A/N: Nothing to say here for an intro. Let's just start, shall we?
Hawkins
Night
Starcourt Mall
Steve watched in horror as he witnessed the mind-controlled-looking people tear an entire section of the Starcourt Mall down. Innocents and civilians were caught in the crossfire of Billy, the other flayed people, and the Demogorgon. Steve could only watch in horror as innocent people were torn apart, choked by the flayed people, ripped apart and eaten by the Demogorgon. In the midst of it all, Steve saw a certain, tall creature, watching the chaos unfold. Steve re-entered the Scoops Ahoy store as he closed the doors, locking them with the keys he had in his pocket. Robin and Erica watched as Steve locked the doors before turning to them.
"Steve, what is going on?" Robin asked, clearly sounding scared and terrified.
"There are some sort of creatures and other…freaks destroying the mall." Erica said in a panicked voice.
"Listen, guys," Steve said. "We gotta go. I'll explain everything later but we gotta go."
"Go where?" Erica demanded.
"Just follow me," Steve said, walking towards the counter when Robin stopped him.
"Wait, Steve," Robin interrupted. "You know what's going on?"
"Look, it's a long story," Steve said quickly. "I'll explain, later, I promise. But right now, we have to go!"
"Open the door, Steve!" a familiar voice echoed through the glass doors.
A chill ran down Steve's spine as he froze in fear, he recognized the voice. Steve recalled the brutal beating he had taken last year, when he had almost died and nearly lost his life. Steve turned to see an infected-looking Billy standing by the glass, his fist on the thick glass doors. No. Steve thought in his head. Not you, anyone but you, please not you! Steve maintained eye contact with Billy as he clenched his fist, standing up tall.
"Open the door, Steve," Billy demanded.
"Why?" Steve argued. "So you can come here and kill me?"
"You don't understand, Steve, your deaths are going to be part of something so important. Your puny, little, worthless lives can finally have meaning. Now open the door."
Steve let out a breath. "Pass."
Billy growled as he angrily slammed his fist on the doors. Cracks appeared all over the glass doors. Steve immediately turned to Robin and Erica as he pushed them, urging them to run. The three of them made it behind the counter as they made their way to the back door. As Steve got the key for the back door out of one of the drawers, Billy shattered the glass door with one final punch. The glass pieces spread throughout the floors of the Scoops Ahoy store. Billy entered the store as he walked towards the counter. He kicked down the entrance to it as he looked in time to see the back door close. Billy immediately rushed towards the backdoor as he punched it, sending the door flying into the small, white-wall hallway. He stepped in the hallway just in time to see yet another door close, indicating Steve, Robin, and Erica's narrow escape. Billy clenched his fist with rage as he continued pursuit of the three escapees.
Elsewhere
Mike, Lucas, Max, Will, Dustin, and El rode through the night on four bikes. El sat behind Mike on his bike, her arms wrapped around his stomach. Max did the same with Lucas. They all continued riding down the sidewalk as they stopped near Castle Byers. El, Max, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will all got off their bikes, dropping them near the makeshift castle. The six of them instantly ran to the Byers' house as Will repeatedly knocked on the door. They heard Jonathan's voice echo through the door before it opened, revealing the older teenager to be standing inside.
"Will?" Jonathan asked. "Guys? What're you doing here?"
Will instantly ran towards his older brother, wrapping him in a hug. Jonathan looked confused as he returned the hug. Behind him, Nancy and Joyce noticed Mike and the others.
"Mike?" Nancy frowned in confusion.
Jonathan, Will, and the others all entered the house as the door was left open.
"What's going on?" Nancy asked.
"What're you guys doing here?" Joyce asked.
Suddenly, before anyone could say or do anything, a pair of flesh-like tentacles appeared from nowhere as they wrapped themselves around Mike. Mike fumbled as the tentacles lifted him in the air before throwing him to the side. He crashed onto some furniture as he fell to the ground, groaning in pain from the fall.
"Mike!" Nancy and El yelled.
