A/N - Mostly cannon from here on out until The Snow ball, a few adjustments here and there to include Hope.
Chapter 9 - The Spy
As Billy got ready for his, whatever it was, with Hope that evening, he thought of all the things he liked about her. He liked that she did not try too hard to fit in. He liked that she was a little bit feisty, after their brief conversation at the arcade he could see it in her, but he wanted to get to know her even more, he almost felt like he needed to get to know her more and he was fucking going to do it, and no one would stop him. He did not care that Carol and Tommy had told him about Hope's past. Hell, it even excited him a little bit more. The chick who was nearly mauled by an animal but came out of it alive, at least she was a survivor that was one thing he figured she and him had in common – they both survived monsters in their lives. He kind of admired her for it. What frightened him about the entire situation though was the fact that she seemed to feel the same pull and attraction to him than he did for her. He did not understand it he just knew by instinct that he needed to get to know her more and it frustrated him that every time he was getting to know her more, they were interrupted.
Billy was a sexual being. He knew sex as a way of expressing himself and he did it well. He could feel the way Hope pressed herself against him every time they had hooked up that she was into him. He knew tonight he would be able to take it further with her because they would not be interrupted, he would make sure of it, and he could feel that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. The chemistry was inevitable.
Billy took a drag of his cigarette and fluffed up his curls and smirked at himself in the mirror as he blew the smoke out. He straightened out his red shirt and left the first few buttons undone. He put the last of his cigarette out and sprayed his cologne, one spray into the front of his jeans for good measure. He grabbed his leather jacket but was interrupted when his bedroom door swung open with force.
"Where is Maxine?" His father asked, tilting his head to the left. "She should be in her room?" Billy questioned, shrugging on his leather jacket before grabbing the box of cigarettes on his bedside table. "Well, we just went into her room and it's empty and the window is open." Neil Hargrove responded to his son whose face dropped a little. "Maybe… She…" He stammered, "Went to the arcade or something, I don't know?" Billy found his words and shot back at his father who scoffed, "You don't know?" He asked, his tone drenched in anger. "I'm sure she's fine." Billy responded, looking at his father. "You were supposed to watch her." His dad reminded Billy who frowned. "I have been watching her, all week! She's thirteen years old for god's sake, she shouldn't need a full-time babysitter." Billy growled, growing frustrated with the situation his father was putting him in. Billy moved to walk around his father who side stepped in front of him. "Where do you think you're going?" His father asked, through gritted teeth. "I can't help it that you guys are three hours late, I have a date to get too." Billy responded, knowing all too well that he was riling up his father even more, but he did not care at this point, he just wanted to get out of there. "Is that why you've been staring at yourself in the fucking mirror instead of watching your sister?" Neil's voice had risen, and he stepped toward his son who frowned. Billy's voice dropped low, so low it was barely audible what his next words were, "She's not my sister." Neil heard it though and shoved his son against the wall. A squeak of shock had emitted from Susan, but she did not stop what happened next. Neil punched Billy in the side of his stomach, hitting his ribs which made Billy double over but before Billy could react Neil held his son by the throat and shoved him against the wall again. "What did we talk about?" Neil asked Billy who grunted at the pain that Neil had inflicted on him just seconds before. His eyes had started to water as the strength of Neil's hand on his throat deepened. "What did we talk about." Another shove and Billy stared into his father's eyes, "Respect and responsibility." Billy choked out and his father released Billy whose feet thudded on the ground and he coughed violently as the air flowed back into his lungs. "That's correct. Now apologize to Susan." Neil demanded and stared at Billy disappointedly. "I'm sorry Susan." Billy called out to the red headed woman standing motionless at the door frame. He clutched at his ribs as he said it. "It's okay Neil, really." Susan responded quietly staring, wide eyed, at Billy who was still staring at his father. "None of his behaviour is okay Susan, now he's going to call whatever whore he is seeing tonight and cancel their date and he is going to go look for his sister like the good, kind and respectful brother that he is, isn't that right Billy?" Neil said, his condescending words burning through Billy like a bullet. "Yes Sir." Billy told Neil quietly. Neil pointed his finger at him, "What, I couldn't hear you?" He asked and Billy sighed and raised his voice a little louder to satisfy his father, "Yes Sir!" Billy ended and Neil nodded and ushered Susan out of the room before slamming the door behind him. Billy clutched at his ribs and pain seared through his body and the tears started to fall out of his eyes. He wiped at them furiously before standing up, grabbing his keys, and walking out of his door. He forgot to cancel his date with Hope because he was too angry with Max at the moment to think about anything else.
