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   PAISLEY'S ARMS ARE WRAPPED around Robin's waist, uncomfortably sitting on the back of the bike. The blonde reaches the mall. She spews excuse me's as she speeds up to the bike rack.

"Anyone ever tell you how smart you are?" Paisley says with a smile. Robin nervously laughs under her breath a bit, "It seems to be my only working trait. Come on."

The two make it back to Scoops.

"It is fascinating what 20 bucks will get you at the County Recorder's Office," Robin says. She spreads the map across the table. Paisley smooths it out, "Starcourt Mall. The finished blueprints."

Dustin smiles at the girls, "Not bad."

Casey carefully steps next to Stella. The only two here that don't want to kill him with a scooper are Stella and Robin, maybe Dustin but Paisley has given him his fair share of glares. He slowly puts his finger to the map, "This is Scoops, right?"

Robin nods, "Yeah, and this is where we want to get," She slides her finger across the map. "I mean, I don't really see a way in," Steve says. He wishes he could afford a day off. He'd much rather be with Brooke and the kids right than this, mostly just Brooke though. Robin kept catching him zoning out earlier. Everything from last night just keeps replaying. Only took them so long to realize they actually like each other.

"There's not—Steve, stop zoning out, bird brain," Robin shoves him, "Anyway, if you're talking exclusively about doors, there's no way in." Stella sighs, looking over the map, "Oh, fuck me. The air ducts?"

"Exactly," Robin walks over to grab a marker, "Turns out, this secret room needs air just like any old room. And these air ducts," She starts circling on the map, "lead all the way.....," She draws a line along the air ducts and to another room, "Here."

They all glance up at the air ducts. Sighs leaving some of their mouths.

STEVE GETS THE DOOR of the air duct off, screwdriver in mouth, "Flashlight."

Stella hands him the flashlight, "That looks....small." She hates it. She hates the thought of small places. Being a big girl in a small town is worse than it would be anywhere else. Where every girl around her eats an almond a day and calls it enough. Stella feels bad for them of course, it's not only her being forced into the beauty standard of the world. It's just easier for them. The glasses Stella hides behind and the unrevealing clothes she buys, all to make sure no one really ever notices her.

Steve had thanked her but Stella had blanked out, only a quiet your welcome coming out of Stella's mouth before she steps back. Casey notices, stepping behind her and grabbing her hand.

The light in Steve's hands reflects off the metal, "Yeah, I don't know, man. I don't know if you can fit in here. It's, like........super tight."

Paisley snorts to make up for the lack of Brooke's presence, she knows she would've laughed. "I'll fit. Trust me. No collar bones, remember?" Dustin tells him, taking the flashlight from Steve. "Uh, excuse me?" Robin asks. She glances at the others who have no reaction, they knew this information already. Steve hops down from the ladder, "Oh he's, uh......Yeah, he's got some disease. Chry, uh....it's chryso, um......Something. Yeah, I dunno."

"Cleidocranial dysplasia," Casey corrects him. Steve whips his head around at the boy, "I didn't ask for your answer, dipshit."

"Well, I gave you one anyway, moron," Casey spits at Steve. Paisley sighs loudly, "Shut the fuck up. Both of you!" The boys shut up real quick. Steve side eyes her and Casey before going into further explanation about Dustin, "He's missing bones and stuff. He can bend like Gumbo."

Robin raises a brow, "You mean...Gumby."

"I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo," Steve says confidently. Paisley steps closer to Robin, "He's wrong. You're right." The girls look at each other, smiling. "Steve, just shut up and push me!" Dustin interrupts them. The front half of his body is in the vent, his voice echoing off the walls.

The four other teens stand back as Steve pushes Dustin by his feet. "Not my feet, dumbass. Push my ass!" Dustin yells. "What?" Steve says quickly. "Touch my butt! I don't care!" Dustin yells even louder. Steve steps up the ladder, pushing Dustin like he said.

They start yelling. The others look at them disapprovingly. "This is...ridiculous," Stella sighs. Casey and Paisley let out their laughs, not hearing Erica Sinclair incessantly ring the customer bell. Robin turns around to face the child, an idea sparking in her head with a smirk. I am so smart, just like Paisley said, Robin thinks before going to serve Erica.