Then, a ten-foot-tall creature leaped through the gap of the door, retracting its tentacles to itself as it landed on the ground. The creature stood tall as it glared down at all of them. Immediately, El stood in front of Will, Jonathan, Nancy, Joyce, Lucas, Max, and Dustin, keeping her arms in front of them as she and the Demogorgon glared at each other. El took a quick glance to Mike, who was somewhat unconscious on top of some broken pieces of furniture. She then tilted her head angrily to face the Demogorgon. The creature pulled a broken leg from a chair with one of its tentacles, holding it in the air. It swung the tentacle directly at El.
El raised her hand as she stopped the tentacle in mid-air. With her hand, she used her telekinetic power to slam the Demogorgon to the ground. El wiped the blood leaking from her nose away as the Demogorgon got onto its feet only to be slammed at the door frame. El was using one hand to restrain the creature, blood was pouring from her nose even faster and harder. She could feel her energy and body draining under the stress of her powers. El mentally pushed herself as she held both of her hands at the Demogorgon, doubling the force as she yelled. The Demogorgon was resisting, she didn't know how it was possible. This Demogorgon was clearly stronger than the one she had fought two years ago.
Resisting El's power, the Demogorgon grabbed onto the edges of the door frame, its claws sinking deep into the wood. It pushed itself against the force of El's abilities. Everyone stared in shock.
"No way." Max whispered under her breath.
"No freakin' way." Lucas said, horrified.
"Everyone get back!" Jonathan yelled. "Now!"
Everyone except El went as far back as they could, heading to the back wall of the living room. El struggled as blood covered her mouth. Eventually, the strain of her powers overtook her as she collapsed to her knees, exhausted and tired. The Demogorgon dropped to the ground as it sneered at El. The exhausted fourteen-year-old girl looked up just in time for the Demogorgon to slam her with one of its tentacles. El was sent sliding across the floor as she landed in front of everyone else. Max and Will got onto their knees to help a drained and beaten El. El groaned in pain as she saw a thin but deep cut on the side of her arm. Max and Will helped her to her feet as El wiped her face with her hand, a mini pool of blood resting on her palm. El coughed as the Demogorgon neared towards her and everyone else.
"Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit! OH SHIT!" Dustin was panicking hysterically.
"El, do something!" Will yelled.
El couldn't do anything, the strain of her powers had drained her too much. The Demogorgon carried a dinner table with all four of its tentacles. The creature chucked the table at them as everyone closed their eyes, bracing for impact when they heard a voice roar with rage.
"NO!" a certain boy yelled.
A couple seconds passed as El, Will, Max, Dustin, Lucas, Nancy, Jonathan, and Joyce slowly opened their eyes. They looked and saw the table floating in the air a couple feet away from then. However, it wasn't El, she still needed help from Max and Will to stand. It couldn't have been her. But then, who was it? The Demogorgon paused in confusion as it saw the table floating. Suddenly, the table flew backwards as it crashed onto the creature, breaking instantly upon impact. The Demogorgon fumbled upon being hit by the table. El and the others watched in confusion. Then, the Demogorgon's tentacles seemed to be taken control of by some unknown force. One of the tentacles tightly wrapped itself around the creature's neck, suffocating it. The other restrained its arms by the rest as the fourth one tied up its legs. The Demogorgon fell to its knees, suffocating.
From the edge of the area, Mike walked forward, standing closer to the Demogorgon with his hand extended towards it. El, Will, and the others stared at Mike in shock, Nancy was more so shocked than the rest of them. Her little brother…had powers? How?
Mike stood still with a look of rage on his face, no blood poured from his nose. No look of exhaustion, struggle, or weakness was visible on him. Just anger…rage, pure rage. Mike enclosed his hand into a fist as he began slamming the Demogorgon all over the room with his newfound telekinetic powers. With each slam, he yelled a word, as if he was talking to the creature.
"Don't-" SLAM! "Ever-" SLAM! "Hurt-" SLAM! "My-" SLAM! "Friends-" SLAM! "AGAIN!"
