Fates Intertwined

Prologue

The Upside Down, 1984

It was cold. Cold and dark. The buildings were in ruins as the vines engulfed them. Strange particles floated around the toxic air, and they seem to never land. Beasts with indescribable features roamed around the land, looking for a victim to feast on.

There was one building in the center of the destroyed world. The windows were shattered or cracked at the very least. The walls were crumbling and the vines covered them. In the front was a fallen sign that said "Hawkins Middle School". However, no learning ever took place there. No people attended either.

Standing right on top of the school was a figure that seemed to be made of shadows. It's four legs swayed slightly on the ground and its triangle-like head faced forward. It was called the "Mind Flayer" by a small group in the human realm. They also called the world it was in the "Upside Down". This is the world the shadow monster controlled, from the land to the creatures that reside in it.

The Mind Flayer stood tall in front of the little party of humans. Some of the members were on their knees, panting, then coughing after inhaling the toxic air. Others were lying on the ground, failing to move their sore body to continue fighting. Only two people were still up: a boy with dark straight hair and a girl with blood coming out of her nose.

The entity of darkness laughed silently to itself. A small number of humans think that they can kill something like itself? How foolish can they be?

The only thing that stood in his way from conquering the human realm was the standing girl. The fire in her eyes took the attention away from her exhausted body. She was gasping for air as her left hand grasped her right arm tightly. The growls of the monsters around them started to increase in volume, making the girl flinch for a second. Then, almost immediately, her determined eyes stared straight in front of her. Right to the Mind Flayer.

The boy behind her showed enough fear for the both of them. He was calling out a number, which seemed to refer to the girl, and was pleading her to "not do it". However, not once did the girl turn around or replied to his cries. She was silent, only looking towards the monster in front of them.

She took a step forward. Her body started swaying back and forth, and she spent a minute trying to stop it. Then, she took another step. The cries of the trembling boy became more frequent, but he never once moved from his spot. Against his wishes, the girl continued. A step, a pause to regain balance, repeat.

The Mind Flayer kept still, curious about what ridiculous plan the little girl had to try and defeat him. After a few more steps, the girl brought her feet together stood up straight. It was silent. The boy stopped yelling and the noises of the monsters around them ceased. The girl's eyes were still stuck on the shadow monster, and its head seemed to be looking down at her.

The girl brought her right hand up and spoke two words: "No more." They were said softly, but with strength. Then, she started to scream. Blood poured out of her nose and ears. The boy behind her watched with a dropped jaw and tears falling from his eyes like rain. The Mind Flayer felt a sharp pain in its center. Before it knew it, it was expanding. It was becoming as destroyed as the world around it.

The Mind Flayer, however, didn't try to stop the girl, even though it would've been very simple for something as powerful as itself. The shadow monster knew there were others like the girl, and that some members of the fighting group were in the human realm and knew how to find them. No, it had to make sure there would be no threats to its plan. During its last few moments, the Mind Flayer made the girl and her allies thought they were defeating it. In contrast, they were actually helping it.

And so the monster smirked internally as it saw the ruined world one last time. It was time for the Turtle to fulfill his part of their deal.

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