Chapter 15: In the Beyond
"Well, another day, another fifty cents for college," Robin mutters as she and Steve close up Scoops for the night.
"At least you're probably going to go somewhere," Steve mutters under his breath, wiping down the tables.
Robin opens her mouth to make a snarky remark but decides against it. Leaving this hole of a town was a sore spot for Steve and she knew that if she brought it up and made fun of him, he'd instantly end their friendship. She did feel bad for him; being the popular boy in high school did squat to help you in the real world. She was looking forward to leaving this town behind, bizarre as it was. She was in her last year of high school, but she's worried she's going to have to take a year or more off because she was stuck at a crappy job that couldn't even make a dent in the cost it would take to go to college. It frustrated her immensely, but she had her ambitions and she did feel bad for Steve as he was likely going to be here even longer.
She finishes locking up the backroom and grabbing her helmet. Steve pulls the metal gate over the entrance before walking with her.
"Even though the Russians are long gone," Steve says. "This place is still creepy as hell at night."
"Agreed," Robin nods as the two head for the exit.
…
Meanwhile, deep under Starcourt Mall in the abandoned tunnels of the former Russian military base, a small and seemingly insignificant shadow swirls its way in the darkness, trying to find an opening... several sparks emit from wires dangling from open generators and computers. Some of the complicated and highly technical equipment has begun to gather dust and spiderwebs from the lack of use. The main control panel standing behind an extremely thick sheet of plexiglass makes a *clunk* sound, which echoes through the abandoned facility. Two long and dark spindly arms turn the required keys, which causes some of the machinery behind the glass to activate. The gigantic "Key" ray that was meant to open a portal between worlds flickers a few more times before a single, very thin beam of light that is aimed at the wall penetrates it. It creates a single crack, scarcely the length of a human hair glows a reddish-orange colour, but that was all that was required.
The shadowed entity that had activated moves quickly, slipping under the glass and slowly making its way towards the crack in the wall. Its smoky appearance allows it to drift next to the laser, imitating a phantom until it reaches the crack and slowly slips inside.
Once it vanishes, the ray deactivates again, hopefully for the last time.
…
In the desolate landscape called the Upside Down by those who knew of its existence, an entity known as the Mind Flayer felt rejuvenated and pleased to be back in its home once again. The various particles of ash and organic material soak up into its cloud-like skin, allowing it to regain strength. It was now officially whole again. After the foolish and inferior humans had opened the gateway between its world and theirs, the being felt something very close to "happiness" when it sent its minions outwards to wreak havoc to help his plan of merging the worlds. That is until that seemingly powerful... what was it called again? Human Girl The girl had closed the gate and great hatred had been brewing inside the omnipotent entity ever since then. This "girl" needed to be reckoned with. It did not help that when she closed the gate, she severed part of It and left it helpless in a world it was not truly familiar with. The alternate human world was no place for this great being... too much emotion and happiness surrounding the place called a mall... It suffocated the entity greatly and even when possessing that human... "boy" the emotion made the Flayer completely miserable and was pleased to have been expelled from him. It was content to be back where it truly belonged... mostly... But its plan to merge the worlds of Earth and the Upside Down had been delayed. When the foolish men attempted to reopen the gateway between the worlds, the Mind Flayer greatly desired to find its missing piece, but the sheer power of the...device had prevented this. However, It was able to get some energy back out to its missing half, allowing it the strength to have reactivated the device and come home.
The great brain of the Mind Flayer hovered within the darkened skies, with the occasional flash of red lightning. Now that it was whole, it was time to go back to plotting. The human boy was still a possibility, the connection was still there, but it was too weak. The entity had to consider new options for its plan of complete domination of all living things.
At that moment, a piercing cry is heard throughout the desolate realm.
The being nearly jumps in surprise, but curiosity compels it to find the source.
With slow and precise movements, the Flayer goes off in the direction of the scream.
It is surprised to find that the source of the scream was another human boy. Much younger than the one before... which could perhaps be useful to him.
Why was he able to hear this boy? the thing wondered to itself. What purpose could it serve?
Using its telepathic abilities, the Flayer reaches out and sees what is occurring.
The small "boy" runs through the alternative house of this dimension; so clean and homey that it disgusts the being. Tears were in the child's eyes as he runs to the bed of the... mother and father... whatever those happened to be. They wrap their boney appendages around the boy and give him something to stop the crying. They allow him into their nest and the child soon calms down enough to fall back asleep.
When this occurs, the Flayer is shocked as some sort of yellow spark emanates from the child's mind. It is unlike anything It has seen before and is extremely... curious as to what this was. It was not warm, one of the Mind Flayer's greatest fears, but still very powerful. It continues to flicker as if biding It to come closer. One of the long smoky tentacles propels forward, reaching through the dividing space between the two worlds. The entity touches the lights.
…
In a flash, the Mind Flayer is suddenly transported to a deep void, much darker and emptier than its own home. The coldness is comforting, but It still feels rather confused as to why it is suddenly here. What had it done to end up here?
Just then a voice speaks through its hived mind
"Who dares awaken me?"
"Who is there?" the Flayer asks in response, also using its ability of telepathy.
Just then three bright balls of light appear beneath the smoky entity, causing the thing to recoil in horror. The warmth and brightness of these lights are extremely painful, and It attempts to run or float away.
"STOP THAT AT ONCE!" it hisses, attempting to get away from the light.
"Not so mighty, are you?" the other voice taunts. "You are a fool to have such a weakness... Perhaps this would be better."
Suddenly, the lights vanish, but the Mind Flayer first hears, and then sees a massive wave of water coming towards it. Again, the entity attempts to escape, letting out a horrible, unearthly and ear-shattering noise as one of its greatest fears is about to drown it.
While It tries to get away, the sounds of laughter and delight are heard all through the void, echoing everywhere. This angers the Flayer immensely.
"How the mighty fall when the superior appears."
"STOP!" the being screams, almost begging for the water not to touch it.
Just then, the water vanishes. The lights have returned, but they are blue, much dimmer and almost comforting. The Flayer stops in its attempted escape and still hovers in the darkened void. While the light was still distressing, it was not so bad any longer. The smoky thing becomes curious and interested in what sort of abilities this other entity had.
"Fascinating," the other voice chuckles. "We are quite alike are we not?"
"How can I know what you have not shown me a true form?"
"What are you known as?" the blue lights ask telepathically.
"I am the ruler of all realms... I exist not unlike the shadows and darkness surrounding the world in which I rule. I have no reason to be called anything."
"Neither do I," the lights respond, flickering slightly. "The humans I have seen call me IT, this is the closest label that their tiny minds can come up with."
"Humans are foolish aren't they?" the entity chuckles. "I have been called a Mind Flayer, after some meaningless... game."
"While they are foolish, they are also quite delicious," IT says. "I am an eater of worlds after all."
"That is interesting," the shadowed monster says. "How is it that we have not met before?"
"I exist outside all physical worlds; I am older than time itself I know little of this... time that is so precious to humans. I only ever awaken in a physical form every 27 years to feed."
"Are you feeding now?"
"No, my hibernation began not long ago, but my state was weakened by some horrendous children, ones whom I could not scare into eating. Children taste much better when they are afraid."
"They are the most vulnerable," the Flayer agrees. "And easiest to control before consuming."
"More similarities," IT says, decidedly impressed.
After what seems like a long pause, the entity known as the "Deadlights" has an idea.
"Perhaps we could help each other..."
"How might we go about doing that?"
A/N: Uh oh! Special thanks to Guest and Random for their continued support. Hope you enjoy this chapter.