chapter nine:
❛ the source ❜

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Wren sat on the worn couch, a bowl of Cheerios in hand, as Lucas munched beside him. Mike, pacing furiously in front of them, threw another worried glance toward El's room. His sneakers squeaked against the wooden floor of Hopper's cabin, creating a rhythm that matched the anxiety buzzing in the air.

"It can't be good for her to be in there for this long," Mike muttered, hands gripping his hair. He continued pacing, his face twisted with frustration and concern. Wren exchanged an exasperated look with Max, who sat across from him, leaning casually against the counter.

"Mike, you need to chillax," Wren said, his tone dry as he spooned another bite of cereal into his mouth. Mike rolled his eyes at him.

"But what if she gets brain damage or something?" Mike said, his voice filled with panic. Wren blinked at him, pausing mid-bite, then set the bowl down.

"Mike, that's not a real thing. Jane knows her limits." Wren's voice was firm, but still calm. Max nodded in agreement, but Lucas raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

"Is that a real thing, though?" Lucas asked, looking between Wren and Max. Wren sighed, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"No, it's not. He made it up," Max jumped in before Wren could reply, defending her friend. "Mike doesn't know what the hell he's talking about."

"Oh, and you do?" Mike shot back, his voice growing more defensive. He stopped pacing long enough to glare at Wren, who rose to his feet, tired of Mike's endless fretting.

"I don't exactly, but Jane does. If it gets too far, she'll pull out of the Void. She knows how this works better than any of us," Wren explained, arms crossed over his chest. Max nodded along.

"Exactly. Thank you," Max said, shooting Mike a pointed look.

But Mike wasn't having it. "I need another opinion," he declared, brushing past them and heading toward the kitchen, where Nancy, Jonathan, and Will were talking quietly.

Max and Wren exchanged a frustrated glance before following him.

"Okay, can you guys settle an argument for us?" Max asked, her tone tinged with annoyance. Nancy, Jonathan, and Will looked up curiously.

"Who do you think should decide Jane's limits? Mike or Jane?" Wren asked pointedly, adding a sarcastic edge to his tone.

"The way you frame that is such bullshit!" Mike yelled, spinning around to glare at Wren. His face was flushed with anger.

"It's not bullshit, Mike. This is your whole problem! And it's exactly why she dumped your idiotic ass!" Wren shot back, his voice rising with frustration.

Mike froze, staring at him in disbelief, the words hitting harder than he expected. The memory of El's words-"I dump your idiotic ass"-flooded back, the sting of it still fresh. His eyes narrowed. "El dumped you?" Nancy asked, eyes wide with surprise.

"Yes!" Mike snapped, still glaring at Wren. "Because Wren and Max are conspiring against me! And because Wren likes El! I can't believe you told her to dump me!"

Wren crossed his arms, rolling his eyes as Mike's accusations flew. "Max and I told her to dump you if she was tired of you treating her like crap," Wren retorted sharply.

Mike scoffed. "Oh, yeah? Who told her to say 'I dump your idiotic ass?'" he asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I did, okay?" Max suddenly jumped in, lying to cover for Wren. Wren's eyes widened in shock, but he stayed silent.

"Whatever. Both of you are corrupting her!" Mike snapped, throwing his hands in the air.

Wren laughed dryly. "No, we're enlightening her!" Max shot back.

Mike's face twisted with anger. "The fact is, she's not your property, Mike. She's her own person, fully capable of making her own decisions. You're treating her like she's your dog or something." Wren's voice dripped with frustration.

Mike scoffed again. "Says you! Do you not remember when you bossed me around when we were 9?!"

"We were 9!" Wren shouted, his fists clenched in frustration.

"She's risking her life for no reason!" Mike fired back, his voice rising.

"For no reason!?" Wren and Nancy exclaimed in disbelief.

Nancy stepped forward, her voice firm. "Mike, the Flayed are out there doing God knows what-killing, flaying..."

"Transforming into monsters," Will added, his voice grim.

Nancy continued, "And El's not stupid. She knows her abilities better than any of us."

"Exactly! Thank you!" Max echoed, while Wren nodded.

"She is her own person," Nancy emphasized.

"Exactly," Wren and Max said in unison.

"And she has her own free will," Nancy added.

"Exactly," Wren and Max repeated, their voices almost in sync.

