Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat

chapter eight , Compass Theory

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"Fear not, for I am with you."

Gus lightly pulls the end of her black dress down.

"Be not dismayed, for am I your God."

The brunette heard Will's voice and she knew he was alive. But it still wasn't easy being at a funeral for her friend.

"I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

As the Priest continues to speak, Dustin nudges the brunette's leg. Gus quietly grunts. She looks at the kid and he motions to the little girl crying. Gus pulls her brows together and shrugs. "It's Jeniffer Hayes."

Gus cranes her neck forward, "Who?"

"One of the most popular and beautiful girls at school." Dustin huffs. "Just wait till we tell Will that Jennifer Hayes was crying at his funeral."

Gus rolls her eyes, "I don't think Will has a thing for her..."

"What'd you say?" Dustin asks.

"Huh?" Gus blinks. "Oh--nothing, nothing..." she rolls her lips into her mouth.

After the funeral, everyone went to the reception. Gus was supposed to be going with Hopper, but he never came back last night. She figured he was out with some girl.

"No!"

"Gus, please," Mike begs. "She's all alone."

"And you want me--the person she almost killed to watch after her?" Gus cranes her neck forward. She looks at each kid.

"Hey, don't look at me." Lucas holds his hands up. "I think we should all go to the reception."

"See--I agree." Gus nods.

"Gus, our parents are here. So, they won't let us leave." Mike states.

"Yeah, and you have no one," Dustin adds.

Gus' jaw clenches and she swallows.

Mike and Lucas hit Dustin's arms and he whines. "Ow!"

Dustin looks at Gus, "No offense, Gus."

Gus lets out a breath, "Fine...I'll go and watch her. But once you guys come back, tell me everything Mr. Clarke tells you."

The kids nod their heads and thank the girl. She rolls her eyes and leaves the house.

Gus rides her bike back to the Wheeler's house. She got to Mike's house and sighed. "I'm breaking and entering..." she shakes her head. "For a kid who tried to kill me."

Gus grabs one of the bobby pins out of her hair and kneels down. She looks around the area before sticking the bobby pin into the lock. Gus sticks her tongue out of the corner of her mouth and she quietly mumbles.

A click is heard in the door and she twists the doorknob. The brunette opens the door and chuckles softly. "I am so fucking cool..." she shakes her head.

Gus stands up and walks into the house. She closes the front door and locks it. "She's just a child...nothing to be afraid of," the brunette whispers softly. "...just watch after her. You don't need to talk."

Gus walks down the basement stairs. She gets to the basement floor and looks at the girl laying on the couch. As soon as Eleven's eyes landed on Gus, she quickly sits up with urgency. Gus presses her lips into a slight frown.

"Hi."

Eleven stays silent and Gus rolls her lips into her mouth. "Uh, Mike wanted me to watch after you...just in case you needed something."

Eleven looks at the brunette's dress. Gus looks down at the black dress she was wearing and raises her brows. "Yeah, I was at the funeral. But the boys thought that I would be the least noticeable if I were to...disappear."

Gus forces out a chuckle, "I'm sure they didn't mean it in a harsh way. But..." she inhales. "...anyway, I'll just sit here, and if you need anything tell me."

Gus sits on the floor with her back against the wall. She looks down at her hands. The brunette clicks her tongue and quietly hums.

Eleven looks at Gus.

"Quiet."

Gus looks at the girl and rolls her eyes. "Do you know what rude means?" she tilts her head. "Because that's what you are."

"And you...are butt."

Gus' eyes widen, "I am not butt!"

Eleven nods her head, "Always have been."

The brunette raises her brows and stands up. "So, you do remember me from somewhere?"

Eleven keeps her eyes forward, not answering.

"Look..." Gus sighs, cautiously approaching the girl. "...not answering is going to get us nowhere."

Gus sits next to the girl and Eleven sighs.

"I remember...everything about you." Eleven looks at the teenager.

Gus pulls her brows together and slowly shakes her head. "I don't...I don't remember."

Eleven tilts her head, "Mind."

"I-I'm sorry?" Gus pulls her brows together.

