Jeanette's outfit:

• 🧝🏼‍♀️🏹👾 •

Chapter Seven

Steve struggled against the bat-like creatures as they strangled and bit him until one of them suddenly got smacked away from him. The creature whimpered slightly as it hit the ground a few feet away before getting up and flying away.

Standing next to Steve, stood Nancy, holding an oar, which she had used to hit the creature. Behind her stood Jeanette, Robin and Eddie. Jeanette tightly held her ax while Eddie held a second oar. "Hey there." Nancy said before smacking away the other creature that was biting Steve before Robin ran over to the one strangling him.

"Quick! Hold it, Robin!" Nancy said as Robin stepped on the things' tail before Nancy started beating it with the oar. Jeanette was about to move over to them but there was a loud screech in the distance, making her look over to see others flying over. "Damn it." She said, making Eddie look over before hitting one as he flew at them.

One of the bat-like creatures flew at Nancy, landing on her back, making her and Robin try to get it off. Another one flew at Eddie making him smack it with his oar, breaking the oar in the process, while Steve bit the tail of the creature, making it let go off his neck, but he still kept a hold of it. Jeanette swung her ax at a creature, making it slightly fly away from her with each swing.

Robin managed to get the creature off of Nancy before slamming it on the ground before Nancy quickly got up and grabbed her oar. "Go to hell!" Nancy said before slamming the end of the oar on the creature's head. Steve tightly held on to the one creature's tail as he stood up before slamming it on the ground.

"Come on, you son of a bitch!" Eddie yelled as he swung at a creature, making it fly away from him, "I said come on! Let's go!" He yelled as it flew back at him but he stabbed the end of the broken oar into its mouth before slamming it into the ground. Jeanette swung her ax at the creature messing with her, the blade grazing the creature's side, making it screech in pain before flying away from her.

She glanced back at the others the same time as Eddie looked at her, before his eyes widened slightly. "Look out!" He yelled, making her quickly turn around, blindly swinging the ax, slicing one of the bat-like creatures in half.

Everyone looked over at Steve as he repeatedly slammed the creature on the ground before stepping on its body and pulling on its tail, ripping it in half. He breathed heavily as he spit out some blood before looking at everyone. "Steve!" Nancy said as she quickly started walking over to him, "Jesus Christ. Jesus H. Christ!" Eddie yelled.

"Are you okay?" Nancy asked as she and Steve looked over his wounds, "Well, they took about a pound of flesh. But other than that, yeah, never better." Steve said while Robin was looking at one of the creatures. "Uh, do you guys think these bats have, like, rabies?" Robin asked, making them all look at her, "What?" Jeanette asked.

"It's just that rabies are, like, my number one greatest fear. And I think we should probably get you to a doctor, like, really soon because once symptoms set in, it's too late. You're already, like, dead." Robin rambled and they all just stared at her for a moment before Jeanette sighed softly.

"Well, I don't think rabies are a problem for monsters in the Upside Down... but getting you to a doctor is a good idea. Last thing we need is you dying from an infection." Jeanette said and almost immediately after she said that, there was a loud screeching in the distance. They all turned around to see more of the bat-like creatures flying towards them.

But instead of immediately attacking the group, the creatures all got down to the floor around and screeched at them. "All right. There's not that many. We can take them. Right?" Steve asked before there were more screeches in the distance. "You were saying?" Robin asked as they could see more creatures flying in the distance.

Nancy glanced around before noticing a forest, making her eyes widen. "The woods. Come on." She said before running towards the woods, making everyone quickly follow. "Great. More running." Robin said before running after everyone.

After a while of running, the group was hiding under the Upside Down world version of Skull Rock, waiting for the flying colony of bat-like creatures to pass. After a moment the screeches got quieter and sounded more distant, making them start to stand up. "Okay. That was close." Jeanette said and Eddie nodded, "Yeah. Too close." He said as they walked out from underneath the rock.

Steve stumbled slightly before falling against one of the rocks, making everyone look at him. "Steve? Jesus." Nancy said as she quickly walked over to him, "I'm fine. I'm fine." Steve said. "No, no, no. You're not. You're losing blood. Come on, sit. All right?" Nancy said as she held Steve sit down.