Wren took a step closer to Mike, his tone more serious now. "Jane has saved the world, like, what? Two times already? And you still don't trust her?"

Mike's eyes widened in disbelief. "You want to talk about trust, really?! After you and Max made El spy on us?"

Max looked away, guilt flashing across her face, but Wren's glare only intensified.

Lucas, who had been quietly listening, frowned. "Wait, what?"

Mike laughed, almost incredulously. "Oh, she didn't tell you this?" he asked, turning to Lucas. "Your girlfriend and Wren used El's powers to spy on us."

Wren scoffed. "Sure, we made her."

"No, no, no, we didn't make her," Max jumped in, defending herself and Wren.

"Exactly, it was her idea," Wren added.

"Why are we even talking about this, seriously?" Max asked, exasperated.

"Yeah, who cares?" Will agreed, sensing the rising tension.

"I care!" Lucas exclaimed, his voice full of surprise and confusion.

Mike continued, relentless. "Yeah. I guess girlfriends and girlfriend-stealers don't lie, they spy."

Wren's eyes narrowed, his voice rising. "I'm not a girlfriend-stealer!"

"We were just joking around!" Max added quickly.

"Oh, yeah? Wouldn't it have been funny if I was taking a massive shit or something?" Mike yelled, his face flushed with anger.

Max and Wren made disgusted faces, both grimacing at the thought.

"You weren't!" Wren yelled back, frustrated.

"What if I was?!" Mike yelled, stepping closer to Wren.

"Well, you weren't, Mike!" Wren shot back, his fists clenched tightly.

"Gross," Max muttered under her breath.

"Seriously, Mike and Wren, stop arguing," Nancy intervened, her voice firm, trying to diffuse the situation.

But Wren shook his head, his emotions finally boiling over. "No! I'm just trying to show how careless and controlling Mike is with Jane! Mike is treating her like she's his dog, following her around and deciding everything for her. When I first met her, she was wearing your clothes, Mike. All her outfits were hand-me-downs from you. Max and I helped her realize she can be her own person. And you know what? She helped me, too. She helped me be someone better-not just the boy who went to juvie and caused trouble."

Wren's voice softened, his emotions raw. "I care about Jane. I don't want her to die looking for the Flayed, just like you don't. But we need to trust her. I like her, Mike. I can't lose her."

The room fell into stunned silence, eyes wide, jaws dropping. Max smirked, crossing her arms, her suspicion finally confirmed.

"I knew it," Mike muttered through clenched teeth.

The tension was thick in the air, but then the sound of the door creaking open cut through the silence. All eyes turned to the doorway as Eleven stepped out, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice soft but alert.

"Nothing," Wren muttered, looking away quickly.

"Yeah, nothing," Mike said sarcastically, his voice dripping with bitterness.

"Just a family discussion," Lucas chimed in with a smirk.

El's face fell slightly, sensing the awkward tension in the room. She hesitated, then quietly added, "I found him."

"Found who?" Nancy asked, stepping forward.

Eleven sat cross-legged in front of the flickering TV screen, the static casting an eerie glow around the darkened cabin. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, her hands shaking slightly as she tore off the blindfold. Her face was pale, the exhaustion from using her powers evident in the dark circles under her eyes.

"What is he doing now?" Max asked from her spot on the couch, her voice tight with worry. She leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Eleven.

Still panting, Eleven slowly turned to face her. "Billy... just sitting there, still..." she said between heavy breaths, her voice barely above a whisper. "Need water."

She staggered to her feet, her legs wobbling slightly from the strain of being in the void for so long. Without waiting for a response, she shuffled into the kitchen, her body visibly drained.

Nancy stood near the doorway, arms crossed as she watched Eleven disappear into the other room. Her brow furrowed in concern as she turned to Max. "And that's not normal, right?"

Max shook her head slowly, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Billy staying in his room on the Fourth of July?" she said, glancing over at the others. "No, that's definitely not normal."

Will, who had been quietly sitting in a corner, raised his head, his voice soft but filled with certainty. "He wants us to find him."

The words seemed to hang in the air, thick with unease.

"Yeah, and that's exactly what I'm afraid of," Nancy said, her arms tightening around herself as she exchanged a glance with Jonathan. The tension in the room was palpable, every word tinged with a growing sense of dread.

