Autor Note: I'm back, I had a bit of a block, I used more AI than usual to help me get out of that block, I hope you like it.
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The Byers' house was silent, but it wasn't a peaceful silence. It was one filled with fear.
Joyce paced back and forth across the living room, running a hand through her hair over and over again. On the couch, Will sat with his hands clasped together, staring at the floor. Jonathan leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, listening.
"I don't like it," Joyce finally said, breaking the silence. "I don't like it at all. That boy… Liam… he talks as if killing were something normal."
"Mom," Jonathan replied tiredly. "Hydra does kill. That's what Liam is saying. We either believe him or risk dying—or something worse. We can't survive this on our own."
Joyce stopped. Her eyes were red. "And what are we supposed to do?" she asked. "Go with strangers who have powers? Put Will in danger again?"
Will slowly lifted his head. "Mom…" He swallowed. "They already know who we are. Eleven said it. They have our names, where we live, and what we do."
Joyce closed her eyes. That was what terrified her the most—that it wasn't really a choice.
"If we stay," Jonathan continued, "they'll come. If we leave… at least we'll have someone who knows how to survive them."
Joyce took a deep breath, defeated. "Then we'll go," she said at last. "But not because I trust Liam… because I trust you."
Will let out the breath he'd been holding.
...
Elsewhere in town, at the Wheeler house, the discussion was very different.
"This is insane!" Karen Wheeler exclaimed. "Mike, you're thirteen years old. We're not leaving with a stranger and his dangerous girlfriend."
Mike stood in front of her, fists clenched. "Mom, they're coming for Eleven. And if they come for her, they come for us."
Ted Wheeler looked up from his armchair. "And how do you know that Liam isn't worse than this so-called Hydra?"
Mike hesitated for a second… then spoke honestly. "Because when he could've left, he stayed. And when he could've lied, he didn't."
Karen looked at him silently, then turned her gaze to Nancy, who had been watching from the stairs. "What do you think?" Karen asked.
Nancy slowly came down. "I think that if Hydra really exists… then staying here and pretending nothing is happening is the most dangerous thing we can do."
Karen pressed her lips together. "I don't like it…" she whispered. "But I won't let my family die."
Mike closed his eyes, relieved.
...
The Mayfield house was quiet, lit only by the yellow glow of the kitchen light. Susan Mayfield sat at the table, holding a cup of cold coffee. Max sat across from her, restless. Billy leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his face serious—very different from before.
"This is hard to believe," Susan said, breaking the silence. "All of it. First monsters, powers, and now a secret organization… it sounds insane."
"It's not," Max replied firmly. "And you know it. You were here when the mall burned down."
Susan pressed her lips together. "That proves nothing."
Billy moved then, stepping forward. His voice was deep but controlled. "I was down there."
Susan looked up sharply. "Billy…" That surprised her—Billy never took Max's side.
"No, listen to me," he continued. "I saw that thing. I felt it trying to get inside my head. I felt it trying to break me from the inside."
There was regret written all over his face.
Max stared at him, surprised. Billy rarely spoke like this.
"I almost died," he said. "And if I'm still alive, it's because Eleven and the others didn't run. They tried to save me until the end."
Susan swallowed. "And now what?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You want me to run away with you?"
"Yes," Billy replied. "We go somewhere we actually have a chance to live."
Max stepped forward. "Hydra knows who we are," she said. "They know about me. About Billy. About you."
Susan shook her head. "And that boy… Liam? Why trust him?"
Billy looked her straight in the eyes. "Because he's our only option."
"And because he isn't afraid to do what's necessary to protect others."
Susan shuddered. "That doesn't comfort me."
"It does me," Billy replied. "I'd rather trust someone honest with blood on his hands than monsters who smile while they use you."
Max took a deep breath. "If we stay, they'll come," she said. "If we go with them… at least we won't be alone."
Susan closed her eyes. For a moment, she looked like she might break. "I've spent my whole life trying to protect you," she whispered. "And now you're asking me to put you in a war."
Billy knelt in front of her—something he had never done before. "No," he said. "We're asking you to come with us. We don't want to leave you somewhere dangerous."
Susan opened her eyes, filled with tears. "Is it really that serious?"
Billy nodded slowly. "Yes."
The silence stretched for a few more seconds.
Finally, Susan took a deep breath. "Alright," she said. "We'll go."
Max let out a shaky sigh. "Thank you, Mom."
Susan looked at Billy. "I'll trust you to protect your family…"
Billy met their eyes with determination. "I will."
...
Max left the house without saying anything else. The night air was cold, but it helped clear her thoughts. She walked a few blocks until she found Lucas sitting on the curb, tossing a stone against the ground over and over again.
"I knew I'd find you here," Max said, breaking the silence.
Lucas didn't look at her. "You already decided, didn't you?"
Max sat beside him. "Yes. We're going with Liam."
Lucas stopped moving the stone. "My mom won't accept that," he said. "She won't even talk about it."
