did walk into that one," Owen's chuckled. "I helped the Byers move to Lenora, and when you and your aunt followed, I thought it was perfect. Safe town, small and dull, and the best part was it was far away from Hawkins. But you did prove me wrong."

Aurora rolled her eyes. She hadn't known this man before the incident at the lab, but he spoke as if they were long time friends. Maybe she had known him, but like her parents she had no memory of him.

"I saw the photos, and whew, I did not believe it was you who did that Aurora." Owen's ignored her silence, stopping when their waitress walked over to them again.

"Your food should be out shortly! Anything I can get you right now?" Her name was Denise, and Aurora already knew that she didn't want to be there and was making plans to leave her shift early. They were her last table for the night, so Denise would be no help in aiding her escape.

"I'll take another coffee, please! And anything for you kiddo?"

Aurora blinked at him slowly, a memory flashing across her thoughts so quickly. One of her father saying just that: "And what would you like, kiddo? I love you, kiddo."

"I'm not your kid," Aurora snapped. "So don't call me kiddo. And I'm fine." Denise didn't mention her snap, instead just walking away from their table with a smile. She most likely hadn't even heard Aurora.

"Alright," Owen's nodded. "Whatever you say, ki—Aurora."

She rolled her eyes again, tucking her chopped hair behind her ear. "So, am I in trouble? Or did you just kidnap me for fun?"

Owen chuckled loudly again, "oh please, you're in no trouble Aurora, and you're not being kidnapped. You were released into our custody. That attack, it will be wiped from your record, no worries."

"So then why are you here?" Aurora questioned.

Owen's sighed, "It's not. I really wish that was all, but it's really not Aurora."

He couldn't continue, as Denise showed back up with their plates of food. Setting them down with a smile as well as the check before walking away. Owen's stopped talking to begin eating, so Aurora did the same. They ate in silence for upwards of ten minutes before Auroea couldn't stomach any more. Owen's calmly stirred his coffee, as if he had all the time in the world.

Why he was here was a question bouncing through her thoughts, but she wasn't going to sit there and wait for Owen's to decide what happened next. What she was told. She kept her expression neutral, Owens wasn't stupid. The first sign she was thinking of escaping he'd have her back in that car on the way to the middle of nowhere.

      She pushed back from the table, stretching lazily. "Bathroom," she muttered.

      Owens only nodded, as if he was expecting it. She walked past him, his eyes following her every move. She didn't react, didn't speed up. The second she was inside the tiny restroom, she locked the door and turned to the window.

      It was small, but she could fit.

      Heart pounding, she climbed onto the sink, pressing her palms against the wood frame. It was stiff, warped from years of moisture, but she shoved harder, and with a groan, it slid open. Cold air rushed in.

      She swung her legs up, twisting her body through the opening—crack.

      Her shoe slipped against the sink, knocking the faucet loose. The sound echoed in the tiny space, too loud. Shit.

      With no time to think of another plan, Aurora pulled herself the rest of the way through and dropped onto the pavement outside, her knees stinging from the impact. She forced herself forward, sprinting toward the alley behind the building. If she could just get around the corner—

      She didn't make it.

      Dr. Owens stepped into her path, his expression unreadable.

      Aurora skidded to a stop, chest heaving. "Move," she snapped.

      Owens sighed. "I knew you'd try this. Your mother was the exact same way. She died that way to."

      Her hands curled into fists. The words hit where he intended them to, but she wasn't like her mother in that regard. She could still run, still fight—

      Then he said it: "Hawkins is in danger."

     "You're lying," she said, though the uncertainty in her voice betrayed her. "Whatever's happening, it's your problem. Not mine."

Owens studied her, his sharp eyes reading her too easily. Then, he took a slow step forward.

"You might not care about Hawkins," he said evenly. "But I know you care about Mike. Your other friends, what were their names? Oh right, Lucas, Max, Dustin, Steve and Robin. Even Erica."

Her stomach twisted.

Her fingers twitched at her sides. "Mike is fine. He's here with Eleven and Jonathan and Will. The others know how to fight this."

"For now," Owens said. "But if we don't stop this, he won't be. None of them will."

Aurora's jaw tightened, but she stayed quiet.

Owens took another step forward. "Eleven is the only way to stop this."

Aurora's breath caught for just a second. She forced her expression to remain blank. "Then why did you grab me instead of her? If she's who you really need."

"I can't." His voice was grim. "She's with Will, Jonathan, and Mike. They won't let her out of their sight. And even if they did, we can't risk drawing attention."