Wren, sitting on the couch between Max and Will, let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. "Billy is strong," he muttered, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and fear. "Like, super strong now. We might be dead meat if we face him."

Max gave him a light nudge with her elbow, her expression warning him to stop voicing what they all feared but didn't want to admit. "Don't say that."

Wren shrugged, but Nancy nodded in agreement, her eyes distant. "He's not wrong," she said. "If we go to Billy, then the rest of the Flayed will know exactly where we are."

"It's a trap," Mike said suddenly, his arms crossed as he paced in agitation. "We'll be ambushed for sure."

Lucas, leaning against the wall with his hands shoved into his pockets, tried to stay optimistic. "But we won't be surprised," he said, his voice lighter than the mood warranted. "We'll know they're coming, and we can kick their Flayed butts before they even touch us."

Max shot him a dry look, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You mean El will kick their butts," she said, smirking slightly. "Maybe even Wren, if he figures out what he can do."

Wren raised his hands defensively, leaning back against the couch with a tired smirk. "Hey, don't include me in this," he said with a lazy grin. "I barely understand my powers. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here."

Mike shook his head, clearly not in the mood for jokes. "It's too risky," he said, his voice tight with anxiety.

"Yeah, and unnecessary," Nancy added, her tone firm. "Killing the Flayed won't stop the Mind Flayer. We need to figure out where it's spreading from. We need to find the source."

Wren, still leaning back against the couch, nodded in agreement, his expression dark. "Billy knows where it is," he muttered.

Just then, Eleven returned from the kitchen, a glass of water in her hand. She looked more composed now, though her face still bore signs of exhaustion. The room fell silent as she approached, her eyes sharp and focused.

"Billy's been there," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tense air. "To the source."

All eyes turned to her, the weight of her words sinking in.

"Yeah, but-" Wren started, leaning forward with concern etched across his face, trying to reason with her. "It's a trap, El. You know that."

El nodded, her expression unwavering. "It's a trap. I know," she said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty hanging in the room. She glanced around at the others, her eyes filled with determination. "But we can't go to Billy," she added, her tone firmer. "There's another way. A way for me to see where he's been, without walking into the trap."

Everyone stared at her in confusion, waiting for her to explain. Wren, his voice quieter now, leaned forward. "What do you mean?"

El looked at him, then at the others, as she placed the glass of water on the table. "I can go into his mind," she said softly. "I can find the source by seeing what Billy's seen."

A heavy silence followed her words. Wren's eyes widened in alarm, her voice rising in protest. "El, that's dangerous," she said. "You've never done that before."

"I have before. Into Mama's mind."

Mike, who had been quiet until now, suddenly stepped forward, shaking his head. "No, absolutely not," he said, his voice sharp. "You can't do that. It's too dangerous. You don't know what you're getting into."

El met his eyes, her expression resolute. "I have to. It's the only way."

Nancy uncrossed her arms, her face thoughtful. "If you can see what he's seen... then maybe we can find the source without having to fight them all head-on."

"It's still risky," Mike insisted, looking around the room as if pleading for support. "She could get stuck in his mind or-"

"Mike, I know my limits," El interrupted, her voice strong and steady. "I can do this."

Wren exchanged a glance with Max, both of them clearly uneasy with the idea, but neither could argue with El's determination. They knew better than to doubt her when she was this focused.

Max finally spoke, her voice softer. "Just... be careful, okay? If it gets too much, pull out. Don't push yourself too far."

El nodded, her expression softening for a moment. "I will," she promised, though the tension in the room remained thick as ever.

No one said it aloud, but they all felt it-the fear that this plan, this dive into the unknown, could be more dangerous than any of them were prepared for.

El reached out with a trembling hand and turned the TV back on. The static filled the room again, flickering eerily in the dim light. She sank down onto the floor, crossing her legs in front of the screen. The blindfold rested in her lap, folded neatly as she prepared herself. Wren bit his lip nervously, his eyes locked on her as tension filled the air.

From the corner of the room, Mike pushed himself up from the couch, walking over to El. Wren watched him, his heart aching slightly as he saw Mike lean down to whisper something softly to her. It was an intimate moment, and Wren's chest tightened when he saw El take Mike's hand, their fingers briefly entwining as if they were grounding each other. A pang of jealousy-or maybe something deeper-hit Wren when they both glanced over, catching him staring. Wren rolled his eyes, feeling the weight of their gaze before they turned back to each other.