"Your mind." Eleven points at Gus' temple. "You need to open it."

Gus nods her head, "Can you...do that. Help me remember?"

The girl was cautious of the brunette. But she wanted Gus to remember what happened in the Lab. Eleven wanted Gus to remember what she did to her.

Eleven nods her head.

"Close your eyes." Eleven orders.

Gus closes her eyes and inhales. Eleven places her fingers against Gus' temple and closes her eyes. A small ringing starts in Gus' ears while a small pain starts in her head. Gus quietly groans, from the pain increasing. It was almost like the base of her skull was ripping open.

The basement starts to shake and Eleven pulls her brows together.

"Calm," Eleven says in a firm tone. "Focus."

"I can't--"

"Try."

Gus inhales a deep breath and holds it. The pain at the base of her skull increases, almost like they were in sync; Eleven and Gus start to bleed at the nose.

The darkness behind Gus' eyes slowly starts to shine with white light and the ringing in her ears drowns everything else out.

Suddenly, everything became quiet and everything went still.

Then like a semi-truck was hitting her, Gus was slammed with too many images for her to comprehend. But then she realized that they weren't images.

They were memories.

Memories of her.

Any nightmare or dream she had of the mysterious little girl in the lab, it became so clear that each of those dreams belonged to her.

A low creak is heard at the door, and the light bleeds into the dark cell. Gus looks away from the corner and turns to Dr. Brenner.

"I can see her now?"

Dr. Brenner smiles softly and nods his head.

The brunette stands up and walks over to Dr. Brenner. She takes his hand and tenses.

"Are you okay, Papa?"

Dr. Brenner looks down at the girl as they walk down the hell. "Of course, Little One."

Gus keeps her eyes on him, suspicion rising in her. "Why have I never got to see her?"

Dr. Brenner chuckles, "You've seen Eleven before. Remember when she was a baby--"

"Yeah, a baby." Gus lets out a breath. "It's been six years. Why am I seeing her now? After all this time?"

Dr. Brenner was afraid that Number Five would kill Eleven out of jealousy if they ever met again. So, he had to wait until Eleven's powers were strong and controlled. But if he ever revealed that to Five, he knew she could bring this whole building down with one scream.

"Because I know last time didn't go so great." Dr. Brenner sighs. "This time I wanted it to be perfect and it will be."

Gus looks down the hall, her jaw clenching. "Right."

Dr. Brenner and Gus turn a corner. The brunette looks around, "This is where the training rooms are located."

"That is correct, Five."

Dr. Brenner stands in front of one of the doors.

"You love her more than me, don't you?"

Dr. Brenner looks at the brunette. "Enter the room. We'll be in the next one watching."

Gus presses her lips together, and her anger grows as Dr. Brenner walks away from her. She goes to reach for the door knob.

"Oh, and Number Five."

Gus stops and turns to Dr. Brenner.

"Don't hurt her."

The brunette pulls her brows together. "What? But, then how am I supposed to show you--"

"This is to test her strength." Dr. Brenner states.

Gus shakes her head, "But what about me--"

"Do not hurt her, Five."

Gus slams her jaw shut. She looks at the ground and nods her head. "Yes, papa."

Dr. Brenner walks away and Gus lets out a quiet huff of frustration. She enters the room and stops in her tracks, seeing the girl who was younger than her standing on the other side of the room. Gus closes the door behind her. Her eyes shift to the tattoo on the girl's wrist.

011

The speaker in the room clicks.

"Today, the two of you will be testing your abilities."

Gus raises her brows. Usually, everyone else is around. Why was this so different?

"Against each other."

Gus slightly tilts her chin up.

"This is just simple training. Nothing too extreme."

Dr. Brenner shifts his eyes to the brunette.

Gus keeps her strong glare on Eleven. The young girl nervously shifts from one foot to another.

"You may begin."

Eleven holds her hand out, sending Gus a few feet back. The brunette keeps her feet planted, but her back hits the wall.

'Do not hurt her, Five.'

Gus takes a step forward and holds her hand out. Eleven lowers her head and Gus pulls her brows together, from her arm forcefully turning.

