Downside Up [W.Byers]

009

Before the two leave, Lucas packs a bag
full of weapons as Ruby watches. He ties a bandana around his head, then pulls the blonde outside.

Just as they arrive, they pass by a large white van. It seems to be a Hawkins power company. The driver waves to Lucas, who waves back. Ruby's eyes widen as she recognizes the truck. It's not a real company. She hides behind Lucas.

"What are you doing?" He asks in confusion. "Go, we have to go." She says quickly. She hops onto the back of his bike, then they ride off.

"Lucas, where are you taking me?" Ruby asks for the twentieth time. "The gate! You want to help will, don't you?" He asks.

She sighs, not responding. She knows it's not safe, but she wants more than anything to find Will. "I think we're in danger." She speaks up. "Why would we be in danger?"

"The electrical guy, he's not an actual worker." She says. "What are you talking about?" Lucas questions. "He seemed perfectly normal to me." He adds.

"Whatever. It's nothing." She sighs, following through the woods towards a fence. "Aw man." Lucas says in disappointment.

"Can you burn the fence?" He asks. "What? No way. This is a forest. I haven't been here for a year and I know not to start a fire in the woods."

He rolls his eyes, continuing to walk along. "What did I get myself into." She mutters under her breath, following behind.

"Are you like the weirdo?" Lucas asks. "By weirdo, do you mean Eleven?" She asks. "Yeah. She's weird isn't she?" Lucas rolls his eyes.

"I don't have her powers. I've got my own. I can't do much yet, but I've been practicing." She sighs. "So, all you can do is set your hands on fire?" He asks. She nods in response.

"What was it like in the upside down?" Ruby squints her eyes at him. "The upside down? What's that?"

"Where you and will were." He explains. "Oh. It's cold, dark, empty. It looks exactly like here. I just wish I hadn't left with Nancy. Will is in danger." She says worriedly.

Lucas pauses for a moment, curiously looking down at his compass. "I need to get up this tree." He says, dropping his bike.

"Lucas, what are you doing?" She asks. "Stay down there." He instructs, climbing up as high as he can. He unzips his bag, looking through the binoculars.

"What do you see up there?" She calls.

"They're coming"

"Lucas, what is that supposed to mean?" She crosses her arms as she watches him descend from the tree. "Won't you just shut up for once? It's hard to imagine that you and the weirdo are from the same asylum. She never talks!" Lucas says in annoyance.

Ruby scoffs. "Oh, really. You're gonna go there." She crosses her arms. "Yeah, I will. You're just like her, except worse."

"I am nothing like her!" She yells, her anger boiling. "You wanted my help, Lucas. I don't even know you! I wanna find Will! Will is my friend!" On her last sentence, she stomps her foot, causing a large wave of heat to spread across the woods.

Lucas falls back to the ground, sweating. Ruby gasps, hands over her mouth. "I'm so.. I'm so sor-" before she finishes her sentence, she runs away, not quite sure how to deal with everything.

"Ruby! Wait!" Lucas calls out,  yet she continues running.

Ruby runs all the way back to Mike's house, where she finds the same van parked. She covers her face, knocking on the front door loudly.

Dustin runs to the door, speedily opening it and pulling her inside. "Weren't you with Lucas?" He asks. "I ran off. I'm s-"

"It's okay. Come downstairs. They know el is here. Stay down there with her." He instructs, pushing her down and slamming the basement door. She gasps, nearly falling down the steps.

She turns to her side, widening her eyes at the nearly bald girl in front of her. "What are you doing here?" She asks in shock.

Eleven doesn't reply. "You're the one who tortured me for years." She approaches the girl with an angry glare. Eleven fearfully backs away. "Every time I did something wrong, you were there to hurt me." She says shakily.

"Why?" She questions, continuing to walk closer. "Papa forced me." Eleven says weakly. "He.. What? He told me you-" Ruby backs away.

"I'm sorry." Eleven says tearfully. "No, you're not" She shakes her head. "If you were sorry you would've stopped."

"Guys, come on. We've gotta go!" Dustin runs down, before running back up. Ruby angrily glances at Eleven, before running up the stairs. "El, get on the back of Mike's bike. Ruby, you can take mine." Dustin says.

Before they are able to ride off, the whole group of bad men is already approaching them. "Go, go, go, go, go!" Dustin shouts, beginning to ride as fast as he possibly can.

The bad men quickly get into the vans, following behind. "Oh, my God. Oh, my god. Oh, my god." Dustin panics.

"Dustin!" Lucas yells through the radio. "Ruby! She ran away! Is she okay?" Lucas asks. "Yes, she's right here with us." Dustin says.

"Lucas, they're on us!" Ruby calls. "Where are you?" He shouts back. "Cornwallis." Dustin responds. "Meet me at Elm and Cherry!" He instructs.

"Copy. Elm and Cherry!" Dustin repeats. "Okay!" Mike nods. "Guys, we have a problem." Ruby warns, looking back.

"Shit!" Doesn't shouts. "This way, come on!" Mike leads. "Out of the way! Out of the way!" Dustin calls out as they ride through the park.

They meet up with Lucas. "Lucas, I'm so sorry." Ruby says quickly. "Save it for later, Rube." Lucas says calmly. The girl smiles. "Lucas!" Mike shouts.

"Where are they?" He asks. "I don't know." Mike stammers. "I think we lost them." Dustin comments.

"You sure about that?" Ruby asks as she spins around, watching the vans continue to get closer. "Go, go, go, go!" Mike shouts.

Once they ride, they find themselves blocked. A car turns in from around the corner, driving straight towards them. "Ruby!" Eleven shouts, looking to the blonde. "What do you want?!"

"Help!" She responds. Ruby sighs, nodding her head. "3, 2, 1!" Ruby counts. At one, they both use whatever power they can to send the van up into the air. Ruby uses her newfound heat wave as eleven uses her telekinesis.

Mike, Dustin, And lucas all share amazed and confused looks before continuing to focus back on the road. "That was awesome!" Dustin celebrates.