Steve winced slightly as he slowly moved his hand away from his wound, which looked worse than before. "Oh shit..." Jeanette mumbled as she and Robin crouched down next to Nancy as she started ripping a part of her shirt. "Okay. So the good news is I'm pretty sure wooziness is not a common symptom of rabies." Robin started to ramble while Jeanette helped Nancy.

"But if you start having hallucinations or muscle spasms or you start feeling aggressive, like you wanna punch me, totally let me know." Robin rambled, "Robin." Steve said, breathing heavily. "Yeah?" Robin asked, "I kinda wanna punch you." Steve said, making Robin chuckle.

"Sense of humor is still intact. That's a good sign." Robin said and Steve nodded as Jeanette used her ax to cut off the last bit of the bottom of Nancy's shirt. Jeanette got up and grabbed Robin's arm, pulling her up so Nancy could easily wrap her shirt around Steve's wounds.

"You ready?" Nancy asked as Steve raised his hands and leaned forward, "Yeah, just do it." Steve said. Nancy tightly wrapped the cloth around the bottom half of Steve's torso, making him groan slightly. "Sorry." Nancy said and Steve nodded slightly, "It's okay." He said before she wrapped the ends of the cloth back to the front.

"Too tight?" She asked and he shook his head, "No, that's good." He said before she started to tie the ends together. The two stared at each other for a moment, making Jeanette and Robin give each other knowing looks. Jeanette glanced back at Eddie to find him climbing up a rock to look out at the forest.

"So, uh, this place is like Hawkins, but with monsters and nasty shit?" He asked as he looked back at the group, "Pretty much." Nancy said as she helped Steve stand up. Eddie nodded slightly and was about to get down, but Jeanette quickly spoke up, making him stop. "Wait, watch out for the vines. From what I've learned, this is all a hivemind." She said, making Eddie look down at the tentacle like vines that moved slightly, "It's all a what?" He asked.

"All the creepy crawlies around here, dude. They're, like, one or something. You step on a wide, you're stepping on a bat, you're stepping on Vecna." Steve said and Eddie nodded, "Shit." He said before very carefully climbing down. "But everything from our world is still here, right? Except people, obviously." Robin asked and Nancy nodded, "As far as I understand it, yeah." She said and Jeanette caught on to what Robin was going at.

"So, theoretically, we could go to the police station and get some guns, something better than one small ax." Jeanette said and Robin nodded and pointed at her, "And grenades, whatever we need to blow up those bat things that are guarding the gate." Robin said. "Yeah, I highly doubt the Hawkins PD has grenades, Robin. But guns, yeah, sure." Steve said and realization slowly crossed over Nancy's features.

"Well, we don't have to go all the way downtown for guns. I have guns, in my bedroom." Nancy said, making Eddie raise his eyebrows, "You, Nancy Wheeler, have guns, plural, in your bedroom?" He asked and Robin pointed at him. "Full of surprises, isn't she?" Robin asked, "A Russian Makarov and a revolver." Nancy said and Steve stepped up next to her, "Yeah, you almost shot me with that one." He said, making her look at him in amusement.

"You almost deserved it." She said and they stared at each other for a moment until Steve got hit with Eddie's vest. "For your modesty, dude." Eddie said before all of the sudden everything started shaking violently like an earthquake. Eddie quickly wrapped his arm around Jeanette's waist, while she grabbed Robin's arm as they fell to the ground and Steve held onto Nancy.

One all the shaking stopped they all glanced at each other before there was screeching in the distance. "Yeah, so guns seem like a pretty good idea to me." Eddie said and Jeanette, who was leaning against his chest, nodded. "I agree." She said as she glanced back at him before noticing the position they were in.

They stared at each other for a moment before Jeanette sucked in a deep breath and quickly started to get up. Robin grabbed her arm and helped her up, giving her a knowing smug look in the process, making Jeanette give her a dirty look.

"So what are we waiting for?" Eddie asked as he rubbed his knee before Steve clicked on the flashlight and walked past them, Nancy following him. Jeanette held her hand out, making Eddie grab it and she helped him up before they and Robin followed Steve and Nancy.