THE HEAT OF INDIANA and humidity from the night before is making Brooke want to ditch the kids and jump into the town pool. Max has her binoculars on her step brother who is currently sitting under the bright red lifeguard umbrella, "I don't know. He looks pretty normal to me."

"Normal? How many times have you seen him with a shirt on?" Lucas makes a fair point. Brooke sits on the hood of the random car in front of them, "I think he only owns muscle tees."

Max nods in slight agreement, "I mean, it's a little weird."

"It's a lot-le," Danny says. The made up word makes everyone look at him with confused expressions. He waves it off and lets the others continue. "He was in a tub with ice. The Mind Flayer likes it cold. Plus everything else—"

Max cuts Mike off, "But he's lounging at the pool, which is like, the least Mind Flayer thing ever." Brooke waves her hand dramatically in front of her face, "Alright, I'm about to join the Mind Flayer. It's hot, guys."

The kids ignore her. "Not necessarily," Will starts, "The Mind Flayer likes to hide. He only used me when he needed me. It's like...like you're dormant. And when he needs you, it's like you're activated."

Brooke almost wants to rip her skin off. Not just because of the heat but because all this bullshit is back. "Alright, we can wait until he's activated," Danny shrugs, adjusting the bracelet around his wrist. "No. What if he hurts someone?" Mike asks. Danny scoffs, "Like you care about other people, Mike."

"Daniel!" Brooke shouts his name like a mother. He rolls his eyes, looking away from his sister. "Danny, he could kill someone. We can't take the chance," Will softly tells him. Danny sighs, suddenly agreeing with not waiting. "We need to find out if he's the host," Mike walks away.

"Where are you going?" El shouts. "I have an idea. Boys only!" Mike shouts back, getting further from the girls. "Seriously?" Max scoffs. The boys walk away.

Brooke stands up from the car, "You trust they'll make a good plan?"

"No, it's Mike," Max rolls her eyes. El glances at the redhead, "He can be...smart."

"When he closes his mouth maybe," Brooke comments. Max laughs along with her. El pouts a bit, from what she knows, she's supposed to agree with their rude comments about her ex boyfriend. Max keeps reminding her of that part. But she feels bad. He's really trying to do something. El leans against the car, silent.

Max glances at Brooke, watching her put her hair up. "This heat is unbearable," Brooke laughs. Max's eyes widen at the purple and red bruise near the back of her neck. She knows exactly what it is thanks to the magazines she's accidentally found in Billy's room. Before Max can subtly try and tell Brooke, El notices it and panics a bit.

"Brooke....your neck," El points to it, "What happened?" Brooke panics as well but of course she can't see a mark on her own neck, "Huh? What?"

"It's bruised," El tells her. Brooke's mouth forms an O shape. She covers the hickey with her hand, "Oh," She looks over Max and El's face. The playful smirk on Max's face lets her know she doesn't have to explain it to her but El she'll have to explain it to.

"Um...should I explain this? I could explain this," Brooke asks Max. El furrows her eyebrows, "Explain....what?"

Brooke rubs at her head, "It's a....love mark. People give it to you as a sign of affection. A hickey." Max shakes her shoulders with a laugh. El looks somehow even more confused than before, "A...love mark? It looks like it hurts. Who gave it to you?"

Max throws her hands up in the air, walking away from the situation. "Max! Come back here!" Brooke shouts, not wanting to do this alone. "Who was it?" El asks, frustratedly. Brooke sighs, "Steve."

Both girl's jaws drop, "Steve?!" They both shout. Max walks back up to El, "Told you. I told you they liked each other!"

Brooke blushes but she blames it on the heat of the sun, turning away from the girls with her head in her hands.

   THE SCOOPER SPINS IN Paisley's hand. She's nervous. They got Erica Sinclair to agree to going in the air ducts but at the cost of free ice cream for life. She's 10, she's gonna abuse that power. That doesn't make Paisley nervous though, it's the thought of putting a kid in danger.

Robin nudges her, "Hey, stop overthinking this. I'm sure Erica will be okay." Paisley snaps out of it. Shoulders heavy with guilt for something that hasn't even happened yet.