The party walked back the same way they had come to the junkyard once they realized the coast was clear and safe. Dustin eyed out his sister a couple of times before coming to terms with the fact that she was fine and thought that maybe she had blacked out because she was scared? That is all he could do for her now since they had more pressing matters to get to – like finding Dart. "Are you sure that was Dart?" Lucas asked Dustin who nodded. "He had a yellow pattern on his butt. The same one Dart had." Dustin responded to Lucas who was frowning. "But he was tiny two days ago?" Lucas questioned again and Dustin sighed, "Well he moulted three times already." "Malted?" Steve asked and Hope laughed, "Moulted, like shed skin to make room for growth." Hope informed Steve. "Ah, I see, that's disgusting." Steve said and Hope nodded in agreement. "That what that skin was in our cellar." Hope told Steve who nodded. "What skin, what cellar?" Lucas rounded on Hope, "You said you couldn't find Dart that day at the school." Lucas shot back at Dustin and Dustin frowned at Hope, her eyes widened. She had not realized that Dustin had lied to his friends about keeping the creature. "When will he moult again?" Max asked, ignoring Dustin and Lucas's bickering. "Gotta be soon." Dustin responded with a nod. "And he's going to eat a whole lot more than cats." Hope told them with a serious nod and Lucas stopped walking. Dustin rolled his eyes at Hope, sighed, and stopped with Lucas who was glaring at Dustin. "A cat, Dart ate a cat?" His voice was shrill, and his hands were flailing about. "No…!" Dustin said shaking his head, shooting daggers at his sister who had pursed her lips knowing she had blown his cover. Steve stared at Dustin, confused. "What are you talking about, he ate Mews?" Steve confirmed and Max interrupted the conversation this time, "Who's Mews?" She frowned and Lucas blew up. "It's their cat!" He cried, hands still flailing, voice an octave higher. Hope rolled her eyes and dug in the backpack for her box of smokes. After retrieving one she lit it with Steve's lighter and inhaled deeply while the boys bickered about breaking the rule of law. "You broke the rule of law!" Lucas frowned at Dustin and glared back at him, "So did you!" He declared pointing at Max. "What?" Lucas asked, confused. "You told a stranger the truth!" Dustin reminded Lucas who stared at Max who had a small frown on her face. "A stranger?" She mused, staring at the two boys who continued to bicker.
Hope and Steve were staring out into the woods after Steve had heard the growling. The boys were still bickering. "Guys?" Steve said to them, waving his hand at them to get their attention but they still bickered. Hope stomped on her cigarette as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the woods and she listened intently. The familiar screeching in the distance. "GUYS!" Steve yelled, it shut them up. The party started to walk towards the sounds. "Wait, why are you guys walking towards the sound?" Max cried out and huffed in annoyance but followed the teens into the forest, anyway, not wanting to be left alone with those creatures roaming about. They finally came to the edge of a cliff that looked over Hawkins. Lucas, who's binoculars were strapped around his neck, lifted them up to gaze around the lazy town. The town that was unaware of the supernatural inhabitants that roamed the ground.
Hope nibbled on the skin of her thumb, tearing at a piece of skin that made her thumb start to bleed again. She sucked at the blood and sighed. She was feeling anxious. She jumped when Dustin spoke quietly. "I don't see him."
Growling and Screeching.
