The Scholar & The Bard [Sequel to Bookworm & Toothless] (Stranger Things AU)

[24]

Jess was wiping tears away from her cheeks as she walked back into the room, not noticing Joyce yelling at the guards to let her through.

"Will."

She looked up to see Mike trying to get Will's attention, causing her to glance at Will, her eyebrows furrowing at his glazed expression.

"Will? Will?"

Will jolts suddenly, clearly being caught off guard when Mike touched him.

Jess walked to Mike, kneeling next to him.

"What's wrong? Are you hurting again?"

Jess glanced at Will's eyes, furrowing her eyebrows.

Had his eyes become a different color?

"Uh...I saw something."

Jess looked at Mike, who looked at her.

"In your now-memories?" Jess asked.

He turned to them, and Jess flinched at the sick look in Will's expression.

"The Shadow Monster...I think I know how to stop him."

Jess leaned to him and smirked.

"Then what're you hesitating for, Will? Tell us how to kill the son of a bitch."

X

Jess stood in between Mike and Will as he looked at all the photos of the tunnels.

"Sam, this is ludicrous."

"Just give him a moment, okay?"

"We don't have time-"

"Why don't you shut the fuck up, cabrón?" Jess hissed, glaring at the scientist, the temperature increasing.

"What did you call m-"

"Hey, jackass, why don't you do us all a favor and shut up, okay?" Hopper snaps, sending him a glare before he could finish his sentence.

Will stood up, walking to the end of the table and pointing at a group of photos.

"That's it."

"That's what? What...what's there, Will?"

"I don't know. I just know he doesn't want me to see there. I think it's important."

X

Jess didn't know why, but she was passing the time making flower crowns.

She placed one on top of Mike's head, causing him to look up and smile, looking at her as she grinned back, wiping her bloody nose.

"Jeez kid, you picked the right flowers for me."

She turned to Bob and giggled, the stress leaving momentarily.

"I-I'm sorry."

Jess turned to Will, as did Mike, their grins fading.

They took off their flower crowns as they did so.

"What? What do you mean sweetie?" Joyce asked.

Will turned to her, his breath shuddering.

"He made me do it."

Jess looked at Will, and then grabbed his hand, seeing his now-memories.

Mike glanced down, trying to piece together what he meant.

"What? Who made you do what?"

"I told you. They upset him."

Jess lets go of his hand, backing away, eyes wide with shock.

"They shouldn't have done that. They shouldn't have upset him."

Mike widens his eyes, looking up at Jess, hoping she'll deny his suspicions, that it was all a big misunderstanding, that Will would NEVER-

And she turns to him, horror in her expression...

And he knew.

"The spy."

She nodded, and he jumps up, grabbing her hand as they ran out the room.

"THE SPY!"

They both run towards the doors, the guards blocking them.

"Whoa, whoa!"

"WE NEED TO GET THROUGH!! IT'S A TRAP!!" Mike yelled, Jess, trying to push past them, tears forming.

"IT'S A TRAP!! WE NEED TO WARN THEM!! IT'S A TRAP!!"

"PLEASE LET US THROUGH!! BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!" Jess screamed, tears running down.

"WE NEED TO GET THROUGH! IT'S A TRAP! WE NEED TO TELL THEM IT'S A TRAP!!"

"Mike! Jessie!"

"IT'S A TRAP!! IT'S A TRAP!!" Mike yelled.

"GET THEM OUT OF THERE, IT'S A FUCKING TRAP!!" Jess screamed.

"Mike! Jessie! Mike! Jessie! Mike! Jessie! Mike! Jessie! Mike, Jessie, where are you?! Mike! Jessie! Mike! Jessie!"

Jess screamed and sobbed that it was a trap, trying to reach for the door, begging them to let them through, to warn the scientists and Hopper that it was a trap...

...before it was too late.