Chapter Four: The Body

chapter seven , You...are danger

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Gus keeps her eyes on the painted alphabets across the wall. After seeing Will's body, Gus was out of it and Hopper had no way of snapping her out of it. He managed to convince Gus to go with him to the Byers household to tell Joyce and Jonathan about Will.

The brunette looks to the side and sees Jonathan holding in his sobs. He was trying to stay strong and Gus could see that. Gus inhales a shaky breath and walks over to him.

"Hey..."

Jonathan hesitantly looks at the brunette. Gus rolls her lips into her mouth, to keep them from shaking. She wraps her arms around his neck. Jonathan freezes for a moment, and suddenly a wrack of sobs leaves his lips. He wraps his arms around her waist. Gus' eyes blur with tears as she listens to Jonathan cry even harder than before.

Gus thinks back to the day her dad died and what she was told when she was crying.

"It's okay...let it out."

"It's not Will."

Jonathan lifts his head from Gus' neck and looks at his mom. He pulls away from the brunette. Gus turns toward Joyce as well.

"Joyce--"

"No, you don't understand." Joyce shakes her head. "I talked to him...a half hour ago."

Joyce walks over to the cabinet and opens it, revealing more Christmas lights. "He was here and he was...he was talking with these." she carries the lights over to Hopper.

"Talking?"

Joyce nods, "One blink for yes, two for no." she drops the lights.

"And then I made this so he could talk to me." Joyce points to the letters painted across her wall.

Gus shifts her eyes from the wall to Joyce.

"Cause he was hiding...from that...from that thing." Joyce stammers.

"The thing that came out of the wall?" Hopper questions. "The thing that chased you?"

"Yeah--"

"Mom, come on, please." Jonathan walks over to his mom, the exhaustion evident across his face.

"No, maybe he's--"

"You've gotta stop this--"

"It's after him!" Joyce cries.

A large lump forms in Gus' throat.

"He's in danger. We have to find him! We--"

"What exactly was this thing?" Hopper asks. "It was some kind of animal, you said?"

"Uh, no, it was...it was almost human, but it wasn't." Joyce exhales a sharp breath, trying to find the right words to describe the creature. "It...it had these long arms and...it didn't have a face."

A chill shoots down Gus' spine and her back straightens. She pulls her brows together from the shaky feeling in her body. She recognized that feeling as fear. But, what would she have to be afraid of?

"It didn't have a face?" Hopper questions, he looks at Gus. They both shared the same worried expression for Joyce.

Jonathan walks away from his mom and quickly goes to his room.

Hopper sits Joyce down. "Joyce, listen to me..." he crouches in front of her.

"After Sara...I saw her, too."

Gus keeps her arms crossed over her chest.

"And I heard her. I didn't know what was real." Hopper continues, even though it brought him so much pain. "And then I figured out that it was in my mind. And I had to pack all that away. Otherwise, I was gonna fall down a hole...that I couldn't get out of."

"No, you're...you're talking about grief." Joyce whispers. "This is different."

"I'm just saying that you--"

"No, I know what you're saying, Hop." Joyce's voice starts to shake. Gus wipes her nose and looks at the ground.

"I swear to you, I know what I saw. And I'm not crazy."

Hopper shakes his head, "I'm not saying that you're crazy--"

"No, but you are. Joyce sniffles. "And I understand, but...God, I...I need you to believe me. Please."

"Listen...I think you should go to the morgue tomorrow and see him for yourself." Hopper advises. "It'll give you the answers that you need."

"But tongith...I want you to try and get some sleep, if you can." Hopper says.

Hopper stands up and walks out of the house with Gus behind him. They both get into the truck in silence. Gus chews on the inside of her cheek.

"That was...really nice of you." Gus says. "Helping Joyce by talking about..." she trails off her sentence and looks down at her hands.

"Sara."

Gus nods her head, "Yeah."

Hopper's guilt slowly becomes more present. "I shouldn't have yelled at you." he sighs and places his head against the steering wheel.