🕰

"Couldn't we have tried a road, or something just slightly less creepy?" Robin asked as they walked through the woods. She, Jeanette Nancy were at the front of the line, Jeanette occasionally glancing back at Eddie who was a little behind them while Steve walked a little ways behind him.

"I think we're getting close. We're almost out of here. Don't worry." Nancy said and Jeanette hummed slightly, "I'm gonna worry about every place we go in this dimension." She mumbled as she glanced around. "Eddie. Eddie." Steve said, making Eddie look back at him as Steve jogged up to him, "Hey, man. Uh... Listen, I just, uh... I just want to say thanks. For saving my ass back there." Steve said.

"Shit. You saved your own ass, man. I mean, that was a real Ozzy move you pulled back there." Eddie said, making Steve furrow his brows slightly, "Ozzy?" Steve asked. "When you took a bite out of that bat." Eddie said, but Steve still looked at him confused, making Eddie raise his eyebrows slightly.

"Ozzy Osbourne? Black Sabbath? He bit a bat's head off onstage. You know?" Eddie said and Steve shook his head slightly, "I don't-" He said. "It's very metal, what you did. That's all I'm saying." Eddie said and Steve nodded slightly, "Thanks." He said. "Henderson told me you were a badass. Insisted on the matter, in fact." Eddie said, making Steve look at him, "Wait, Henderson said that?" He asked.

"Oh yeah. Shit. Kid worships you, dude. Like, you have no idea. It's kinda annoying, to be honest." Eddie said, making Steve chuckle lightly, "I don't even know why I care what that little shrimp thinks, but, uh, guess I got a little jealous, Steve." Eddie said and they glanced at each other.

"I guess I couldn't accept the fact that Steve Harrington was actually a good dude. Rich parents, popular, chicks love him. Not a douche? No way, man. No way. That's, like, flies in the face of all the laws in the universe and my own personal Munson doctrine." Eddie said and Steve chuckled quietly as Eddie glanced at him.

"Still super jealous as hell, by the way." Eddie said, making Steve laugh, "Which is why I would never have jumped in that lake to save your ass. Not under any, uh... normal circumstances." Eddie said as he glanced around, before there was the sound of something snapping and growling in the distance, making them stop and look around for a moment.

"Nope. Outside of D&D, I am no hero." Eddie said as they slowly started walking again, "I see danger and I just turn heel and run. Or at least that's what I've learned about myself this week." Eddie said and Steve hit his chest lightly. "Give yourself a break, man." Steve said and Eddie stopped walking and turned to him, "See. The only reason I came in here was cause those ladies came in straight after you." Eddie said as they looked over at the girls.

"Now, I was too ashamed to be the one who stayed behind. But Wheeler right there, she didn't waste a second. Not one second. She just dove right in." Eddie said as Steve stared at Nancy for a moment, "Now, I don't know what happened between you two, but if I were you, I would get her back. Cause that was as unambiguous a sign of true love as these cynical eyes have ever seen." Eddie said and Steve looked back over at the girls for a moment.

"Was that really the only reason you came in here?" Steve asked, making Eddie look at him confused, "Was being ashamed the only reason or was Jeanette part of it?" Steve asked and Eddie stared at him for a moment before shaking his head slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about." He said, making Steve raise his eyebrows, "Really? Because I see the way you look at her. I know you like her." Steve said.

"How do you know?" Eddie asked and Steve looked at him in amusement, "Because that's how I look at Nancy." Steve said, making Eddie look over at Jeanette at the same time as she glanced back at them. "She totally likes you by the way, man." Steve said and Eddie shook his head slightly, "Not like that will go anywhere. Isn't her family, like, super religious? To the point she doesn't date anyone who isn't?" Eddie asked and Steve chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"I wouldn't worry about that." He said, making Eddie cock an eyebrow slightly but before he could question him, everything started shaking like an earthquake again. "Here we go again." Eddie said in annoyance as they all stumbled slightly, "Okay. Second on my list of least favorite things, earthquakes. Seriously, I'm unsteady enough as it is." Robin said as the girls leaned against some trees.