With one stroke of his fist, Mike slammed the Demogorgon from the ceiling down to the ground. He tightened the grip on his fist as the Demogorgon struggled on its knees. Nancy watched in shock, seeing what Mike was doing to the creature. Any sign of the kind, sweet, and loving Mike that she knew was opaque, all she could see was rage and anger in his eyes. Mike then punched the Demogorgon at its torso with all his strength. Mike's hand went right through the Demogorgon's torso as everyone gasped in horror. He pulled his arm out of the Demogorgon's body as the creature fell to its knees, struggling to maintain consciousness.
With his right hand covered in Demogorgon blood, Mike's eyes began to glow red as two beams of red energy shot out from his eyes. The energy burned through the Demogorgon's neck as its head rolled off before falling onto the ground. Mike stopped his energy blast as the Demogorgon's headless body dropped to the ground. He stared in rage at the Demogorgon's body as his fists were clenched, his eyes glowing with red energy. After a couple moments, Nancy slowly approached Mike as she noticed the glowing energy in his eyes. She got onto her knees as she cupped his cheeks.
"Mike, hey," she whispered. "It's okay. It's over. Breathe."
Mike closed his eyes as he breathed deeply. Soon, he reopened his eyes as the red energy disappeared from them. Nancy smiled as she nodded her head.
"I…I'm sorry," Mike said.
"Hey, it's alright, Mike," Nancy said. "It's alright."
Nancy got onto her feet as Mike turned to Joyce and his friends.
"Are you guys okay?" Mike asked.
"I don't know whether to be excited that we won," Dustin said. "Or if I should be scared of you now."
"Right," Mike admitted. "Sorry about that."
"Hey, you saved our lives," Max said. "You got nothing to be sorry about."
"So, is anyone hurt?" Nancy asked.
"El's injured." Will replied.
Mike immediately ran over to El as he stood in front of her, Will and Max were helping her stand. He looked at her arm as he saw the cut on her arm.
"We need to get it stitched," Joyce said, observing her injury. "I've stitched Jonathan and Will before. Trust me, I know."
"Right," Jonathan said as he turned to face Mike. "Wanna tell us how exactly you have superpowers now?"
"I think I might know," Mike admitted. "But right now, we've got bigger problems."
A Few Minutes Later
El was sitting on the couch as Joyce continued stitching the cut on her arm. Mike was sitting next to her as he let El hold onto his hand. She winced in pain upon the stitches as her grip on Mike's hand tightened. Mike had to make sure he didn't return as much of a tight grip. He couldn't do that to her. At least, not without breaking every single bone in her hand. The credit of super strength. As Joyce finished the final stitch, El let out a wince of pain, holding Mike's hand tighter than ever. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Nancy shared a look of confusion as Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Will explained everything to them thoroughly.
"So, let me get this straight," Jonathan said. "The Mind Flayer planned this whole attack and he's planned an attack on the Starcourt Mall?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Dustin said.
"There's gotta be at least hundreds of people there," Nancy said. "Steve is there."
"Exactly. Which is why we need to go. Now." Max said.
"We can't all just go," Will argued. "What're we gonna do? March in and take on an army of mind-controlled people possessed by the Mind Flayer? The only reason we even stand a chance is because of Mike and El."
"Can't argue with that," Lucas admitted.
"Speaking of which," Dustin said, turning to Mike. "El always gets nosebleeds using her powers. But how come you don't get any? Also how exactly did you get your powers?"
Mike sighed. "I-"
Then, the phone hanging on the wall began ringing. Joyce went over as she answered the call, holding the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" Joyce said into the phone.
"Joyce?" a familiar voice echoed through the line.
"Hop?" Joyce frowned with confusion as everyone turned their attention to Joyce.
"Joyce, we have a problem," Hopper said. "Remember that Demogorgon attack earlier?"
"Yeah, why?"
"The Demogorgon, it's attacking the Starcourt Mall."
"What?" Joyce asked, shocked as Nancy, Jonathan, and the kids focused even more on Joyce's reactions.
"The Department called me," Hopper explained. "Said they got a bunch of calls from a lot of people saying that, and I quote, "a tall, skinny flesh-looking creature was in the mall." Joyce, it has to be it. I'm still at the cabin but I'm about to head over there."