"It's the lab, they were going back home." Lucas said suddenly making Hope jump again. She frowned at Lucas who shrugged. Steve beckoned for the kids to follow him as he made his way to the lab and Hope sighed and looked at Max who also had a worried look on her face. "Does your brother know you're here?" Hope suddenly asked Max who looked at her, confused. Max shook her head and Hope sighed, "You know he'll probably murder me for sneaking out, but I just needed to see this for myself." Max stated and Hope nodded, understanding some what but also wanting to ask some more questions about Billy. The girls followed the boys through the thicket, tripping on branches and twigs and rocks laying about on the floor. "What happened back there, on the bus?" Max pressed and Hope paused. "Is it the same what happened that day on the field?" She added and Hope continued walking but was silent, not exactly knowing herself what was going on with her. "I got this from one of those creatures that they call a Demogorgon." Hope started to say, motioning her right hand to her left arm where the scar was pulsing slightly. Max nodded, "Lucas mentioned something like that when he was telling me about it all. I've heard from Billy that you were attacked by an animal?" Max said and Hope scoffed, "That is the story we had to tell because the government made us sign non-disclosure agreements, I'm not exactly sure what is happening with me, but I think it has something to do with the lab and those creatures." Hope informed Max who nodded and turned silent. They rounded into a clearing before Hope could say anything more and they heard familiar voices speaking up ahead. "Ssh." Dustin said, placing his index finger over his lips. "Hello?" The female voice called, obviously hearing the party's incoming footsteps and then a male voice spoke, "Nancy come on it's nothing." Hope looked at Steve and he looked back at her and both of them pushed past the kids and found themselves at the front gate of the lab, face to face with Jonathan and Nancy.
"Nancy?" Hope questioned and Nancy squinted in the darkness at her friend. "Hope?" She called and the two stared at each other for a moment. "Where the hell have you two been?" Hope asked, glaring at Jonathan who was now looking at Steve. "Steve? What are you two doing here?" Jonathan asked curiously. "Jonathan, what are you doing here?" Dustin cried out running over to the group too. Lucas and Max trailing after. "We're looking for Mike and Will." Nancy responded to Dustin who looked at her, frowning. "They're not in there are they?" Lucas asked and Jonathan looked at the lab, "I don't know, why did you say it like that?" Jonathan asked and some screeching was heard as the lights flickered in the lab. "The powers off!" Nancy complained, "The gates locked, we can't get in!" She added and Hope shook her head, "I don't think you want to go in there Nance." Nancy looked at Hope, eyeing her out worriedly. "Are you okay, you don't look like yourself?" Nancy asked Hope, Steve had been listening to their conversation and looked at Hope now. Nancy was right, Hope did look different. The party had now gathered and were all looking at Hope who sighed and pushed back her leather jacket sleeve. The veins were squiggling around her scar and the part where her scar was usually white was now black. "How long has it been like that?" Jonathan cried, grabbing Hope's arm, and inspecting it. Dustin also approached and stared at her scar. "Since yesterday." He spoke, avoiding Hope's eye and looking at Jonathan. "Since the field." Hope corrected and the two stared at her, annoyed. "Why didn't you say anything?" Dustin scolded and Hope frowned at him, "Look, I didn't understand what was happening, I saw the shadow, I thought we all saw it…" Hope rambled, and Dustin, Lucas and Max looked back and forth at each other, confused as to what Hope was talking about. "What shadow?" Max finally asked. Hope stopped and turned her head to Max, "The shadow that was hovering over Will?" Hope spoke and Max shook her head, along with Dustin and Lucas. "We didn't see any shadow." They both said in unison. Jonathan cried out in frustration and dashed over to the security box and pressed the buttons, trying to open the gate. Dustin shoved Jonathan out of the way attempting to press the buttons too. "We need to see Dr Owens like right now!" Nancy cried out and her wish was granted as the gate started to slide open slowly. "I did it!" Dustin cried, gleefully "The power came back on dingus." Max replied and Dustin rolled his eyes at her. "You guys wait here we'll see what's going on." Jonathan called and hopped into his car with Nancy hopping into the passenger seat. They sped the car into the driveway of the lab and Hope stared after them.