'Do not hurt her, Five.'

Gus lets out a painfilled gasp when her arm is pinned to the side. A much stronger force pins her to the wall and Gus cries out in pain.

Gus' breathing heavies and she closes her eyes, trying to control her emotions. A part of Gus wanted to make Dr. Brenner proud. She wanted to listen to his orders and let Eleven win. But the other part of her knew that if Gus let Eleven win, then that would solidify Dr. Brenner's fondness for Eleven. He would choose Eleven over Gus.

And Gus wasn't going to let that happen.

Number Five inhales a deep breath and looks over at the one way mirror, knowing Dr. Brenner was on the other side.

Dr. Brenner's blow quickly becomes cold when he sees the devious smirk twitch onto her lips.

"NUMBER FIVE, DON'T--"

The room quickly begins to shake and the ceiling starts to crack. Eleven's power on Gus falters and she stumbles to the side, dropping Gus to the ground.

Gus falls to the ground, she presses her hands against the concrete floor. She keeps her palms against the floor, causing the ground to crack. Gus ignores the blood leaving her nose, she raises a hand toward Eleven; but the door swings open.

"Number Five, stop!"

Gus looks over at Dr. Brenner and pulls her brows together. "WHY DO YOU LOVE HER SO MUCH?!"

She then shakes her head, "What is so special about you?!"

Gus looks back at Eleven. Eleven's eyes widen and Five tilts her head. A small huff leaves her lips and she holds her hand out toward the younger girl. A force leaves Gus' hand and hits Eleven's arm, snapping it.

Eleven falls to the ground and a cry leaves her lips. The girl starts to sob while Five arches a brow.

"Really?" Gus huffs. "That's it?!"

"Number Five, I will not ask again--"

"You told me that I should've been afraid of the people who wanted to take me away from you!" Gus snaps her teary eyes over to Dr. Brenner. "But you were wrong...I shouldn't have been worried about everyone else. I should've been worried about you."

"Five, you are dangerous. Do you understand me?"

Gus pulls her face back, "Y-You said that I'm a hero--"

"No! You're not!" Dr. Brenner snaps. "I'm sorry, Five but you--"

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?!" Gus' breathing quickens. Her hand starts to shake. "You promised me you wouldn't abandon me."

"You're a liar."

Gus looks back at the girl, who was hovering her a hand over her broken arm. The brunette's jaw clenches and she holds a hand out toward the girl once again.

Eleven's throat immediately closes up and tears find her eyes. She claws at her throat, struggling to breath. Tears were in Eleven's eyes and she was fading quickly. Dr. Brenner looks over at Gus, noticing her hand start to shake.

"Number Five. You are the one I want to show to the world."

Gus shakes her head. "You're lying."

"I would never lie to you." Dr. Brenner touches his chest. "I swear to you. It's going to be, me and you. Until the end."

Gus inhales a shaky breath, trying to stop her cries.

"Just...let Eleven go and we can go back to our tests." Dr. Brenner chuckles. "We can forget this ever happened."

"Forget?" Gus looks at him.

Dr. Brenner nods, "Yes, Little One."

Gus cracks a small smile. She drops her hand to the her side and the debris on the wall stops falling. The ground quickly stops cracking. Gus looks at her shaky hand, realizing what she has done. She looks at Eleven, who was crying on the ground.

"I-I'm sorry--"

Gus feels a collar clasp around her neck and her eyes widen. "NO!" she screams, the entire building begins shaking more violently than before.

Dr. Brenner grabs the remote from his pocket and Gus quickly turns to him. "DON'T DO THIS, PLEASE--"

Gus' body fills with electricity, she tenses and collapses to the ground. Her body starts to convulse and her veins start to protrude from her neck. Tears roll down her eyes and she tilts her head back and screams.

Dr. Brenner turns up the watts on the collar, causing the pain to overwhelm Gus. Her eyes roll to the back of her head and her body goes limp. The building stops shaking and Dr. Brenner regains his footing. He turns to Eleven and runs over to her.

"Number Eleven!"