Nancy glanced around slightly before noticing something in the distance, making her walk towards it. "Nancy!" Jeanette called out as she helped Robin stand up, "Where are you going? Nancy!" Robin yelled.

Nancy walked out of the tree line to find an open area with fallen transmission towers and a house in the distance. "Nancy!" Jeanette said as she, Robin, Steve and Eddie ran up to Nancy. "Come on." Nancy said before walking forward, making them all follow her as thunder rumbled above them.

🕰

Nancy opened the front door to the Upside Down world version of her house before walking in with the others following behind her. Everyone glanced around, noticing how pretty much everything was covered in the vines and dust floated around in the air. "Might be time to get a maid, Wheeler." Robin said and Jeanette raised her eyebrows, "Might be time to just bulldoze." She said.

"Come on. I don't want to stay here longer than we have to." Nancy said before walking up the stairs, making everyone quickly follow behind her. Although Steve hung back a bit when he heard the distant, echoing sound of Dustin speaking.

In Nancy's room, Nancy pulled open her closet before pulling out a box and setting it on her desk. She opened it only to find a pair of heels, no guns. "Those aren't guns." Eddie said as he pointed at the box, "These heels are pointy, but I was hoping for something along the lines of a deadly projectile." Robin said and Nancy shook her head slightly.

"I don't understand." She said and Jeanette raised her eyebrows slightly as she glanced around, "Maybe you left them somewhere else." Eddie suggested, making Nancy look at him. "There's a six-year-old in the house. I know where I keep my guns." Nancy said before looking down at the shoes, "And also, I threw these away years ago." Nancy said, before Jeanette noticed notecards in the desk.

"Isn't this sophomore chemistry?" Jeanette asked as she picked up the notecards, making Nancy look over before grabbing them. She started looking through the cards making Robin raise her eyebrows, "I get that grades are important to you, but perhaps studying can wait till we get out?" Robin asked and Nancy looked up.

"Jeanette's right. These are from sophomore chemistry." Nancy said before looking up at the wall, "And this... this wallpaper, this is old wallpaper." Nancy said before she started looking around the room. "And this mirror, this went to a yard sale. And you..." She said before picking up a stuffed animal off the bed.

"You're not supposed to be here. No, I gave you to Cousin Joanna two years ago." Nancy said before noticing a journal on the nightstand, making her grab it. She flipped through it until she got to the last page with writing. The date says "Nov. 6. 1983". Nancy paused slightly as she stared at the date while the others walked around the bed.

"What is it?" Eddie asked but Nancy didn't say anything, "Nancy? You're freaking me out." Robin said and finally, Nancy spoke up. "I think the reason that my guns aren't here is because they don't exist yet." She said, making them look at her confused, "They don't... exist?" Eddie asked and Nancy turned to them.

"This diary should be full of entries. It's not. The last entry is November 6, 1983. The day Will went missing. The day the gate opened. We're in the past." Nancy said, making Robin, Jeanette and Eddie all glance at each other.

"Dustin? Dustin?" They heard Steve yell from downstairs, making them quickly run out the room and down the stairs. "Dustin! Can you hear me? Dustin! Dus- Hellow? Hel... Hello?" Steve called out as he walked around the dining room slightly, "Maybe he really does have rabies." Robin whispered as they watched Steve.

"Steve. Buddy, what are you doing?" Jeanette asked, making Steve turn to them, shining the flashlight in their faces, "He's here. Henderson. That little shit, he's here. He's like... He's in the walls or something. Just listen. Dustin." Steve said and they were quiet for a moment but didn't hear anything.

"Dustin! Dustin! Dustin! Dustin! Can you hear me?" Steve yelled and the group was still quiet until after a moment they could finally hear Dustin's voice. "That brings us to the question you first raised." They heard him say, his voice sounding distant and echoey.

"Dustin!" Everyone was calling out as they all kind of walked around, still hearing Dustin's voice. "All right, either this kid can't hear us or he's being a total douchebag." Steve said, "Will found a way." Nancy said, making them look at her, "What?" Steve asked. "Will. He found a way to speak to Joyce through the lights." Nancy said before walking