CHAPTER FOUR:
I'M STILL STANDING.

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"THIS IS BULLSHIT."

"Hey, watch it, Eileen."

"Then answer me, Hop! I think I deserve some answers. Don't you?"

Much to the younger girls' chagrin, Penny and Eleven were told to wait in Eleven's room for a few minutes while Jim talked to Eileen alone. The last thing he needed was all of the girls talking over him and demanding answers all at the same time; talking to Eileen one on one would be tough enough as it was.

He could clearly see the anger swirling in her eyes as she harshly glared at him, the way they were narrowed on him and her arms folded, pink-chipped fingernail tapping on her arm while she impatiently waited for Jim to begin his explanation.

Jim heavily sighed once he settled into a seat, shaking his head as he glanced down at his hands. He was sitting across from Eileen in the living room, the younger girls' eyes burning straight through him. "It's not as simple as it looks, Eileen," he finally said, slowly looking up at his niece.

Eileen huffed, cocking a brow at her uncle. "Really? Because it looks like Eleven is still alive and you've known all along," she said, her anger slipping into her tone. "And you hid it from us."

Jim leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "I didn't know at first. . .but I did have my suspicions━━━"

"And you didn't think to tell us at least? Your own damn family?" Eileen snapped, shooting up from her spot on the couch. Jim sighed, leaning back in his chair as he kept his gaze on her. "You know my dad━━━your own brother━━━spends every single night searching for that little girl and━━━"

"It's not safe for anyone else to know," Jim interrupted, standing up as well. Eileen angrily shook her head, hating how she could feel her tears welling in her eyes. It was a big relief to know Eleven was alive, that she was safe. She didn't doubt that Hopper was taking good care of her. But how could her own uncle not let them know? Didn't he trust them? After all, he wouldn't have even found the girl before if it wasn't for Penny and Eileen, and the boys. "I was plannin' on tellin' you girls and your dad eventually, but. . ."

Eileen scoffed under her breath, rolling her eyes as she turned her head to the side. "Yeah, right."

"It's true," Jim firmly said. "Eileen, you know those people are still out there looking for her━━━the same people who hurt her. I won't let them find her."

"And you really think us knowin' she's still alive is somehow gonna lead them to her?"

"I couldn't risk it."

Eileen bit the inside of her cheek, brows furrowed together in thought. After a few seconds, she slowly turned her head to look at her uncle, letting out a heavy sigh as sat back down and leaned back into the cushions. "So. . .where do we go from here?" she finally asked.

"No one else can know," Jim said, a stern expression on his features as he sat down as well. "Not the boys, not your dad━━━I will tell him━━━and not that boyfriend of yours."

"He's not my boyfriend," Eileen said, furrowing her brows together in confusion.

"Whatever, kid," Jim said, dismissively shaking his head. Jim noticed how Eileen didn't ask which boy he was talking about which meant she already knew. But, he didn't comment on it. "None of your friends, alright? It's not━━━"

"Safe, yeah, yeah, I get it."

"Eileen━━━"

"Hopper, I know," Eileen heavily sighed, leaning her head to the side as she looked her uncle in the eye. She twisted her lips, offering him a small smile. "I can't tell a soul. I understand, okay? I know how important it is to keep El safe."

"Good," Jim said, nodding his head. Eileen might not like it, however she could keep a secret. Jim partially turned, doing a double take when he saw Penny and Eleven peeking out of Eleven's bedroom door. Their eyes widened and the door quickly shut, but they'd already been caught eavesdropping. Jim breathed out a laugh, leaning back in his chair. "Girls, it's alright. You can come on out now."

The door slowly opened and Eileen offered the girls a small smile as they sheepishly stepped out. "Hear anything interesting?" Jim wondered, raising a brow in Penny's direction.

"Uh, no, I don't think so. . ." Penny said, her voice dragging off at the end as she nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders. "Did you, El?"

Eleven quickly shook her head, the corner of her lip tweaking up as she tried not to smile. "No."

Jim breathed out a scoff, a small smile lingering on his lips. Eleven and Penny walked over, sitting next to Eileen on the couch. Eileen offered Eleven a small smile, facing her uncle again. "How have you managed to hide her this whole time?" Eileen wondered.

"By not telling anyone and keeping her inside where it's safe," Jim said.

"That's pretty smart, Uncle Hop," Penny said, nodding her head as if she was impressed. "No one knows about this place━━━well, no one except for ussss."

"And we're gonna keep it that way," Jim said, giving Eileen and Penny stern looks.

Eileen playfully rolled her eyes, her smile lingering on her lips. "We promise we won't tell anyone. Don't we, Pen?" Penny shifted at the other end of the couch, twisting her lips. Eileen's expression fell. She leaned forward to see Penny around Eleven, raising her eyebrows at her little sister. Eleven frowned, staring at her friend. "Don't we, Penelope?"

"Penny," Jim said, giving his niece a stern look that reminded her of one her father would give her whenever she did something wrong. "You know you can't tell anyone. . .right?"