The girl coughs aggressively, her hand massaging her throat. Eleven starts to cry and Dr. Brenner wraps his arms around her. He touches the back of her head and silently shushes her.

Eleven's blood red eyes travel around the room that was so close to collapsing. Her eyes land on the brunette laying still on the ground. Eleven inhales a shaky sob.

"She's...danger."

Gus lets out a gasp and her eyes fly open. She looks around the room, her breathing quick. The brunette catches sight of the scar of her snake bite on her ankle. She always thought that was just a birth mark.

Now, Gus understood why she had so many mysterious scars. All of her nightmares she's been having were real. Her dad allowed her to be taken to be tested. Dr. Brenner feared Gus' abilities so much that he ruled her as a miscalculation and a monster. So, instead of killing her he forced her to forget.

Gus really wishes Dr. Brenner just killed her.

Her eyes meet Eleven and she notices the girl's nose was bleeding.

"El, your nose."

Eleven wipes her nose.

Gus winces and clutches at her hand.

"You...remember?"

Gus' eyes burn with tears and she sniffles. The brunette looks at the young girl. "Yeah--I remember--"

"Everything?"

Gus chews on the inside of her cheek and nods her head. She then wipes her tears. "Everything."

Eleven keeps her strong glare and Gus shakes her head.

Gus reaches for the girl's hands. "Eleven, I am so sorry--"

"Don't." Eleven snaps her hands away from her.

Gus freezes, "I'm sorry." she keeps her hands in her lap. "I can't believe all of that happened. I can't believe I did that."

Gus inhales, "I am evil." she lets out a dry chuckle. "I didn't even know that I had powers."

"You know now."

Gus looks back at Eleven and deadpans. She then inhales a breath and a pained smile forms on her lips.

"Thank you for that."

Gus looks around the basement and her jaw goes slack. "Oh no..." she sees the paintings that were once on the wall, all on the ground.

"Did I do this?" Gus asks.

"Yes."

Footsteps are heard upstairs. Gus and Eleven look at the stairs and they see the kids all running down the stairs.

"Hey, guys! How is everyth--Oh My God!" Dustin exclaims, seeing the books splayed across the area and the pictures on the ground too.

"Sorry, that's..." Gus inhales a breath. "...that's my fault."

"Did everything go okay?" Mike asks.

"Obviously not." Lucas motions around the area.

Mike looks back at the teenager and notices her spaced out. Her eyes were bloodshot red like she was tired.

"Gus, you okay?"

Gus shakes her head, "No. I'm not..." she inhales.

The kids all look at each other.

"I remember...everything."

☆

Before leaving to find the gate, Gus explained to the kids her past in Hawkins Lab. Even how she almost killed Eleven. And when she told them that, Gus could see the slight change in how everyone looked at her.

She saw fear.

Gus couldn't blame them. There was a part of the teenager that was afraid of herself too.

Gus walks with Lucas and Dustin, while Eleven and Mike walk behind them.

"You really need to learn more about compasses."

"I'm just saying. How do we know when we get to the gate?" Lucas asks.

"Uh--I think a portal to another dimension is gonna be pretty obvious." Dustin deadpans.

Gus presses her lips together. She's just glad that she's not the one under attack by that condescending tone this time.

"Since you have your memories back, has the weirdo let up on you?" Lucas asks.

The brunette turns her head and looks at Mike and Eleven. She sees Eleven wipe her nose on her sleeve.

"No." Gus sighs. "Which is fine, I'm not looking for forgiveness or anything."

Her eyes shift to her vans, "This entire time I was pissed at her for almost killing me when she was just returning the favor."

Dustin and Lucas look at each other. "Uh, Gus..."

Gus looks at Dustin.

"...I don't think that still gives Eleven the right to try and kill you."

Gus raises her brows. "Well, I was being a bitch to her when she had all the fear and traumatic memories of me almost killing her and taking that whole Lab down with us." she inhales. "So, I think she most definitely had the right to try and kill me."

"Do you think she's acting weird?" Lucas turns his head and looks at Eleven.

"You're asking if the weirdo is acting weird?" Dustin deadpans.

