( darkest before dawn / act two )
❛ HEARTBREAKING BETRAYALS ❜
episode eight & nine | stranger things

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      AURORA DIDNT HAVE TO help declutter the shed because of her leg, so she got to sit inside with Will, and made sure that he was okay. When he would twitch, Aurora would grab his hand and send a small wave of power into his body and he would fall back asleep.

      Aurora had to do that a few times, over the course of the hour it spent the group to get the shed ready. And then Jonathan came and grabbed the boy. Aurora only got to go to wake him up — which she didn't know if it would work, because she had never tried to reverse her powers.

      Mike was at her side as she let a small tear fall as Jonathan tied his little brother to a chair. The lights turned on, illuminating Wills pale skin. He was still dressed in his hospital gown.

      "Are you ready?" Mrs. Byers questioned Aurora.

      "Woah," Hopper placed his hands out, "what do you mean by that?"

      "Aurora is going to wake him up," Mike grinned.

      "And how?"

      "With her powers." Dustin grinned.

      "Okay..." Hopper scoffed at the absurdity of the kids words, "fine, Mike, Aurora you can stay, and wake him up. The rest of you out."

      Auroras hands shook as she slowly knelt down and placed a hand on Wills arm. She tried to remember everything that her aunts taught her about walking someone up.

      "All you have to do," Aunt Fauna told the girl as Aurora knelt in front of a sleeping Flora, "is feel for the power in the persons body. Find the section of their mind that your power had taken root in and reach for it. Pull it from the body and take it back to yours."

      Auroras grip tightened, as she felt her mind search through for her power. After a few seconds, she couldn't find the roots. She pushed herself harder, before she slipped and fell to the ground. Mike reached for her, pulling her up before she could hurt herself even more.

      "I'm sorry," Aurora spoke, "I don't think I can wake him up."

      Hopper scoffed, "okay, out. I'll do it my way."

      Mike nodded, and helped Aurora out of the shed. Mrs. Byers placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as they passed her. When they got to the house, Aurora pushed Mike away and sat down on the couch.

      Mike sighed, but knew that the girl needed to be left alone for a while. So, he walked over to his sister, who was leaning against a wall in the dark house.

      Nancy pulled the boy into a tight hug when she saw him, "I'm glad you're safe."

      Mike didn't say anything until the girl let him go, "um, thanks? I guess. Look, I need some advice."

      "With Aurora?" Nancy smiled at Mikes confused look. "Come on, you think I don't know?"

      "Okay," Mike sighed and glanced at Aurora once more to make sure she wasn't listing. "I want her to open up to me, but it just seems like she's mad at the world, and I'm scared that if I say the wrong thing, I'll lose her. "

      Nancy cut the boy off with a laugh, "Mike, you can't filter what you say because you're afraid. What's going on?"

      "You know about Rory's superpower," Nancy nodded, "well her aunts have been teaching her about it, and she's been learning on how to wake people from her powers, and just when they're asleep. So, Mrs. Byers asked her for help to wake up Will, and she couldn't. And now I feel like I messed up because I let her do that when I knew she wasn't at full strength and—"

      "No Mike," Nancy placed her hands on the boys shoulders, "You stood by Auroras side when she wanted to help, and you were there for her when it didn't work out. Aurora is just stressed out, and probably wondering why she couldn't be better than she is. All you need to do is show her that she is perfect how she is, no matter if she can't help or she can."

      Mike nodded, before the lights began to flicker on and off. The kids inside the house rushed — while Aurora limped — over to window facing the shed. All of them watched in worry before the lights stopped flashing around them.

      "I have to go out there," Mike stated as he ran outside, Aurora just watched the boy as he did. The door swung shut, and the group watched as he got to the door, Hopper swung it open from the inside.

      Before anyone could blink, everyone was back inside the house, and Hopper was grabbing paper and a pen. Aurora limped towards them, the painkillers had finally hit her system and the blinding pain in her leg was dulled to just a small throbbing.

      "What happened?" Aurora asked, and Hopper gave her a once over with a frown.

      "You shouldn't not be walking around right now, young lady."

