Vine Blood (Stranger Things Fanfic)

Chapter Five - Memory

Vine hadn't spoke to Billy since they brought him back to the cell. 

Nor did she project herself to him telepathically  either. 

She seemed to be preoccupied on the other side of the glass. 

Sat up against the white tiled wall on her side, she seemed to be concentrating on something. 

He tried banging a fist on the glass several times to gain her attention. 

But it didn't work.

She just ignored him. 

After what felt like a life time. 

Vine stood up, wiped a thin trail of blood from her nose, walked over to the glass and held up two fingers. 

Furrowing his eyebrows Billy tried to figure out what it meant. 

"Say it" he demanded 

Vine shook her head, put a finger to her lips. 

She put the two fingers back up. 

And stared at him waiting for him to figure it out. 

Billy knew now was time to pick a side. 

He could report whatever Vine would tell him and hope the people at the lab wouldn't torture or test on him anymore if he co-operated but they only brought him back so the upside down couldn't turn him into a zombified monster  and so the lab people could use him for their own gain in their war so he needed to get out of here ,  so he could try and trust Vine, see where that would take him but she could be evil too or he could plan to find a way to escape just for himself. 

Knowing Vine could probably hear him thinking right now. 

Billy made his choice. 

Moving two inches from the glass he stared at her fingers. 

"El?" 

Confirming what he mimed, Vine nodded.

Billy had got it right. 

"what about El?"

He mimed. 

Vine covered her face with both hands. 

When she had removed them and dropped them down by her side. 

Billy knew what she meant. 

El was hiding. 

"and Max? Where's max?"

Vine shrugged she didn't know the answer to that. 

He was about to say something else but Vine pointed a finger at him, then to her head. 

She wanted to talk to him telepathically. 

At least then it would be private. 

But she needed permission first as last time he got scared. 

Giving a small nod. 

He gave her permission. 

He expected to see her beside him. 

But that did not happen. 

His eyes rolled back as hers fluttered. 

She entered into the deepest areas of his head. 

He no longer saw the cell. 

He was on a familiar beach he recognized it from his childhood. 

He found himself sitting on the sand. 

But his mum wasn't there. 

He was shocked at how real it all felt. 

The warm sun, the salty sea air, the crash of the waves. 

Looking beside him he saw Vine. 

She was no longer in her hospital gown but she wore a baggy red't'shirt, denim jeans, trainers. 

All her scars were gone. 

She looked quite beautiful. 

"Hello Billy" she greeted 

Looking down at himself he saw he was wearing his white t'shirt, leather jacket, jeans.  

His usual outfit. 

He felt something brush his hand. 

And found it was Vine's hand grasping his. 

He felt her. 

He looked deep into her eyes. 

And she into his. 

He wanted to be able to trust her. 

But he couldn't. 

It was hard to know what to do. 

"why have you brought me here?"

"this is where you felt happiest and safest"  she smiled " i wanted to bring you some comfort"

"what do you want from me?" 

"i want your help" 

"help with what" he worried 

"saving Max, her friends, Hawkins"

"I don't know anything" 

"that's not true though is it Billy? you know his weaknesses?"

"weaknesses?"

"Vecna's"

Billy shook his head.

He didn't trust that this wasn't a test. 

He felt like it was the upside down testing his loyalty after he fought back last time. 

"how can i get you to trust me?" Vine huffed frustrated releasing her grasp from his hand. 

Deep in thought she tried to figure out what he needed to be able to trust. 

"what if i find max?" she offered "i haven't found her yet but if i keep trying i could find her, bring her to you in your mind and we cou-"

"no bring me El" Billy interrupted 

"El? why her i thought you would want your step sister"

"no, you could make me see anything in my mind, how would i know Max is real? i wouldn't but i have touched El in my mind when she came to me i know what she feels like i will know if shes real or not i want her to tell me herself that i can trust you"

Billy knew it was a big risk to ask that. 

He just showed his loyalty was completely to El and Max. 

Putting himself in trouble.

But to his relief Vine only nodded "okay i will bring you EL.. but doing so would put me in view of Vecna which means i won't be able to use my powers for a couple of months to avoid detection which means it will delay our escape we will need the two of us to escape but the delay could put Max and her friends in danger, are you sure you don't want me to find Max first?"

"no find El"