BILLY HAD ONE JOB TO DO.

Ever since the day he crashed into Brimborn Steel Works, there's been a little, menacing voice in the back of his head.  At first, it was quiet and he just decided it was a slight concussion from what had happened.  Then, it started to get louder, like a constant ringing that wouldn't go away.  And now, it was all he thought about. 

Find Carla Wheeler.

At first, Billy hadn't understood what that meant. Find Carla Wheeler? He saw Carla Wheeler on the weekly when she picked up his step-sister, there was no finding to be done.  But then, when it got louder, stronger, did he understand.  

He had to find her.  He had to find her and bring her to him.

Billy had tried to fight it.  He promises he did—swears on God.  He tried to block out that goddamn ringing but one day, he just couldn't.  Something took him over, and the next thing he knew he was slamming Carla Wheeler's head against the lifeguard closet wall.

He wasn't himself when he did it.  Something had changed him, re-written the way he thought.  He wasn't the master of himself—he was a puppet with strings attached to his mind, controlling every thought, every action.

Currently, the voice in his head was in full control.  He could feel his brain being toyed with, being told the same task it had been told since day one—Find Carla Wheeler.  Except, today, it was easier than most days.

She was right in front of him.

Collapsing out his car door, Billy let out a seethe.  He wasn't sure what had happened, but his car was on fire and he felt like shit.  But, with him in control, it left no time for emotion.  His only thought was to get Carla.

The boy slowly went past his car, feeling nothing but pain.  He wasn't quite sure it was because of what had happened or because he was in control but it didn't matter because she was here.

 He could feel her presence.  Feel that she was near, and the little voice in the back of his head was telling Billy to grab her. To grab her and bring her to him.  Just as it had for the past week.

And Billy couldn't afford to fail this time.  He was the right hand man, and he'd failed his master at the pool.  He'd left Carla alive, and ran away without her.  But this time, Billy Hargrove was not going to run.  He was going to make sure Carla Wheeler was given to him.

"Carla, help us!" His step-sister's voice came through, and Billy turned to see her coming through the loading dock gates, holding on to Eleven—his next target—with Micheal Wheeler on her other side.  Carla herself was standing in front of the gate, on the ready to help them. Always helping people.  

Now's your chance, the voice spoke.  Once the task was given, it was like an itch in the back of his head that needed to be scratched, Go and bring her to me.

"Come on, I promised them we'd be back—" Carla spoke, her voice causing Billy's mind to burn even more.  She was so close.  Billy stared daggers towards the group, watching as they all came to a halt, fear etched upon their features. "Fuck."

"Shit!" Max exclaimed.

Mike turned them around, "Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!"

Carla sends a glare towards the Hargrove boy before following after the kids, waiting for Max to push the button to close the gate before shoving her forward.   The Wheeler herself though doesn't move, and watches as he approaches them with speed, only yelling for her brother, his step-sister and the other to keep running.  She was making it easy.

With him controlling, Billy easily opened the gate and came face to face with the girl he required. The girl he had to find.

"You're making it easier for me, you know." Billy stared at the girl, voice slightly distorted by him.  "You could run and turn this into a game, yet you stand here.  Allowing me to take you to him."

"I'm not running because I know you aren't gonna fucking stop until you have me." Carla spat, face unwavering. Huh, she was serious.  After all the fighting at the pool, she was finally just giving in. "I'm so done with you hurting my friends.  If you want me, then take me.  There's no reason to harm them too."

"He doesn't do compromises." the Hargrove states, "He wants you, sure.  But he's going to hurt your friends—your Eleven—no matter what.  Whether you give in now, or force me to take you.  Your choice." 

"It's my choice as much as it's your choice, Billy." Carla's gaze slightly softened, as if she thought she could get to him. "I know it isn't you in your head.  He's controlling you, making you hurt me and the others.  Do you really want to hurt Maxine?  You don't have to listen to him."

"I do." Billy's own thoughts were pushed back by his.  Bring her to me now. "And once we have you, you'll understand why."

