𝑩𝑳𝑼𝑬 - Billy Hargrove [1]

THIRTY FOUR

THIRTY FOUR|BILLY HARGROVE

Bernadette and Max moved away from the car, both watching Eleven dig through a bin and glancing at one another just as confused.

"What is she doing?" Max questioned as Mike stepped beside the pair. They watched as she grabbed an empty coke can and placed it on a ledge.

"El?" Mike broke the girl away from her concentration as the three wandered over to the quiet girl. "Are you okay?"

"It's here." Bernadette froze as she felt the hairs on her arm stick up, a shiver running down her spine. She looked up, the glass ceiling above them cracking as the Mind Flayer stood over the mall.

"Nancy!" Mike yelled, warning his sister as the glass roof smashed under the weight. He grabbed Eleven's hand, pulling her out of the way.

The group hid behind a counter, watching as the others dived behind the car. Birdie placed a finger over her mouth, hearing the Mind Flayer grow closer to their hiding spot.

Mike carefully glanced over the counter, watching the Mind Flayer walk away from them.

"It's turned away." He informed the three girls. "If we go up the stairs now, we'll make it."

"No way, not with El's leg." Max whispered back, reminding the boy that Eleven was still injured.

"We have to try." Birdie agreed with the boy, knowing anywhere was safer than their current hiding spot.

"There's another way." Eleven stated. "To get out. Through the Gap."

"Okay, now." Bernadette stood up first, running over to the store as the others followed behind. She winced in fear as she heard someone knock over a vase, the smashing noise causing the Mind Flayer to rush over in their direction. "Shit."

She placed a hand over her mouth, hoping the creature gives up and moves away from them as they hid behind another counter. They watched as a tentacle moved around the store, trying to find them.

"I'll create a distraction." She whispered to the kids, seeing the tentacle move closer. "You three need to run."

Birdie moved closer to the entrance of the shop, preparing to run past the large monster and pull it away from the others. A loud pop echoed around the empty mall, the Mind Flayer moving away from them.

"Let's go!" She led the three kids away, racing down the back corridors as Mike and Max helped carry Eleven. She closed the metal gate behind them, hoping it was enough to stop Billy as she spotted him limping in their direction. "Shit, shit, shit."

"Come on." Mike slammed his hand against the elevator button, begging it to work as they heard footsteps growing closer.

"Billy." Max said calmly, standing between the boy and Eleven. "Billy, you don't have to do this. Billy. Your name is Billy, Billy Hargrove. You live on 4819 Cherry Lane. Billy, please, I'm Max, I'm your-"

"Max!" Birdie screamed as she watched Billy smack Max across the face, knocking the girl unconscious. She stepped forwards, slamming her first against his cheek. He grabbed her arm, throwing her against the wall. Her head hit the hard concrete, vision going blurry as her thoughts went blank.

Bernadette groaned in pain as her eyes fluttered open, glancing around and noticing Mike and Max unconscious around her. She blinked heavily, trying to find Eleven as she tried to remember what had happened.

Stumbling to her feet, Birdie wandered down the corridors, spotting Steve and Robin holding fireworks and throwing them at the Mind Flayer.

"Billy?" She mumbled, hand holding the back of her head. "Where is Billy? He has Eleven."

"Birdie." Steve gasped when he spotted his sister, wrapping an arm around her waist to help her stand.

Birdie looked down at Mind Flayer, spotting Eleven and Billy fighting beside it. She blinked away the tears, shaky breath as she spotted him let go of Eleven and stand up.

"Steve, I need to help him." She turned to her brother, begging him to let her go as she felt his hold on her waist tighten. "Please, Steve."

"I'm sorry." Steve apologised, eyes trained on Billy as he stood before the Mind Flayer, stopping the large tentacle as he aimed for Eleven. More tentacle flew out of the monster, lodging itself in his side's and chest.

"Billy!" An unforgettable, ungodly scream shook everyone's hearts as Birdie sprinted towards Billy, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes as she watched the Mind Flayer attack the boy.

Billy screamed in pain, collapsing against the hard floor as the Mind Flayer fell down, indicating the gate had been closed.

"Why? Why would you do this?" Birdie kneeled beside his body, pulling his head on to her lap as she tried to clean the blood from his face. Her tears fell freely down her cheeks, hand trying to stop the bleeding from his torso. "Someone, please help me."

"Run, Birdie." Billy choked out, trying to push her away, scared danger was still lingering around them.

"I'm not leaving you."

"You'll die."

"Dying is a far less painful end than living without you." Birdie cried, watching as the blood pooled around her hand.

"No dinosaur bandage will fix this." His bloody hand cupped her cheek delicately, trying to wipe away her never ending tears. "I love you Bernadette Harrington."

"I love you Billy Hargrove. I love you so much." Her sobs echoed throughout the destroyed mall, all too stunned to comfort her as she mourned the death of her first love. His hand held hers before slipping from her grasp, a small silver band falling from his hand, landing on the ground before her eyes.

Bernadette screamed out in pain, her heart shattering as she stared at the small ring through blurred vision. She hugged his head close, wishing he would open his eyes, begging him not to leave her in this cruel world.

"You can't do this, Billy." Her body shook as she pushed his curly locks away from his face. "You need to drive me anywhere I want to go. We need to go to California. You need to teach me how to surf. Please, open your eyes. Please Billy, I can't do this without you. I can't."

"Birdie." Steve kneeled down beside his sister, placing a gentle hand on her back. "We need to get out of here."

"I can't leave him, Steve." She cried, refusing to take her eyes off Billy's still body. "I can't. He and I were supposed to leave the town. He was never supposed to find out about this world. I was supposed to protect him."

"This isn't your fault." He wrapped his arms around the shaking girl, holding her close as she broke down in his arms, allowing him to pull her away from Billy's body.

Robin grabbed the ring off the ground, reading the small 'my promise' carved on the inside of the ring. She held it tightly, helping Steve carry the broken girl away from the StarCourt Mall. The once happy place now tainted with death.