"MATERIAL GIRL" // Will Byers x Reader

Nothing Will Be the Same // CHAPTER 25

HEAL THE SCARS FROM OFF MY BACK 

Y/N'S POV 

The giant flesh monster thumps against the glass roof of Starcourt Mall. It cracks, as the sheer weight almost causes the glass to shatter. 

I know what's going to happen before it does. 

'Nancy!' Mike yells. Nancy wheels around, as the roof gives way. The flesh monster lands in the center of the mall, roaring loudly. While it's momentarily distracted, I make a mad dash behind the car, sliding in beside Lucas. Will, Mike and El are still hiding behind the stairwell, and I can see the tips of Max's red hair over the railing. 

'Okay...' Nancy whispers, turning to us. 'Is there any other way out of the mall, other than the front doors?' 

I can hear the giant monster take a deep shuddery breath, probably trying to catch our scents or something. 

'There's a way out through the gap,' I say, leaning over. 'But I don't know if El will make it with her leg.' 

'Can you distract it?' Lucas suggests. 

'No way,' Jonathan shakes his head. 'Do you see the size of that thing?' 

'I've fought it before,' I argue. 'It'll only be for a couple minutes.' I look over the car in Will's direction. He's going to kill me if I die doing this. 'Once it's distracted, run.' 

Nancy grips my arm. 'Be careful, Y/N.' 

'I will,' I say, my breath shaky. 

I step out from behind the car, facing the beast. It looks me straight in the eye, stomping closer towards me. 

Opening my fist slowly, a blue orb appears, crackling around the edges. It grows to about the size of a basket ball and I send it outwards, striking the Mind Flayer in the chest. The monster roars angrily, rearing up. 

'Now!' I yell. Nancy, Jonathan and Lucas make a run for it, disappearing into the Gap. El, Mike, and Max make it halfway there, following the other group until the Mind Flayer turns. 'Over here!' I draw its attention back by tossing another energy orb at it. 

Unfortunately, there's nothing else I can really do. Clearly, my tiny amount of power isn't going to affect the giant-ass creature in front of me. 

My nose bleeds more heavily and I feel my energy slowly draining. 

'Y/N, look out!' Will shouts from the Gap entrance as a tentacle comes swinging towards me. It's too late. The tentacle hits me straight in the chest, throwing me backwards ten feet. 

I lay on the ground, pain shooting through my body, unable to move. 

Footsteps approach from behind me. 

'It'll all be over soon, Y/N,' Billy's voice says as he stands over me. 'Don't try to fight it.' 

The monster growls loudly, clumping its way over. 

'NO!' El screams, breaking away from Mike and running as fast as her injured leg can allow towards me. 

'EL!' 

Billy laughs cruelly, as El holds her hand out. Nothing happens for a second. I pray that her powers have come back, but apparently God is feeling extra non-generous today. Billy backhands her to the floor, and she lands beside me. 

'I'm sorry,' I murmur. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Will, Mike, and Max running up the stairs.