[ 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍 & 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎 ] ~ 𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚡 𝙾𝙲

XIV - Burn.

Cold water smacked against the tiles of the pool shower, the sound echoed through the boys' locker room and out into the night. Rylie could hear Billy's heavy breaths before he shut the water off. The next thing she knew she was being shoved behind the lockers and told to hush. The kids waited until Billy was at his locker getting dressed to make a loud bang with the gate of the locker room. 

"Pool's closed." Billy called out rather calmly as he buttoned his jeans. The kids made the door screech, the loud creaking echoing through the room. "Hey!" Billy slammed his locker shut, coming around the row to confront whatever was at the entrance of the locker rooms. "Do you hear me!? Pool is closed!" Yet when he slammed his palms on the blue door, it wouldn't budge, as if it had been barricaded shut. He pushed on it again, still unable to bust out of the room. Then again, and again, and again he hit it. The lights of the locker room shut off, and their plan continued. 

"Billy!" Mike called eerily into the echoey room. 

"Who's there?" He responded.

"Billy!" Mike practically sang. 

"Who's there?" Billy's tone was threatening yet somewhat playful in a way. 

Max laughed tauntingly, before Mike called his name again. Billy slammed his fist into the wall he was next to. He creaked a shower curtain closed after looking into it. "Billy!" 

"You think this is funny, huh?" 

Mike laughed just as Max had before. "Billy!" Mike's voice was harsher now, more gravely. "Come and find me." 

"I find you, it is your funeral." Billy threatened - practically promised. 

"Come and get me. Come on!" Mike called, his voice echoing as a side door slowly fell shut.

"Got you." Billy snarled out as he saw into the glass window of the sauna door. 

Rylie could see him now, sweaty and drained despite the fact he'd just gotten out of the shower. He stalked toward the sauna, their trap for him working. This all felt so wrong, tricking him like this. . .But it was to save him from whatever creature it was that was holding him hostage in his own mind. Billy cackled as he walked to the door, Mike still taunting him. "Come and get me, you piece of shit." Billy's hand made contact with the handle, pulling it open. When he noticed the mannequin, he stopped walking and glowered before rushing further in and grabbing the deploy, raising it to the roof before noticing the walkie-talkie taped to its chest. "Hey. Behind you." Mike

Billy dropped the mannequin, turning around to see Eleven standing just outside the door. Without even moving, she threw Billy back into the tile wall behind him. "Billy!" Rylie cried out in shock, starting to run toward him before Max stopped her. 

"Now!" Mike yelled, him, Will and Lucas pushing through the doors with a metal in hand as they ran toward the door. Billy pushed himself to his feet and started running toward the door, yelling. Eleven used her powers to slam the door shut before he could reach it and Mike shoved the pole in the handle and behind the pipe, Lucas and Will chaining it shut as Max continued to block Rylie. "Come on!" 

"Got it!" Lucas clicked it shut and the three of them ran to stand just a few steps behind Eleven. 

Billy threw himself at the door, grunting and yelling. His eyes landed on Rylie and his expression of anger switched to fear. Fear of the fact she was there, that she was near him. "Princess. . ." He whispered, recognition crossing his face. "Come on, baby, let me out." 

"I- I can't-" Her voice broke, tears in her eyes. 

"Do it." Max ordered. Will ran forward and turned the sauna thermostat up to its highest temperature.