𝘼𝙪𝙜𝙪𝙨𝙩 [𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙤𝙣]

[Morse code]

After everyone helped get everything ready for Will's interrogation, Jonathan, Hopper, Joyce, and Will gathered outside in the shed, their voices muffled by the thick wooden walls as they discussed their plan. Meanwhile, the rest of the group gathered in the living room or kitchen, making small talk as they waited anxiously for updates. Cherry was sitting against the couch beside Steve, the boy's eyes on his shoes as she watched the scenery outside, her focus constantly drifting from the woods to the shed.

Nancy took a seat beside Steve and Cherry, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Hey. What you did, um, helping the kids. That was really cool," she complimented, her voice genuine. Steve nodded, a hint of pride in his expression. "Yeah. Those little shits are real trouble, you know?" he remarked, a fondness in his tone. "Believe me, I know," Nancy replied with a chuckle, sharing a knowing look with Steve. Cherry shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling a pang of jealousy as she looked over.

Thanks to Lucas, she knew that Steve and Nancy had a history together, and although she was unsure of their relationship now, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of insecurity at the sight of the two sitting beside each other. Clearing her throat, she attempted to engage in the conversation. "So, um, Nancy, how do you two know each other?" she asked, her voice a little too high-pitched in her attempt to sound casual. Nancy glanced at Cherry, a regretful smile softening her features. "Oh, uh, Steve and I dated for a while," she explained, her tone casual.

Cherry's heart sank at the confirmation. She tried to hide her disappointment with a forced smile. "Oh, small town, huh?" she remarked, trying to sound nonchalant. Steve nodded in agreement, casting a sideways glance at Cherry. "Yep, you could say that," he replied, his eyes briefly meeting hers before looking away. Nancy pursed her lips, her gaze shifting between Steve and Cherry. "So, Cherry, how are you finding Hawkins so far?" Cherry squirmed in her seat, the old couch squeaking as she tried to find a response. "It was okay until today," she replied diplomatically as she tried to mask her uncertainty.

Nancy nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I can understand why." Then, a heavy silence settled in the room, leaving Steve sitting awkwardly between the two girls. He shifted in his seat, adjusting his position before clearing his throat. "Cherry's from California," he continued, trying to break the tension with a casual remark. Nancy nodded, Cherry, feeling the weight of their gazes on her. "Yeah, California," she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. Steve shot her a quick glance, offering a small smile before turning his attention back to Nancy.

As Steve went to speak, Hopper burst into the room, his expression urgent. Cherry looked up, grateful that the awkward conversation was finally over. "Will, he's talking to us," he announced, holding up a radio. "It's Morse code." He gestured for everyone to gather around, a sense of urgency permeating the air as he reached for a piece of paper and a pencil. They huddled together, their eyes fixed on the radio as the static-filled voice crackled through. Hopper's fingers flew across the dials, adjusting the frequency in an attempt to clarify the message.

The urgency in the room escalated as Hopper quickly showed the kids how to translate the Morse code message. Once satisfied, he scurried back to the shed, leaving them to decipher the rest of the transmission. Together, they worked efficiently, the tension clear as they worked hard to process each word. Finally, they reached the chilling conclusion: "Close the gate." Conveniently, the phone in the kitchen began to ring. Luckily, Nancy was quick to unplug it, groaning in frustration as she threw it onto the floor.

"Shit. Shit," she muttered under her breath, glancing around anxiously. Max's eyes widened as she looked around the table, "Do you think he heard that?" Steve shrugged, trying to maintain a sense of calm. "It's just a phone. It could be anywhere...." He ran a hand through his hair, glancing around nervously. "Right?" But before anyone could respond, Jonathan burst into the room, his expression worried. "They're coming!"

Cherry's panic rose as she heard Jonathan's urgent warning. "What?" she exclaimed, her heart racing. "Come on, let's go, let's go," Jonathan urged, his voice filled with urgency as he rushed the group into the living room. Cherry reached for Max, but stopped, seeing her with her hand on Lucas's shoulder as she anxiously scanned the room. Hopper rushed back in, a few guns in hand. "Hey, get away from the windows!" he barked, his voice commanding. The man turned to Johnathan, his expression serious. "Do you know how to use this?" he asked, handing him a gun.

"What?" He replied, his voice shaky with fear. "Can you use this?" Hopper repeated, his tone louder this time around. Seeing his hesitating, Nancy stepped forward confidently. "I can," she declared, her eyes steely as she took the gun. The distant screeching from outside only added to the tension in the room, signaling the approaching danger. As the screeching grew louder, Cherry jumped, instinctively grabbing hold of Steve's arm. She hid behind him, his bat raised high in the air in case anything came their way.

"Where are they?" Max whispered, her voice trembling with fear. The room fell into a tense silence as everyone listened for any sign of the approaching monsters. Lucas stood in front of Max, his sling shot at the ready, while Nancy held the gun steady in her hands. Suddenly, the sound of loud thudding filled the air, the glass shattering and causing everyone to scream in panic. Steve's arm hovered over Cherry, ready to shield her from whatever might burst through the door. "Stay behind me," he said softly, his voice firm but reassuring.

Cherry nodded, her heart racing as she maintained her tight grip on Steve's arm. As the chaos unfolded around them, Dustin's voice rang out, his tone urgent. "What's happening?" he exclaimed, scanning the room for any signs of danger. Hopper's voice cut through the panic, his commands clear and authoritative. "Everyone, stay calm!" he barked, his eyes darting around the room as he assessed the situation. Nancy's grip tightened on the gun, her eyes trained on the door as she prepared to kill a demogorgon.

Max looked to Lucas for guidance, her eyes wide with fear. "What do we do?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the chaos unfolding around them. Lucas's jaw clenched as he steadied his grip on the sling shot, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. "I don't know," he replied, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Then, as abruptly as it had started, the screeching stopped, and the door swung open to reveal a girl standing in the doorway.

"Holy shit," Dustin muttered in disbelief. Behind her, the Demogorgon dropped to the ground, motionless. "Is it dead?" Lucas asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The group stared in shock, the girl smiling as she made eye contact with Mike. He gasped, "Eleven..." "Mike," El whispered, her voice barely audible over the tension in the room. Max turned to Lucas, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Is that...?" Lucas nodded slowly, his expression a mix of shock and relief. "I never gave up on you," Mike continued, his voice breaking with emotion.

"I called you every night. Every night for--" "353 days," El finished, her gaze never leaving Mike's. "Why didn't you tell me you were there?" Mike questioned, his voice filled with hurt. "That you were okay?" Hopper intervened, his tone stern as he addressed Mike. "Because I wouldn't let her." Turning to El, Hopper motioned at her outfit and dark makeup. "The hell is this? Where have you been?" El met his gaze squarely. "Where have you been?" she shot back, her voice tinged with accusation.

Mike's anger flared, fueled by months of sadness and fear. "You've been hiding her?!" he suddenly yelled, his voice rising with each word. "You've been hiding her this whole time?!"He made a move towards Hopper, his frustration boiling over. "Hey!" The bigger man barked, stepping in before he could do anything. "Let's talk." He scorned, quickly grabbing a hold of the boy's wrist and pulling him down the hallway. "Alone."