"I shouldn't have pushed." Gus shrugs a shoulder.

Hopper shakes his head, "No, you were just trying to help. You were reaching out for a relationship and I shut you down. Just like before...and before that."

"It's a common thing, Hop. I get it..." Gus quips.

Hopper lets out a soft laugh and Gus looks at him with a small smile.

"Is it okay if I drop you off at home?" Hopper asks.

"Yeah, but...where are you going?" Gus questions.

"I'm going to come back here. Just in case they need anything, I'll be here." Hopper says. "And if you don't feel like going to school tomorrow, I understand."

Gus sinks in her seat, "I feel like I definitely am passed the amount of days I am able to miss--"

"I'll tell them this was a family emergency." Hopper says. "Because this is a family emergency."

Gus eyes fill with tears again, realizing something. Will was her family. All those kids were and the fact it took her this long to realize it made her feel like shit.

☆

The entire building shakes and the lights flicker. Debris from the ceiling falls onto the doctor's shoes and he sighs. "She's upset."

"I wonder what it's about this time..."

"Sir."

Dr. Brenner turns toward one of the scientists. "Why is she still around?"

He pulls his brows together. "Out of every subject we have. Five is the strongest."

"She's also the most unhinged." The scientist states. "She can't control her powers. We can't even control her."

"Well, I can."

"Subject Eleven is becoming stronger and more in sync with her powers. Soon enough, there's a possibility she could take out our problem for us--"

"I know you're not suggesting having Eleven kill Five?" Dr. Brenner scoffs.

"Five is a liability. She's a failed subject and we should find someone else--"

"No. It's not up for discussion." Dr. Brenner points at the scientist. "And never breathe a word of this conversation to anyone. Especially Five."

Without another word, Dr. Brenner walks out of the room and heads down the hall. The shaking continues and he quickens his pace. He knew that everyone else had the same mindset when it came to getting rid of Five. But how could Dr. Brenner kill the person who had the possibility to destroy the entire world? Why would he let that power go to waste?

He enters the room and is greeted with two bodies on the ground, with blood spilling from them. Dr. Brenner's stomach violently turns. His eyes travel across the sunken faces of the guards, then he looks at the brunette he was sitting innocently in the chair.

"Now, what happened this time?" Dr. Brenner asks.

"They wanted to cut my hair." Five states. "I said no."

"And after that?"

Five keeps her cold eyes on Dr. Brenner. "They still tried to cut it."

"What did you--"

"I turned their bones into dust." Five smiles softly. "And I meant to do it this time. Aren't you proud of me?"

Dr. Brenner swallows nervously, but he forces a smile. "Of course, I am, Five." he holds his arms out.

Five's face lights up, and she hops out of the chair and wraps her arms around his waist.

A knock is heard at the door, and Gus snaps out of her dream. She looks down at her ice cream that was now melted and sighs. Ice cream in the morning wasn't an ideal breakfast, but no one was around right now to tell Gus 'no'.

Suddenly, the knocks at the door become more Aggressive and Gus quickly gets out of her seat. The knocks never let up and Gus cautiously walks over to the door. She grabs the wooden baseball bat, leaning against the wall, and holds it up.

She grabs unlocks the door and quickly opens it. Gus then pulls her brows together, seeing Dustin in front of her. A small breath leaves her lips and she sets the bat down.

"I could've killed you." Gus seethes.

A sputter leaves Dustin's mouth. "Oh, please! You could never kill me."

Gus rolls her eyes, she places a hand on her hip and leans against the doorframe. "What are you doing here, Henderson?"

"Mike wants us to meet at his house," Dustin says.

"What? After what we just saw?" Gus shakes her head. "You guys should just let the police deal with this and Eleven."

"Gus, I know you're not the biggest fan of El, but...she's trying."

"Yeah, trying to kill us." Gus scoffs. "Will is dead and we should stop making a game out of this."

"Listen, I know that this is a lot to ask," Dustin says. "And if you don't like what Mike tells us then you can tell The Chief."

"But until then, can you trust us?"

