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

NINETEEN

The Upside Down

Jonathan pulled his car up to his house and the three teens raced inside with the things they planned to use against the Demogorgon.

Catherine sat herself on the couch, screwing in the lightbulbs on the Christmas lights nearest to her, a frown on her face as she wished she was doing more to help. Nancy and Jonathan screwed in all the other bulbs that Cat couldn't get too before setting up the bear trap in the hallway. The crippled teen pulled out the gun she had yet to give back to Callahan and made sure there were bullets in it ready to be fired while Nancy did the same to her gun and Jonathan hammered nails into a baseball bat. Cat watched as Nancy poured a trail of gasoline from the bear trap into the living room as Jonathan set up the yo-yo.

***

"Remember..." Jonathan said, handing a kitchen knife to both Nancy and Cat- the latter of whom was sat on the couch.

"Straight into Will's room. And-"

"Don't step on the trap." Both girls said, as they went over the plan.

"Wait for the yo-yo to move."

"Then..." Jonathan held up the lighter.

"We blow that bastard to hell." Catherine stated, gripping the handle of her knife tighter in her hand.

"All right." Jonathan nodded. "You ready?" He asked both girls.

"Ready." Nancy nodded, herself and Jonathan turning to look at Cat.

"Oh I'm ready." Cat told them, patting her gun that was sat on the arm of the couch next to her crutches.

"On three." The teens held their hands in front of them, placing the knives over their palms.

"One..." Jonathan started counting. They pushed the knives slightly harder into their skin. "Two..." Nancy looked terrified. "You don't have to do this-"

"Jonathan, stop talking." Nancy told him, wanting to get this over and done with.

"I'm just saying, you don't have to-"

"Three!" Catherine yelled, slicing the palm of her hand with the knife. "Fuck! That hurts." She grabbed the sleeve of her flannel and pulled it over her hand, pressing the fabric into the cut to slow down the bleeding. She had accidentally cut the skin deeper than had been intended. "I swear to God, if I have to get more stitches, I might just scream."

***

Faint creaking could be heard from outside the house as the teens wrapped bandages around their injured hands.  "Did you hear that?" Nancy asked as all three of the teens looked towards the window at the front of the house.

"It's just the wind." Jonathan reassured her. "Don't worry. My mom, she said the lights speak when it comes."

"Speak?" Both girls questioned.