my tears ricochet 𛲕 stranger things

chapter 31, sports analogies

CHAPTER 31: SPORTS ANALOGIES

I guess we give what we've been given,
A family tree so very good at giving up
Gravity lifts as the projectionist rolls tape
And it makes us brave again.
— The Projectionist, Sleeping At Last

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

November 5th, 1984: Byers Home

DAPHNE REMAINED IN THE KITCHEN WITH STEVE AND NANCY as Eleven happily reunited with everyone. The older girl had to admit, she was relieved that Eleven was alright. The poor girl had been through so much at such a young age and Daphne hated that they had to keep using her for her powers like some kind of weapon.

It seemed as though the girl in question had been through some shit while she was away; her new look and the fact that she was able to speak in full sentences were a clear indication of that. Daphne remembered the first time she had met Eleven in the Byers' house last year. Her head had been completely shaven and she had been wearing a frilly pink dress which looked like it belonged to a china doll from the 1800s. Now, she looked like someone from MTV, sporting her black Converse and slicked-back hair.

Eleven drifted back into the kitchen from Will's bedroom, surprising Daphne as she made her way over to her. She and Eleven had only had a handful of conversations on the very same day she had found Fern dead in the Upside Down, so Daphne hadn't exactly been expecting a joyous reunion. But Eleven stopped in front of her, staring curiously at the blonde girl.

"Daphne," she said simply, her black-lined eyes piercing as she looked her up and down. "You're here again. But your friend..."

Daphne knew what Eleven was asking. "Fern's dead," she agreed firmly. "But I still want to help."

Eleven nodded, the corners of her lip turning up into a small smile. "I understand. I wanted to tell you something." Daphne gestured for her to go on. "You asked me about the other children... the ones in Hawkins Lab. I met one of them a few days ago. She's okay. I wanted you to know."

Daphne felt her face scrunch up involuntarily. It was a good thing, of course — a relief — that one of the test subjects other than Eleven was alright. But there were still at least nine other subjects left unaccounted for. Daphne couldn't imagine what life had been like growing up in Hawkins Lab, not to mention what they were going through now.

"I'm glad," she said finally, her voice soft. "And I'm glad you're okay too, El. I guess I should thank you for saving all of our asses once again."

"I wanted to," said Eleven simply. "You are my friends."

Daphne smiled, her mouth a thin line on her face as she stared at the brave, kind little girl in front of her. All she wanted to do was protect Eleven from the dangers she had escaped from at the lab, but Daphne knew that they had to ask her to put her life at risk one more time.

"Eleven..." she said hoarsely. "Last year, you told me you opened a...a gate at Hawkins Lab."

The girl hesitated before replying. "Yes."

"If we got you back there... do you think you could close it again?" Daphne asked desperately. "Do you think you could close it for good?"

A shadow crossed the younger girl's face, making her suddenly appear a whole lot older than she was. At that moment, Daphne wanted nothing more than to take the words back, but she knew that they couldn't afford to. Eleven's eyes flickered as though she was remembering some particularly harrowing memories, but when she looked back up at Daphne, her face was clear.