Gus inhales a breath and looks at the ceiling. "I think I have too much trust in you guys."

Dustin smiles, "Okay, let's go!"

Gus and Dustin made it to Mike's house and Lucas was already there. Mike told them that he heard Will's voice on the radio. And Gus' migraine was becoming even more present.

Eleven starts to click to different channels on the radio and a small whimpering noise was heard on it.

"We keep losing the signal, but you heard it, right?" Mike looks at Lucas, Dustin, and Gus.

"Yeah, I heard a baby," Gus says.

"What?"

"You obviously tapped into a baby monitor," Lucas adds. "It's probably the Blackburns next door."

"Uh, did that sound like a baby to you?" Mike deadpans. "That was Will!"

"Mike..."

"You guys don't understand. He spoke last night." Mike exclaims. "Words! He was singing that weird song he loves."

"It's not a weird song." Gus shrugs. "I think it's pretty good."

"Even El heard him!" Mike adds.

Gus rolls her eyes, "So, we're still trusting her?"

"Yeah, I mean...can we really trust what the weirdo says--"

"Are you sure you're on the right channel?" Dustin asks.

"I don't think it's about that," Mike claims. "I think, somehow, she's channeling him."

"Like Professor X." Dustin says.

"Yeah."

"Are you actually believing this crap?" Lucas questions.

"I don't know, I mean...do you remember when Will fell off his bike and broke his finger?" Dustin asks. "He sounded like that."

Gus lets out a breath and pushes herself off the wall. "Okay, I am going home." she turns to walk away.

"Gus, wait!"

The brunette stops and turns back toward the kids. "Guys, we all saw Will get pulled out of the water." a lump forms in her throat. "He's dead. I'm sorry."

"Well, maybe it's his ghost," Dustin suggests. "Maybe he's haunting us."

"It's not his ghost," Mike states.

"So, how do you know that?" Lucas questions.

"I just do!"

"Then what was in that water?" Gus crosses her arms over her stomach.

"I don't know!" Mike raises his voice. "All I know is Will is alive. Will is alive."

"He's out there somewhere. All we have to do is find him." Mike says.

"Why are you saying that like it's so easy?" Gus pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.

"This isn't gonna work." Mike sighs, looking at the walkie Eleven was playing with. "We need to get El to a stronger radio."

"Mr. Clarke's Heathkit Ham Shack."

"The Heathkit's at school." Lucas states. "There is no way we're gonna get the weirdo in there without anyone noticing. I mean...look at her."

Everyone turns to Eleven and she stares back at them cluelessly.

"Gus, can you help us?" Mike asks.

The brunette looks to the side with a soft scoff. She taps her fingers against her arm. Her eyes shift to Eleven, "She doesn't bite, does she?"

"Would that stop you from helping us?" Mike asks.

"Yes."

Mike shrugs, "Then no, she doesn't bite."

Gus squints her eyes. "Whatever, I have nothing else going on today." she points at Eleven. "Come on, let's rummage through his sister's makeup. And we can learn how to use it."

Gus walks up the stairs without looking back. Eleven looks at Mike and he looks back at her. "It's okay to follow her."

Eleven nods her head and she heads up the stairs.

As soon as they both got into the room, the two girl's sat in silence. Gus opens the makeup and scrunched her nose. "Okay, you're gonna have to bare with me." she exhales a sharp breath. "I only wear eyeliner and mascara."

Gus looks at Eleven, hoping for a smile, but all she saw was that familiar glare. Gus opens up the blush and frowns. She then arches a brow, "You know, I'm all for the glaring and silent treatment thing." she shrugs. "I'm great at that, but all I'm saying is I am 100% positive we are going to be seeing each other a lot more and we might just have to set our differences aside."

"No."

Gus looks at the bald girl with an incredulous expression. "Holy shit, you are unbelievable." she shakes her head. "I don't even know you, kid and you tried to kill me." she goes to spread the blush across Eleven's cheeks, but the girl grips Gus' wrist in a tight manner. Gus' eyes widen and she looks back into Eleven's.