"Hop, hold up. About those reports. You're sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. Why?"
"Hop, we were just attacked by the Demogorgon a few minutes ago." Joyce said.
"Wait what? Are you guys okay?"
Joyce turned and faced Mike as she spoke. "We're fine, El and the kids came and we're good."
"Joyce, you're sure it was the Demogorgon?"
"It was."
"Alright," Hopper's stressed voice echoed through the line. "Look, I'm on my way to the mall. The police have the area surrounded. Can we meet there?"
"Alright, yeah." Joyce replied.
The line was cut as Joyce hung the phone before meeting the faces of a group of confused kids.
"What's going on?" Jonathan asked.
"Hopper called," Joyce explained. "Apparently there's an attack on the Starcourt Mall right now."
Dustin slammed his hand on the wall. "The Mind Flayer's already started his attack."
"-by the Demogorgon." Joyce finished.
"Wait," Max said.
"The Demogorgon?" Mike said in confusion.
"But the Demogorgon's right here." Dustin said, pointing outside to the backyard where Jonathan, Will, and Lucas had buried it.
"Yeah, I saw them burying it." El confirmed.
"There's no way a Demogorgon can be dead and in two places at once." Dustin stated.
"No shit, Sherlock." Will exclaimed.
"What if it's another Demogorgon?" Nancy asked.
Lucas frowned. "Another Demogorgon?"
"It could be possible," Jonathan said. "I mean, guys, c'mon. This is the Upside Down we're talking about, the Mind Flayer. For all we know, there's probably an army of Demogorgons in there."
"Okay, guys!" Dustin yelled. "Can we please try to remember that the Starcourt Mall is still under attack?"
"Don't worry," Max sighed. "Your dad's gonna be fine."
Dustin frowned in confusion. "My dad?"
"I was referring to Steve." Max responded.
Lucas chuckled.
"No guys," Will said. "In all seriousness, we have to go. Now."
"We can't all go," Mike argued, looking over to Nancy.
"Mike, I'll be fine-" Nancy
"Nancy, you're pregnant," Mike said. "We can't risk it."
Nancy scoffed. "Mike, I'm not about to let my little brother march into a life-or-death scenario with a Demogorgon!"
"I can take care of myself, Nancy. I have powers, remember? But I can't protect you too."
"And what? I'm supposed to let you do this? No, Mike. I'm not letting you endanger yourself."
"Nancy-"
"No, Mike. No."
Mike sucked in a breath. "Please, stay here. If I'm going to stop this, I need to know that you, Mom, and Dad are all safe."
Nancy opened her mouth to argue but no words came out, instead a sigh of defeat slipped from her mouth. Jonathan then came in as he held Nancy by her shoulders.
"Hey, it's alright," Jonathan said. "I'll go with them. I'll look after him, I promise."
Nancy nodded.
Outside the house, Lucas, Max, and Dustin were sitting in the backseat of the car. Will sat in the front passenger seat while Mike and El sat in the area behind the backseat, El rested her head on Mike's shoulder as Mike lightly leaned his head on her's. Mike lightly held El's hand as she tightly gripped his. Right outside the car, Joyce was giving Jonathan one final hug. She and Nancy were staying back while Jonathan and the kids went to the Starcourt Mall.
"Be careful," Joyce said before having to let go of her son.
"Yeah, I will." Jonathan assured.
Nancy wrapped her arms around him as she rested her chin on his shoulder. Jonathan pressed his lips to her head as he whispered to her.
"I'll keep him safe," He said, both of them smiled as Nancy looked over at Mike. "I promise."
"You need to come back alive too, you know." Nancy said. "This baby we're having, he needs a father."
Jonathan rested his hand on Nancy's belly as he could feel a kick from the baby.
"He?" Jonathan questioned.
"I'm hoping it's a boy."
"Any chance you can think of a name when I come back?"
Nancy nodded.
Jonathan smiled as the two of them slowly released their hands. He got into the driver's seat as he closed the door. Joyce and Nancy watched as everyone left. Jonathan started the car as it came to life instantly. He drove the car out of the area as the car left for the Starcourt Mall.
