𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙥! 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙤𝙣

SCENE SIXTEEN. voices and vents

"erica. the exact person i needed to see right now.” robin exclaimed as she hopped over the counter to the girl who only raised her brow at her.

"hmm i don't know." she said as she joined the group once more. steve leaned light against piper as they finished the rest of their slushies.

"you don't know if you can fit?" dustin asked confused, he thought she seemed like their best bet to fit in through the vent.

"oh, i can fit in. i just don't know if i want to."

"are you claustrophobic?" robin asked

"i don't have phobias."

"yeah i said the same thing." piper mumbled to herself as she continued to bite on her straw. steve swore he heard the girl say something but returned to erica.

"well okay, what's the problem?'' steve asked, finally pushing up from leaning against piper.

"the problem is, i still haven't heard what's in this for erica." and it clicked in piper's mind. she was the one who always had samples, and took advantage of their free policy to samples. and a smile lifted onto her face as she had a lightbulb idea.

"she's the sample kid right, i think i have an idea." piper grinned as she looked towards the group. robin rolled her eyes as she clicked on what the girl was thinking. and steve audibly groaned as it clicked to him as well. ice cream.

"see, now i'm starting to like her." erica grinned as the group let her from the back into the booths. steve and robin get to work on scooping many different ice creams as piper refills her slush cup. joining them at the table as steve pushed the ahoy boat ice cream to erica.

"more fudge please." she smiled gliding the boat back over. steve's face twisted in dislike as he plastered a fake smile on his face. as he grabbed the boat, standing up and slowly walking back to the counter as piper tried not to laugh. when that sudden sharp pain returned in her hip.

"can i use the staff bathroom?" piper exclaimed as she leaped from the table, robin throwing her a confused yet worried look as she nodded. and she ran. running straight past steve as she grasped at her hip. the doe eyed boy watching in worry, something was really wrong with piper.

and the second the door slammed behind her she screamed in pain. crumbling to the floor. whatever had happened in her dream wasn't a dream. billy had been in her room with blank eyes. like it wasn't him. whatever was wrong with him wanted her. pulling her shirt up to find it moving, wriggling almost. it was cold to touch now, the skin more of a blue then the cream of before.

"you are much stronger than you look dear."

"leave me alone."

"you can't fight it. not for much longer."

"please. just leave me alone."

"you're getting weak. i can feel it, it'll be okay. i'll take good care of you." and she felt herself grow cold and a pulling feeling as if she were ripped from her own body.now just watching herself. watching as she picked herself up. unlocking the bathroom stall and standing before the mirror. piper joined herself. looking back at two versions of her. one was cold, a blueish purple tinge to her. black viens scattered over her body. and empty eyes. whatever had been plaguing her dreams wanted her. a host. almost like it just wanted her as a host,meaning it wasn't strong enough to survive on its own. and she cried, throwing herself at the other versions of herself as she fell to the floor. the thing faded into nothing and she felt that pull sensation overcome her.

"come on piper, billy let me in. why won't you? you're a monster just like him."

"i am nothing like him.'' she cried as a version of billy appeared in the mirror, much like she had looked only minutes before and she threw her fist into the glass. watching it shatter at her touch. and she ran from the room. running back to steve. back to the shop. hearing the erica kid blabber on about capitalism. robin threw her a worried look. she wasn't a monster, was she? she wanted it gone, the voice, the coldness. that urge it was talking about. but she returned to the conversation as robin lightly tapped on her thigh, bringing the girl back into the conversation.

"so, you want my help? this uses butterscotch, better be the first of many. and i'm talking about free ice cream for life." erica grinned and robin could have leaped across the table and strangled the girl but she carefully nodded. agreeing with the girls as piper got up.

"so these are the flashlights,and this is the radio which we will be using to talk to you through.'' piper spoke as she helped strap the flashlights to her helmet.

"why is this sick looking girl trying to tell me what is what?" erica shouted, stepping away from the girl as she nodded. steve motioned for her to follow them. the group disappeared to the same spot they were last night. but thankfully there was no storm. it was calm, but for some reason she had a feeling it wouldn't last much longer.

"erica, do you copy?" robin asked as she picked up the radio. piper tucked between her and steve. her jacket zipped up and she shivered slightly.

"mhm, i copy. you nerds in position or what?" the snark voice sounded back straight away.

"yeah, we're in position here. it's all quiet here, so you've got the green light.'' robin spoke as she made dustin do another double look of the grounds with the binoculars.

"green light, roger that. commence operation child endangerment." the voice came back as she climbed up the ladders, staring down the empt ents.

"can we maybe not call it that?'' robin begged and piper couldn't help but laugh.

"she's got a point though." piper replied, earning a glare from the two scoops ahoy workers beside her.

"see you on the other side, nerds." and erica climbed into the vent.