A few blood-curdling screams rang out—then the gunfire stopped. The First was still standing, but only by the thinnest thread of strength. The sudden silence didn't calm him; it only sharpened his tension. He began scanning the area restlessly, bracing for another attack—until his eyes landed on me.
I could barely see our pursuers, but I knew exactly what I was doing. With sharp, short motions of my palms, I flung the soldiers from side to side, slammed them into each other, spun them through the air like rag dolls. Boundless rage and thirst for revenge surged through me.
— Eleven… — he whispered.
— Run, — I said slowly, sniffing back the blood trickling from my nose. — You're hurt. You can't stay here any longer.
— Me? — The First laughed, but his voice cracked. — I'm the one who can't stay?
— Yes. You.
— Eleven, you've got way too many wrong ideas. First of all, I'm strong enough, in case you forgot. Second— — he slipped through the hole in the fence — — what you're doing right now? Pointless. They're all dead. Look—they're not even screaming anymore.
I didn't look away from the soldiers. I kept tossing them around like broken toys.
— Eleven? — he crouched down, tilting his head to catch my eye. — You hear me? Let's go!
— No! — I snapped. — They shot you!
The First snorted.
— They're dead, — he repeated after a pause. — And if we don't vanish right now, the ones left in the lab will call reinforcements. And those—you won't handle.
I hesitated. He was right.
Noticing my doubt, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward the forest. One last murderous glare at the lab—and I followed. The cool shade of the autumn woods instantly soothed my burning mind.
A few minutes later, I glanced at the First.
— Where are we going?
He suddenly froze—and burst out laughing.
— Hell if I know. First, we need to ditch these freakishly white lab rags.
I raised an eyebrow.
— So you think it's normal that your whole arm is covered in blood?
— And you look like you just crawled out from under the dirt, — he grinned.
I sighed, crouched down, and sharply tore the hem off my thin lab shirt.
— Where? — I asked simply.
The grin dropped from the First's face. He waved a hand dismissively.
— Forget it. I won't die.
— Where? — I repeated, firmer.
He frowned.
— I said, where?
— You want me to take off my shirt and walk around Hawkins like this, with a bloody rag on my forearm?
I slapped my forehead.
— What's the big deal about unbuttoning the sleeve and ripping it open at the elbow? — I snapped.
The First's eyebrows shot up.
— It's not about the *shirt*, Eleven.
— Then what is it? — I planted my hands on my hips.
He fell silent, as if searching for words.
— It's… pointless anyway.
— Last warning, — I growled. But he just burst into laughter.
— Go ahead, — the First stepped in front of me, arms spread wide. — Show me what you've got.
— I've got plenty—I'm just worried you'll pass out from blood loss.
He rolled his eyes. I crossed my arms.
— Fine. Let's try this differently. Please, can I help you?
The First studied me closely.
— Eleven, I…
My gaze stopped him cold.
— Yes, — he finally gave in.