-november 12th 1983-
-reader's pov-
"mr clarke?" dustin spoke into the telephone, "it's dustin.... yeah, yeah. I just I.. I have a science question..... do you know anything about sensory deprivation tanks? specifically how to build one.... fun..... you always say we should never stop being curious, to always open any curiosity door we find- why are you keeping this curiosity door locked?"
dustin babbled on to mr clarke via the phone whilst the others and I were positioned around the byers' living room. concerned and impatient looks were etched across each of our exhausted faces.
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"uh-huh," dustin mumbled whilst scribbling mr clarke's words onto a notepad, "how much?- alright. mhm, we'll be careful, see you on monday mr clarke, bye." he then finally put the phone down before turning to joyce, "do you still have that kiddie pool we bobbed for apples in?"
"uh, I think so, yeah." mrs byers stuttered.
"good," dustin replied whilst pointing his pencil towards her, "then we just need salt, lots of it."
"how much is lots?" hopper asked the curly haired brunette who glanced down at his writing.
"1500 pounds." he answered the chief.
"well, where are we gonna get that much salt?" exclaimed a shocked nancy.
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we arrived at the middle school in two separate cars and were now sorting out either the salt, paddling pool or hose in pairs or trios. whilst joyce prepared some goggles for el.
"this damn thing is heavy!" dustin panted as he rolled the paddling pool across the gymnasium but he wasn't even half way yet.
"let me try," I sighed typically before dustin moved out the way. I took this situation as the perfect chance to experiment with my new-found powers so I raised an arm and focused on the packaged pool. slowly, the cylinder-shaped pool began to roll, it gained speed the more it travelled until it eventually reached the centre of the hall.
"good job!" a proud-looking lucas complimented whilst I shot him a grateful smile before wiping the dripping blood from my nose.
we then all approached the pool and began to unfold it out. there was quite a bit of chatter amongst us as we did so but after many attempts, we finally achieved our goal of setting the pool up and it was definitely easier said than done.
a few short moments later everyone else entered the gym, mike and nancy began to fill the pool with water whilst hopper and jonathan loaded the pool with tons of salt.
dustin tested the consistency of the water by seeing if an egg would float in the liquid, thankfully it did.
mike then set the radio to static before el slipped her socks off and handed me back my wristwatch after wearing it nonstop for days. she then proceeded to take cautious steps into the kiddie pool, once the goggles were on her face and blocking out any peripheral light. she laid on her back and began to float, in the position of a starfish.
almost instantly after, the gymnasium lights began to flicker like mad and the electricity surged before it completely cut out all together.
minutes later, el's breathing levels intensified and heaved along with the electricity switching on again and pulsating.
"what's going on?" a worried nancy asked.
"I don't know." mike answered her as we all continued to gaze at the frail body that lay afloat in the small pool.
"is barb okay?" nancy pleadingly questioned eleven, "is she okay?"
"gone, gone," el's quiet but frightened voice mumbled, "gone."
nancy's hand shot to her mouth, which was gaping in shock, she began to tremble and warm tears formed in her eyes as mrs byers and I tried our best to soothe el, who was still freaking out over whatever treacherous sight she had recently witnessed in 'the void.'
"it's okay, it's okay." joyce and I cooed repetitively.
"el, I'm here." I spoke confidently so she could hear me and cling onto those words like a lifeline. I held my hand out for her to hold and I felt her damp fingers intertwine with my own as she continued her search for will in her mind, "I promise.. I've got you.. don't be afraid. I'm right here with you, you're safe."
this seemed to do the trick because her breathing returned to normal and she started to speak normally again, "castle byers."
joyce's face lit up with hope, it sent a happy flame afire in my heart to finally see her just a little positive, seeing as the last few days had been so very tough for her to deal with.
"will?" el spoke quietly but it caused joyce and mike to gasp, this was sign the boy they both dearly loved was truly alive.
"you tell him.. tell him I'm coming, mum is coming." joyce informed with a shaky voice as el assumingly repeated these words to will.
"hurry." will's innocent but suffering voice emitted from the radio, it caused everyone in the room to share the same glance.
"okay, y-you tell him to.." joyce stuttered out, "you tell him to stay where he is, we're coming, okay? we're coming, honey."
a mere 20 seconds later, el's whimpers echoed from the radio and it was like instinct to act fast.
"el!" I exclaimed whilst she shot up from the salty water before cowering into my open arms, "el, oh my god.." I whispered whilst we snuggled into eachother, in search of the tiniest spark of physical warmth, "you're okay.. y-you did so well in there, I'm.. I'm so proud of you."
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el was now resting upon my side with her head on my shoulder as I wrapped a comforting hand around her back. lucas softly rubbed on the towel that I had draped over her.
hopper and joyce had just gone of in the direction of hawkins lab, in search of will whilst jonathan and nancy.. well we weren't quite sure to be honest.
YOU ARE READING
lost love
Fanfiction"and she disappeared just as fast as she appeared." eleven hopper x fem reader
