The One That Got Away

Chapter Seven

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The group of eight walked through the woods until it turned dark, following Dustin and his compass.

"Somethings happening." Dustin muttered to himself, glancing at his compass.
"Dustin? Can you slow down?" Eddie shouted after him as Dustin started to pick up the pace, running through the branches and leaves. "Dustin!"

"I think we're getting close!" He shouted back.

Dustin came to a holt as he reached the water, Eddie stopping him from falling in.

"I thought these woods looked familiar." Eddie sighed.
"Lovers Lake." Monica looked over to the dark haired boy, who just 24 hours earlier was running away from this very place.

They talked between themselves, figuring out when a demogorgan attacked it left an opening, maybe Vecna was the same.
"Only one way to find out." Steve said.

Eddie removed the tarp from the boat that was sitting on the side. Robin hopped on to the boat, followed by Eddie and then Nancy. Dustin tried to step on before Eddie pushed him away.
"Are you trying to sink us?"

"This is my theory!" Dustin protested.
"You guys stay here with Max, it's better this way. Keep an eye out. Compass please." Dustin hesitantly handed it over to Nancy.
"I'm coming with you." Monica started to get in to the boat.
"It's safer on the land Monica." Eddie stood with his hands up, stopping her from getting on.
"And?" She looked up at him. "I'm coming."

Eddie sighed in defeat and moved, helping Monica onto the boat. After all, who was he to say what she could and couldn't do? Steve pushed the boat into the lake, jumping in last minute. Dustin threw his arms up in annoyance, rolling his eyes.

"Deja vu, huh?" Eddie laughed, looking to Monica. She smiled at him, as he and Robin paddled the boat. Nancy shouted for them to stop, all five of them looking at the compass which was spinning uncontrollably.

"Steve what are you doing?" Nancy asked, she looked over to see he had started to undo his shoelaces.
"Somebody's got to go down there and check this thing out, and that'll be me. No complaints."

"Hey, I'm not complaining," Eddie sat back against the boat. "I do not want to go down there. He looked down into the dark waters. No way was he going back in there, definitely not by choice. He wrapped his torch up in a plastic bag, handing it to Steve who threw Eddie his sweatshirt.
"Be careful!" Monica called before Steve dove in.

They sat for what felt like hours, but realistically was just over a minute, waiting in anticipation for Steve to come back up to the surface.
"Come on, Steve!" Monica muttered.

The was a splash and and Steve finally appeared.
"You found it?" Nancy asked.
"I found it," He nodded. "It's more of a snack-size gate than mama gate, but still, it's pretty damn big."

Steve just finished his sentence before something pulled on his leg, he clung onto the boat, the five of them glancing at each other. He was pulled completely under the water, the rest of them shouting after him.
"What the hell was that?!" Eddie yelled. "Wait, you're not going in there are you?" He called after Nancy who was standing at the edge of the boat.
"Just wait here." She answered, before diving in after Steve.

"What are you doing? She said wait." Monica and Eddie looked over at Robin who also sat at the edge is the boat.
"Yeah I heard her." She smirked before throwing herself in backwards into the water.
"Goddamn it!" Eddie shouted, throwing his hands up. "This is so stupid!"

"I bet you regret not staying on the land now, huh?" He looked over to Monica who was sat with her head in her hands. She knew that they couldn't just sit there, they had to follow the other three in. The boat rocked gently as she stood up, she had no idea what to expect down there.

"On three, okay?" Monica quickly took hold of Eddies hand. He nodded hesitantly. Counting to three, they both jumped in. It was dark under the water, but a bright red light lit the way. Eddie looked over to Monica, she nodded towards the light. They both swam together over to the gate.

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