      Aurora scoffed, "yeah? What are you gonna do about it, old man?"

      Hopper huffed out a short breath, and Aurora could swear she could hear him counting to ten under his breath, before he turned his attention to the paper.

      "I think he's talking," the man started as the others surrounded the table, "just not with words." They glanced down at the paper, finding a bunch of dots and lines that Hopper had wrote.

      "What's that?" Steve questioned.

      Everyone answered together, "Morse code."

      "H-E-R-E," Hopper spelled out.

      "Here?" The boys spoke in sync.

      Hopper dropped the pen, "Wills still in there. He's talking to us, just not with words."

      Jonathan rushed out of the room, grabbing a beatbox and a cassette tape.

      "Wait," Aurora spoke and followed Hopper outside, "I want to talk to him, please." He sighed before nodded and helping the girl to the shed. This time, Hopper had a walkie-talkie that he would press to the pattern that Will tapped. Inside, the party would be decoding the Morse Code.

      Jonathan went first, and then Mike, and then it was Aurora's turn.

      When she sat down, Will didn't even look like he recognized her. "Do you remember when we first met? I think it was the end of first grade, and you had run away from home. I found you out by the quarry and the first words you ever said to me were asking I was a princess. I jokingly told you yes, and you said that you wanted to be a princess too, just so that someone would come and save you. So that you would be important to someone.

      "I remember that day, because it was my mom's birthday. I was really sad, because I missed a person I never knew. And then, you told me that it was your birthday and you were sad because your dad had forgotten about it. I told you that you can't be sad on your birthday because it was against the law. And then, I grabbed you by the hand and we walked to an ice cream shop in town and I bought you a birthday ice cream.

      "I remember that day because that was the day that I met you. That was the day that I met my best friend in the entire world. So please Will, please come—"

      A phone rang from inside the house, and Will glanced around with wide eyes, finally realizing where he was. Hopper let out a string of curse, as Mrs. Byers bent down to her son.

      "Hey, hey, Will can you hear me?"

      His eyes moved under closed eyelids as Mike helped Aurora stand up. He wiped a soft tear from under her eye, as Aurora smiled at him.

      Hopper leaned down, closer to Wills face, "It knows. It knows where we are."

      Mrs. Byers rushed to grab a sedative, and injected it into Wills arm before the two adults quickly untied the now unconscious Will. Hopper hoisted the boy up, as Mike and Aurora rushed out of the shed. It was quiet for a second before the two of them heard screeching in the distance.

      "Oh no," Aurora whispered as she limped into the house, Mike at her side and the others not far behind. As soon as they were inside, they crouched to look out the window.

      "Hey, hey!" Hopper shouted, "get away from the windows!" Glancing behind them, they saw that he had two guns in his hand. Hopper pushed the kids from the back window, before turning the Jonathan, "do you know how to use this?"

      "What?" Jonathan was breathless.

      "Can you use this?" Hopper questioned slowly.

      Jonathan stuttered as Nancy stepped forward, "I can." Hopper didn't hesitate to toss the gun into her hands. Nancy checked that there was ammunition, before turning the safety off, and pulling it up to her eye.

      "Thats hot," Dustin whispered causing Aurora to grin as she stood behind Hopper. Mike was at her side.

      "How come you never told me your mom's birthday was the same as Will?" He whispered as the screeching got louder, he was trying to distract her.

      "I didn't think that it was necessary," Aurora shrugged, "besides, I have a new person to celebrate on that day. It's not that big of a deal."

      Mike sighed, and made eye contact with Nancy who gave him a slight nod, before readying herself.

      "Okay," Mike agreed, "I'm sorry."

      Aurora grinned and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, before turned her attention away from him and back towards the window. The monsters got louder and louder as the room fell silent with anticipation.

      Everyone jumped as a monster screeched right next to the door, "What are they doing?" Nancy questioned, not expecting an answer.

      They watched as the bushes in front of the window moved, shaking with each growl that sounded from outside. They jumped again as another loud growl sounded from their left. Then, the monster almost...groaned before screeching softer, as if it was in pain. And then the screeching stopped abruptly.