Penny's frown deepened, letting out a quiet sigh as she glanced around at them. "I know. I know it's to keep her safe, but can't I just tell Mike? He should━━━"

"No, no," Jim immediately denied, shaking his head. Mike Wheeler was probably the last person he wanted to know Eleven was alive. "Absolutely not."

"But━━━"

"No buts, Penelope. He can't know. No one else can know," Jim firmly said. "The more people that know, the more danger that puts Eleven in."

Eileen frowned, stealing a glance at Eleven. There was a small frown etched on her lips, hands placed in her lap as she leaned into the back of the couch. Some of her dark curls dangled in her eyes, but she was still focused on Hopper. Eileen wondered if Eleven had already tried talking Jim into telling more people that she was alive before she and Penny found out.

"Soon," Eleven softly said.

"Huh?" Penny asked, turning her head towards Eleven in confusion. Eileen furrowed her brows together, stealing a subtle glance at Hopper. Hopper sighed, running his hands over his face. He knew Eleven wanted to see her friends again, but it still wasn't safe. He wished they understood that.

"Soon," Eleven repeated. "I can tell him soon."

"We'll tell them soon," Jim said, looking at Penny again. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. Eileen shifted in her spot, twisting her lips. "And now it's time for you girls to go home. It's gettin' late."

"But what about Eleven?" Penny frowned. "We can't just leave her with you."

Jim scoffed with offense, shaking his head as he stood up from the chair. Eleven softly laughed, smiling along with Penny. "I think we'll be just fine without you two," Jim said, giving his niece a small smile. "You can visit again, but not for a couple days, and only a few times a month at most."

"So when then?" Penny asked, standing up when Jim motioned for them to get up. Eileen and Eleven stood up as well, walking towards the door.

"I'll let you know."

"So soon you mean?"

Jim heavily sighed, glaring down at Penny. Eileen bit the inside of her cheek, hoping to stop herself from smiling more than she already was. She couldn't deny that her sister was almost as much of a smartass as she was━━━something they inherited from their father though he always denied it. "Smartass," Jim grumbled, shaking his head as he patted the top of the girl's head. Penny huffed, swatting his hand away, though a small smile appeared on her lips for just a few moments.

Eileen's hand wrapped around the door handle, but then she turned around to face Hopper. "What am I supposed to tell Dad?"

"Just. . .tell him she was at one of the boys' houses. . .Dustin's. That's where I found you both," Jim said, shrugging his shoulders. "Then I told you to go home."

"What if he doesn't believe us?" Penny wondered.

Jim chuckled at that. "You're his daughters. He'll believe anything you girls say. And, I'll talk to him in the morning, too. Same story, yeah?"

"Alright," Eileen softly nodded, offering Jim and Eleven a small smile. Eleven returned it, waving at Eileen and Penny. "I'm glad you're back, El."

"Me too," Eleven said.

Penny smiled as well, wrapping her arms around Eleven. Eleven's smile widened, happily hugging her back. Eileen chuckled under her breath, pulling her keys out of her pocket. "Alright, come on, Pen," Eileen said, twisting the doorknob. "It's getting late. I don't want Dad to have a heart attack."

"Me either," Hopper agreed.

Penny stepped away from Eleven, giving her and Jim a smile. "Bye."

"See ya," Jim said.

Eileen nodded, giving them another wave before she and Penny slipped out of the cabin. Jim shut the door behind them, moving over to the window to make sure nothing strange happened while they were leaving. Eleven stood beside him, a tiny smile still present on her lips. She might not be able to see all of her friends, but she was thankful Penny and Eileen were both back in her life now.

Penny was a few steps ahead of Eileen, messing with the zipper of her jacket as fallen leaves and twigs crunched beneath her feet. Eileen fastened her pace, lifting her hand and hitting Penny in the back of the head. "Ow!" Penny gasped, cradling the back of her head. She sharply glared at Eileen, anger evident in her eyes. "What the hell was that for?"

"For sneaking off. Obviously," Eileen said, returning Penny's glare. "I thought something might've happened to you."

"I was fine."

"Well how the hell was I supposed to know that?"

Penny bit the inside of her cheek, lowering her head as they neared Eileen's car. "I'm sorry," she softly said. "I should've told you, or asked Dad."

Eileen heavily sighed, standing by the hood of her car as she looked across at Penny. "I'm. . .I'm sorry for hitting you. . .and for calling you a little shit earlier."

Penny chuckled under her breath, shrugging her shoulders. "It's alright. I've called you worse."

Eileen gaped, watching in disbelief as Penny climbed into the passenger seat without another word. After a few seconds she laughed to herself, shaking her head as she climbed in as well. Hopper and Eleven watched them leave through the window, their eyes scanning the woods to make sure there wasn't anyone else out there. Eileen could faintly make out their shadows behind the curtain and she smiled, lifting her hand and waving at them as she started to back down the uneven path. Penny waved as well, smiling when they saw Jim and Eleven wave back. Then Eileen turned her car around, heading back home with her sister safe and sound beside her.

It didn't take long for the girls to arrive home after getting back onto the main road, finding their father fast asleep in his recliner in the living room. Eileen held a finger to her lips, signaling for Penny to be quiet as she walked up beside her. Then she motioned to the hall, telling Penny to just head to bed. She did as instructed, quietly shutting her door as she flicked on her light. Eileen then quietly sighed, softly smiling down at her sleeping father.

