𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒔 • 𝑩𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 [2]

38•

"Evie! Evie, can you hear me? Evie!" Mike's voice rang in my ears as I slowly opened my eyes. Him and Max were leaning over me as I slowly sat up.

"Fuck." I groaned as I lightly touched the side of my face. I could feel the half dried blood that surrounded the gash on my cheek and I clenched my eyes tight before opening them again. "Are you guys alright?" I asked as Max helped me to my feet.

"Yeah." They nodded simultaneously.

"El's gone." Mike stated, coursing my eyes to widen.

"He took her. Come on."

I grabbed both of their hands and started running through the maze of corridors for what felt like the millionth time. In the distance I could hear banging and it only pushed me to run faster, dispute the pain. We had to save El.

"In here!" Mike yelled as he pulled his hand free and tore open a door to our left. The three of us ran through the small diner and once we reached the front opening, my mouth fell open. My breath quickened as I took in the scene before me. The monster stood in the middle of the mall with the fireworks going off all around it. My eyes fell to the figures in front of the being and I watched as Billy slowly stood up and moved himself in front of Eleven, who was on the ground.

He stared at the monster, and I felt a small wave of relief wash over me as I noticed the veins along his body had disappeared. It was him. Eleven started to crawl backwards, away from the Mind flyer, but Billy stood his ground.

Suddenly, a long tendant came out from the monster's mouth and I couldn't help but gasp as Billy quickly extended his arms in front of himself to stop it. He was fighting it.

"No!" His yells filled my ears as he pushed back as hard as he could.

For a brief moment, I actually thought we- he could beat it, however my hope was soon ripped away from me as I watched another snake-like limb pierce into his side, causing him to scream in pain. As more and more limbs struck him, he went quiet and I no longer could control the tears that were streaming down my face.

The monster brought him to his knees, and I had to lean against the doorframe of the diner for support. All I could do was watch it kill the love of my life, and I was powerless to stop it.

Billy's arms were opened wide as he stared the mind flyer down. One last yell of defiance tore through his throat, before a final limb pierced his chest- silencing him.

"Billy!" Max's scream echoed through my brain as I felt my legs buckle benith me. I fell to my knees and I could feel my heart shatter into a million pieces, with each shard cutting me from the inside out as I watched him fall to the ground.

I could see the monster begin to thrash about in my peripheral vision, but I never took my eyes off Billy. The very second it collapsed, I forced myself to move. I ran, Mike following to get to El.

I dropped to the ground beside Billy and quickly took his face in my hands. "Billy, Billy hey." His eyes slowly rolled around to meet mine and I forced myself to smile. I needed him to know that I was okay. "I love you." I said quietly as I rubbed my thumb against his cheek.

Slowly, he trailed his hand over to my knee before lifting it up to press it against my stomach. "I...love...you."
He never broke eye contact as he croaked out the words, and I smiled again through my tears.

"Billy?" Max was quiet as she knelt down opposite me. "Billy, Billy, get up, please. Billy, get up, please, please."

His breaths suddenly became ragged as he looked to his sister. "I'm sorry."

"Billy..."

I watched as he let out his final breath before his hand slowly slid from my stomach and onto my lap. I took his hand and placed a small kiss on his bruised and bloodied knuckles before gently laying it down beside him.

"Billy, wake up. Billy, get up. Please, Billy..." Max slowly stopped shaking his shoulders as Eleven embraced her in a tight hug.

"Ssshh, its okay. Its okay." She comforted.

I felt the world spin around me as I got to my feet. "Evie..." Mike whispered as his eyes followed me. I didn't reply, I just wanted to get away. I needed to get away.

I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as I walked towards the front door of the mall. The cool air hit me like a tonne of bricks as I stepped out onto the pavement and again I fell to my knees, finally letting the scream that held all of my emotions out into the night.