Gus rolls her eyes, "More so than usual." she clarifies.

"I don't know, who cares?" Dustin shrugs.

Gus gnaws on her lower lip. "Do I have a killable face?"

"Honestly...?"

"I think I might regret this, but yes. Honestly." Gus nods.

Lucas shrugs, "I mean, no offense, but you seem to have a glare on your face every second of the day."

"And the eye bags don't help," Dustin adds.

Gus presses her lips together, "Wow, thanks, guys."

Dustin and Lucas look at the brunette, their eyes widen, then they look at each other with panic.

"No, no, no!" Dustin waves his hands. "I was saying other people wouldn't like it!"

"I love the permanent scowl on your face, Gus," Lucas says.

"And the eyebags are a plus too!" Dustin exclaims.

Gus' mouth hangs open and she shakes her head. "You two are...unbelievable." she touches the top of their heads and chuckles. "I love you guys."

A giddy giggle comes from Dustin, he looks at Lucas and notices him giggling too. Both of their smiles drop and they catch up to the brunette.

The group continues walking for a few more minutes until Dustin stops in his tracks.

"Oh, no..."

Gus looks up from her compass and pulls her brows together. "'Oh, no?' Why 'oh no'?"

"We're headed back home." Dustin turns to everyone.

"What?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Dustin says. "Setting sun, right there. We looped right back around."

Gus looks down at her compass, pulling her brows together.

"And you're just realizing this now?" Lucas asks.

Dustin's mouth hangs open, "Why is this all on me?"

"Well, you are the one who came up with the compass theory." Gus states. She raises her brows. "Compass theory. Oh, I like that."

"What do yours say?"

"North." They chorus.

"Makes no damn sense." Dustin sighs.

"Maybe the gate moved," Mike suggests.

Gus raises her brows, thinking.

"No, I don't think it's the gate." Dustin looks around. "I think it's something else screwing with the compasses."

"Maybe it's something here."

"No, it has to be like a super magnet."

"There's only one other thing that's powerful enough to actually control compasses." Gus folds her arms over her chest. "And she's been with us this whole time."

The kids turn to the brunette and she was staring at Eleven. Lucas raises his brows, "She's been acting weirder than normal." he states. "If she can slam doors with her mind, she can definitely screw up a compass."

"Why would she do that?" Mike asks.

"Because she's trying to sabotage our mission." Lucas states. "Because she's a traitor!"

"I mean, traitor is a bit harsh." Gus moves her head from side to side. "I would go with...saboteur."

Lucas walks over to Eleven.

"Lucas, what are you doing?" Mike asks.

"You did it, didn't you?" Lucas questions the girl. "You don't want us to reach the gate. You don't want us to find Will."

"Lucas, come on, seriously, just leave her alone!"

"Admit it." Lucas orders.

"No--"

"Admit it!" Lucas grabs Eleven's sleeve and examines it. "Fresh blood. I knew it."

"Lucas, come on!"

"Mike, she was wiping her nose on the tracks." Gus shrugs her shoulders. "She was using her powers and now we ended up in this junkyard because of our busted compasses."

"And my compass is never wrong," Dustin says.

Gus points at Dustin, making her point.

"Bull! That's old blood. Right, El?" Mike asks.

"I thought we just went over that it's fresh blood?" Gus deadpans.

"Just give him some time, he's head over heels for her," Dustin whispers.

Gus slowly nods her head.

"It's...not--it's not safe." Eleven manages to speak through her cries.

Lucas lets out a scoff, "What did I tell you? She's been playing us from the beginning!"

"That's not true. She helped us find Will!" Mike shouts.

"Find Will? Find Will?" Lucas throws his hands in the air. "Where is he, then? Huh? I don't see him." he exaggeratedly looks around the junkyard.

"Yeah, you know what I mean--"

"No, I actually don't." Lucas walks back over to Mike. "Just think about it, Mike. She could've just told us where the Upside Down was right away, but she didn't. She just made us run around like headless chickens."

Dustin walks over to his friends, "All right, calm down!" he gets between them.

