"Scoops Troop, do you copy? Billy has found us."

Mikes yells for help echoed through the mall. After the group had attempted to get secure in the car, it was revealed that Billy Hargrove had found them, causing everyone to quarantine in the mall.

The upside down car was Jonathan's idea to try. They needed the ignition cable but there was no way of getting it with the car leaned over the way it had. After they all positioned themselves behind it, ready to shove, the car didn't seem to make any movement. Peter huffed. "Are any of you actually pushed?"

"Yes!" the each yelled his way.

"Let me try." El spoke up as her and Will stood infront of the car and panting teens.

"I've lost count of how many times you've used your powers." Peter spoke through inhaled, leaning over some to catch his breath. "But if you feel confident, no one can stop you, lady."

She walked forward, hand out reaching as they all moved. The metal sounded like it was being bent, possibly buffing out. El panted, giving a yell but failing. Peter rubbed her shoulder. "It's totally fine."

"Not fine." El corrected him.

"I'm related to Mr.Clarke, I think I know what's fine and what isn't fine." Peter joked with her, a half grin across his face as she almost smiled up as him.

"Wait." Mike spoke up when he heard him, looking with wide eyes. "I know what to do."

It wasn't long until some of the group was pushing, the others yanking down on a metal pole that they managed to lodge beneath the car. Between both the pressure, the loud echo of the car falling over went through the mall. Peter inhaled with a thumbs up toward El. Mike took a deep breath. "Told you. Physics."

Peter jumped down, helping Max do the same as well as Lucas by her side. Nancy and Jonathan tried to yank the hood of the damaged car, struggling. "How do we get it open?"

"Uh, there should be a latch. Check under the wheel." Jonathan nodded as Nancy hurried toward the front door. "You see it?"

"I don't know. Hold on." she struggled to lean over.

"Here, watch out." Peter patted Nancy's back, having quite a few more inches on his legs then she had as he leaned over.

"You see it?" Jonathan asked.

"It's dark." Peter said, trying to navigate. "I think I feel-"

The hood popped open, making him look up with a smile as Jonathan nodded. "Good work."

Nancy hurried over. "Do you see it?"

"I don't know." the older Byers looked around. "It should be right here."

Peters eyes turned to Will, who gave an uncomfortable look as his hand rose to his neck. Before he had time to say anything, the clanging of the roof had caught all their attention. Looking up, his dark eyes widened at the sight of the Mind Flayer crawling above them. The glass creaked.

"Nancy!" Mike yelled out in a panic.

"Hurry!" Lucas grabbed Peters arm, who grabbed Will.

"Wait!" Peter called, looking in the direction Mike, Max, and El hurried off to. They'd been too far now, running after them would just get himself killed.

"Peter, come on!" Will yanked him with the four, the Mind Flayer falling through the roof of the mall and letting out a loud screech. The four hid behind the car, Peter lodged between Nancy and Lucas as they heard the creature from behind them. Dustin's voice began to ring from the walkie.

"Please confirm your safety! Just answer! Is anyone there? Are you okay!" Dustin's yells echoed, barley being heard over the Mind Flayers snarling. "Griswold family, do you copy? Do you copy?"

A minor crash was heard, the Mind Flayers loud screech flying through the walls of Star Court. Peter looked past the car, watching the Mind Flayer crash through The Gap. Lucas tugged his arm. "What's going on?"

"The three of them went through The Gap, it heard and is looking for them." Peter whispered back, watching in fear as his heart raced. "I gotta do something."

"Like what?" Lucas looked at him crazy. "Fight him off with your noodle arms?"

"Don't body shame me." Peter gave an offended look and tone in his whisper. "Your Wrist-Rocket."

Lucas looked down at it, meeting his eye again. "I can distract it long enough for you to get over there."

"And then I can get them out back and meet all of you there." Peter nodded, meeting eyes with Nancy and Jonathan. "Yes?"

"How are you gonna get over there without it hearing you?" Jonathan whispered back with a shake of his head. "It's all the way across the lot."

"My dad has tried to buy every single place in this joint. Trust me." Peter gave a pleading look. "We can't leave them in there. El's powers are weakening, and her leg."

Nancy seemed hesitant. "Fine."

Peter nodded, looking at Lucas as he got into his knees, holding the Wrist-Rocket before shooting a rock at a balloon. He ducked down quickly as the mind flayer turn to the right. "Go."

Peter hurried across the way, running into the arcade. The neon lights lit up his face, dodging all the games he was never good at. The Clarke boy jumped over the counter, hurried toward the back as he pushed through the door. Now, being in the pretzel joint, doing the same, landing himself in the aquarium. Peter looked upwards at all the fish, making his way down the tunneled hallway until he found the back door. With one final push, he made it.