Carla let out a breath as if she were deciding something.  Standing so close was making the voice in Billy's head chant even harder—Get her, get her, get her—and Billy didn't even have a chance to reply before the Mind Flayer was forcing him forwards, towards her. 

The Wheeler seemed to realize what was about to happen and shook her head, "Billy, you don't have to hurt me.  Don't listen to him—just take me to him without hurting me, please.  I won't try and run—" He knew her words were true based on her content manner, unlike how she'd been at Hawkins Pool but he really didn't care.  His job was easier if she was out cold for a few moments.

So, with ease, the Hargrove used his Mind Flayer induced strength to grab her, causing the girl to let out a harsh yelp.  Without a blink of an eye, the boy tossed her towards the loading dock gate, watching as the side of her head slammed against the metal.  Her scream of pain didn't affect him whatsoever—another side effect of having him in your head; no emotion.

The Wheeler fell backwards, clearly having been knocked out by the hit—the metal had hit her temple, which was rather sensitive.  One wrong hit and you're out....he learned that from previous fights—and the Hargrove caught her, just as he had in the life guards closet.

Good, the voice spoke, more pleased that he'd completed a step, Now bring her to me. I'll take over from there.

Billy did as he was told; He wasn't failing again.

Carla knew what she was getting herself in to when she didn't follow the kids.

She was setting herself up to be possessed, to be hurt by Billy, to be taken over by the Mind Flayer.  Was Carla Wheeler ready for it? No.  No matter how much she tried to convince herself, Carla knew she'd never be ready to give herself up.  Whether or not it was for the kids, for Steve, to have a better chance at surviving—maybe if she just gave in, he'd fucking leave them alone.  

She just wasn't ready.

But, Carla had a bad habit of bottling up her own feelings and pushing forward everyone else's. Of putting everyone before herself—if she got hurt, so be it.  As long as they could stay safe for a little while longer, have a few more minutes to try and save Hawkins, from pure evil.  Carla knew it was bad, because she knew she mattered.  Her feelings, her well-being, it mattered too.  She had friends, family, a boyfriend who cared for what happened to her, whether or not she did herself.

But, Carla couldn't just turn off the habit.  Call it a savior complex, or call it feeling unworthy, she didn't care.  She just valued the safety of those she loved most before herself and she couldn't help it.  Not even when it revolved around her possibly losing herself.

The kids, Steve, Jonathan, Nancy—hell, even Hopper, Joyce and Murray....they came first.

Of course, Carla had her moment of hesitation before meeting Billy.  She'd promised Steve that she'd put herself first, that she wouldn't jump headfirst into danger—which was what she'd be doing, offering herself up like this—but.....she was so fucking done with this game between her and Mind Flayer.  He didn't get to hurt her friends like this just because he couldn't have her.  It wasn't fair.

Eleven deserved to live a normal life, The Party deserved to have their innocence back, Robin deserved to live a life without monsters, her sister and Jonathan deserved to continue their relationship without monster complications  and Steve—Steve just deserved to be happy.  

She wanted a life with Steve—she really, really, did.  Maybe she's being too in her head, but despite being only seventeen.....Carla knew that he was the one.   She wanted to get married to him, to have his kids one day.  God, she really wanted it. She wanted to grow old with Steve Harrington, and she knew that couldn't happen if she was dead.

But, having half of that dream—having Steve continue to live, to have him get married to some other girl and have kids with her.  To see him happy—was better than none of it.  The Mind Flayer wouldn't allow both of them to get out, let alone Carla. 

Either she gave herself up for a chance of Steve getting it, or she closed the chance off for both of them. And if you knew Carla, then it was clear what choice she made.

Even clearer when Carla came back to her senses.  

Slowly coming too, the Wheeler girl's face cringes at the harsh ringing in her head from the collision it had just had with the loading dock gate—second concussion in mere days, she assumes.  The fluorescent lights of the Starcourt Mall dance around in her pool of vision, causing her head to hurt even more at the constant blinking, as if she was having a really bad hangover.

