CARLA SAT IN SILENCE UPON THE HOOD OF HER CAR.

After watching her younger sister at the pool for a few hours-Holly practically begged to go on the daily, and usually her mother was on board with the idea, but today she'd asked her elder daughter instead-she'd taken refuge on the hood of her car, where she'd been or the past few hours.

When she'd arrived, it had been midday, the sun high in the sky, it's heat burning down on the already sweaty souls of Hawkins, but now, it was night. The sky had turned an almost black, the only light coming from the stars.

The pool had probably closed an hour or so ago, and honestly, she was surprised she hadn't been kicked out of the parking lot-her car was the only one left in the public lot. Then again, the lifeguards truly didn't care what happened outside the entrance of Hawkins Community Pool-most of them were just here to bring a paycheck home. At this rate, she could probably get away with staying there for another hour.

Sitting in silence allowed her thoughts to trail back to the morning she'd had. Her nightmare hadn't been as bad as the first one-she'd still woken up abruptly, the images of the monster haunting her mind, but she hadn't awoken Steve the way she had with her scream, or been a wreck the entirety of the day-but that didn't mean she wasn't scared. Scared of not knowing what was real and what was just a figment of her imagination. Scared that they hadn't actually killed the Upside Down, and that it was hiding right beneath their feet, waiting to pop out.

Carla was also slightly worried about the whole Russian situation. The whole thing started out as a mere 'just for fun' sort of activity, but it was now a full mission. They'd turn spy games into child endangerment, sending Erica into the vents to check out the secret room. There were actual Russians with weapons in Hawkins, and her and her friends had managed to get themselves caught in it. Who knows what they were really getting themselves involved in.

Thinking about the Russians reminded her of what was going on a few miles away at the mall. At this very moment, Erica was being sent into the air duct system to open the secret room door, revealing what was hiding behind the armed men and closed doors. And even if Carla wasn't entirely sure about sending the unarmed ten year old down there herself-Erica was a smart girl, but it was dangerous-she too was curious about what the Russians were hiding. She'd call Steve when she eventually ventured home to get an answer.

But for now, she'd just pray that Robin, Dustin and Steve knew what they were doing.

A familiar voice suddenly called out for the girl, breaking her from her small train of thought, "Carla?"

Head whipping in the direction of the voice, her brown eyes met with the pale blue ones of Billy Hargrove, who stalked over to her casually, as if this was a normal event. His shirt was off-not a surprise-and his usual curly locks were wet, showing he'd just taken a shower.

As the boy walked up to her, she raised a brow, "What do you want?" Billy Hargrove wasn't worth her greetings.

"Do you mind helping me pick up some stuff? Someone left out the cleaning supplies, and I have no one to help me clean it up." the boy's voice was usually polite as he explained why he'd walked over, and his face didn't show any sarcasm or assholery the way it normally did. Carla had never seen Billy physically ask for something in the two years she'd known him, let alone do so politely and despite her constant prayers for him to just turn into a better person, seeing him this nice was kind of scary.

Maybe it was just her mind overreacting, but something inside Carla told her not to say yes. To claim she had to meet up with Steve somewhere, or pick Mike up from the arcade-to make up any excuse. Billy would never use the words 'Do you mind?' whether or not he'd changed his ways in a week. The Billy she recalled wouldn't have even bothered to ask for help and probably would have left it to someone else to pick up.

But, for some reason, Carla gave a small nod, "Uh, sure." She'd always been too nice for her own good.

"Thanks." Carla's brows furrowed at the word. Thanks? Since when was the Hargrove taught in the world of manners? Billy expected people to grovel at his feet-he didn't have time for please's and thank you's.

The blonde boy gazed around the parking lot, giving a small nod once he was sure she was the only car left in the parking lot. Stalking off as if he hadn't hesitated, Carla cautiously followed after him, following him into Hawkins Community Pool.

She'd been there a few times over the summer, watching her sister or just hanging around, but usually she strayed away because of Billy. Yet, here she was, following the boy into the cleaning closet as if nothing had ever happened between them.

"Someone have an accident?" Carla noticed the huge amount of cleaning supplies that were laid out on the floor-Billy was right; it was easier to clean as a two man operation. He'd never fully explained why the supplies had been laid out, but maybe it was because he just didn't know.

The lifeguard gave a nod, beginning to pick up some of the bottles, "Something like that."

Carla did the same, grabbing bottles and setting them back down on the shelf in front of her, "Shouldn't Heather be here? I know she works your shift too."

