Chapter Text
Something…strange was going on.
One second everyone’s in their own homes doing their own things. Dustin’s eating dinner with his mother, Lucas is chasing after his sister who took one of his toys, Will’s drawing and Mike’s sitting in the fort that had briefly been El’s home.
And the next? They’re in a strange place they’ve never seen before. Like an endless abyss painted in red. Thunderous, angry clouds in the sky, ashes floating about no matter where you look; like something out of a nightmare.
But it couldn’t be considered a nightmare, at least, not to Mike.
Because the first thing he saw, was El stood in front of him. Her hair had grown out a bit, and was incredibly curly. She was wearing a grey shirt with some overalls.
“El.” Mike breathed, almost unable to believe the sight in front of him but willing to accept it as reality if need be.
“Mike.” The moment his name left her lips, Mike was running and tackling her in a hug, tears flowing freely down his cheeks.
He couldn’t help it. A year. It had been a whole year since she’d disappeared.
“I-I never gave up…” He choked out. “I called- every night for-“
“351 days.” El mumbled in his arms. “I know…I heard.”
Mike’s eyes widened. He hesitantly pulled away from the hug to look at her with confusion. “W-Why didn’t- Why didn’t you reach out?”
El frowned. “It’s a long story…”
“Ahem.”
A throat cleared, startling the two badly. They were so wrapped up in reuniting they didn’t even focus on anything else.
Like the strange place they were in. Or the fact that Will, Dustin, Lucas, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, Joyce and Hopper were standing there staring at them.
Or that there was an older woman with El’s face also stood nearby. And another girl they’d never seen before.
“What the hell is going on?” Steve questioned with wide eyes.
“I can explain.” The woman chimed in softly.
El stepped up towards her, eyebrows furrowed. “…Are you me?”
The woman smiled softly. “I am.”
“Holy shit.” Dustin breathed.
The girl their age scowled. “Where are we!? Who are you people!? What the hell is this!?”
“I’ll explain everything.” Jane started. “We’re in a place known as the Upside Down, it’s like…another world. Don’t worry, none of us are in danger.”
Lucas frowned. “Wait, we’re in the Upside Down?”
“It’s a lot warmer than before…” Will muttered.
“This is going to take a bit to explain, but…” Jane let out a deep breath. “I’m from the future.”
They all stared at her in pure silence.
“I think I just threw up in my mouth.” Dustin whispered.
“As many of you know already, the Upside Down is special. I was able to use my powers, along with the Upside Down’s influence, and essentially force you all in here.” Jane explained.
The red-head looked at her like she grew two heads. “I’m sorry what? Upside Down? Powers? What sort of fever dream am I having?”
“You’re Max Mayfield. In the future, you become my best friend.” Jane added. “That’s why I brought you here too.”
Joyce shook her head breathlessly. “I’m still lost…”
“I know this is a lot to take in, but I’m telling the truth.” Jane insisted gently. “And I’m here to show you all the future…before it’s too late.”
Hopper’s eyes narrowed. “And do you have evidence of any of this?”
“You’ve seen the power of the Upside Down. Not to mention my powers.” Jane frowned. “Does it really sound so impossible?”
“What’s the future like?” Nancy asked nervously. “If you’re here, it can’t…be good.”
At this, Jane paused.
And then her eyes slowly slid over to look at Mike, who felt a bit timid under her gaze.
A familiar body lied still as a statue as blood poured out of the large wound on his stomach.
“…It wasn’t a future I could accept.” Jane admitted, swallowing down the lump in her throat. “I understand you might not believe me. But I can’t let you leave. Not until I’ve shown you everything you’ll need. So please…” Tears filled her eyes against her will. “Please trust me.”
Everyone kept silent, the doubt was clear as day on their faces.
“Mike,” Jane started in a whisper, getting his attention again. “Friends don’t lie.”
His eyes widened, he sucked in a quiet breath at those words.
El gently tugged on his sleeve to make him look at her. “…I think we should trust her.” She admitted. “She…is me.”
“I mean, what do we have to lose?” Jonathan spoke up with a slight shrug.
“I hate to say it but I kind of agree.” Steve huffed. “We’ve seen some pretty messed up shit already.”
Max shook her head wildly. “Hold on this is- what is this? Let me out of here you psychos!” She hissed. “Did you kidnap me!? Is that what this is? My family doesn’t have anything worth jack, you might as well let me go!”
“It isn’t like that.” Jane assured her. “I know this is confusing, which is why I’m going to show you everything, from the very beginning. Everyone, please indulge me and watch a bit of your past. It’s important that everyone is on the same page, so we’re going to start where this all began, with Will’s disappearance.”
To say almost everyone tensed at those words would be an understatement.
Nancy’s eyebrows furrowed. “But how will you show us?”
Jane stepped to the side, making their attention go to the large rock that had been behind her. To their shock, a sort of large screen was set into it.
“Whoa!” Dustin’s jaw dropped.
“What is this thing!? It’s like a TV but way better!” Lucas spoke excitedly as he and Dustin rushed up to get a better look at it.
Jane smiled softly. “I’m going to show you all the events that took place the day the Upside Down first opened up. I promise by the end, you will understand.” She assured Max.
Max still looked on guard, looking Jane up and down like she was sizing her up.
“Sweetie, I know it all sounds…crazy, but please give it a chance.” Joyce insisted kindly. “It will make more sense afterwards.”
She clearly still had her doubts, but everyone else was already finding places to sit, whether it be on the ground or on some of the rocks nearby.
So…she complied and sat down on the floor with the other kids.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
What did she have to lose?
“Hold on, what about school? And life?” Lucas snapped. “I have a family and a sister who are gonna notice if I’m gone.”
Jane shook her head. “The place we’re in is frozen in time. When you return not even a single second will have passed. You also may have noticed, but your bodies have already adjusted to the en-vi-ron-ment. You don't need to eat, sleep or even use the bathroom.”
When she pointed it out, they did feel different. The typical necessities that came with a human body had disappeared.
It wasn't all that surprising to Will however, who'd already been there before. The only difference was that before he felt like he was stuck in a blizzard, where as here it was perfect tempature.
“Wait a minute, I’m still confused. Where were you?” Mike questioned, glancing back at El.
El went to speak, but Hopper spoke up instead.
“She’s been staying with me.” Hopper confessed. “For a long time now.”
“What?” Mike hissed, beginning to tremble. “You’ve been hiding her this whole time!?”
“Mike…” El whispered.
Hopper sighed. “Look, it’s complicated. We couldn’t risk people knowing about her, for her own safety.”
“That’s bullshit!” Mike exclaimed angrily.
“Mike,” Nancy chimed in. “Calm down.”
Jane spoke up. “I know it was hard,” Mike glanced at her warily. “…I wanted to see you too. Just as badly.”
El nodded softly. “It’s true.”
Mike still looked angry, but his eyes softened when he looked at El. Very reluctantly, he glared at Hopper one last time before sitting down.
“Thank you for your comp-lie-ance.” Jane told him kindly.
“Compliance.” Dustin corrected gently.
Jane smiled at him briefly. “What I’m going to show you all..is not going to be easy. But please remember, everything I show you…is for your own good. You need to do better than we did.”
“We?” Will questioned.
“Your future-selves.”
It was a lot to take in. And most of them still couldn’t really believe it.
But if the week Will vanished and El came into their lives was anything to go by, who knows what else was possible.
So…they all sat down, and watched as the screen came to life.