The exposed parts of her skin have chills due to the cold tiling of the floor, and the girl looks down to see she's lying in the food court of the mall—where she'd just tried escaping from.   Not to mention the burning that had started in her scars, which could only mean one thing.

Oh, God.

Any sort of drowsiness from being unconscious was suddenly gone when the girl heard the familiar snarling.  Instead of being paralyzed on the ground, the girl quickly sat up looking towards the ceiling to see the Mind Flayer crawling down.  He'd been waiting for her.

"It's about time you awoke." Billy's cold voice caused the Wheeler to snap her head to the side, watching as the blonde walked over to her level from nearby.  She watched unsure as he crouched down beside her. "You've been keeping him waiting." 

Carla tried to keep calm. She'd already made her choice, there was no going back now that she was here. "Does it hurt? 

"Just for a second." the Hargrove replies, his hands snaking behind to hold her wrists in place, enabling her from moving.  This was happening.  He brought his head down to the Wheeler's ear, his breath sending a chill right down her spine. "No need to be afraid.  It will all be over in a second."

"Okay." the Wheeler's voice is trembling and she hates it.  She was ready for this! Why was she suddenly so fucking scared.

"Just try and stay very still."

Everything happened at once. 

It was silent for a moment and Carla tightly closed her eyes—she just wanted it to be over.  Then, she heard another snarl and then, her head was thrown back and something was against her mouth, claws digging into the skin of her face.

 Her eyes rolled back into her skull and all Carla felt was pain.  Her head felt like it was being torn into thousands of pieces, and she could feel him taking his rightful spot.  He was throwing out parts of Carla that made Carla herself and instead replacing them with bits of himself, invading her memories, her pureness and turning her into his servant.  Replacing Carla with a replica of herself.

Believe her, she tried. She really tried to hold on to what could keep her sane.  To her parents and siblings, her friends, to Steve.  But one by one any emotion she held towards them disappeared like a dandelion lost to the wind.

And what's worse? Carla couldn't do anything to stop it.  She couldn't scream, or wiggle out of its hold.  She was completely paralyzed as she felt herself slip away piece by piece.  

As her worst fear came true. 

"Eleven?" 

Eleven woke up to the sound of Carla Wheeler's voice.

Her head was pounding and there was a warm liquid on her forehead.  Her leg throbbed and she felt different—something was off inside of her, something which Eleven wasn't really sure what it was—but the minute the Hopper heard her sister-figure, she was awake.

She slowly began to arise from her spot on the food court—she didn't remember much about how she'd gotten here.  She was running, Billy found them, Max and Mike got knocked out, everything went black and now she is here.  "Carla?"

"Oh, Eleven." the Wheeler's expression was soft and worried—motherly, as it always was.  The older girl came down to her knees where El was slowly sitting up, clearly in pain.  "Are you okay?"

 The Hopper was confused about how Carla had gotten here too, or why she was here, but if she was honest, she was glad.  Carla Wheeler made her feel safe and protected, whether or not she was the one who had the powers.  And in her confused and alarmed state, it was nice to have a friend.

Unexpectedly, Carla pulled the younger girl into a small embrace, the two sitting on their knees. Eleven didn't fight though, and wrapped her arms around the girl before replying to her previous question, "I'm okay." 

"Good." 

"Are you okay? Why are you here?"

Carla's grip on El tightened, "I'm more than okay, Eleven." The fact that she was being called Eleven rather than El—especially three times in a row—was slightly concerning.  No one called her Eleven anymore, as it was just a reminder of the life full of hospital gowns and needles she once lived.  El was much more fresh, much more her.

  "I was in so much pain, but he made me better." the Wheeler finished.

Eleven felt her stomach drop. "Carla?"

The Wheeler girl slightly pulled away from the embrace, though her hands stayed glued to El's shoulders. "He can fix us, Eleven. He can save us." Eleven searches the elder girl's eyes, trying to understand. "We're connected to him.  Without him, we're missing a piece of ourselves but with him, we're complete."