Billy's voice was monotone as he replied, "She didn't feel well, called off her shift this morning." Or maybe she'd been attacked by an other-wordly monster and was currently living out the effects-Carla stopped her thoughts. She had to stop thinking the worst. Heather was sick and the Wheeler was going to force herself to believe it because she really didn't want to believe the other option.

"That's too bad." the Wheeler shrugged, continuing on with the task of cleaning up cleaning supplies. A few minutes of silence fell over the two teenagers, awkward and tension filled silence.

Billy's voice cut through the silence like a knife, "I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry." the boy repeated himself firmly, setting a final bottle down before slightly backing up.

"Finally apologizing for last year?" she glanced up at the blonde boy who'd stepped away, rolling her eyes when she saw him standing a little away from her. Carla wasn't surprised if he'd dragged her in here only to do half of his share, but it still annoyed her. He was the one who worked there, not her.

"No."

The brunette raised a brow, "Then what are you here to apologize for?" Other than the events of the previous year, Carla held no grudge against the blonde boy. Was he just apologizing for being an asshole? She wasn't sure.

"This."

Carla didn't have time to give a confused look before she felt herself getting yanked back by her hair, a small scream echoing through the cleaning closet as her head was slammed against the brick wall beside her.

A moan of pain surpassed her lips from the unexpected hit, her vision unclear and blurry. Bringing a shaky hand up to the side of her forehead-the area of her head which had been facing the wall-Carla felt a warm substance, pulling her hand away to reveal a bloodstained palm.

Carla knew she only had seconds before another move was made-another bash against her head, a gag tied around her mouth, etceterra-and had to think quickly of what her own would be. She could run, but the Wheeler doubted she'd get too far before eventually falling down because of her fuzzy vision or probably concussed head. Did she scream for help? It would be pointless, she was the only one here except Billy-

Billy.

Carla felt utterly stupid.

Billy was the only person here, he was her attacker. After all her nightmares, after she'd seen the Hargrove boy initiate with the monster, after hearing her replica say 'he want's you'........how could see not see how much of a trap this was?

Billy finds her alone, asks her nicely to help him out knowing the girl would say yes and leads her inside to his place of employment. It was too perfect.

Was she too blinded by her own kindness to see through him, or was she just trying to believe Billy was normal and that her nightmares were fiction?

Footsteps took Carla from her small train of thought, and she quickly turned to see the Hargrove boy stalking up to her. His face was emotionless, and that's how Carla knew that this wasn't the Billy she knew. This was the monsters version of Billy-he was being forced to do this.

"Billy." Carla's voice was a mere whisper as her ears rang, her brown eyes searching through his blue ones for any sign of emotion. Nothing.

Billy showed no remorse, "It needs to be done."

He proceeded to come towards Carla, who held her hands up to make a weak attempt at self defense. Her ears were ringing, her head was pounding and her vision was still fuzzy, but she wasn't going to go out without at least trying to fight.

But, Carla knew it was no use. If she tried to run, Billy could easily chase her down. If she screamed for help, it would only ricochet through the empty parking lot for no one to hear. Billy had the strength against her, and knew the surroundings much better than her too. She was going to lose.

And so she did.

Billy easily had the upper arm on the girl, grabbing her wrists in one hand and forcefully pushing her into the wall. Though she wiggled around in his grasp with small, frustrated whimpers, she was unable to get any sort of power over him and his Upside Down enforced strength and flew back against the wall.

With a groan, she lazily looked at the boy who attacked her with such an emotionless expression, blinking in and out of consciousness. As the pain in her head grew, her eyes fluttered shut from the harsh hits, her body falling limply into his arms-just as planned.

Billy shifted her body, hooking an arm under her legs, the other legs so he could easily carry her out of the closet. Everything had gone as planned-he was thrilled when he noticed that the Wheeler was still in the parking lot after the pool was closed. Now all he had to do was tie her up and drive her to Brimborns. Then, he would be fulfilled. Once Carla was a part of him, everything else would fall into place.

So, without wasting any time, Billy carried her out of the closet and down to the locker room. He knew that Carla wouldn't be out for too long-based of his other victims, he knew the wall was only enough to tie them up-so he was quick to sit her on the cool flooring, against the locker, retreating to his respective locker. Unlocking it, he pulled out a rope which he'd been able to steal earlier on in his shift, and knelt down beside her, just as he'd done with the Holloway family beforehand.

Tightly grabbing her wrists, he used his other hand to bind them together, making sure when she did wake up, she wouldn't be able to move. Once he was sure the rope was marking her arms, he twisted the other around her ankles, not only enabling her from movement, but binding both together so she'd be unable to even try untying.