In the skies, thunder boomed as the clouds threatened rain and lightning. Nancy and Joyce looked up as they exchanged worried glances. There was a storm coming and not just the one the clouds promised but the one promised by coming events.
Later
Jonathan stopped the car at the edge of the parking space of the Starcourt Mall. After a couple moments, Jonathan, Will, Lucas, Max, Dustin, Mike, and El got out of the car as they instantly went over to the main parking area outside of the mall. The area was covered with over twelve police-issued cars as several officers were all over the area. A few EMT vehicles were also on the scene as some injured people who had escaped needed treatment. As Jonathan and the kids walked closer to the scene, they were approached by a certain chief of police.
"Hopper!" Jonathan called.
"There you guys are," Hopper said as he then frowned upon noticing everyone else. "Where's Joyce?"
"She's staying back with Nancy." Will explained.
"Is the Demogorgon inside?" El asked.
"From what I've heard, yeah." Hopper replied.
"El and I can take it," Mike said as he was ready to go inside when Hopper stopped.
"Hold up," the police chief said. "You and El?"
"He's got powers now." Max deadpanned.
Hopper's eyes grew large as he turned around, ensuring that no one else was in earshot. He then turned back as he glared down at Mike.
"It wasn't enough that you're making out with El 24/7?" Hopper asked as El couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "Now you have powers too?"
"It's a long story," Mike explained. "I'll explain, later, I promise."
"Do you know if Steve's okay?" Dustin immediately asked.
"I've checked, believe me, I have…" Hopper let out a nigh-hopeless sigh. "He's probably still inside."
"Goddamn it." Will cursed under his breath.
"You have to let us get inside." Lucas said.
"Not at all of you," Hopper said. "You guys are at risk just being here. I'm taking Mike and El. The rest of you are staying here."
"No, we're going with you." Jonathan said.
"Let us help." Max urged.
"No," Hopper said sternly as he pointed to Mike and El. "I'm already putting these two at risk. I'm not endangering any of you."
"But Steve-" Dustin tried to say.
"Will be fine," Hopper interrupted. "It's okay. We'll get him."
"Guys, El and I have to go. Now." Mike stated.
"Stay with them!" Hopper said to Jonathan as he, El, and Mike went around the police area, sneaking in through another entrance.
"Great, now we're stuck out here, doing nothing." Will muttered.
"It's gonna be alright, guys," Jonathan said, trying desperately to calm them down. "They're gonna be fine…hopefully."
Meanwhile, inside the Starcourt Mall, Steve, Erica, and Robin ran through the crowds of people running as several enhanced and mind-controlled people attacked from all sides. The trio continued running before stopping in their tracks as a Demogorgon crashed from the second before landing on ground. The creature used its left knee to slow down its fall as it jabbed its right claw into a man's chest. The Demogorgon stretched its fingers out, brutally ripping the man's torso into shreds. Steve, Erica, and Robin watched in horror.
"Oh shit!" Robin cursed.
"C'mon!" Steve yelled as he grabbed Robin and Erica's hands with his own.
The three of them went through a door that had the label 'Employees Only'. Steve pushed through the door as it opened allowing the three of them inside the white-walled hallways. The trio kept going only to be stopped by a certain tall, muscular, blond-headed man in front of them.
"Billy…" Steve tried to say.
Before he could finish his sentence, Steve, along with Erica and Robin, was sent flying by a punch from Billy. They crashed through the door as they fell on the ground, spread out throughout the main area of the first floor. The entire mall had practically been cleared save for Billy, Steve, Robin and Erica. Erica was knocked unconscious from the hit and Robin had a head injury and sprained shoulder. Steve was the only one who wasn't injured. Instantly, he got onto his feet as he came face-to-face with a glaring Billy.
"You can't win against me, Steve," Billy taunted. "You know what happened the last time you tried."
"Look," Steve pleaded as he pulled off his Scoops Ahoy hat and threw it to the side. "I don't know what all this is. I don't care. Just leave them alone, this is between you and me."