"No, no, no, Carla." Eleven felt herself on the verge of tears. This wasn't happening. Carla hadn't been flayed too.  In disbelief, El sobbed out. "Don't tell me he got you too.  Please, Carla—"

"It's how it's always meant to be, Eleven." Carla searched through El's eyes, "Ever since I got these scars on my wrists, I've been meant to join him.  It was only a matter of how and when." A smile grew on her lips, though it wasn't a Carla smile.  This smile didn't bring warmth or a smile to El's lips, it just brought fear. "And now, it's your turn."

"Thank you, Carla, for your excellent pep talk." Eleven gasps as Billy comes out into the food court. He has black veins strewn across his skin, showing the Mind Flayer was in control—veins that the Wheeler girl didn't share. She looked completely like herself, and El found that even more cruel. 

"What did you do to her?" the Hopper girl spat, looking at the Hargrove boy with as much confidence she could manage—internally, she knew what had happened. Carla was possessed and there was nothing she could do about it.

Billy crossed towards the two brunettes, "I didn't do anything. She chose this for herself."

"Carla, you didn't want this. You don't want this. Snap out of it please." Eleven knows the Wheeler can't just turn off his mind control, but she doesn't know what to do other than beg Carla to try. She can't lose Carla.

Carla puts a hand on Eleven's cheek, "Once you're with us, you'll see why I did it, yeah?" She then pushes the younger girl on to the tile below, hands planted on to the girls shoulders to keep her from wriggling away—though that didn't stop El from trying.

"No! No! No!" El struggles under the Wheeler girl's hold.

"I meant it when I said I would get you and Carla." Billy stated, voice firm and unwavering. He slightly smirked at the Wheeler, who still held firmly on to Eleven.  "She really is a selfless girl, huh? She vowed herself over to him for the sake of you and your friends survival. Funny how that isn't going to work."

Eleven let out a small cry. Of course Carla had done this for them—she always did. Every action since this whole fiasco started had been for their protection, not hers. Carla Wheeler and her savior complex.

"Try not to make too much sound, Eleven." the Wheeler girl said quietly, sending a reassuring look to the young girl below. El scanned through her sister figure's eyes, trying to find some part of Carla that was still her—that wasn't being altered by the Mind Flayer. "It'll all be over soon, okay? Then it'll be us—you and me against the world."

She then turned towards the ceiling with a smile, "He's here."

Eleven looked towards the ceiling to see the Mind Flayer in all of its glory stepping down towards her. Carla let go of the Hopper girl and got back on her feet, standing to the side to allow the creature to do it's work—to take Eleven as his own.

El began to try and crawl away, but with her bad leg, she'd get nowhere quick enough. The Mind Flay came in front of her, opening its mouth to reveal rows of dagger-like teeth, as well as a small arm—a similar arm to which had taken a chunk out of her leg.  Squeezing her eyes shut, El prepared herself for impact.

But, that's when the fireworks started.

mara's misc

in matt sturniolo fashion; sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry—

yeah, no, i've had the idea to possess carla in the end for like a month or so and it's honestly one of the best ideas i've had for this book.  it's a nice little twist, and i have to admit, i was excited to do it. she won't be replacing billy but i might have el give her a small memory convo (don't worry, she won't die!! i couldn't do that to my pookie or to steve).

three different povs??? very adventurous for me, i know. it was fun to dive into billy's possessed mindset, and ofc elevens confused one when she sees carla waiting for her.  i felt bad hurting my bby el like that, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

also, i'm sorry for the long-ass wait. it's been like a month......i was stuck on how i wanted this chapter to play out, (where i wanted it to end, what i wanted to include, etc). but,  think i finally like it enough to post.

so like despite the seriousness of the chapter, i have a happier little question.  what are your starla and/or carla headcannons. so like, what do her and steve do/what are they like, her and other characters, her as a person etc. 

chapter is named after the lana del rey song "doin' time", specicially the part where it's like "evil, we've come to tell you that she's evil, most definitely."  this song was originally written by sublime, i think???? i just listen to the lana version bc it eats.

also also, we're in like the last thirty minutes of the episode????? what?????? 

hope you enjoyed <3 see you back with chapter 21