Aurora's stomach dropped as she realized where this was going. "No." She shook her head. "Absolutely not."

"Aurora," Owens said, tone firm but not unkind. "I need you to get her away from them—without being seen."

She scoffed. "You want me to kidnap her?"

"I want you to save her," Owens corrected. "To save all of them."

Aurora turned away, staring down the empty street beyond the alley. She could still run. She could still disappear. But her mind kept circling back to one thing—

If Mike went home, he would be endanger. Her friends were already in dangers. If something was coming, something worse than before, he would be right in the middle of it.

And if she walked away now—if she ignored this—what happened to him would be on her.

Her hands curled into fists. Finally, after a long, heavy silence, she turned back to Owens.

Her voice was quiet but steady. "Tell me what I have to do."

He did just that, as she was loaded into his car, her bodyguards closer than they had been. Owen's explained what was happening in Hawkins, the deaths and how they were connected. They didn't know what it was, but given the events in the past few years, it was safe to assume it was from the Upside Down.

      The hum of the engine filled the tense silence that followed Owen's explanation, but Aurora barely heard it over the pounding in her chest. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, arms crossed, her fingers digging into her sleeves as she stared out the window. Streetlights flickered past, casting fleeting shadows over her face, but she wasn't paying attention to where they were going.

      Her mind was spinning too fast for that.

      She wasn't just sneaking Eleven away from the Byers' house. She was sneaking Eleven away from Mike. Her boyfriend.

      The thought made her stomach churn.

      If she went through with this—if she did what Owens was asking—what would Mike think? He seems to have a different opinion on her already? Would this push him over the edge?

      She exhaled sharply, shifting her gaze toward Owens. He was focused on the road, his expression unreadable. Calm, like always.

      "So what exactly am I supposed to say to her?" Aurora finally asked. "And how exactly is she supposed to believe that I was just let go? After they all literally watched the prison van that I was in drive away?"

      Owens didn't even glance at her. "You know her. You'll find a way."

      Aurora let out a humorless laugh. "Right. Because convincing someone how watched you get taken away by cops everything is alright and I just want to go for a walk with her? You know this sounds insane right? What about Mike? My boyfriend?"

      Owens sighed, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "This isn't about Mike, Aurora."

      She turned toward him sharply. "Maybe not to you. But it is to me."

      Owens finally looked at her then, his face serious but not unkind. "I understand this is difficult, but you agreed because you know what's at stake. Hawkins. The world." He let the words settle before adding, "And Mike. If this isn't stopped, he's in danger too."

      Aurora swallowed hard, turning back to the window. That was the part she couldn't ignore.

      She had been ready to run earlier. Ready to disappear. But the second Owens had mentioned Mike, everything had changed. Because she could live with Mike hating her. But she couldn't live with losing him.

      She closed her eyes briefly, steadying herself. "Where are you taking her?" She asked.

      Owens hesitated. "That's not your concern."

      Aurora clenched her fists. "It is if I'm the one bringing her to you."

      "I'll tell you when we're in the clear," he said simply. "Right now, focus on getting her outside. The rest is on me."

      Aurora exhaled slowly. She hated this. Every part of it. But she didn't have a choice.

      The car slowed, turning onto her street. They parked a few houses away from the Byers' home—far enough to avoid suspicion, close enough for her to walk. Owens put it in park and looked at her.

      "No one can see you," he reminded her. "Not Mike. Not Will. Not Jonathan." His voice softened slightly. "The cleaner this is, the safer they'll all be."

      Aurora swallowed past the lump in her throat.

      She didn't answer. She just opened the door and stepped out into the cool night air.

      The house where Eleven was staying wasn't far. Her boyfriend was inside.

Aurora moved through the darkened street, keeping close to the shadows as she approached the Byers' house. Every step felt heavier than the last. She had pulled off a lot of reckless things before—sneaking out, lying to her aunt about where she was, talking her way out of trouble—but this? This wasn't just reckless. This was betrayal.

Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs as she slipped around the side of the house. A faint glow came from one of the upstairs windows—Eleven's room.

For a long moment, she just stood there, staring up at it. This was the moment. She could still do what Owens asked. She could knock, tell El whatever story she needed to, and lead her away without a trace. Mike wouldn't know. Will wouldn't know. Jonathan wouldn't know.

It would be clean.

It would be safe.

It would also be a lie.

