Once More, With Strangeness

Chapter 23

 "Henderson!" Steve yelled, charging for his curly headed friend and pulling him into a hug. "Jesus Christ. Thank God, man. Did he hurt you? Did that bastard hurt you?"

"No, I'm good," Dustin assured him, patting his back. "I'm not hurt. I'm good."

El walked slowly towards Spike, her hand held in front of her. Spike was clearly trying to fight her power off. Becca could see it in his eyes. They were angry and desperate, almost feral, a caged animal, but it was no use. Becca knew what it felt like when El used her powers on you. You were aware and you could talk but your limbs were not your own. You had no chance of breaking free. Spike might be strong, but he wasn't stronger than her.

"Are you two okay?" Hopper asked, coming up next to her and Eddie.

"Yeah," Eddie said, "a few bumps and bruises but nothing that won't heal." He smiled, nodding toward Eleven. "A lot better now, watching this shit."

"You took my friend," El said quietly. "You should not have done that."

"Little bit's got bite," he managed, hissing it out through clenched teeth, attempting to keep that cocky demeanor even as he was losing.

Becca knew she shouldn't. It was probably petty and childish but she was fully enjoying watching him be helpless, totally at the mercy of someone else. He was such an arrogant son of a bitch, constantly going on and on about his so-called sadistic achievements. It was fun to see him brought to his knees, especially by a young girl.

"Uh-oh," Becca said, tilting her head, a satisfied smile spreading over her face as he clenched his teeth. "What's happened Spike? Is it hard to be the big bad when a little girl can take you down?"

He looked at her, "No one's...taken...anything..." Spike closed his eyes, a sadistic smile crossing his lips. He stopped fighting, staying silent and still and Becca frowned, her brows furrowing with anxiety.

"What is he doing?" Eddie asked, his nose scrunching up in confusion as they all watched. "Did he just decide to take a nap or something?"

"I don't know," said Becca. "Maybe he..."

She paused, everything within her seizing up as the horrendous sounds hit her ears, sounds she'd feared since they'd walk through that gate. The thundering of hundreds of feet caused the ground underneath them to shake. The high pitched shrieking of winged demons grate her nerves like nails on a chalkboard, the beating of their wings matching the frantic pace of Becca's heart. It was the sound of his monster army on their way to attack, to defend their master. Spike wasn't napping. He was using whatever hive mind abilities he had to call all his nasty little beasties to his side.

"They're coming!" Becca yelled. "Everybody get ready!"

"There's nothing you can do, slayer," Spike taunted. "All the hell that this place has to offer is about to rain down on your heads. You won't make it out of here alive and I will get what I want. Every single one of you tossers will be six feet under."

The group came together, forming a circle, facing outward. Every one of them gripped whatever weapon they had, prepared for the fight of their life. El was still holding Spike, but Becca wasn't sure how long she would be able to once she was distracted by the hell beasts.

"Stay together," Becca told the group. "Don't let them split us up. We got this."

Eddie reached out, gripping her hand and she squeezed it tightly, attempting to absorb strength and confidence from his touch. She was telling them that they had this but she really wasn't sure. They'd barely survived this the last time and Spike had every monster at his disposal gunning straight for them. There was a good chance this wasn't going to go their way.