"Mine didn't either," Max replied. "Until she understood it isn't a choice."
Lucas shook his head. "That's what I don't like. He talks like he's already decided for everyone."
"Because Hydra already did," Max said firmly. "Believe Eleven. She wouldn't lie. I saw the fear in her eyes."
Lucas pressed his lips together. "We could hide. Leave town."
"And when they find you again?" Max asked. "Because they will. That's what Liam said."
Lucas looked at her for the first time. "You trust that guy too much."
"I don't," Max admitted. "But I trust Eleven."
Lucas fell silent. The wind rustled the trees softly.
"Billy changed," Lucas said at last. "He never would've agreed to run before."
"He almost died," Max replied. "That changes anyone."
Lucas lowered his gaze. "I don't want to live under someone like Liam."
Max took a deep breath. "It's not about orders. It's about surviving."
Lucas shook his head slowly. "That's not what surviving is to me."
Max looked at him sadly. "Then… you're staying?"
Lucas nodded. "Yes."
Max clenched her fists. "Lucas…"
"My mom trusts the army," he continued. "She says if something happens, they'll protect us."
Max felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "That won't work."
"Maybe," Lucas said. "But it's her decision."
Max stayed quiet for a few seconds. "If something happens to you…"
Lucas looked at her. "It won't."
She shook her head. "That's what we always say."
Lucas sighed. "I can't go with you."
Max stood up slowly. "Then promise me something."
Lucas looked up. "If you notice anything strange… if you feel like you're being followed… run."
Lucas nodded. "I promise."
Max took a step back. "Take care."
Lucas swallowed. "You too."
Max walked away without looking back. Every step felt heavier than the last.
Lucas remained alone on the curb, watching her disappear into the darkness, with the uneasy feeling that this decision… might cost him far more than he was willing to admit.
...
The kitchen was lit by a warm light. The clock read nearly midnight. Claudia Henderson sat at the table, reviewing papers, while Dustin paced back and forth nervously.
"Dustin, sweetheart, if you keep pacing like that, you're going to make me dizzy."
"Sorry," he said, stopping in front of her. "But I need you to listen to me. Really."
Claudia looked up. "I'm listening."
Dustin took a deep breath. "There's an organization," he began. "It's called Hydra. They're not normal people. They're dangerous."
Claudia frowned. "Hydra? Like the monster from fairy tales?"
"No," he replied quickly. "It's real. And they know who I am. They know who you are."
Claudia set the papers aside. "Dustin…"
"Eleven saw it in one of their minds."
Claudia slowly shook her head. "Sweetheart, I know you've been through horrible things, but this sounds like—"
"It's not a story," Dustin said, his voice trembling. "That's why we have to leave."
Claudia stood up. "Leave? Leave where?"
"With Liam," Dustin replied. "It's dangerous, yes—but he's the only one who isn't pretending this will just go away."
Claudia crossed her arms. "I'm not running away because my son thinks a secret organization is after him."
Dustin closed his eyes for a second. "I knew you'd say that."
Claudia sighed. "Dustin, sweetheart, you're scared."
"Yes," he admitted. "That's why I can't stay."
An uncomfortable silence followed.
"Why don't we call your friend?" Claudia suggested. "Mike?"
Dustin shook his head. "No. I need to call Eleven."
Claudia frowned. "Why her?"
Dustin walked to the landline phone. "Because she's the only one who can prove it."
Claudia opened her mouth to protest, but Dustin was already dialing. "Dustin, wait—"
The line connected. "Hello?" Eleven's tired voice answered.
"El, it's Dustin," he said quickly. "I need your help. My mom doesn't believe me."
There was a brief pause. "Where are you?"
"At home."
"I'm coming," Eleven replied without hesitation.
The call ended.
Claudia stared at her son. "Dustin Henderson, you'd better not—"
Fifteen minutes later, someone knocked on the door.
Claudia opened it cautiously. Eleven stood there, wearing an oversized sweatshirt, her expression serious. "Hi," Eleven said.
Claudia studied her. "Hello… Eleven, right?"
Eleven nodded. "Yes."
Dustin appeared behind her. "Mom… look."
Claudia sighed. "What am I supposed to see?"
Eleven hesitated for a second, then closed her eyes.
The kitchen light flickered.
The refrigerator magnets began to vibrate, slowly lifting into the air.
Claudia covered her mouth. "Oh… God."
The refrigerator slid a few inches.
Eleven lowered her hand. Everything returned to normal.
Silence filled the room.
Claudia slowly sat down. "This…" she whispered. "This isn't possible."
"It is," Dustin said quietly. "And there are people who want to use her."
Claudia looked at Eleven. "Have they hurt you?"
Eleven lowered her gaze. "Yes."
Claudia took a shaky breath, fighting back tears. "Then…" she said finally. "We're going."
Dustin stared at her. "Really?"