Billy chuckled. "Always need to be the hero, eh, Harrington…" Billy looked down for a moment, shaking his head before returning to his eye contact with Steve. "You're a good man, Steve. Which is why doing this to you will be more painful for me."
Within two seconds, Billy lunged forward at Steve as he threw a punch to his core. Steve was sent flying as he bumped into a pillar before dropping to the ground, groaning in pain. He clearly had a cracked, if not broken, rib at the least. Pushing himself, testing the limits of his endurance, Steve forced himself onto his feet, just in time to meet another incoming punch from Billy. This time, he was ready.
Steve lunged backwards a couple steps as Billy's fist struck the pillar. A large chunk of concrete broke off from the pillar upon impact of Billy's fist as Steve stared in shock at Billy's strength for a second. Clearly, Billy was enhanced in some way. Billy swung his other fist at Steve, who ducked under before throwing his fist to Billy's jaw. Billy's head was jerked towards the left as a result. He was slightly dazed.
Steve took immediate advantage as he threw a series of punches at Billy. He swung his right fist at him, then his left, striking him on the face twice. Steve then threw two punches at Billy's nose with his right hand. He then kicked Billy's knee as it gave way, forcing Billy onto his knees. Steve then kicked him in the face, knocking him cold as Billy's unconscious body dropped to the ground. A moment later, Steve then kicked the unconscious Billy in the stomach.
"That's for almost beating me to death…" Steve muttered "...asshole."
Steve then ran towards Robin as he kneeled beside her, helping his friend.
"Steve?" Robin said, visibly dazed. "Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me, Robs." Steve assured.
"Everything's so…blurry."
"Yeah, looks like you hit your head a little too hard."
"Steve, behind you!"
It was too late. A hand grabbed Steve from behind as it was wrapped around his neck. Billy lifted Steve in the air, choking him as he did. He threw him onto the ground before kicking him, sending him sliding. Steve could've sworn he felt another rib crack. While looking at Steve, Billy kicked Robin, inflicting more injury on her with his enhanced strength. Steve sprawled onto his feet as Billy angrily walked over to him.
"You know you've impressed me, Harrington," Billy stated as he walked closer. "I wasn't even holding back but now you've really pissed me off."
Billy swung his fist towards Steve, who leaped to the side, dodging the punch by inches. Billy's hand overshot itself as Steve kicked Billy's leg and swung his left fist at his jaw. Billy dropped to his knees as Steve chucked his right fist at him only for it to be intercepted in a tight grip. Billy held Steve's fist in his hand as he moved his arm to the side and threw an uppercut at Steve's chin. Steve dropped to the ground as Billy kneeled over. He threw a series of punches at Steve's face and body. Blood poured from Steve's mouth as he could feel his ribs cracking under the force of Billy's punches. Billy forced Steve onto his feet as he threw another combo of punches at him.
Steve's face was almost completely covered with red skin and blood. Billy grabbed him by his throat and chucked him to the ground. Steve groaned in pain as Billy stood over him. He got onto his knees as he looked up at Billy with exhaustion and pain visible on his face.
"That's all you got, huh, Harrington?" Billy gritted.
Steve instantly jumped to his feet as he swung his elbow at Billy, taking him by surprise. Billy was thrown back by the hit as Steve held his collar with his left hand, throwing a combo of four punches to Billy's forehead with his other hand. Steve grabbed Billy's shirt as he jerked him forward, kneeing him in the stomach. Billy angrily groaned from the hit as Steve elbowed him directly in the nose. In rage, Billy skidded to the side, grabbing one of Steve's hands as he kicked his leg. A loud crack was heard as Steve cried in pain upon the breaking of his leg.
Billy threw Steve's hand down as he circled around Steve, who was now limping on his other leg. Desperately, Steve swung his clenched fist as it struck Billy's shoulder. Billy retaliated with a punch to Steve's cheek as Steve was turned around by the hit. With all his strength, Billy forced his fist onto Steve's back as a loud crack echoed. Steve screamed in pain before dropping to the ground unconsciously. Steve was down, his mind slipping in and out of consciousness as blood covered his eyelids. Billy got onto his knees, holding a broken shard of glass in one hand. He grabbed Steve by his hair, pulling his head up forcefully.