Mike, looking reluctant, went back to his seat, sinking into the chair. El took a deep breath, steeling herself as she wrapped the blindfold around her head. The room fell into a tense silence, everyone watching as she folded her hands in her lap and concentrated.

Minutes passed. The only sound was the soft static hum from the TV. Suddenly, El's breathing became erratic. Her chest rose and fell too quickly as her body tensed, and Wren's eyebrows shot up in alarm.

"Jane? Are you okay?" Wren asked, his voice hesitant. No response. El's breathing grew more panicked, her body trembling.

"Jane!" Wren's voice sharpened with urgency as he rose from the couch. "Are you okay?"

After a moment of stillness, her panicked gasps softened. "Yeah... I'm okay," El croaked, her voice hoarse and strained.

Wren frowned, his concern evident. "What's going on?"

El's voice was faint, her words slow as if she were struggling to make sense of what she saw. "I'm on... a beach."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, glancing around at the others. "Okay, I may be dense, but last I checked, there aren't any beaches in Hawkins."

Max leaned forward, her expression cautious but curious. "What else do you see?" she asked softly.

El shook her head slightly beneath the blindfold, as if disoriented. "A woman. She's... pretty. I... I think she's looking at me," El whispered, her voice distant.

Wren's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who is she?" he asked, glancing between El and the others.

El remained quiet for a moment, her breathing steadier but still uneasy. Then, her voice trembled slightly. "There's... a boy," she said, the words coming out slowly as if they were hard to say.

A heavy silence filled the room, and Wren's heart dropped when he heard her next words.

"It's Billy," El revealed, her tone almost haunted.

Wren looked over at Max, who sat stiffly beside him. She swallowed hard, her gaze distant as she stared at the floor. "It's California," she explained in a sad tone, her voice thick with emotion. "It's a memory."

Wren frowned, noticing the sadness in Max's voice, and he wanted to say something comforting but didn't know how to ease her pain.

The silence stretched on until El spoke again, this time with more urgency. "I think I see it... the source."

Everyone in the room exchanged worried glances, the gravity of her words hitting them hard. Wren sat up straighter, his heart racing as he realized they were getting closer to finding what they needed.

Minutes passed in silence again, the tension unbearable, before El's voice broke through once more, her words filled with both relief and dread. "I think I found it... the source," she panted, clearly struggling to stay in control.

Max leaned forward, her voice urgent. "Where, El? Where are you?"

"Brimborn... steelworks," El managed to say, the words leaving her lips in a strained whisper.

Jonathan shot up from his seat, frantically flipping through the address book they had brought with them. His fingers skimmed the pages until he found what he was looking for. "Found it," he announced, his voice breathless. "6522 Cherry Oak Drive."

Wren's heart pounded in his chest as he glanced back at El. Her body trembled, her breathing still uneven.

"Jane! We found it! Get out now!" Wren shouted, his voice sharp with worry.

But El's body suddenly stiffened, and her breathing became erratic again, more frantic this time. Her chest heaved as if she were struggling to break free from something, her fingers twitching helplessly.

Panic surged through Wren. Before Mike could even move, Wren shot up from the couch and sprinted over to El's side, dropping to his knees beside her. His hand hovered for a moment before he gently rubbed her back, his voice soft and soothing as he tried to bring her back. "Come on, Jane. Come back," he whispered, trying to keep his voice calm despite the fear gnawing at him.

El gasped, her body jerking as if she had been pulled from a nightmare. Her hands tore the blindfold off, and her eyes were wide, filled with tears. A sob escaped her, and she crumpled forward, her entire body shaking.

Without hesitation, Wren pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she cried against his chest. He could feel her pain, the fear and exhaustion pouring out of her as she clung to him. His heart ached as he rocked her gently, his hands stroking her back.

"Jane," he murmured, his voice low and filled with concern. "What happened?"

El sobbed against him, her shoulders trembling as she tried to form words, but all that came out were broken, anguished sobs. Wren tightened his hold on her, his heart breaking as he held her, wishing he could take away the pain she had just endured.

ASH SPEAKS!

el forget mike! you have wren
wrenleven >> mileven

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)