STAY AWAY.

12 : Hospital

Detroit Rock City - Kiss

"- I'm sorry I'm lost. Who's Heather ?" Nancy furrowed her eyebrows.
"- Heather Holloway." I replied and she turned her head to face Jonathan.
"- Heather Holloway ?" They both asked.

We all nodded and they made the link between Heather and Tom. Right after, Nancy told us to get out of the house to run towards her car. We would visit the dear Holloways.

We all hopped in her car, and Mike whined when he realized he'll have to seat in the back, just like Will. I sat between El and Max, and we fastened our seatbelts.

***

The Wheeler Wagon parked in front of the Holloway's house. We all got out, and El opened the door for us. We entered the empty house, and it was literally freezing inside. A strong scent of chemicals and alcohol was filling the air, making me hide my nose in my sweater.

"- Tom ? Heather ?" Nancy asked while walking further in.
"- Jeez, it's freezing." max said and I nodded.
"- It smells like chemistry class." I said in my sweater.

We walked further, seeing the house being in a miserable state. We entered the kitchen and saw multiple cleaning products spilled everywhere.

"- More chemicals." Nancy noticed.
"- You think they're guzzling this shit ?" Jonathan asked holding up a can of Comet.
"- I don't think they went on a hell of a cleaning spree." I replied chuckling.
"- But last year, Will didn't eat chemicals. Did you ?" Max asked Will.
"- No, this is new." He replied.

We all started thinking about what could this mean, and I looked at the boys. The smell in the air once again reminded me of Chemistry, and I thought about Mr. Clarke.

"- Hey, boys. Since y'all are actually his little fan club, remember Mr. Clark, fifth grade. What happens when you mix chemicals ?" I said crossing my arms, and the boys eyes lit up.
"- You create a new substance !" They said at the same time.
"- Right, nerds." I giggled.
"- What if they're making something ?" Suggested Mike
"- In themselves ? I mean, come on, if you drink this crap, it'll kill you." Max said
"- Yeah, if you're human."  Lucas replied.

We were in such deep shit. Flayed people eating chemicals to create a new substance in themselves, what a cool summer.

Nancy looked over he shoulder and walked towards the dining room. The table remained untouched ; spilled wine, uncleared plates. It looked like a ghost mansion, it gave me the chills.

Nancy then made a "Nancy drew" move, understanding that someone had hit Tom in the face with the wine bottle since there was blood on the carpet.

She noticed he had a bandage on his forehead earlier, and she made the connexion between the blood and his behavior.

We then went to the garage and Jonathan saw some ropes on the floor. He crouched down to grab them and he concluded that they must have been tied.
I then remember Billy was the one behind all of this, since I could recognize the table from the dinner I interrupted with El and Max.

"- Do you really think Billy did that ?" I asked in denial.
"- Y/n, wake up. He's flayed, he almost killed you and El, remember ?" Mike said knocking sense back into me.

Suddenly, Nancy had a new idea.

"- Mrs. Driscoll, she kept saying 'I have to go back'. What if the flaying takes place somewhere else ? There must be a place where all this started, right ? A source."
"- Somewhere he didn't want me to see." Added El.

We teint debated on how we could find it, and Will looked at us with a hopeful stare.

"- Mrs. Driscoll, if she wants to go back so badly, why don't we let her ?" He supposed and I smiled.
"- Smart, Willy." I said and we all hopped back in Nancy's car.

I couldn't stop thinking about Steve, where was he ? He didn't call or search for me at all. When I asked Nancy and Jonathan they shrugged, same when I asked the boys where Dustin was. I was worried.

***

It was night, and it was very dark outside. Nancy parked in front of the Hawkins Memorial Hospital, and we walked towards the reception. The lady hung up and looked at our giant squad.

"- Whoa, whoa, whoa ! Excuse me ? Where do you think you're going ?" She yelled and we looked at her.
"- i was just going to visit my grandma again. And this ... Is my family." Nancy said pointing at us.
"- Extended." Lucas smiled.
"- I don't care who they are. You know the rules. Two visitors at a time." The lady said firmly before talking in the phone again.

I looked at Nancy and she made me a sign. She told Jonathan to stay with the kids while we went to see Mrs. Driscoll, and we hopped in the elevator. The doors closed and I looked at her.

"- Uhm, Nance ?" I asked
"- Yes ?"
"- Why did you want me to come with you, I mean Jonathan is your boyfriend and I'm your ex's sister. Doesn't make any sense." I said awkwardly
"- Well, Jonathan and me had a small argument and I actually think you're pretty bad ass." She said smiling at me and I chuckled.
"- Got it all from Steve and his bat." I said and she laughed.

We arrived in front of Mrs. Driscoll's room. The hallways were empty, and no sign of other people was noticeable. I opened the door and we entered the room. The old lady wasn't here, and the room was a total mess.

"- Where is she ?" I asked
"- I don't know." She replied, worried.

The lights started flickering and Tom Holloway appeared by the door frame, wiping his hands.

"- She's gone home. We were hoping you might come back." He said

He approached us and we back away slowly, I was hypnotized by the blood on his hands.

"- Whose blood is this, you psycho ?" I asked
"- Tom, whatever you've done, it's not you. he's making you do this." Nancy tried to stop him.

I saw an opportunity to escape, so I grabbed the flower vase next to me and smashed in on Tom's Face. He fell on the floor groaning, and I grabbed Nancy's hand to pull her out.

"- Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT !" i yelled seeing Bruce standing in the middle of the hallway.

Black veins were spreading on his face, while he walked towards us. We started to run towards the stairwell. We ran down the stairs as the two flayed were still chasing us.

We arrived in another floor, where dead bodies were laying on the floor. We still ran while Bruce was chasing us. The lights started to flicker again and I pulled Nancy through a door.

"- This way !" I screamed and closed the door behind us.

We tried to push the buzzer of the intercom, on the wall, but nothing happened. I was breathing heavily, just like Nancy. So that's how we're gonna die ?

Nancy saw another door and grabbed my hand to pull me in the new one. I locked the door and we tried to stay calm. But the kids were downstairs, and were oblivious of what was happening right now.