Sitting at a cold metal table with Nancy and across from Jonathan, Sloane couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into. Here she was, sitting in a very sketchy government lab with two teenagers who had no idea what the hell they were doing. Not a comfortable situation, really.

Standing up from the table, Nancy looked straight into the camera in the corner of the room, shouting, "Hey! Hey, assholes! Let us out of here!"

Just as she finished her statement, the door opened causing Sloane to jump halfway out of her skin. Being in this building sent a chill down her spine, especially now that she knew everything about the cruel, twisted things and actions these walls contained.

An older man with gray hair wearing a labcoat peeked through the doorway, exclaiming, "Oh! Not very pleasant in here, is it?"

"Tell me about it," Sloane scoffed under breath while her legs were kicked up on the table and her arms were crossed.

The man continued, "Sorry about that. Hospitality's not our strong suit. You know, scientists and all." When none of the three teenagers responded to him, he sighed and checked his watch, "Yeah. Okay. You up for a little walk?"

Sloane had a feeling when he asked this that they didn't actually have much of a choice in the matter, so she dropped her feet from the table and stood up, trying her best to appear intimidating. Of course, it didn't help that she was only 5'2" but she did what she could. They hesitated as the scientist left the room.

He called back after, saying, "I'm assuming you're behind me!" This caused all of them to jump into action and finally leave that dreadful room. Sloane felt relieved to be out of there, but the alternative wasn't much of an upgrade. Surrounded by white tile walls and gray floors along with the dim lighting made the hallways appear threateningly dark, never a good sign.

"Men of science have made abundant mistakes of every kind," the man quoted as they walked, "George Sarton said that. You guys know who George Sarton is? Doesn't really matter. The point is, mistakes have been made. Yes."

"Mistakes?" Nancy questioned, skepticism dripping from her tone.

"Yes," he continued.

"You killed Barbara," the brunette spit.

"Little more than a mistake, doc," Sloane backed her up, crossing her arms to provide any amount of warmth the cold hallways of the facility lacked greatly.

The scientist simply brushed this off, saying, "Abundant mistakes, but the men involved with those mistakes, the ones responsible for what happened to your brother and Miss Holland's death, they're gone. They're gone, for better or for worse, I'm the schmuck they brought in to make things better. But I can't make things better without your help."

Nancy scoffed, rightfully so, "You mean without shutting us up?"

"She's tough, this one. You guys been together long?" The man asked Jonathan, causing Sloane to snort from behind them in an attempt to hold back her laughter.

Glaring at Sloane for a moment, Jonathan turned back to the man and said, "We're not together."

"Wanna see what really killed your friend?" he continued as if he never mentioned Jonathan and Nancy. He guided them into a room with a door that had to be at least a foot thick that looked akin to the door of safe. This, of course, made Sloane feel the opposite of secure. "Teddy, I brought you an audience today. I hope you don't mind."

"More the merrier, sir," a man, who Sloane assumed was Teddy, responded as everyone hustled around the small room. She was afraid of what the scientist was going to show her, not knowing what horrors could have killed Nancy's friend, Barb. Although Sloane never got to meet her, she had to assume she was a good person since Nancy's judgment hadn't failed yet. Well, except maybe with Jonathan, but that's more an exception than the rule. The scientist motioned them over, looking at the object behind the glass.

Sloane wouldn't know how to describe it if she tried. A crack covered in weeds and vines that had rotted before they even lived. Something was just barely growing beneath it, the pulsating light sending a chill through her veins.

"I'd call it one hell of a mistake, wouldn't you?" he asked as their eyes were glued to whatever this thing was. "See, the thing is, we can't seem to erase our mistake... but we can stop it from spreading. Like, it's pulling weeds. But imagine for a moment if a foreign state, let's say, the Soviets... if they heard about our mistake... do you think they would even consider that a mistake? What if they tried to replicate that? The more attention we bring to ourselves... the more people like the Hollands know the truth, the more likely that scenario becomes. You see why I have to stop the truth from spreading, too. Just, same as those weeds there. By whatever means necessary."

A man inside took a blowtorch to this so-called weed and a painful, wretched screeching sound could be heard. Sloane couldn't take her eyes off of the blaze and neither could Nancy or Jonathan. They were mesmerized by it.

The man circled, coming around behind them, prompting, "So, we understand each other now, don't we?"

They all nodded and just like that they were being escorted off the property. The scientist left them and the man who had "offered them a ride" earlier followed behind them, guiding them out of the lab. Sloane couldn't believe this was happening, none of this felt real. As they got outside, Sloane was grateful to feel even the pitiful Hawkins sun on her skin.

The man handed Jonathan his keys, grunting, "Have a nice day."

Sloane scoffed at the statement, glaring at the man as he walked away. As soon as they got in the car and began driving, she exclaimed, "Hey, what the fuck did I get myself into with you two? What if they decided to just kill us or something?"

"They didn't," Nancy assured, looking fairly shaken up herself, "We have everything we need."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sloane asked as she grabbed the sides of both of the front seats and pushed herself forward so she could see both Nancy and Jonathan. In Nancy's lap, she could see the tape recorder she had purchased the day before. The gears in Sloane's mind began to whir and turn as she made the connection. "You didn't, there's no way you got everything."

"Just wait," Nancy held up a finger as she played back the tape recording.

Sure enough, the scientist's voice came through the tape, saying, "Doesn't really matter. The point is, mistakes have been made." Nancy fast-forwarded the tape, it continued, "The men involved with those mistakes, the ones responsible for what happened to your brother and Miss Holland's death, they're gone." She re-winded it, those words pouring out once again.

"Holy shit," Sloane remarked, her voice coated in disbelief and relief, "Nancy Wheeler you sly motherfucker."

Nancy took a deep breath, looking at Sloane with something mischevious in her eyes. There was also a sadness to it, but it was understandable considering how close Nancy was to this. "Thank you, Sloane, for believing me."

The blonde smiled, throwing the girl a wink as she sat back in her seat, "Always, Wheeler."

Looking from Sloane to Nancy, Jonathan asked, "Do you guys still wanna do this?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Nancy nodded, "Let's burn that lab to the ground."

Sloane may have been completely in over her head, but as the three of them drove past the Hawkins city limits, there wasn't an ounce of regret in her bones. She would ride with Nancy Wheeler as long as she was wanted. Leaving Hawkins behind, she was going to do everything she could to make sure that by the end of this, it was her and Nancy. Always.

im so excited for the upcoming chapters oh my gosh!