Break and Mend | "Lost and Found" Sequel

Chapter Eighteen: The Sacrifice

Just past the Chief's shoulder, Dr Owens had spotted someone. When Hopper noticed his stare, he turned his head and nodded at the sight of El, who hadn't stayed behind. "Oh, yeah, I've been meaning to tell you," He turned back around and fastened the belt around the doctor's leg to stop the bleeding. "This is Eleven. Eleven, Doc Owens. Doc Owens, Eleven."

El narrowed her eyes at the man. She wondered why he had the same nickname as (Y/N). She wouldn't be very fond of calling him 'Doc', but she wasn't sure if she would be calling him anything at all. Still, she would have to ask Mike or Doc about it sometime.

"She's been staying with me for about a year, and she's about to save our asses." Hopper continued, stopping what he was doing to stare Dr Owens in his eyes. "Maybe when all this is said and done, maybe you could help her out, too, you know? Maybe you could help her lead, like, a normal life. One where she's not poked and prodded and... treated like some kind of lab rat, you know? I don't know, just a thought."

Hopper suddenly tightened the belt on Owens's leg for emphasis, the man groaning out in pain. Hopper reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

"But, uh... think about it." He smiled. When Owens tiredly nodded, he pulled his gun out of his holster and handed it to the doctor. "Don't go anywhere."

Dr Owens chuckled very weakly with a smile just as weak as Hopper began down the next flight of stairs with El in tow.

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Steve and the kids journeyed through their path within the Upside Down, Steve's head snapping up and down from the map to the path ahead. When they all flashed their lights up at the ceiling (if you could call it that), they shivered at the spores that pumped with life, blowing the white particles in the air.

"God." Lucas shuddered.

"What is this place?" Max quietly wondered aloud.

"Guys, come on. Keep moving." Steve called ahead of them. He led them through a tunnel in front of them without a word of protest from the kids. That was until they heard Dustin screaming bloody murder.

"Shit! Help! Help! Help!"

The four of them rushed to their friend worriedly, who was hurriedly making his way up to them with his equipment in his hands. "Shit!" He cried out and fell to the ground.

"Dustin!" They tried checking him for any wounds or anything, but he was frantically moving around too much. "What happened?"

"It's in my mouth!" He whimpered. "Some got in my mouth! Shit!"

Mike shone his light above, assuming that he meant the spore above had sprayed him in the face. His light moved back down to Dustin with the others as the boy sat on all fours, hacking his lungs out on the ground. They had no idea what to do, so they watched until anything changed for the better or worse.

After a moment, Dustin spit and then turned his head up at them. "I'm okay." He softly said. At that, everyone sighed out in annoyance and continued on their journey, but not before muttering their distaste for Dustin's overdramatic panic.

"You serious?"

"Very funny, man. Nice. Very nice."

"Jesus, what an idiot."

Dustin was quick to gather himself and scrambled to keep up with them. "Hang on. Wait. Wait."

It wasn't long before Steve slowed his steps to a stop. "Alright, Wheeler. I think we found your hub." He turned to the Wheeler in question as the kids all stopped to see where they now found themselves. They had finally come upon an area where several tunnels met, their entrances surrounding a great space covered in vines that they would all have to be careful of.