"And how would you know that?" Paisley bitterly says. It doesn't affect Robin though, she's seen Paisley in an anxious state many times before. She scoops Paisley's favorite, cookies n creme into a waffle cone, "Because....cookies n creme makes it all okay, right?" Robin smiles with a tilt of her head.

Paisley sighs, taking the cone from Robin. She licks it and Robin feels bad for staring as she does so. Robin clears her throat a bit, "See? All better."

Steve wipes down the empty booths. The mall is nearly at closing time so the shop is pretty dead.

"Shouldn't you be with Stella eating all the fries or some shit? Why are you still sitting here?" Steve sasses the other brunette. Casey rolls his eyes, scooting out of the booth, "I'm waiting to see what the hell is in that room. So, I will sit my ass here, enjoying the ice cream you fucked up twice, definitely on purpose, until we find out."

Steve stops wiping the table in front of him, "You're not coming. I don't even wanna go but I have too. I have to make sure those stupid shits don't end up dead. I'm sure as hell not watching you as well," Steve shoves his finger into Casey's chest.

Casey scoffs, swatting Steve's finger away, "I helped you translate. I helped you find the Russians in the first place—"

"I can't risk Brooke getting hurt while I'm not there," Steve whispers harshly. His jaw clenches. Casey steps back, "Brooke can protect herself. And who even says this is all connected?"

"The pit—y'know? Like your gut feeling that something is....off. There's nothing else in Hawkins they would want," Steve calms down a bit but only because his nerves are getting the best of him. Casey bites at his lip, "I hate that you're right."

Steve presses his lips together, throwing his hands up, "I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

There's a moment of silence before Steve sighs, turning to Casey, "So, don't let Brooke come with us," Steve sternly tells Casey. "She's gonna have your head chopped off when she finds out you're sending me after her. I might chop your head off," Casey leans against the table.

"Casey, I know you're a dipshit but listen to me. Brooke isn't coming. Check the Wheeler's, her old house, the cabin and the pool. Check the Wheeler's first," Steve steps closer to Casey. Instead of arguing again, Casey presses his lips together and nods. Steve does the same. Both of them understand to protect Brooke, not let her go through more hell than she's already been through.

  BROOKE KICKS A BIG rock at Max's feet. The other kids went into the pool while Max and her stayed back. Max anxiously bites at her cheek. Brooke narrows her eyes, "You okay, Max?"

Max shakes her head at the sound of another voice, "Fine. I just think—I don't know. This is a lot. What if it's not the Mind Flayer and just Billy being weird?"

Brooke wants to believe that but that gut feeling, it's like a poison.

"And if it's not then we were right and we kill it—again," Brooke rolls her eyes at the thought of going through all that bullshit again. Max sighs, "Where are you guys?" She speaks into the walkie talkie.

"I'm coming just....hold on a second!" Mike speaks back. Max puts her binoculars up for a second before bringing them back down, "God, I really hope it's not you. I really hope it's not."

Brooke feels bad. If the Mind Flayer is indeed using Billy as a host, he could very much die. Billy's an asshole, yeah, but Max clearly cares about him. That's what Brooke cares about, not Billy himself.

ROBIN, PAISLEY, STEVE AND Dustin sit on the roof, waiting for Erica to make it through the air ducts.

Radio static pops from the walkie talkie in Robin's hand, "Erica, do you copy?"

"Mm—hmm. I copy," Erica answers, "You nerds in position or what?"

Paisley sighs, anxiety fills her brain. "Yeah, we're in position," Robin tells Erica, "It's all quiet here, so you've got the green light."

"Green light. Roger that. Commence Operation Child Endangerment," Erica statics in. Paisley puffs her cheeks up, her heart is beating so fast she might have a heart attack between Robin and Steve.

"Can she not.....say that?" Paisley desperately whispers to Robin. Robin presses her lips together, "Can we maybe.....not call it that?"

"See you on the other side, nerds."

Paisley holds her head in her hands. The other three all glance at each other, waiting for Erica to let them know she's alive.

"So, how's Brooke?" Dustin asks, trying to break the tension. Steve closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, "I bet she's great right now."

