There's No Place Like Hawkins//Stranger Things. SH

FIFTY FOUR

The Flayed

They watched from above as two Russian workers opened the red doors and began picking up boxes to load onto their cart. From what they could see, and hear, they seemed to be having a conversation of sorts, although none of them knew what they were saying. Steve signalled for them all to be quiet. His eyes landed on Erica and the container she held and an idea formed in his head. When the Russians were out of the sight and the door had started to close, Steve jumped down with the container. He slid it across the floor and it stopped under the door, temporarily blocking it.

"Let's go." They threw Erica's backpack down and Steve caught it, shoving it under the door. He waved each of them down- Cat having to be helped back down into the elevator. One at a time, they slid under the small gap between the door and the floor, Steve sliding out just in time before the glass broke and the liquid spilt everywhere.

"Jesus Christ." Steve breathed as he helped Cat up from the floor. With Robin's help, she managed to climb onto Steve's back. She couldn't walk and so a piggy-back from her boyfriend seemed necessary.

They all stared as the liquid sizzled, creating a hole in the floor. "Holy crap." Catherine muttered, gripping tighter onto Steve to make sure she didn't slip. She found it great that she had chosen to wear shorts that day as a skirt would have a been a disaster for the situation she had found herself in.

"You still wanna drink that?" Robin asked Erica.

"Holy mother of God." Dustin sighed, turning around to see the massive hallway they had to walk down.

The others turned around, their mouths gaping at the sight before them. "You've got to be kidding me." Cat sighed, burying her face into Steve's shoulder.

"Well... hope you guys are in good shape." Steve said, walking forward. "looking at you, roast beef." He said to Dustin as he passed the boy, patting him on the chest.

"I hope you are, too, babe." Cat said. "Because you have to carry me the whole way." She grinned.

***

Nancy and Jonathan had now joined the party in the Wheeler's basement and the two groups were sharing each of their events. "It was the same thing," Nancy was saying, "the exact same thing that happened to Will last year. And look at this." She picked up her notes from the hospital. "Look at the body temperatures."

The party crowded around Nancy's notes. "He likes it cold." Will said, looking up at the older girl, his eyes wide.

"Okay, so this crazy old woman who was eating fertilizer-" Mike started.

"Mrs. Driscoll." Nancy interrupted.

"Right, yeah, Mrs. Driscoll. What time was this attack?"

"Last night."