"You..." Eleven starts. "...are danger."

Gus' hand starts to shake as Eleven's grip tightens around her wrist. "Let go." the brunette seethes.

Eleven tilts her head and fear settles into Gus' body.

Suddenly, flashes of images go through Gus' mind.

The lab.

Blood.

Electrical shocks shooting through her body.

Screams and cries of someone wanting the pain to stop.

Gus' ears start to ring and the room starts to shake. Eleven's coldness falters and she looks around the room. Gus rips her wrist from Eleven's grip and hisses in pain.

"Yeah, you can paint your own face, psycho." Gus quickly walks out of the room, her heart still ramming against her ribcage. Her knees buckle and she leans against the wall. Gus inhales a shaky breath as her headache becomes more apparent. Gus' right-hand twitches and the familiar electroshock type of feeling is shot through her arm and washes through her entire body.

"Gus, why are you sitting here?"

The brunette looks at Mike and his eyes widen. "Why are you crying? Is everything okay?"

Gus pulls her brows together and touches her eyes. She didn't even notice that she started to cry. Gus didn't even know why she started freaking out.

"Everything's fine. Eleven and I just don't mesh." Gus stands up. "I'll meet you guys at the school."

Gus stands up and walks down the stairs. The brunette felt an indescribable amount of guilt in her when she saw the anger in Eleven's eyes. Gus wanted to go back upstairs and ask Eleven everything she knew and why she hated her so much. But Gus knew that the answer would hurt to hear and she couldn't listen to it right now.

☆

"My daughter's a good girl--"

"Mom..." Fallon places a hand on her forehead.

"I don't know what this is about, but--"

"Barbara Holland."

Cynthia stops talking and Fallon pulls her brows together.

"B-Barbara? Is everything okay?"

"She hasn't been seen since that party." Callahan states.

"Party? What party?"

Fallon scrunched her nose. "Um..." she looks at the Officers and then looks out the window.

"Fallon Lee-Anne Price."

Fallon's heart drops into her stomach and a lump forms in her throat. Her mom was a very strict person. She always wants things a certain way. Her way. She wants Fallon's friends to be popular and perfect. She wants Fallon's grades to be great and perfect. She wants Fallon to go to a perfect school. Cynthia just wants Fallon to be perfect. And Fallon wanted to be perfect for her parents.

"Mom, do you remember when I said that Nancy, Barbara, and I were going to Will's Vigil?"

Cynthia squints her eyes, and Fallon turns to her mom with a guilt-ridden expression.

"The Vigil wasn't a Vigil. It was actually...a party." Fallon exhales. "I'm so sorry, I should've told--"

"So, Barbara is missing?" Cynthia looks back at the cops.

Fallon's eyes burn with tears and she looks to the side.

"Yes. We already talked to Nancy and we just wanted to get your daughter's side of the story." Powell states.

Fallon wipes her nose. "Well, Barbara said she wanted to go home early. And I said I would go with her, make sure she's not alone..." she slowly shakes her head. "...but she said she would be fine and told me to have fun. So, I went upstairs with Tommy and Carol."

Fallon inhales a deep breath and glances at her mom.

"So, you went to the room with Tommy and Carol and..."

"...and we talked," Fallon says.

"That's it?"

Fallon chuckles, "Yeah. What else would we be doing?" she sinks into her chair. "Then, I went over to Gus' place, and then I went home."

"And Barbara didn't try to contact you?"

Fallon shakes her head, "No, sir."

Powell and Callahan look at each other.

"If Barbara does ever try and call you. Let us know, okay?"

Fallon smiles softly and nods her head, "Yes, sir."

Cynthia stands up and walks out of the cafeteria. Fallon sighs, she stands up and follows after her mom.

"Mom," Fallon calls out.

Cynthia makes her way toward the school doors and opens them. Fallon lets out a groan from the pain in her feet from her Heels.

"Mom, wait!" Fallon follows her mom out of the school.

Cynthia stops at the car and turns to her daughter. Fallon quickly stops in her tracks.