Hope found herself walking towards the lab. She did not know why but she was drawn to it. She felt the similar pull to Billy, but this was something dark. "Hope… Where are you going?" Steve called out after her as she increased her speed, but she halted when she saw the head lights of Jonathan's car heading towards her at a fast pace. She jumped out the way as they drove past, she saw Mrs Byers and Will and Mike in the back seat of the car. Chief Hopper drove by next and yelled at the kids to get into the car. Lucas, Dustin, and Steve shoved themselves in. "HOPE!" Max called to the older Henderson who was staring at the lab. Hope tore her eyes away from building and stared at Max who was beckoning for her to get into the car. "COME ON HENDERSON!" Chief Hopper yelled and Hope dragged her feet to the car. Max got into the back seat with the others and Hope climbed into the front seat. She was shaking and Hopper seemed to take notice.
"What's going on?" Dustin cried from the back and Hopper kept his one eye on Hope next to him who was shivering. "You alright kid?" He asked and Hope stared blankly out the window. She did not respond immediately. "Show him Hope!" Steve cried out and Hope's neck snapped to the back, glaring daggers at Steve. "Show me what?" Hopper asked and the others in the back urged her to show him. She slowly lifted her sleeve and Hopper frowned at the veins squirming around the scar which was now pitch black. "Will has been possessed." Hopper informed the kids, after he had taken a glance at the scar on Hopes arm. "That day in the field?" Hope asked suddenly making the others jump. "The shadow?" Hope continued and Hopper's eyes darted from the road to Hope. "What are you talking about?" He asked curiously, "Hope saw the shadow hovering over Will, she didn't tell any of us until just now…" Dustin advised Hop who nodded frantically. "What if some of the shadow went into Hope?" Lucas asked now, eyes glancing at Hope who was staring at Hopper. "The reason I didn't tell you about anything was because I didn't understand what was happening!" Hope growled at Dustin, ignoring Lucas's statement. Dustin frowned not understanding why Hope was getting mad at him but retaliating anyway, "You've been too busy making out with Max's brother to take note of anything happening with you!" He snapped back at Hope who turned her entire body, so she was facing the others in the back. She avoided any eye contact with Steve. "Hargrove?" Steve scoffed and stared at Hope and Dustin who were glaring at each other. "ENOUGH!" Hopper boomed at the two siblings "This ain't the time!" He added and Hope slowly moved her body, so she was facing the front again and buried her head in her hands. "If I'd told someone sooner maybe we could have avoided all of this!" She said, words seeping frustration but muffled from her face being in her hands. "If it has gotten to you it is not as bad as Will, he got the brunt of it. He is practically a spy for that shadow that you saw. He led those creatures here and they uh... we lost Bob." Hopper ended and the car was silent. Hope sighed and stared out the window again. She knew that Jonathan's mom Joyce was seeing somebody. She had not really spent much time with Bob, but the way Jonathan had spoken about him she knew he had been a good match for Joyce. They arrived at the Byers house. Jonathan parked his car first then Hopper parked his truck. The kids scrambled out of the car and dashed into the house followed by Jim who immediately walked over to the landline. Joyce had vanished to her bedroom and the kids gathered in the lounge area where Jonathan had put Will on the couch. He was passed out, but Jonathan was soothingly rubbing Will's head apologizing to him for his absence.
Once Hopper had hung up his phone call with the government, he made his way to Joyce's bedroom leaving the kids who had started discussing Bob. "Do you know Bob was the founder of the AV Club?" Mike stated and the other boys and Max stared at him, amazed.
Hope watched the kids talk about Bob for awhile but decided she needed a breath of fresh air because she did not feel too good. Once outside Hope took a deep breath and breathed out but immediately felt dizzy. Steve joined her a few minutes later and watched as Hope collected her thoughts. "You're really hooking up with Hargrove?" He asked her and Hope sighed and rolled her eyes. "It was only three times Steve." Hope advised him and Steve scoffed, "Three times too many. You know he's been tormenting me since he got here right?" Steve asked her and Hope sighed. "I can't help my feelings Steve." Hope told him sternly and Steve frowned. "You have feelings now?" Steve asked her and Hope got up and headed back inside without answering him.