Aurora took a slow breath, then reached up and tapped lightly on the glass. There was a pause, then a shift of movement behind the curtain. A few seconds later, Eleven's face appeared, her expression cautious at first—until she recognized who was standing there.

The window creaked open. "Aurora?"

"Hey," Aurora whispered. "Can you let me in?"

Eleven hesitated for only a second before stepping back. Aurora hoisted herself up onto the ledge and slid inside, landing quietly on the floor. The room was small, the air slightly warm from the California night. A few books were stacked by the bed, and El's shoes were neatly lined up near the door. It was so normal. So quiet.

"What are you doing here?" Eleven asked, her voice soft but confused. "I thought you were arrested? That's what they told me."

      Aurora let out a slow breath. "I was arrested. For breaking Angela's nose. They were sending me to prison, when Dr. Owen's took me into his custody."

      Eleven studied her carefully, eyes flicking over her face like she could already sense something was wrong. "Dr. Owen's? What does he want with you?"

      Aurora's throat tightened. Just say it.

      She sat down on the edge of the bed, glancing at the door to make sure no one was listening. Then she turned back to Eleven and did the one thing Owens hadn't expected her to do.

      She told the truth. "Because..." She hesitated, but the pleading look from Eleven had the words tumbling out. "Because I'm the one who's supposed to help. Owens—he found me because Hawkins is in danger. But not just Hawkins. It's bigger than that. You're the key to stopping it, El."

      Eleven's confusion deepened, and she shook her head slightly. "I don't understand. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here. I promised Mike, I promised all of them."

      Aurora felt a pang in her chest at the mention of Mike. The way El spoke about him was like a reminder of what she was about to risk—everything.

      "I know. I know, and I'm not going to force you to do anything, but..." Aurora hesitated, searching for the right words. "Owens said if we don't stop this now—if we don't get you out of here—it could be too late. He didn't say exactly how, but he said we had to act fast."

      El leaned forward slightly, still clearly processing. "But why me? Why do you need me?"

      Aurora looked down at her hands, unsure if she was even ready to explain it fully. "I don't know all the details. But I think...it's the MindFlayer. We've both fought it before, and we won, but you're the only one who can really stop whatever's coming. I don't know how, but it's back. Mike and the others, they could be in danger."

      The words hung in the air between them, charged with the weight of everything that had been left unsaid. Aurora had never felt more torn in her life. She couldn't tell El what Owens had really meant—the part about how dangerous things could get. She didn't want to scare her.

      But she couldn't ignore the truth.

      "I didn't come here to hurt anyone," Aurora said quietly. "I didn't come to take you away from them. But if we don't do something, we could lose everything. Everyone. I don't want to do that again."

      Eleven was silent for a long moment. The dim light from the lamp in the corner cast shadows over her face, making her look older than her years as she processed the gravity of what Aurora had said.

      Finally, El spoke, her voice low but steady. "And Mike? What about him? Does he know you're here?"

      Aurora's heart clenched. "Mike...he doesn't know. And if I do this, he might never forgive me." Her voice faltered. "But I can't just sit back and do nothing. Not when he could be in danger too."

      Eleven sat quietly for a moment, looking away as if trying to sort through everything Aurora had just dumped on her. "What if he's not okay with it?" She asked softly. "What if he doesn't understand why you're doing this?"

      Aurora shook her head, unsure of how to answer. "I don't know. I really don't. But we don't have time to figure it out."

      The weight of the situation settled over both of them. El's gaze softened slightly as she looked back at Aurora.

      "I trust you," El said quietly. "But I still don't understand why Owens is involved. Why can't we just stay here? Why do you have to be the one to take me?"

      Aurora took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Because, El, Owens can't go to you. Not without raising questions. Not without risking everything. You're the one who can help. You're the one who's connected to all of this."

      El hesitated, glancing at the door, then back at Aurora. Her expression softened, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. "Okay," she said quietly. "I'll go with you."

      Aurora nodded, feeling both a sense of relief and dread wash over her. "Thank you."

      But even as she said the words, she knew that this decision would cost her. It would cost her trust. It would cost her the chance to be with Mike without fear of the consequences.

      Still, she couldn't back out now. For Mike's sake. For everyone's sake.

      This was the only way.

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( LET ME SPEAK : )

okay so we're finally moving on the actual plot
and i'm BACKKKKK. i'm so hype for this now
bc we're getting to the interesting stuff. i don't think
brenner gonna be in the next chap but probs the one
after!!!

credit goes to fivehxrgreeves