"You sent Casey and Stella to run off and find her. She's not great, Steve," Paisley tells him. "It was only Casey. Stella just simply went with him. Probably for the best, she might blow a fuse with whatever we find," Steve imitates an explosion next to his head.

"Alright, I'm here," Erica says. A small bit of relief bubbles within Paisley. "Do you—Do you see anything?" Robin wearily asks.

"Yeah, I see those boring boxes you're so excited about."

"Any guards?" Robin quickly asks. "Negative," Erica responds.

Paisley grabs at the walkie talkie, "Are there any booby traps? If you see anything dangerous, you can leave."

"Thank you for the concern, nerd but if I could see them, they'd be pretty shit traps, wouldn't they?" Erica says. "That's a fair point," Steve whispers with a nudge to Paisley. "Thank you for that," Robin sarcastically smiles.

Paisley holds her breath for the minute that there's no talking from Erica's end. Her hand snakes around to find Robin's. The blonde internally panics as she squeezes Paisley's hand back.

"I'm in," Erica says.

Steve runs his hands through his hair, "Oh, God."

Paisley's eyes don't leave the doors below them. They open finally to reveal a very smug Erica Sinclair. Paisley smiles, squeezing Robin's hand in excitement.

"Free ice cream for life!" Erica yells. The four glance at each other, nodding. They each make their way to Erica and the doors.

CRICKETS AND OTHER CREATURES chirp in the night around the closed pool. Everyone without a pool has left and gone back to that pool-less house only to be shaking the gate open the next morning.

Everyone except Billy.

Brooke's heart feels like it might burst as they all anxiously wait for Billy to walk into the sauna room. The sound of Mike speaking into the radio, teasing Billy sends genuine shivers down Brooke's spine. He sounds creepy, she really doesn't appreciate it.

They can hear Billy in the distance, slamming things. Then, his laugh. Brooke isn't scared of Billy. She's scared of the Mind Flayer possibly being in him. Coming to terms with her fears, she realized it's probably at least logical to be scared of something that is trying to take over the world and Will Byers. That Brooke can finally admit.

Brooke watches Billy open the door to where he thought Mike was. His face drops into confusion at the sight of a mannequin with the over walkie taped to it.

"El, go," Mike tells her.

The girl nods her head. El looks over everyone, walking behind Billy. Brooke takes a deep breath. They very much could get their shit rocked if the Mind Flayer has taken over Billy. The fucker now has a proper way to hurt them. It gave itself thumbs and hands to grab them with or punch them.

Billy holds the mannequin to the ceiling by its neck.

"Hey. Behind you," Mike says into the walkie.

Billy quickly turns to look. El is right behind him. "Hi," El says. Billy tries walking forwards but El launches him back with a quick flick of her head. The tiles of the sauna fall to the floor along with Billy.

"Now!" Mike yells and they all run out. Brooke flips the lights on. Once El gets the door closed, Brooke shoves a pipe into the handle to insure it'll stay closed. Will and Lucas put the lock and chain around it as well as Mike and Danny keep their bodies against the door.

Once the door is done they run back behind El. She's the one with the powers. She's got the hardest job, trying to keep the maniac down.

Billy pounds on the door in front of them, grunting as he looks at them through the window. Brooke instinctively pulls the kids back and closer to her. The chain around the handle suddenly doesn't feel like enough to Brooke.

Billy's sweaty face takes a look at all the people on the other side of the door. His blue eyes land on Max, realization making his pupils dilate.

"Max," Billy's voice echoes. His eyes stay on his step-sister. She takes a moment and a deep breath. "Do it," Max says.

Will runs over to the dial to the sauna. He turns it up as much as he possibly can. They all watch as Billy continues to pound on the door. The whole locker room feels like it's shaking. Brooke clenches her jaw, hoping she can kick his ass like she did last year.

STEVE OPENS THE BOX with the cute panda on the side. A silver box with a handle makes Paisley knit her eyebrows in confusion. Steve grabs the handle, glancing at the people around him. He swiftly turns the handle. Air hisses as he takes the lid off. Steam surrounds four more silver handles.

The five of them look over the box. "That's definitely not Chinese food," Steve says. Paisley shakes her head in fear and in agreement, "Could be....steamed dumplings?" She still suggests. Robin laughs softly at Paisley but the others just deadpan. Tough crowd.

