↣ 𝘙𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴？

The water was opaque and turbid; Bailey continued to pursue Steve.  He is merely attempting to contact Steve. The luminous crimson eventually reached his vision; he could perceive it ablaze in red.  That was the location where Steve was taken.  He required access to it.  He extended his hand and extracted it.  The sensation against his skin caused a tingling effect.

He emerged on the other side, persevered, and experienced perfect dryness.  He emerged onto the earth and gazed above.  A creature resembling a bat was entwined around Steve.

He grasped an oar and proceeded to fend off the bats encircling Steve.  "Get off him, you ugly bastard!" He shouted as he struck another.  Nancy, Robin, and Eddie also crawled through the gate.

They all commenced striking or swinging at the bats, attempting to either eliminate them or propel them away.  Steve eventually rose after some time and seized a bat.  He ascended upon it and tore it asunder.  Bailey gazed at him as blood streamed from his mouth.

"Steve." Bailey remarked while approaching him, glancing at his abdomen.  Observing all the injuries on it. "My god..shit."

"I am fine; it hurts just a bit, but I am okay." Steve remarked while encircling Bailey with his arm. "I am okay."

"Uh, do you guys think these bats have, like, rabies?" Robin inquired as they directed their attention towards her.  She gazed onto the deceased bat.

"What?"

"It's just that rabies are, like, my number one greatest fear And I think we should
get you to a doctor soon because once symptoms set in, it's too late. You're already dead."

A greater number of bats approached the fence, causing Bailey to experience a shiver down his spine due to their increased presence. "All right. There's not that many. We can take 'em." Steve said, rising as though prepared to engage in combat once more.

They all commenced sprinting out from the gate since it was deemed too perilous for them to remain there any longer.  They arrived at Skull Rock and rested beneath it, attempting to regain their breath.  The bats screeched, reverberating over the vicinity.

Steve reclined against the rock while Bailey promptly knelt before him in an attempt to assist the youngster. He glanced at Nancy.  "Nancy, could you help him, please?"  He implored subtly as he glanced at her.

She hurried over and removed her scarf, while Bailey grasped Steve's hand as the youngster grimaced in pain. Bailey glided his thumb across his hand.

"So the good news is I'm pretty sure wooziness is not a symptom of rabies. "Robin started to speak nervously. "But if you start having hallucinations or muscle spasms or you start feeling aggressive, like you wanna punch me, let me know."

"I kinda wanna punch you." Steve gasped out.

"Sense of humor's still intact. That's a good sign." Robin let out a laugh.

Nancy completed her assistance and distanced herself from him.  Bailey assisted him in standing and promptly embraced him with caution.  Steve gently kissed his forehead, conveying the reality of their mutual survival.

"This place is like Hawkins, but with monsters and nasty shit?" Eddie inquired while standing atop the rock.  Bailey and Steve directed their gaze towards him.

"Pretty much." Nancy responded. "Wait, watch out for the vines. It's all a hive mind."

"It's all a what?" Eddie inquired.

"All entities in this world are interconnected to the primary source."  Bailey elucidated.

"All the creepy crawlies around here. They're, like, one or something." Steve replied. "Step on a vine, you're stepping on a bat, you're stepping on Vecna."

"But everything from our world is still here, right? Except people?" Robin questioned.

"As far as I understand it, yeah." Nancy nodded.

"So, theoretically, we could go to the police station and steal guns and grenades and whatever we need to blow up those bat things that are guarding the gate."

"I highly doubt the Hawkins PD has grenades, Robin. But guns, yeah, sure." Steve responded.

"Well, we don't have to go all the way downtown for guns." Nancy remarks, gazing at the group. "I have guns in my bedroom."

"You, Nancy Wheeler, have guns, plural, in your bedroom?" Eddie inquired, surveying the girl with astonishment.

"Full of surprises, isn't she?" Robin responded, with a slight shrug.

"A Russian Makarov and a revolver." Nancy explained.

"Almost fatally injured Steve with one."  Bailey remarks while gazing at Nancy, who merely shakes her head with a faint smile.

"He almost deserved it." She answered.

A denim vest was hurled at Steve.  Directing their attention towards Eddie. "For your modesty, dude."

The earth trembled abruptly, prompting Steve to seize Bailey and draw him near, while Nancy clung to them both.  Eddie and Robin were on the ground, embracing one another.  The tremors have ceased.

"So guns seem like a pretty good idea to me." Eddie remarked while the others attended to their appearances.

────────────────────────

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀

- We are getting closer towards the end.

To all the people that have supported me closely- Tags: @norasnetflix @wrensofvizla @KleeAlise11 @kiesluverr

𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵e