Lady in Red [Max Mayfield]

[17]

TW: THIS CHAPTER WILL INCLUDE HOMOPHOBIC SLURS!

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El takes off toward the Steel Works, with the rest of the group behind her. My heart races faster and faster.

We sprint until we enter the building. I scan the room. Just an empty metal room. Max grabs my hand quickly.

"What the hell?" Dustin questions. We all slowly walk through the room, scanning it. Nope. Just empty.

"Mom?" Will yells out.

"Will? Is that you?" I hear Joyce yell from somewhere.

We all finally let out our breath. Thank god.

"Mom? Where are you?" Will walks around the room as Mike W trails behind him.

"I'm down here!" She yells.

"Down where?" Will yells back.

"Down in hell." Her voice gets noticeably deeper.

"What the fuck?!" Eddie screams out. Richie pulls him in closely.

Suddenly, a door at the other side of the room swings open quickly. We all jump at the sight and step back.

A dark figure stands at the other side, and I squint my eyes to see if I can get a better look. I see a muscular looking man? With...curly hair?

He takes a step into the light to reveal himself. He's wearing a white tank top, and blue jeans. His hair is all ratty, and he has a small mustache.

"Billy?" Max squeaks out. Who is Billy?

"Max." He replies with a devilish smile.

"No..No. You're dead! I watched you fucking die!" She screams as tears flood out of her eyes. Oh shit. Billy is her brother.

"Did you? I don't think so. If I was dead, would I be able to capture poor Mrs. Byers, her stupid kid, his perfect girlfriend, Steve the hair Harrington, and his little faggot friend?" He smiles a wide, toothy grin.

"Don't touch my mom!" Will screams in anger.

"Oh, don't worry! I won't. But she might." Billy moves away from the door to reveal Sheila, standing on the other side.

"Well it's nice to see you guys!" Sheila says like she's at a family reunion.

"What the fuck did you do with them?" Dustin yells out.

"Oh I don't know. Just sent them somewhere a bit..upside down from the real world?" She cackles.

"No!" Will screams out. He begins to sob.

"Now..our real reason for coming back. We wanted to see our old friend. El." Sheila grins.

"Oh Jesus Christ! You came back another time just to try and take El? I'm getting sick of this shit!" Dustin yells. He picks up a piece of metal from the ground, and attempts to throw it at Billy and Sheila.

Billy puts his arm out and catches the fucking peice of metal. Holy shit.

I step back, and Max grabs my hand. Billy glances at us and frowns.

"Max..I thought we talked about this. I thought I taught you well. I thought I told you, you're not a faggot." Billy speaks through his teeth.

"Shut up!" Max screams "It's not you! I saw you die. It's not you! It's not you! It's not you!" She yells until tears come out of her eyes.