Just as he'd expected, Carla wasn't unconscious for long, and slowly came back from the small pit of darkness she'd fallen into. At first, her movements were slow-her eyelids fluttered open and closed from the pain her head was still in, mind trying to piece together what had happened-but as she tried to move and couldn't, her movements became more panicked and rapid.

"Billy?" the Wheeler struggled against her restraints, her exposed wrists and ankles pressed against the rough fabric, "You don't have to do this. I know he wants me, I know, and I-I'll go with you, I promise, but you don't have to do this. Please untie me, please-"

"Stay quiet." Billy's firm voice cut her off, his cold eyes glaring at her.

"I'd stay quiet if you just-"

Yet again, her words were cut off by the blonde boy, but instead of by his voice, they were by his hands.

Billy's hand wrapped around her throat, light enough to wear she wasn't gasping for breath, but tight enough to where she understood his message. He leaned closer to her face and Carla could feel his breath fanning against her skin. "I told you to stay quiet."

Through gritted teeth, Carla said, "Fuck you."

She was scared-who wouldn't be in this situation?-but, Carla wasn't going to back away. She was going to kick and talk and do whatever she could to stall time-why, she wasn't sure. Who was going to come save her?

So, doing what she could, Carla jerked her head forwards, headbutting Billy, who let out a groan. Carla let out a small cry too and bit her lip to stop-her already pounding head rang, and she was most definitely going to have a bruise.

Despite stalling time, Carla was quickly unsure that headbutting the blonde lifeguard was the best idea. As Billy turned around, his eyes weren't emotionless any more; they were filled with anger and wrath.

She'd set him off.

Realizing that, Carla quickly started apologizing-she wasn't sorry for trying to fight, but she didn't feel like getting any more injured. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry-"

As Billy charged over to her, the brunette tried to shuffle away-though it was a weak attempt with both sets of limbs tied up. As expected, the boy came up on her, wrapping his hands around her neck yet again, but this time with more motive than before. It was clear with his tight grip that his intent was to knock her out again-or worse.

With his excelled strength, her body was lifted off the ground and pressed against the wall. Her feet slightly dangled, kicking back and forth as she struggled within his death grasp on her neck.

"Billy, please-" Carla managed to choke out, but was stopped as his grip tightened further, her air constriction being completely cut off. She was helpless as she stared as the boy she once knew with tear stained eyes, unable to even speak. The Wheeler's hands flailed up and down the Hargrove's, trying to do something but even those small attempts became useless as her body ran out of air.

Carla thought it was over for her when she felt the tightness in her lungs growing, consuming her. As her eyes began to roll to the back of her head, she thought of what would happen. If she just stopped helplessly flailing and gave into the tightness and burning sensation filling her body as lungs yearned for oxygen.

If she was just knocked out, then she'd be tossed in the back of Billy's Camaro and driven to the steel-works place where Heather and her parents had been left. Billy would stand and wait until she awoke, to which she'd plead with him to let her go, to let her say goodbye before eventually getting taken over by the monster-like Billy and Will.

If he killed her, he'd probably try the same thing. Then, he'd leave her to rot away in the woods until Steve or her mother noticed her disappearance and sent out a search party, just like they had for Will. Eventually, someone would find her and break the news to the public- Steve would blame himself, her mother would be devastated, Nancy would curse herself for not being there, Jonathan would grieve her like he did Will, Mike would fall into the same grief as when he lost his best friend, as would everyone else.

Carla wasn't sure what outcome she liked better.

A metallic scraping suddenly echoed through the locker room, the opening of a door. Someone was here. Someone was inside the pool; she had a chance.

Knowing that, Billy called out, "Pools closed!" but only a few moments later was another door slammed shut, causing him to yell even louder, "Hey!"

Storming off, Billy's tight hold on the girl was quickly over and her legs fell out from beneath her, the girl's body collapsing on to the cool flooring below. Her breath went in and out in uneven gasps; her throat burned and her neck ached in a pain that she'd never felt before; mascara stained her face, as did tears; her hair was a ratted mess, blood staining her forehead but she was alive.

She was alive.

mara's misc!

hey.....

i've literally had this chapter in my head since like half-way through vanished if i'm being honest. i'm sorry for causing carla pain but like.....i had to. it's an author thing i suppose.

i think this chapter turned out pretty good, and yeah. i don't have many comments believe it or not!

hope you enjoyed<3 see you back with chapter nine!