      Everyone stood still, waiting in anticipation for something to happen. Mike pushed Aurora behind him right before the window broke and a demo-dog was thrown through the glass. Everyone screamed, jumping away as Hopper readied himself to shoot at the animal.

      Except, the demo-dog was dead.

      The group crept closer, no one wanting to break the silence, before Dustin spoke up, "holy shit."

      "Is it dead?" Max questioned.

      Hopper kicked his foot out, softly touching the neck of the creature as he moved it to the side. His gun was still raised, but with how close he was Aurora didn't think he would do much damage.

      Everyone jumped, turning around as the steps outside creaked with someone's weight. Everyone that had a weapon raised it, ready to fire at the first sign of danger. The locks seemed to move with a mind of their own, each of them falling from the latch with precise movements. Then the door swung open.

      It seemed like everything happened in slow motion. Eleven stepped through the threshold, blood dripping from her nose with black eyeliner swooping under her eyes. Aurora inhaled sharply, her eyes welling with tears as she realized that that was Eleven. It wasn't a dream, Eleven was alive and she was there. Standing in Wills living room.

      "Eleven?" Aurora mumbled, as she stepped around Hopper and Mike.

      "Aurora," Aurora fell into a tight hug, El gasping for air as she squeezed the girl. She couldn't believe that she was real, but she was. Eleven was right here, in her arms.

      She didn't say anything, but she felt a tear fall onto her shoulder, but Aurora was crying too. Eleven was taller, and Aurora was now the shortest in the group — again. Her all black outfit didn't fit her complexion, but she had longer hair now.

      Aurora didn't really care about what Eleven looked like, all she cared about was that her best friend was here again. Her sister was here.

      "How — how are you here?" Aurora whispered, before Eleven pulled away from the hug. "We all thought you" — she swallowed harshly — "died."

      Aurora stepped away, and Mike pulled Eleven into a hug next. It was shorter than the one El had given her, but Mike didn't seem to mind.

      "I never gave up on you," he whispered, "I called you every day for—"

      "Three hundred and fifty-three days." Eleven whispered. "I heard."

      "Why didn't you tell me you were there?" Mike quipped, "that you were okay?"

      "Because," Hopper started, "I wouldn't let her." Hopper whispered something to Eleven before pulling her into a hug.

      Aurora felt like time froze. Hopper. Hopper, the man that sat with her when she cried her eyes out in his office for days because she couldn't find her best friend. Hopper, the man that promised he would tell her any leads that he had on Eleven. Hopper, the man that told her to give up because Eleven was most likely dead — when in fact she was hiding away because of him.

      "What?" Aurora whispered.

      "You've been hiding her." Mike stated.

      "Look, kid." Hopper started, placing a hand on Auroras shoulder.

      Aurora shoved his hand off her harshly, "no. You lied. I went to you for a year, asking for help to find her! And you knew exactly where she was all along!" She was yelling, and for the first time ever, she didn't care if she hurt his feelings.

      "Let's talk," Hopper spoke, trying to grab Auroras arm along with Mikes. "Alone."

      "No," Aurora spoke, tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she stepped out of the way of Hopper, "I have nothing more to say to you." She almost walked away, but with her back turned she said one last thing, "you know, Hopper. I looked up to you like you were my dad. Guess you're more like him than I thought."

      She stormed out of the room, and turned into the first open door she could find. Closing herself into the bathroom, Aurora felt herself in the beginning of a panic attack. The bathroom felt claustrophobic, the lights were too harsh, the hum of the ventilation system, which usually faded into the background, now seemed deafening. It began with a flutter in her stomach, escalating into palpitations that felt like a frantic bird trapped within her chest. Each breath became a battle, inhales shallow, exhales desperate gasps for air. Her hands, trembling, gripped the cold ceramic sink for grounding.

      Time seemed to distort, each second stretching into an eternity. The world outside the bathroom door ceased to exist, replaced by a storm of panic. It felt as though the walls were closing in, ready to swallow her whole.

