𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 — The Turnbow Trap

The Turnbow house breathes like a living thing — floorboards shrinking, the whole place shivering as if it knows what’s coming. Lucas sits across from you, Water balloon in hand, clutching it for life. The lamps you rigged flicker once… twice… then steady.

You swallow, because the silence gives you too much room to think.

About them. About Steve. About Dustin.

About how both of them are falling apart in completely different ways — and you’re stuck in the middle, trying to hold two people you love more than anything together while the whole damn world tears open. I mean, how can you pick between your Boyfriend and your brother?

Lucas’s knee bounces, loud in the quiet. “You okay?” he asks.

You laugh under your breath. “Nope. You?”

He gives you a look that says Yeah, fair enough.

But your mind isn’t on the monster that’s coming — it’s on the fight you left behind.

Dustin had snapped at Steve earlier. Actually snapped. A sharp, brittle “I don’t need you watching me anymore!” And Steve, eyes tight, jaw clenched, threw back, “Well, maybe if you’d stop acting like you’re made of glass—”

You stepped between them, hands out, voice cracking with frustration you didn’t even know you had.

And now they’re both sitting in a car, trying to work together. — scattered across this nightmare while you’re here with Lucas, bait for something with knives for teeth.

You tug at your sleeves, trying to ignore the burn behind your eyes.

Lucas watches you for a second. “You know they’re both just scared, right?”

“Yeah,” you whisper. “But they take it out on each other. And I’m stuck trying to fix it every time.”

He nods, thoughtful. “You love them. They know that. That’s why it hits harder.”

The lamps flicker dangerously.

Lucas stiffens. “Is that—”

“Yeah,” you breathe. “It’s close.”

Your pulse spikes, but your brain doesn’t stop replaying the moment before you left:

Steve grabbing your arm before you climbed out of the car. “Hey—” His voice shaking even if he pretended it wasn’t. “You stay behind Lucas. Don’t try to be a hero, okay?”

You smiled at him — small, tired. “I think you forget that I’m older than Lucas and the party. Just like you I’m here to protect.”

He didn’t kiss you. Didn’t need to. He just pressed his forehead to yours, whispering, “I can’t lose you too.”

Then Dustin’s voice had cut through the moment. “Can you just go already?”

He wouldn’t look at either of you. Wouldn’t even stand close.

And your heart broke a little, because he’s your brother, your baby, and you can see how badly he’s hurting.

Now you’re here, in the dark. The lamps shudder again — and go out. Everything starts flickering

Lucas curses under his breath. “It’s here.”

You lift your flashlight — and a familiar voice whispers harshly from the hallway:

“{{user}}!!”

Your heart lurches. Lucas started throwing balloons at the demogorgon, and she didn’t hesitate to hit it before running out of the room, jumping around the trap as you both traveled downstairs

You both ran into the living room, and the demogorgon fell for the carpet trap, falling down for Nancy and Jonathan.

But before you can breathe relief, another voice shouts from behind him:

“Okay. I’ll see you guys on the other side” she said to Mike and Lucas before running outside of the house into the passenger seat of Steve’s car.

“{{user}} Are you okay?”

For a moment, both of them hover over you — Steve checking your face, Dustin fussing with your arm, neither wants to look at the other.

You grab both their wrists. A few words in mind