𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 | 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞

𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥
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"Feeling any better?" I asked maven as he woke up from a one hour slumber, he nodded.

"Better." He answered, we were searching for Will's mom, El says she's in Illinois with hopper, but why?

Now Max and El were in the bathroom, I sat there patiently, thinking to myself.

Mike began rambling but I wasn't listening to a thing he was saying, I was too worried about maven. I could tell something was bothering him.

Then I heard a knock on the door, "Not now, mom!" Mike yelled.

"Mike, open the door." It was Nancy, mike walked upstairs and opened the door, Jonathan was with her.

———

"What time was this attack?" Mike asked Nancy, "Last night." She answered.

"Right, but what time last night?" He asked again, "Around 9:00." She answered again.

"You waited all night to call?" Jonathan asked Nancy, "I was waiting for the doctors to run some tests." Nancy answered.

"You weren't there?" Will said to Jonathan, "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" Jonathan replied.

"Hallelujah!" Nancy said sarcastically, "Um, so, wha...what time was your...sauna test?" Nancy asked.

"Around 9:00." I answered while plopping beside Lucas, "Well that proves it. That proves my theory." Nancy said.

"She's flayed, just like billy." Mike said, "Flayed?" Jonathan said, it was more like a question.

"The mindflayer. he flays people. Takes over their mind. Once they do that, they basically become him." Mike explained, "if there a two flayed..." Lucas trailed off.

"We have to assume there are more." I said, "Heather." I heard maven say, I turned to him.

"I saw it too. Billy was doing something to her. She was scared. She was screaming. Bad screams." Maven told us, how come he didn't tell me this?

"What's a good scream?" Lucas asked, "Well..." Maven trailed off but everyone looked at him with wide eyes, he was confused.

"What's wrong..? I was going to say screams of joy, like when someone is happy when they win a game." Maven said, I sighed in relief and kicked Lucas in the leg, "ouch!" He whisper yelled.

"I'm sorry, I'm lost. Who is Heather?" Nancy asked, "She's a lifeguard at the pool." Max answered.

"Heather Holloway?" Nancy said, Maven and El nodded, Jonathan and Nancy looked at each other.

"Tom." Nancy said, I was confused, who was Tom?

———

We were now at Heather's house, Nancy had rung the bell a few times, but no one had answered.

That's when Jonathan and Nancy looked at each other before turning to El.

Another long day. we should be having fun instead of doing this.

———

We were now at the hospital, we hurried inside and tried walking past the lady who was at the front desk.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Excuse me!" The lady said, we all turned to her, "Where do you think you're going?" She asked.

"Oh, um...I was going to visit my grandma again. And...And this...this is my family." Nancy said, the lady looked at us, I smiled and maven smiled awkwardly.

"Extended." Lucas said with a smile, "I don't care who they are. You know the rules. Two visitors at a time." The lady stated.

"Yeah, but..."

"Two!"

I sighed and watched as Nancy and Jonathan walk inside the elevator, maven guided me to a seat next to him.

I could see maven fiddling with his hands, why was he acting so..different?

"About..the time- when we first met, I said you being a traitor and stuff..I didn't mean it." I said, breaking the silence, maven turned to me and gave me a weak smile, "I know." Maven said.

Then there was silence between us again. I didn't know what to say..I felt as though if I'd say something- everything would go downhill.

I saw maven stand up and walk towards the vending machine, oh, guess he didn't wanna sit next to me anymore.

Then I felt a soft tap on my shoulder, "Did you want to uh..share these?" Maven asked while holding up a pack of m&m's, "Only if they're the peanut kind." I said with a smile, maven looked at the bag to see they were the chocolate kind.

"Good thing I got two then." Maven said and then handed you the peanut pack and he sat beside you.

"I like the new look by the way. It's cool." I said, "Thank you." Maven thanked and gave me a smile.

Then I saw the lights began flickering, Will stood up and so did I.

...