22 | Escape

"Hey!" Holly shouted as Lucas kneeled on the sofa, leaning over and pulling the plug out, turning off the power for her toy. "I'm sorry!" Dustin apologised, grabbing toy and Lucas grabbed the rest of the things and Erica handed her and pack of skittles. "For your understanding!" She exclaimed, Holly holding on to them and looking back at the group confused. Dustin pushed Nancy's door open, placing the Lite Brite on the bed and scrambling, placing the beads on the board. "Come on. Come on." Y/n muttered, Eddie smiling at them, assuring them they'd be fine. "Okay, that's it. Go, go, go." Dustin demanded once the board was covered, Lucas plugging it in and switching it on. "Okay, you guys seeing this?" Dustin asked, patiently waiting for an answer. "Seeing this?" they heard Dustin say, Y/n reaching their hand in, everyone smiling as they moved it around. The board shone brighter, Erica, Dustin and Lucas all getting excited. "Holy shit!" Erica cheered, Dustin laughing and shaking her slightly.

"We're not moving it, but we're gonna unplug it, stand by. Yank it!" Dustin told Lucas, him following the orders and pulled the cable out. "Okay, try it now!" Dustin suggested, praying it would work. "Okay, um, uh...Hi." Y/n started with, hearing Dustin's laugh echo throughout the room. "H... Hi! That worked!" he assured, everyone cheering, Y/n moving out the way for Nancy to communicate. "Hi!" Eddie responded, leaning forward with excitement and making y/n laugh with the slightly aggressive tone. "Okay, um..." Nancy paused, thinking of what to say to make it quick and easy. "S...t...u..c...k. 'stuck.'" Dustin said, trying to figure out what they were referring to. "They're stuck in the upside down!" Lucas worked out, Dustin thinking of what to ask. "Uh, you can't get back through Watergate?" he asked, earning a confused look from Steve.

"What the hell's Watergate?" he asked, looking at the group for answers - particularly Y/n, hoping they'd understand their brother. "'Cause it's in water and it's a gate." they told him, Steve slowly nodding, muttering an 'oh'. "That's cute." Eddie said, tilting his head and pulled a face, giving it to Dustin. "Um, no. It's...uh..." Nancy said before spelling the word out. "G...u...a...r...d....e...d. Okay, uh, Watergate's guarded. Okay, we think we have a theory that can help with that." he said, hoped the message would get through. "...Genuis child." Y/n muttered, feeling proud of him. "We think that Watergate isn't the only gate. That there's a gate at every murder site." he said. "...murder site." they heard, making the group even more confused as to why he was saying. "Does anybody understand what he's talking about?" Nancy interrogated, everyone shaking their heads no so she drew a question mark. "Seriously? How many times do I have to be right on the money before you guys just trust me!" he ranted, the group listening to him.

"Jesus Christ, this kid's gotta get his ego in check." Steve commented, Eddie and Y/n agreeing. "it's his tone, right?" Eddie added, looking at Y/n to make sure they were okay with what they had said about their brother. "Yeah, no, totally agreed." they second, shaking their head at their brother's rant. "Wait...okay! I know what he means! So...so how far is your trailer, Eds?" Y/n asked, turning to him. "Seven miles." he informed them, Y/n nodding before turning to Nancy. "Uh, I know your house here is, like, weirdly, creepily frozen in time and shit, but haven't you always had bikes?" they asked, Nancy nodding. She got up, heading out to the garage with the others. "There's only four bikes, someone will have to share or something." Steve pointed out, looking at the group. "Y/n can share one with me! If that's okay with them, of course." Eddie suggested, looking over at them as they nodded, getting onto the bike, standing on the ledge on the back wheel. "Here, so you don't fall off." Eddie said, putting their hands on him so they could cling on for support.

"Oh, little pigs, oh little pigs. Let officer Callahan in." he sung, tapping the door lightly before opening it and walking in. The room was empty, the window wide open and clattering was heard outside. "Hey! Excuse me! No, get back here!" he shouted, leaning out the window as they quickened their pace, alerting the adults downstairs. "Lucas! Dusty! Lucas! Erica! get back here!" the parents called, running out the house but giving up as they saw them already halfway up the street.

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They chucked the bikes to the side, stumbling over to Eddie's trailer. "That's gotta be a Guinness world record for most miles travelled interdimensionally." Robin panted, catching her breath again. They all walked in, gazing at the beaming red gate in front of their eyes on Eddie's ceiling. "This is where Chrissy died. Like, right where she died." Eddie recalled, grimacing as he had flashbacks from that night. "I think there's something in there." Robin muttered, leaning forward as the middle dipped. "What the hell is that?" Eddie said, stepping back and putting an arm in front of Y/n. Suddenly something stabbed through, making them all yelp and jump backwards. "Hi there!" Dustin laughed, Erica, Lucas and Max all waving as the rest of them waved back, letting out relieved sighs.

Max and Lucas carried through the old mattress, placing it under the gate while Erica and Dustin tied together all the bed sheets and covers, they could find, making a rope. "Those stains are, uh...I dunno what those stains are." Eddie gave up, glaring at Y/n who sniggered while Robin and Nancy gave him side glances. "Not quite sure how these physics are gonna work. But, uh...here goes nothing." Dustin said, throwing the make shift rope through. Y/n and Eddie stood back, letting the others watch. "Hey Eds? What's...what's your favourite song, in case anything happens?" Y/n questioned, playing with the rings on his fingers. Eddie thought about it for a second, debating it in his head. "Honestly, probably Master of puppets, since it came out recently." he admitted, Y/n nodding, a small smile appearing as they silently thanked the lord, having got the cassette a few weeks ago.

"What about you?" he asked, intertwining his hands with theirs. "...That's a hard question. Probably...I was made for lovin' you? by Kiss?" they said, Eddie frowning, trying to remember how it goes. "Remind me of what one it is again." he asked, Y/n biting their tongue but giving in. "'I was made for lovin' you baby, you were made for loving me.'" they sung, Eddie trying to hide his grin and still putting on the facade that he didn't know it. "You really don't know it?" they gawked, Eddie bursting out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. "No, no, I do know it, I just wanted to hear you sing. You've got a nice voice." he complimented, Y/n going to respond but being cut off.

"Guess I'm the Guinea pig." Robin slightly joked, lifting herself onto the rope and using her body weight to climb up it. Once through, she fell, landing flat against the mattress. "Oh, thank God. That was fun." she commented, smiling up at the others as Dustin helped her off. Next was Nancy, Steve helping her up and she climbed, laughing as she hit the mattress, Max helping her off and to the side where she joined Robin. Eddie, Y/n and Steve all looked between each other, silently arguing over who goes next. "All right, guess I'll go." Eddie volunteered, climbing up and also falling through.

"That...was fun." he agreed with Robin, smiling through to Y/n and Steve. "Come on Y/n/n!" he called, sending a thumbs up. They nodded at him before turning to Steve. "See you on the other side." Steve commented, Y/n nodding and repeating his words as he gave them a boost, Y/n pulling themself up as they braced for the impact that never came. Instead, they found themselves tumbling through darkness, completely silent. The only thig they could hear was their shout, grunting as they hit the ground. Their heart sunk as they noticed where they were, the flashback playing in their mind, unable to escape out of it. "Y/n? Hey! Hey! Stay with me, Y/n! Hey! Y/n, wake up! Wake up! Y/n!" Steve shouted, shaking their body as Dustin and Eddie tried to shout through too.

"Vecna."