"No!" Lucas flails his arms. "She used us, all of us! She helped just enough so she could get what she wants. Food and a bed."

Gus glances at the crying girl and the brunette couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.

"She's like a stray dog."

"Okay, calling her a weirdo is one thing, but a stray...Let's not get crazy now." Gus snaps her fingers.

"Screw you, Lucas!"

Gus rolls her eyes and pinches the bridge of her nose.

"No! Screw you, Mike. You're blind--blind because you like that a girl's not grossed out by you." Lucas shouts. "But wake up, man! Wake the hell up!"

He points at Eleven, "She knows where Will is, and now she's just letting him die in the Upside Down."

"Shut up!"

"For all we know, it's her fault," Lucas claims.

"Shut up."

"We're looking for some stupid monster...but did you ever stop to think that maybe she's the monster?"

Gus' eyes widen and a flash goes through her mind.

"You're a monster, number five. And you're a liability."

"I am sorry, little one. But sacrifices are meant to be made in the grand scheme of things."

"Knock it off, you idiots!" Dustin shouts.

Gus blinks and she sees Lucas and Mike on the ground, fighting.

"What the fucksticks?!" Gus pushes herself off the bus. "Guys, knock it off!"

"Mike, get off!" Dustin shouts.

"Stop it!" Eleven raises her voice.

"This isn't gonna help us find Will, so drop it!" Gus shouts.

Lucas pushes Mike off of him and gets on top of him.

"Stop it!"

A small growl leaves Gus' lips. She starts to walk over to the two kids.

Eleven lets out a scream and an invisible force yanks Lucas off of Mike. Gus' eyes widen when Lucas flies across the junkyard and his head slams into a metal sheet.

"Oh, My God--LUCAS!" Gus sprints over to the kid. She falls to her knees and lightly cups his face. "Lucas, hey!"

Dustin and Mike crouch beside Gus. "Is he breathing?!"

"Y-Yeah, but he's not waking up!" Panic rises in the teenager.

Mike turns toward Eleven, "Why would you do that?!" he shouts. "What's wrong with you? What is wrong with you?!"

"Lucas, come on, get up!" Gus' eyes fill with tears.

Gus' mouth slightly opens, "I'm gonna slap him."

"What?!" Dustin and Mike shout.

"No, are you crazy?!" Mike shouts.

"He's not waking up!" Gus snaps.

"He's waking up!"

Mike and Gus look back at Lucas, who was slowly opening his eyes. Gus lets out a chuckle of relief.

"Lucas." Mike exhales. "Lucas, you okay?"

"Lucas...Lucas, how many fingers am I holding up?" Dustin asks. "Lucas, how many fingers?"

Gus pulls her brows together, "Can he even hear us, right now?"

Dustin and Gus look at each other, panicking. Gus claps her hands in Lucas' face and he flinches.

"He can hear and see." She nods and lets out a sigh of relief.

Mike reaches for Lucas, "Let me see your head--"

"Get off me!" Lucas smacks Mike's hand away.

Gus pulls her face back as everyone, but her begins to stand up.

"Just...Lucas. Lucas, let me see."

"Get off of me!" Lucas hits Mike's hand away again and starts to walk away.

"Lucas come on!" Mike goes to follow him, but Dustin grabs him.

"Let him go."

Gus lets out a breath once again, "Well..."

Dustin and Mike turn to the brunette.

"...at least we know he can walk too." she stands up and pats the dirt and grass off her jeans.

"Seriously?" Mike questions.

"What?--I'm serious. He can be mad at you all he wants, as long as he's not hurt." Gus shrugs. "And as long as he's not mad at me."

Mike rolls his eyes and looks around the junkyard and his eyes widen. "Where's El?"

Gus looks around with her hand over her eyes. "She must've felt guilty for almost killing Lucas..." she drops her hand to her side. "...or because you yelled at her."

"I-It was in the moment!" Mike cries. "I didn't mean to."

Gus presses her lips together, she lightly touches Mike's head. "All right, it's okay. We'll find her."

Mike relaxes and nods his head.

The three continue to call out for Eleven.

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A/N

Gus' past is coming to light...
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