He looked so at peace.

The TV in the corner was still on, giving a late news report for the weather for the rest of the week. The newspaper was on the end table next to Andy, a flashlight on top of it. Eileen curiously tilted her head, sighing when she saw a map under the newspaper. She carefully pulled it out, frowning when she saw roads and landmarks crossed out with a red maker. Andy was marking off all of the places he'd searched for Eleven; some of those spots Eileen had searched with her father, but they'd had no luck.

It pained her to now know where the girl was, but she couldn't tell her father. But, Hopper would tell him, and hopefully that would be very soon.

She wasn't sure how long she or Penny could keep it from him.

She quietly set the map back down, tucking it under the newspaper so hopefully it wouldn't be obvious someone had moved it. Then she walked into the kitchen, opening one of the drawers by the sink; it was their designated "junk drawer". She pulled out a notepad and a pen from the mess of scratch paper, markers, random tools, and spare buttons, quietly shutting the drawer with her hip. She twisted around and set the pad on the counter, scribbling down a note for her father to read when he woke up.

Hey Dad! You were sleeping when we got back and we didn't wanna wake you. I found Penny at Dustin's, so it's all good! I didn't notice what time it was uncle Uncle Hop showed up because you were worried. Sorry!

I love you!

Eileen, aka your favorite daughter <3

Eileen snickered to herself and walked back over to her father, placing it in his lap under the remote so he would have to see it when he stood up. Then she walked over to the front door, kicking off her shoes and nudging them by the wall. She quickly locked the door, never knowing if the one time it wasn't locked that something terrible would enter their home. She made her way down the hall and into her bedroom, closing the door behind her as she turned on the lamp on her desk. She stepped over to her closet and slipped out of her clothes, putting on a fuzzy sweater and some plaid pajama pants. She shuffled over to her bed and sat on the edge, flopping down onto her back with her arms tossed out.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds, just enjoying the silence that embraced the Nelson home. She could hear crickets chirping just outside her window, some wind rustling the leaves and making the branches dance in the moonlight. She tiredly smiled to herself, tucking her arms under her head as she enjoyed the moment to herself.

She wasn't sure how long she laid like that, but soon she started to dream, or so she thought.

The foul stench of blood suddenly filled Eileen's nose, causing her to scrunch her face in disgust. Her eyes fluttered open, blinking a few times as she found herself sitting in the back of an old, dingy school bus. It was rather dark, some of the seats missing with a ladder propped up beside her that stuck out of the emergency hatch in the roof. She pushed herself onto her feet in confusion, stumbling forward as her vision blurred.

She gasped, blinking again as she tried to get her eyes to adjust to the darkness again. "Hello?" she called out, frowning when she heard a grotesque growl in the distance.

She pushed her legs forward, her vision finally starting to clear. She used the seats for support, having a hard time staying on her feet. She reached the front of the bus and walked down the first few steps. She pushed open the bus doors with both of her hands, furrowing her brows together when she saw a tall figure standing a few yards away.

"Hello?" she called out again, but her voice was too quiet for them to hear her.

The figure lifted something in their hands, continuing to look in the opposite direction. They were blurred, but Eileen could faintly make out dark hair.

Was it Dean?

There was more growling that had grown closer and then a loud thud from above. Eileen flinched, gasping when something jumped out in front of her. Someone behind her screamed her name and the figure in the distance instantly whipped around.

A black blob stood on top of Eileen, snarling at her. It pounced, knocking her onto her back. She hissed as her head hit the floor, but that pain was nothing compared to the feeling of blob digging its razor sharp claws into Eileen's sides. She screamed at the top of her lungs, eyes clenching shut as the pain shot through her entire body.

"EILEEN, NO!"

Eileen's eyes snapped open, panting as her eyes frantically darted around her bedroom. She felt her sides, checking for any red wetness or claw markings. But, there wasn't anything that wasn't there before. She let out a shaky breath, blinking around her room.

She wasn't on a bus. She was still in her room.

Safe and sound.

Her desk lamp had been turned off, and as a matter of fact, she noticed she'd been moved since laying down on her bed after she got home. Her head was on one of her pillows, legs stretched out in front of her with the blanket on her.

She furrowed her brows together in confusion, spotting something on the edge of her nightstand. She curiously reached over, reading the note.

Hey, daughter! A call would've been nice, but I'm glad Hop found you girls. And don't worry, I will be talking to Jim in the morning and to you girls as well. We have some things we need to discuss.

Love you, honey!

Dad, aka your favorite father xxx.

Eileen managed to breath out a tired laugh, setting the note back down where she found it. She slowly laid back on her bed, allowing her head to sink into her pillows. That dream​​━━━no, nightmare━━━had felt so real. It was too real. She felt the claws dig into her side, the blood splatter onto her and her clothes. The stench of blood still lingered in her nose. And that scream. . .she could still hear it echoing inside her head.

She didn't shout her own name.

Someone else did.

But who?