"Hey, you remember what I said last year, right? We're Zombie Boy and Ghost Boy. I'm not ever gonna leave you."
"Promise?"
"One hundred percent."
***
In which Alistair fights the monster that possessed his friend alongside his friends, while trying...
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Chapter Twenty-Five: Into The Mind Of Billy Hargrove
(E. Pluribus Unum, Pt. 3)
***
The static of the TV filled the empty silence as El sat before it, blindfold tied tightly around her eyes. Behind her, Alistair sat on the arm of the couch while Lucas, Cami, Will and Max sat on it and Mike sat on the armchair, and Nancy and Jonathan stood behind the couch, as El watched Billy. So far, he'd apparently been staying in his room for the entire day.
El panted before taking her blindfold off, taking in several breaths. Alistair frowned as Max asked, her voice quiet, "What's he doing now?"
Alistair looked to Max as Hugin hopped off Alistair's shoulder and flapped onto hers, rubbing her cheek in comfort. Max petted Hugin, accepting the comfort, as El turned to them, blood dripping from her nose, and answered, "He' still in his room."
Max bit her lip as they all shared a look, and El stood up and headed into the kitchen.
As the tap was turned on, Nancy looked at Max and asked, "So, he's been in his room all day. And that's not normal, right?"
"Billy staying in his room on the 4th of July? No, that's not normal," Max responded.
"He wants us to find him," Will realised.
"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. If we go to Billy, then the rest of the Flayed know where we are," Nancy pointed out.
"How else will we be able to stop the Mind Flayer and the Flayed?" Cami inquired.
"I don't know," Nancy replied.
"It's a trap, I agree. We'll be ambushed," Mike responded, agreeing with his sister.
"We won't be surprised. We'll know that they're coming, and we will kick their Flayed butts," Lucas said in an attempt at a pep talk.
"You mean El and Al will kick their butts," Max pointed out dryly.
"I can go to Billy—make myself invisible and he won't even know I'm there," Alistair suggested.
"Yeah, but what if Billy senses you and you're Flayed, too?" Will rebutted.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Alistair replied, shrugging.
"And what if the other Flayed are there? What if you're on your own and we can't help?"
"I'll figure something out. Even if it means killing or exorcising a few Flayed."
"No, it's too risky," Jonathan shot down, shaking his head.
"Yeah, and unnecessary. Killing or exorcising the Flayed won't stop the Mind Flayer. We have to find out where it's spreading from. We have to find the source," Nancy argued, determination in her face.
