The creature lunged at the group. Lucas swung his back at the creature. The monster didn't even flinch at the impact. The monster reached out one of its tentacles, causing Lucas to fall. "Bullets are the only thing that can hurt this thing," Will exclaimed.

Will's arms were trembling as he lifted his gun. For Mike. He shot the creature. The bullet pierced through the monster. The monster let out an agony-filled screech. After a moment, it set its sights on Nancy. She was also holding a gun, so the creature assumed she shot it. It lunged at her.

Jonathan cocked his own gun. He shot several bullets into the monster. It screeched, jumping off of Nancy as the bullets hit it. "The bullets aren't going to kill it," Lucas exclaimed, finally getting to his feet.

Max had an idea. She ran out of the ice cream store through the back exit. She was familiar with this back hallway. Max found the door she was looking for. She thanked her lucky stars that it was unlocked. It was a bar.

Max grabbed the first bottle of liquor she could find. Max checked her pocket for her lighter. She sighed in relief when she found it. Never leave home without it. Max ran out of the bar and went back to Scoops Ahoy. Eleven was trying to fight it with her powers.

Max doused the creature in the liquid. She grabbed a wooden spoon from behind the counter. She set the spoon on fire before throwing it onto the beast. The entire monster's body lit up in flames.

The monster screeched. "Stop, please," Jennifer sobbed. "You're hurting me."

More voices came from the monster as it burned. It was all of the people who were flayed. "I don't want to die," Jennifer screamed. Her voice was filled with fear and sadness. The group was horrified at the noises. They couldn't tell if it was a trick the monster was playing, or if the screams were from the real victims.

Nancy grabbed the fire extinguisher. She doused the creature in white foam. There was a chorus of screams as the fire was put out. The monster fell to its side. It was covered in burns. The monster was still alive, but it would be out for a while.

"I need a minute," Will said.

"Join me, Will."

Will was in the void. He was alone with Mike, but it wasn't his Mike. It was just Mike's physical form. The true Mike was a prisoner in his body. "You were the original spy," the flayed Mike explained. "You were always a part of my plan."

Will gathered his courage. "I would never betray my friends," he stuttered. "You're not the man I fell in love with."

Will got closer to Mike's form. "Mike," Will whispered. "I know you're in there. You're somewhere in there. Please, come back."

The flayed Mike burst out laughing. "You're weak," he laughed. "This is the future, Will. Join us."

Mike's form stroked Will's face. "No," Will declared. He made direct eye contact with the flayed Mike's soulless eyes.

"Then you will die with the rest of your pathetic friends," Mike growled.

"Will," Max yelled. She snapped her fingers. "Snap out of it!"

That snapped Will out of his brain. "We need to deal with Mike now," Max said. All Will could do was nod. The way Mike's eyes were soulless would stay with Will forever.

The group froze in fear. Mike wasn't alone. Behind him, the Mind Flayer stood, in all of its glory. Mike stood in front of it. "Crap," Will said.

Max rushed to the bar to get some liquor to set more fires. "There's a firework store," Lucas said. "If fire works to kill it, then fireworks will work too."

Eleven, using her powers, lifted the gate to the store. Will and Lucas ran inside it, grabbing as many fireworks as they could handle. They also grabbed two lighters. The two boys ran up the escalators, which were turned off for the night. They leaned against the railing. "Have you ever lit a firework before?" Lucas asked.

"No," Will answered.

"There's a first time for everything," Lucas said. Lucas set off the first firework. It hit the Mind Flayer in the face, causing it to flinch.

Will looked down. Mike was holding his face in pain. "It's hurting him," Will yelled. "They're tethered together."

Will remembered the pain he was in during his possession. Every time the Mind Flayer or Upside-Down felt pain, he felt it too. "Remember, it's not Mike," Max screamed. "We can't stop! This is the only way to stop the Mind Flayer!"

"We need to keep the fireworks going," Lucas explained.

"I'm sorry, Mike," Will whispered. He lit a firework that he launched at the Mind Flyer. Will avoided looking at Mike. You're doing this to save him. You're doing this to save Jennifer Hayes. You're doing this to save everyone.

Eleven ran up the escalator. The flayed Mike was hot on her trail. Eleven attempted to use her powers against him. However, Mike was stronger. Eleven tripped, falling on her injured leg. Her wound stung.

Eleven didn't have time to get back up. Mike grabbed her ankle. Lucas and Will attempted to help her, but Mike was too strong. Eleven kicked at Mike, screaming. Mike was unaffected, dragging her down the escalator. Mike dragged her to the Mind Flayer as a sacrifice.

Will felt a sudden burst of courage. "Mike," Will screamed. The Flayed teen turned to face Will. "This isn't you. You can fight the hold he has on you. You helped me when he had me, and I'm going to help you. We're crazy together, right? I love you."

Mike slowly turned back around. The Mind Flayer sent one of its tentacles to crush Eleven. However, the tentacle never made contact with her. Instead, the tentacle made contact with Mike's fist.

"Yes!" Lucas screamed. "Captain Wheeler is back in control."

However, the victory was short-lived. Another tentacle grabbed Mike's other hand. More tentacles grabbed Mike's legs, suspending him in the air. While this was going on, the machine was being destroyed.

Another tentacle went after Mike. It pierced through his stomach, ending up on the other side. "No," Will sobbed, collapsing to his knees. Lucas wrapped one arm around Will's back. The other arm wrapped around Will's front side. Lucas's eyes were filling up with tears too. Will grabbed the arm around his stomach.

As Mike's limp body fell to the ground, the machine was destroyed. In a few seconds, the Mind Flayer disappeared. In Scoops Ahoy, the Spider creature fell dead. The horror was finally over.

Will ran down the escalator. He didn't realize the place had caught fire. He needed to get to Mike. Max and Lucas followed him. Will gently slapped Mike's face. "Hey," Will whispered. "We did it. You did it. You're a hero. You can wake up."

Mike didn't respond. The tears were streaming from Will's widened eyes. "Eleven, I need you," Will screamed. Eleven ran over to him. She tried to use her powers to sew his wounds closed. She tried to use her powers to restart his heart.

"My powers aren't working," Eleven stated. Jonathan, who had been comforting a sobbing Nancy, was the first to realize the fire.

"Keep trying," Will screamed.

"We need to get out of here," Jonathan said. Will, however, wasn't listening. He was cradling Mike's head in his lap.

"I can't leave him," Will sobbed. Max and Lucas were comforting each other. Will had contact with Mike's lifeless eyes. "You can't leave me," Will whispered. "We're supposed to be crazy together forever. I can't be crazy alone. I can't be without you."

Jonathan, blinking back his tears, began to drag Will away. "No," Will screamed. It took the combined strength of the entire group to get Will out of the mall.