Radical | A stranger things story

40: Lost Again

Billy... he was trying to tell me in the sauna.

___

"It's okay, Billy, I forgive you for what you said," I cry.

"No, it's not that-" he starts.

___

"Billy. Billy, you don't have to do this," Max says. "Y/N, who is that?"

I try to speak, but nothing comes out. It's like I'm stuck. I can't move, I can't speak, hell I can't even breathe.

"Y/N!" she yells.

All I can do is look at her with tears in my eyes. I can't bring myself to tell her. I can't say it out loud. This whole time I thought he was dead. He's been gone for four years. Four fucking years!

"Billy. Your name is Billy, Billy Hargrove," Max says in an attempt for him to snap out of it. "You live on 4819 Cherry Lane."

Tears start to come to her eyes, and all I can do is stand here. I want to protect her so badly, but Billy isn't the only one walking closer to us. 

"Y/N! Why won't you help us?" she questions in fear.

I want to scream. I want to cry. I just... can't bring myself to do it. I'm frozen.

 "Billy, please, I'm Max, I'm your-" Max reasons.

Billy brings his hand back and slaps Max in the face, leaving her unconscious. Billy turns to me, but instead of hurting me, he gives me a sinister grin. The man I don't want to believe is alive grabs me and pushes me up against the wall.

Billy continues, and Mike tries to do something. It was a weak attempt, and Billy shoves him into the wall, Mike hitting his head and passing out. Eleven looks at me with fear, and I feel sorry.

Eleven raises her hand and attempts to use her powers, but Billy grabs her head and slams it into the wall, and she passes out. He grabs her legs and puts her over his shoulder.

Suddenly, the person who I thought was dead, grabs my jaw hard. I groan in pain as he punches me in the stomach. I exhale sharply and try to catch my breath again. I try to push him off of me, but he overpowers me easily and pushes me into the wall again. This time, my head smacks into the wall, and I start to get spots in my vision. I feel myself slipping out of consciousness, but I try to stay awake.

The man who I thought was dead grabs my jaw again and gives me an evil smile.

"Surprise, Y/N," he says darkly.

He slams my head into the wall, and all I see is darkness. I let Max, El, and Mike down.

___

I regain consciousness, and I see Billy is laying Max down. I realize the man who I thought was dead is standing beside me, watching Billy and El. I feel the cold tiles on the floor on my fingers and back. 

I need to get up and help, but maybe now isn't the right time. I need to pretend that I'm still passed out. When the monster comes back, right before it takes El, I'll get up and sprint to her. It'll throw everyone off, and I'll push El out of the way.

I close my eyes again, opening them periodically to see what is going on. I see Billy hovering over El and whispering in her ear. I feel the ground rumble, and the monster makes its way back through the roof. Now, it faces El, growling.

Billy stands there, emotionless, and it's almost time. My heart aches as I realize I might die doing this. Everything I've gone through... maybe that's okay.