"You put up a good fight, Steve," Billy said as Steve groaned. "But no one, no one, can stop what's coming. Especially not you."
Billy then swung the shard of glass to Steve's neck ready to kill him when suddenly, his hand was stopped as an unknown force stopped it. Suddenly, the same unknown force threw Billy off his feet as he landed several feet away from Steve, who was almost completely unconscious. Immediately, El, Hopper, and Mike arrived as they all rushed over to a bleeding and injured Steve. As the three of them surrounded the injured teenager, Billy rose to his feet as he made eye contact with Mike.
"Stay with Steve," Mike said to El and Hopper. "I'll take care of Billy."
Mike rose to his feet as he walked closer towards Billy, turning his shoulders as he did. Then, from the destroyed remains of the first floor, a Demogorgon arrived to Billy's aid as the two squared off against Mike.
"You came." Billy said with a smile.
Elsewhere in the Starcourt Mall, the physical form of the Mind Flayer was standing still. He sensed the environment and area around him as he opened his eyes and lifted his head.
"He's here." the Mind Flayer said, sensing a certain boy's presence.
Back at the first floor, Mike lifted Billy with his telekinetic abilities and threw him up to the second floor as Billy crashed through the glass and into a random store. The Demogorgon roared with rage as it charged forward at Mike, who lasered the Demogorgon in the chest as red energy beamed through his eyes. The creature was stopped in its tracks as it dropped to its knees, the heat vision burning through the skin as it formed a hole through the Demogorgon's heart. Mike stopped his heat vision as he extended his hand, clenching into a fist. The Demogorgon's head was immediately ripped off through an invisible force as it fell lifelessly to the ground.
Mike looked back to Hopper and El. The two of them were accompanied by Erica and Robin, both of whom had just woken up and were aiding an injured Steve Harrington. Mike then looked over to the second floor, spotting the area of the broken glass side-wall where he had crashed the flayed Billy. Using his telekinetic powers, he took flight, his feet lifting off the ground as he levitated all the way to the second floor. Mike smoothly landed on the marble ground of the second floor as he walked around the area Billy had crashed. He walked down the hallway as he looked past several stores. Billy was nowhere to be seen. Mike then noticed an undamaged store where the door was open, he frowned in confusion. Almost all the other stores and areas were completely damaged with the doors either destroyed or closed. Yet, this store was open almost completely fine with no damage.
Something was clearly wrong. Mike immediately entered the store. The lights were off and it was almost completely dark. He walked closer into the store, the light sinking into darkness as Mike felt uneasy and unaware of himself. Why was he here? What was he doing? Was looking for something? If so, what?
"You're here…" a dark voice brooded as Mike jumped back, his eyes quickly glowing red with energy as he clenched his fists in a reflex.
"Who's there?" Mike said as a certain creature stepped close to him, the bare light revealing enough for Mike to guess who it was. "You! You're-"
"The Mind Flayer?" the creature responded. "I am. This is me, Michael. At least, me in my physical form. I do not have access to the full potential of my power, but I do have some of it."
"Why don't you use it and see how it compares to mine?" Mike gritted, the red energy in his eyes glowing with intensity and rage.
"I do not wish to fight, child. I am only here to speak. Do whatever you want to me but I give you my word, I do not wish to harm you."
"And why would I listen to anything you have to say?"
"I am many things, Michael. A keeper of my word is one of them. Besides, I believe there is something I have that I can give you."
Mike hesitated for a moment. He could've simply lasered the Mind Flayer then and there. Hell, maybe he could've even beaten him. But there was a low possibility of such an occurrence and Mike knew that. He was far too young and inexperienced to take on the Flayer, no matter how much his anger and rage pushed him to do so. Plus, if the Mind Flayer had something to offer Mike, maybe he could have listened. There was no harm in listening to the Flayer, was there?
Mike let the red energy in his eyes dissipate as he calmed himself. "What do you want?"