Claudia stood and hugged him tightly. "Yes. Because if the world has become this dangerous…"
"I'd rather go with you than stay and wait."
Eleven watched silently. "Thank you," she said at last.
Claudia looked at her. "No—thank you for protecting my son."
...
Steve and Robin sat on the open trunk of Steve's car, their legs dangling. The night was cool, the neighborhood quiet. A streetlight flickered in the distance.
"My dad thought it was a joke," Steve said, breaking the silence. "He actually laughed."
Robin let out a nervous laugh. "Mine didn't," she replied. "He looked at me like I'd lost my mind."
Steve tilted his head. "So how did you convince him?"
Robin sighed. "I didn't. Not completely."
Steve frowned. "Then what?"
"I showed him the map," Robin explained. "The routes, the names, the dates. Everything Eleven pulled from that guy's mind."
Steve nodded slowly. "My dad didn't want proof," he said. "He wanted control."
Robin looked at him. "What did you do?"
Steve shrugged. "I told him the truth. That if I stayed, I'd probably die. I couldn't convince him—but he let me go. I just hope nothing happens to him. I don't want to die just because I stayed."
Robin's eyes widened. "Straight to the point."
"Always worked for me," Steve said. "When he realized I wasn't exaggerating… he stopped arguing."
Robin fiddled with the sleeve of her jacket. "My mom cried," she admitted. "She said she didn't understand the world anymore."
Steve nodded.
Robin stayed quiet for a moment. "Are you scared?" she finally asked.
Steve took a deep breath. "A lot."
Robin nodded. "Me too."
Steve gently bumped her shoulder with his own. "But at least we're not alone."
Robin smiled—truly smiled—for the first time that night. "That helps."
...
The hospital room was silent, broken only by the steady beep of a machine. Hopper slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the white light. His body felt heavy, like he'd fought a train… and lost.
"—Hopper?"
The voice was soft, trembling.
He turned his head with effort. Eleven was sitting beside him, her hands clasped together on her knees. Dark circles framed her eyes, and her face was more serious than usual. "Kid…" he murmured. "Am I…?"
"Alive," she answered quickly. "You woke up."
Hopper let out a low laugh that turned into a cough. "Great," he said. "Guess I won."
Eleven shook her head. "No."
Hopper frowned. "What happened?"
Eleven looked down for a moment, searching for the right words. "The gate closed," she began. "The monster died. The base… was destroyed."
Hopper nodded slowly. "Then it's over."
Eleven tightened her fingers. "No."
Hopper looked at her more closely. "Once…"
She took a deep breath. "There was another man," she said. "He wasn't a normal Russian. He was from an organization… Hydra."
Hopper went completely still. "Hydra?" he repeated. "That's not—"
"It's real," she interrupted. "I saw it. I saw his mind."
Hopper swallowed. "What did you see?"
Eleven looked up. Her eyes were filled with restrained fear.
"Names."
"Addresses."
"Plans."
A knot formed in Hopper's stomach. "Plans for who?"
Eleven hesitated for a second. "For me." "…and for you."
The silence grew heavy. "Listen to me," Hopper said, forcing himself to sit up a little. "I'm not going to let—"
"You can't fight right now," Eleven said, with unusual firmness. "And even if you could… there are too many of them."
Hopper clenched his jaw. "Then we call the government."
Eleven slowly shook her head. "Hydra is inside the government."
That left him speechless. "They torture people, brainwash them to be loyal to Hydra," she continued. "They kill families. They have no limits."
Hopper closed his eyes for a second. "Son of a bitch…"
Eleven stood up from the chair and stepped closer to the bed. "There's someone else," she said. "His name is Liam."
Hopper opened his eyes. "Another lunatic with a cape?"
"No," she replied. "He's worse." "…and better."
Hopper raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
"He knows how to fight them," Eleven said. "He isn't afraid. He doesn't lie."
Hopper studied her. "Do you trust him?"
Eleven didn't answer right away. "I trust that if I stay… they'll come."
Hopper let out a heavy sigh. "So what do you want to do, kid?"
Eleven pressed her lips together. "Leave."
Hopper stared at her. "Leave… without me?"
Eleven immediately shook her head. "With you."
Hopper stayed silent for several seconds. "Once…"
"If we stay," she continued, "they'll kill the others to get to me."
"If we go… at least we can fight."
Hopper gripped the bed tightly. "I've spent my whole life trying to keep you safe."
Eleven stepped closer and took his hand. "Now let me protect you."
Hopper looked at her, surprised… and proud. "Damn it…" he murmured. "You grew up."
Eleven nodded. "We have to leave soon."
Hopper took a deep breath. "Then we'll go."
Eleven let out the breath she'd been holding. "Really?"
"Yes," Hopper replied. "Because I'm not leaving you alone in another war."
Eleven squeezed his hand tightly. "Thank you… Dad."
Hopper closed his eyes, a faint, tired smile on his face. "Always, kid."