Steve slowly brings his hand to one of the handles, "Uh, maybe you guys should, you know, stand back."

"I was about to suggest the same," Paisley says, taking a big step backwards. Erica and Robin do the same but Dustin stays right by Steve. "No," Dustin states.

"Just step back, okay?" Steve shoves the boy away. Dustin insists on staying next to him and now Paisley is starting to get annoyed with the boy.

"No!" Dustin shouts much louder now. Everyone freezes. It's been very rare occasions that Paisley has heard Dustin shout, maybe because she's not one to piss him off.

Steve and Dustin stare at each other for a second. "If you did, I die," Dustin says. Steve stays quiet again. It's not worth the argument, plus, Steve would prefer not to die alone.

"Okay," Steve says, shrugging what Dustin said off and clicking the handle.

Air hisses once more as Steve brings the object up. A bright green substance resides in the metal tube. Eyes wide with confusion, Steve holds it in front of his face.

"What the hell...." Steve whispers. Paisley has a feeling just because it's brightly colored, doesn't mean it won't kill them instantly. Poisonous things are usually brightly colored.

"What is that?" Robin asks, her eyes not leaving the tube. Right as Paisley dares to step closer, the room rumbles.

"Was that just me, or did the room move?" Dustin asks. Paisley puts her hand to the wall, "It moved. Definitely moved."

"Booby traps," Erica whispers. Paisley presses the button to the door. The small room is getting smaller and smaller for the girl. Nothing happens though. Her mouth goes dry as she scratches at her head.

Mechanical whirring starts up, concerning each of them even more. Paisley whips her head around, "Someone grab a tube and lets just go!"

"Yeah, let's just grab that," Robin grabs the metal tube from Steve, "and go!" Paisley frantically shakes her head. Her fingers press all the buttons a million times but just like before, nothing is happening. She was really hoping it was just a fluke before.

"Erica, which one do I press?" Paisley's voice cracks as she tries to stay calm. "Just press the damn button, nerd!" Erica shouts.

Dustin looks over at Paisley's incessant clicking of that button, "Erica, which one? She's pressing the button, okay?"

Paisley moves her body from in front of the buttons. She dramatically displays the green and blue buttons all while still pressing each one of them. "Press open door!" Erica shouts.

Paisley bites her lip. Her anxiety is getting the best of her right now and she really doesn't wanna have to curse out a child. Being an only child gives you way less patience for children's attitude. She can usually bite back or roll her eyes but the button that says open door isn't doing jack shit.

"I'm pressing that fucking button, Erica. Does it look like the door is opening?" Paisley shouts. "Just open the—press the other buttons!" Steve moves Paisley out of the way just to press the same one she was.

The small room erupts into chaos. Fear trying to hide itself in their frustrated yells at each other. Dustin begins to push the buttons as well but Steve keeps pushing him away.

"Would you let me do it?"

"Just stop!" The two continue to yell at each other. Paisley grabs at her cheeks, dragging them down with her fingers as their shouting continues. "Just open the door!" Robin yells.

Something clangs and then doors shut to the side of them. Without a second to process, the room starts flying down like an elevator. They're in a horrible elevator.

Screams leave Robin and Erica's mouths quickly. Paisley and Steve grab onto each other. Lights flash around them and the speed of the elevator increases.

Steve looks around the room. He watches it fly down against the walls, "Oh, shit."

Paisley grips his forearm even tighter, "We're in the shittiest elevator of all time!" She curses. After the two realize, they both let out screams as well now. Paisley's heart feels like it's flying down with the elevator. Her palms are sweaty and her throat already hurts from yelling.

She closes her eyes to try and make it a fun rollercoaster that she didn't have to pay an absurd amount for but it only sends other images into her brain.

The roller coaster falling off the tracks at the loopy loop. The roller coaster breaking at the top of the ride, sending them all backwards and to their deaths. It just wasn't working.

Steve's hands have a hold on Paisley's forearms. It won't stop moving and it feels like it's increasing in speed. All Paisley can hope is that she doesn't die in here and that the fastest elevator known to man isn't sending them to a place that will kill them.