The Mind Flayer, in its physical form, sighed as he walked around Mike, circling him slowly. "Oh Michael. I know you. I know your pain, your suffering."
The Flayer then slowly rested its hand on Mike's right shoulder. A shiver ran down Mike's spine as the Mind Flayer continued speaking.
"I know your power," the Flayer spoke. "I've seen the future, your future. The scales of your potential. I've seen what you can do with your power. But all that power, all that strength, and you're still the same as you are before: a boy. A young boy, holding on to everything dear to him, scared of losing it all. You, Mike Wheeler, struggle to have everything you desire while the universe tries to rip it away from you. I know your anger, your fear. Fear of losing the ones you love. Fear of losing your sister."
Suddenly, everything around Mike vanished like smoke as it sank into black darkness. For several moments, Mike found himself enveloped in the darkness. Not even the Mind Flayer could be seen. Then, Mike could see colored smoke forming an image of a moment. He stared in shock at what he was seeing. Nancy, his beloved sister, was lying unconsciously on a hospital-like bed. She was hooked up to an EKG machine, which indicated that she was flatlining. She was dying. Steve could be seen doing CPR on her as a horrified and shocked Jonathan watched. A baby's crying echoed in the background as Mike ran his hands through his hair.
"No," Mike whimpered in fear. "No. No. No. Nancy. NO!"
The scene faded as everything returned to the darkness.
"She doesn't have to die, Michael," the Mind Flayer's voice boomed in the darkness as Mike turned and turned. "You can save her. I can teach you how."
"Why would you show me that!" Mike roared with rage, his eyes glowing red with energy.
"What you saw was a moment in the future. But it doesn't have to come true. A different moment could happen instead."
Then, the colored smoke returned as Mike watched it form yet another scene. The moment showed Mike kneeling over Nancy's dead body. He had his hand extended towards her body as he closed his eyes focusing on her. Nancy's wounds and injuries self-healed and repaired themselves as she slipped out of unconsciousness with a gasp. The scene immediately faded as Mike stared in shock at what he had just witnessed, the red energy in his disappearing as he did so.
"You have and possess the power to save your sister and to keep her from death," the Mind Flayer said. "I can teach you. I can show you how to master it. I can help you realize and achieve the means of your potential. Me. Not Eleven, not your friends, not your parents. Me. Only I can help you, Michael. The question is: will you let me?"
Suddenly, the black darkness faded as Mike found himself back in the store. The Mind Flayer, in its physical form, was standing right in front of him.
"If you wish to save your sister," the Mind Flayer said as Mike lifted his head up to look at him. "Then meet with me tomorrow. You can find me at the cliff, the one where you jumped from to save your friend two years ago."
"How do you know about that?" Mike asked.
"I know everything about you, Michael. More than you know about yourself. Meet me there tomorrow if you wish to learn this power. And tell no one of any of our meetings. Trust me when I say I will know. Farewell, Michael."
And then, the Mind Flayer's physical form faded into black and dark red smoke as he disappeared from the air, vanishing into thin air. Mike looked down with a look of conflict on his face. He knew the Mind Flayer was evil, that he was a threat. He knew what that creature had done to El, the girl he loved, and to Will, his best friend. However, the actions of the past couldn't change Mike's worries about the future. He couldn't let Nancy die, she was sister. She had played both older sister and parent for him. He couldn't let her die. He wouldn't. Not when he had a chance to save her. Even if that chance involved working with the Mind Flayer, it was worth it if it meant saving Nancy. Suddenly, Mike's thoughts were interrupted as he heard gunfire echoing from the first floor.
Mike turned his head just in time to hear a girl's scream echo through the halls of the Starcourt Mall. He knew something was wrong. Mike turned his back, facing the direction where the Mind Flayer had left. He would think about meeting the Mind Flayer later. Right now, he had to go in the direction of the gunfire and see what was going on.
A/N: That's all for this chapter. I was planning on making it longer but I think I'll stop here. I know I've been asking for this a lot but please: leave a review. Or I refuse to continue this story.