When Hope went back inside, Steve followed her aimlessly, waiting for her to respond to his previous question. Dustin and Mike were arguing over fighting the demogorgon's. "We can't just sit here and do nothing!" Mike moaned and Dustin frowned, "We can't fight those demo-dogs on our own we need serious backup!" Dustin explained and Max frowned and spoke up this time, "Demo-dogs?" She asked, confused. "Demogorgon, demo-dog – it's like a compound, a play on words." Dustin added and Max just shook her head and went back over to sit next to Lucas. "I mean, we could've fought it if it was just Dart but now there's an army." "What do you mean?" Steve asked this time and Mike looked up at him. "His army, maybe if we stop his army, we can stop him too!" Mike advised Steve who still looked confused. "The shadow monster!" Dustin advised Steve who seemed to understand now. "It got Will that day on the field. Dr Owens said it's like a virus, it infected him." Mike added. Dustin got up and grabbed Hope's wrist and pulled him towards Mike, "Something like this." He shoved Hope's sleeve up ignoring her protests and Mike's eyes grew wide. The veins were swirling around her skin. Hope frowned and Mike groaned, "I'm not as bad as Will, but I kind of black out if anything bad happens." She informed the group not looking at any of them as all eyes were on her at this point. "How many times has this happened?" Hopper's voice was heard as he emerged from the passageway leading to Joyce's bedroom. Dustin recounted the times in his head, "Twice but when we were ambushed at the junkyard she literally froze up and couldn't remember anything." Dustin informed Hopper who nodded. Hope shrugged her sleeve back down her arm and yanked her arm out of Dustin's grip and scowled at him.
"Remember what Mr Clark taught us about the hive mind, basically everything connected to the mind flayer is affected so if we try and stop the mind flayer it will stop everything, including the demo-dogs." Mike reminded the boys and they nodded, "But it will also affect Will and possibly Hope." Dustin added and they nodded again. "So, we need to try and get the mind flayer out of Will." Dustin ended, he had grabbed a dungeons and dragons manual from Will's room and had been explaining the shadow monster to the group. Hopper had grown frustrated and told them it was just a kid's game, but it all seemed to make sense to the rest. "So, this mind flamer thing…" Nancy started, and Dustin rolled his eyes, "Flayer, mind flayer!" He corrected her and she rolled her eyes at him before continuing. "How do we get it out of Will?" She pressed and the group grew silent. "Firstly, we should ask what it wants." Hope interjected and the group looked over at her, she had been quiet since they got to the Byers. "To conquer us, basically, it believes it's the master race." Dustin told her and she nodded in understanding. "Like the Germans?" Steve asked now and Dustin scoffed, "You mean the Nazi's?" Dustin corrected Steve and added, "If the Nazi's were a race from another dimension then sure." He ended and Steve just nodded. "So basically, this thing is like a brain and it wants to take over everything. This could be the end of the world as we know it." Dustin added and Steve started to freak out. "Shit, well now what do we do?" He asked, running his hands through his hair, and looking around the group. "We kill the brain." Jonathan spoke now and everyone turned their heads in his direction. "We would win." He added and Dustin nodded. "So, how would we even kill this thing though, shoot it with fireballs?" Hopper asked and Dustin scoffed. Hope scowled at him and rolled her eyes at his I-know-everything attitude and Dustin's eyes flickered to the ground. "He'll know." Mike said now, motioning his head to Will who was still asleep on the couch. "I thought we couldn't trust him, that's why he's sedated, because he's a spy?" Max asked curiously even though Hope hinted confusion in her voice. "He can't spy if he doesn't know where he is though?" Mike responded and Hopper clapped his hands and walked out of the house towards the shed in the Byers garden.
He wrenched open the door and nodded. "This should work." He stated before grabbing the stuff that occupied that shed and throwing it all out onto the lawn.