      She couldn't remember why she was panicking, and that seemed to spiral her even more. She tugged at the roots of her hair and she collapsed to the floor of the bathroom. She tapped her foot slowly, trying to calm her breathing. She tried to follow the tapping, but she couldn't keep her foot consistent.

      "Shit, shit, shit," she heaved, her vision being filled with black dots as her breath came in short pants.

      The door swung open, almost slamming against her body before someone stopped it. Then the door clicked shut, and Aurora felt a body next to hers. A hand grabbed at hers, pulling them softly from her hair, before her right hand was being wrapping around a wrist. She could feel the flutter of a heartbeat underneath her fingers. And she finally began to ground herself, counting the soft heart beats.

      When her vision returned to normal and her breathing had slowly begun to regulate, Aurora glanced up. Finding Max crumpled to the ground next to her. She looked almost worried as Aurora sat up.

      "Thank you," her voice was raspy and low.

      "No problem," Max laughed awkwardly, "my — my dad, he used to help me. I would get panic attacks pretty often, finally got on some bullshit meds that actually help." It was silent for a moment. Then Max stood up, "I always thought my dad would be there for me, and then one day he wasn't. The chief was definitely in the wrong, Rory, but at some point you have to realize that some times, people do things because they love you. Now, I'm not saying accept his apology right away," Max helped Aurora to her feet, "I'm saying that you should hear him out first."

      "So," Aurora looked at Max questioningly, "I should hear him out, not accept his apology at first and then, accept it?"

      "I'm saying," Max sighed, "do what you feel like you need too. I would personally give him hell for it before accepting the apology, but you do you, princess."

      Noticing her stiff posture and awkward tone, Aurora grinned, "I guess, you're off my list now."

      Max tossed an arm over Auroras shoulder, "oh thank god. You had me worried there for a second."

      Aurora was smiling when she and Max left the bathroom, "I won't tell anyone. About your dad, but thank you for trusting me enough to tell me."

      Max just grinned even wider, and the two girls walked out into the living room. Eleven was standing awkwardly in the middle of a hug between Lucas and Dustin. The two girls approached the trio.

      "Eleven?" Max spoke up, "Hey, um, I'm Max." She held her hand out, "I've heard a lot about you." Eleven said nothing as she pushed past Max's arm and walked away from them. Max sighed in disappointment.

      Mrs. Byers hugged the girl next, and Aurora bumped Max's shoulder, teasingly. The four kids began to talk — well, it was mostly three against one as Max, Lucas and Dustin teased Aurora about Mike — as Eleven and Joyce walked out of Wills room.

      Aurora turned away from the conversation with red cheeks, and approached Mrs. Byers and Eleven as they talked about the gate. Eleven had a determined look in her eyes as she nodded.

      Aurora stayed to the back of the room when Hopper entered, he had an apologetic look in his eyes as he glanced at the blonde before turning back to what Mrs. Byers was saying. Though, every few moment Hoppers eyes would find the small blonde.

      "It's not like it was before," Hopper shook his head at Elevens idea, "it's grown. A lot. And, I mean, that's considering we can get in there. That place is crawling with those dogs."

      "Demo-dogs." Dustin corrected from his place at the 'kids table' as Hopper had deemed it.

      "I'm sorry, what?" The chief scoffed.

      "I said, uh, demo-dogs." Dustin grinned, "like demogorgan and dogs, you put them together, it sounds pretty badass—"

      Aurora cleared her throat, "I can clear a way to the gate."

      "Um, yeah no." Hopper rolled his eyes.

      "What!" Aurora slammed her hands on the table in frustration, "I can help!"

      "How? By putting them to sleep?"

      "Exactly." Aurora stated, rolling her eyes.

      "No," Hopper scoffed. "Anyone got any other ideas that don't threaten the life of a child."

      "Please," Aurora scoffed, "now you're all about children safety? I bet you'll let Eleven go."

      Hopper narrowed his eyes at the girl, and opened his mouth to speak again, but Eleven cut him off, "I can do it."

      "You are not hearing me, I will not endanger children's lives." Hopper scoffed.