The Gap.

"Peter." Max grabbed his arm, getting a scared gasp as he turned to her. "What are you doing?"

Mike and El weren't far behind her. The dark haired boy gave a stern look. "Getting the three of you the hell out of here."

"You know where to go?" Mike asked, him and Max getting El so she didn't have to use her leg. Peter lead the way, keeping close. "Peter."

"I know a way to make it to the back, they're gonna meet us there." Peter nodded, leading them through the hallway as the lights blinked behind them. They moved quick, but not quick enough. Peter kept looking back to make sure they were okay, finally meeting the elevator. "Okay, here. Come on. Come on."

His finger pressed relentlessly on the button, trying to get it to open quicker. El leaned against him, wincing as he wrapped his arm around her to hold her up. Mike began trying to help him push the buttons, the sound of the door they just came through opening. Max turned back. "Billy."

The trio turned back in a panic at the name, stopping. Peter hurried forward, keeping a hand behind his back to show Mike and El to stay back. He grabbed Max's wrist as she started to talk. "Billy, you don't have to do this. You're name is Billy Hargrove. You live on 4819 Cherry Lane. Billy, please, i'm Max, i'm your-"

She was cut off by Billy hitting her, causing her to fall. Peter threw his body at Billy in at not only anger from hurting Max, but also to protect El and Mike. But it wasn't in his best favor, Billy pushing him harshly as his head his the wall, darkness clouding his vision and falling into the dreamless sleep.

"Peter. Peter. Come up. Please, wake up." Peter swore it was his mother voice.

"Please, darling, open your eyes." Darcy hovered over her son.

"Peter, open your eyes." Max shook his shoulders.

"His face." it was Wesley's voice name. "It's bleeding bad."

"Peter, hey." now it was Mike, a violent shake to his body.

"Baby, wake up." Darcy was back, Peters eyes fluttering to look up at her crying over his body. Her hands flooded with blood when she took her hand off his face.

"Peter!" Max was back, he caught sight of her red hair hanging over him. "His eyes are opening."

"Mom." Peter spoke slightly, his face hurt. His eyes flickered, seeing the broken glass by his head, seeing Wesley and his mother infront of him. "Dads mad at me."

"Max." Peter squeezed his eyes shut when the pounding headace echoed in his head. "Billys mad at me."

"There he is." Max grinned as Mike pulled Peter to sit up. "You alright? Your foreheads bleeding."

"I'm fine." Peter fluttered his eyes, long eyelashes tickling his cheek. His hand came up and touched his scar, the memory feeling too real. "Where's El?"

"Come on." Mike pulled him to his feet, Max not far behind as the trio hurried through the hallways. "Where do we go?"

"Shh." Peter made them fall quiet, the echoing of the mall fight bouncing off the hallways.

"Where's it coming from?" Max spoke up.

"Hang on." Peter grabbed hold of one of the pipes, he leaned closer, listening in.

"What's he doing?" Mike looked oddly as Peter pushed his ear to the pipe on the wall.

"This way, hurry." Peter hurried down the hallway.

Max gave a odd look. "You're like a police dog."

Mike looked at her with wide eyes. "He's our Druid."

The trio pushed through the final door, eyes falling upon the middle of Starcourt, looking at the Mind Flayer, El laying in the ground, Billy standing infront of her. The claw from it's mouth shot out toward El. Peters heart dropped. "No!"

Billy had stopped it, pushing the claw with all his might as El laid, hurt, but not dead behind him. Peter hurried toward her, kneeling next to her as she wrapped her arms around him. Peter held her tightly as they watched the claws of the Mind Flayer pierce Billys body, his yells of pain echoing the mall, Max yelling his name when the final claw went through his heart.

The Mind Flayer began to screech loudly, stumbling around and crashing into things. Peter tightened his grip on El, looking in a panic with blood across his forehead. The creature hit the ground, stilling, laid lifeless infront of them. They all stared in shock until Max's cries brought them back, leaning over a dead Billy. Mike kneeled next to the two, Max falling backward in El's lap as she cried. Peter latched onto Max's hands, keeping them tight in his hold as the, now only child, cried for the loss of her brother.

•

kylie speaks

stfu, why is there only
one chapter left until
spring break? WHY!
@ duffer brothers, pls
release s4 earlier so i
can have my bf back.

also, if you did not know,
druid is  in d&d that can
take on the form of animals
lol. hence why max called
him a police DOG and mike
was like 😦