"I'm sorry." Fallon huffs.

"I don't want you hanging out with Gus anymore."

Fallon cranes her neck forward, "Gus wasn't even at the party--"

"Maybe not, but she has had an influence on the decisions you have been making." Cynthia folds her arms.

Fallon shakes her head, "No, that's not--"

"You are not like her."

Fallon squints her eyes, "If you're talking about her living with the Chief, I am aware--"

"Are you?" Cynthia then squints her eyes. "Gus has been vandalizing and getting arrested for years. And she gets off easy. Because she lives with Hopper. But if you were in her position...it would be a whole other story."

Fallon's eyes start to well. "I know that." she nods her head. "And I know that you and dad have risked a lot for me to get so many amazing opportunities. But--"

"No, buts."

Fallon closes her mouth and shifts her eyes to the ground.

"You can't be reckless. Not like Gus, all right?" Cynthia huffs softly.

Fallon shrugs, "I understand." she nods, looking back at her mom. "And Gus and I aren't even friends anymore, so...problem solved."

Cynthia lightly touches Fallon's straightened hair, "Oh, baby." she pulls Fallon into a warm hug.

Fallon hugs her mom back, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"It's for the best."

☆

Gus was eating a bag of licorice when she got the call on her Walkie to come to the school. They were done with the assembly and Gus rode her bike to the school. As soon as she got there, the brunette hopped off her bike and entered the school. She quickly navigates through the halls and makes it to Mr. Clarke's office. The brunette opens the door and sees the four kids at the desk.

"Is it working?" Gus asks.

Before Mike could answer the radio, it started to make a whirring noise. Everyone looks at the radio.

"She's doing it," Mike says. "She's finding him."

"This is crazy..." Dustin speaks.

Lucas scoffs, "Calm down. She just closed her eyes."

The light in the office explodes, and the room becomes dark. Gus flinches and she presses her back against the wall.

"Holy--"

A thumping is heard over the radio, causing the kids to lean forward. Gus pulls her brows together and walks over to the desk. "What is that?"

The banging becomes louder than before and a small whimper is heard.

"Mom?"

Gus' heart drops into her stomach and her eyes widen. "Holy shit..."

"No way," Lucas whispers.

"Mom...please."

Mike presses the button on the Mike. "Will!"

"Will, it's us! Are you there?"

"Can you hear us?"

"We're here!"

"Hello? Mom?" Will cries.

"Why can't he hear us?" Lucas asks.

"I don't know!"

"Mom-Mom it's coming!"

Gus' breathing quickens from the panic in Will's voice.

"It's like home, but it's so dark...it's so dark and empty." Will cries. "And it's cold!"

A chill shoots down Gus' spine and she covers her mouth.

"Mom? Mom!"

"Mom, please!--"

The fuse box to the radio blows out. Sparks fly and a fire erupts on the desk. "Oh, shit!"

Gus runs over to the fire extinguisher, she grabs it and turns toward the desk. "Get away from the desk!" she orders.

The kids jump from the brunette's strict tone. But they comply. Gus gets scary when she's protective.

The brunette puts out the fire. Gus exhales a sharp breath. Her eyes shift to the girl in the blonde wig. "Is she okay?"

Mike looks at Eleven and turns her towards him. "El, you okay?"

"She's drained." Gus huffs. "We have to get her out of here."

"How did you know that?"

Gus looks at Dustin and pulls her brows together. "I...don't know," she answers.

The alarms start to ring. "Lucas, help me get her up."

Lucas and Mike try and get El onto her feet, but struggle. Gus' chest tightens and she becomes alert, "I've got it." she walks over to the kids. Gus hooks an arm under Eleven's knees while her other arm supports her neck, picking up the girl.

"Get the door," Gus says.

Dustin runs over to the door and pulls it open. Gus looks down at Eleven and sees the black veins under her eyes. "Okay, you're going to be okay."

Gus then lets out a soft chuckle, "Told you we were going to be seeing each other a lot more."

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