      "I'm hearing you," Eleven nodded, "I can do it."

      "Even if El can, theres still another problem." Mike agreed, "if the brain dies, the body dies."

      "I thought that was the whole point?" Max questioned.

      "It is," Mike agreed with the redhead for once, "but if we're really right about this. I mean if El closes the gate and kills the mind flayers army..."

      "Will is apart of that army." Aurora finished the boys statement.

      "Closing the gate will kill him." Mike finished.

      Everyone followed Mrs. Byers out of the room, as she rushed into Wills room. Aurora shivered slightly at the frigid temperature.

      "He likes it cold," Mrs. Byers mumbled, glancing at the open window. "It's what Will kept saying to me. He likes it cold." Mrs. Byers rushed to close the window before turning a gesturing to her sons body, "we keep giving it what it wants."

      "If this is a virus," Nancy started, "and Wills the host, then..."

      "Then we need to make the host uninhabitable." Jonathan finished the girls statement.

      "So if he likes it cold," Nancy spoke.

      "We need to burn it out of him," Mrs. Byers voice wobbled slightly as she spoke.

      "We have to do it somewhere he doesn't know this time." Mike added.

      "Yeah," Dustin agreed, "somewhere far away."

      "I know a place." Hopper concluded, and reached for Will, he wrapped the boy in a blanket before hoisting him onto his shoulder.

      Mike and Aurora led the group out of Wills room, they veered off to the right, and stayed in the living room as Hopper, Mrs. Byers and Jonathan headed outside.

      "Do you think this will work?" Aurora questioned as she peaked out the window. Her leg was now throbbing in pain, as the medication began to wear off.

      "I hope so." Mike nodded, holding the girls hand in a gentle gesture as they watched the car drive off.

      The rest of them piled out of the house once the car was gone. Aurora walked past Eleven and right up to Hopper, "I'm coming."

      Hopper barked out a laugh, "nice joke, no."

      "I'm not joking," Aurora scoffed, "Eleven can't burn herself out by just getting into the lab. If I'm there, I can put the demo-dogs to sleep. I've been working on projecting and I can clear us a way in the gate."

      Hopper dropped to one knee, "Let me tell you this one last time, Aurora. The answer is no. You couldn't even wake up Will, and you think you can do this?"

      "The answer is yes." Eleven spoke up from behind them. Mike and the rest of the party all standing together, "I need her. She comes or we both don't go."

      "What the fuck," Hopper threw his hands up, "fine." Aurora grinned and turned towards the kids behind Eleven. "Three minutes or I leave without you." The man shouted before climbing into his car.

      Aurora sent the rest of the party reassuring smiles as they walked back into Wills house, Mike was the only one who stayed behind.

      "I can't lose you again," Michael Wheeler had tears in his eyes as he whispered to the girl, "please, Rory. You can't go. I don't want to lose you for real."

      Aurora smiles softly, placing a hand to his cheek, "you won't lose me, Wheeler. You're stuck with me, for all eternity. I promise."

      They kissed again, this time slower and with more passion, it seemed like both of them were pouring all of their unspoken words into the kiss. Aurora felt like her heart was going to explode as her hand laced itself in Mikes hair. His hands fell to her waist as he kissed her.

      "You better come back," Mike breathed as he pulled away. Pressing their foreheads against each other, they smiled. "We still have a Snow Ball to go to."

      Auroras smile widened as she stepped away from the boy, walking down the steps to Hoppers car. "I don't even think you asked me?"

      Mike grinned breathlessly as he watched Aurora step into the car. He hoped that it wouldn't be the last time he saw her, because man did he want to kiss her again.

      Aurora leaned against the window, ignoring Hopper as he commented about a few things to the girl. She watched as Mike faded into the background, and she hoped that she could do it, because, damn did she want to kiss him again.

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( LET ME SPEAK : )

the hopper angst>>
the kiss>>
mike and aurora>>
aurora def has daddy and apparently
mommy issues too... but it this was one
of the longest chapters i've every written,
and I hope you did enjoy it, because
we've got one chapter left!

credit goes to fivehxrgreeves