How to escape your imagination

Chapter 14

I run through the forest, corralling the young teens with my arms. "Run faster!!" I yell to them. "She's coming."
Dustin turns around, slowing down slightly. "I can hear her." He cries out. "Guys, run!"
All of a sudden, a tree comes down beside us, a a low growl can be heard from behind us.
I stop running and watch as the kids continue on. "I have to stall it." I say under my breath.
I turn around and wait as the mind flayer walks towards me.
"Stupid mortal." It growls.
"You speak." I reply, ignoring the insult.
The creature attempts something at a smile, and trots closer. Only now that the creature is as close as it is, so I realize how big the creature is that I'm trying to face.
"It's cute, you know." It says. "How you try to protect those you don't even know."

"Stop fighting and let's get to the part where you kill me."

"I have no desire to kill you." It laughs slightly. "Just a desire to teach you that stalling is a terrible method."

I shrug, and try not to look afraid at the mind flayer runs at me, it's growl heard for miles.
It picks me up effortlessly, flinging me through the air with a flick of its arm. I collide with a tree, and I'm pretty sure i can hear a crack. I push myself up off the ground, trying with all my might to stay on my feet. "Not good enough." I grunt. The mind flayer laughs, and grabs me again, but this time he doesn't let go. He throws me against another tree, it's knots digging into my back as the creature pins me there. "You must know how dumb you are."
It says, looking confused.
"You gave yourself up for people you don't know."
It smashes me against the tree once more, laughing at my misery. My eyes grow heavy, as the creature decides its had enough of me a tosses me onto the ground.
"Thanks for the fun, but ide better go kill those teens." The mind flayer sarcastically waves at me. I try sitting up, but find that it's not possible. I can't feel anything from the waist down, and my head feels as though it weighs 100 pounds.
I manage to swing it to the left just in time to see multiple figures rushing over.
"Jonathan!" I hear mikes voice beside me.
"What happened to him?" Max asks, taking one of my arms. Mike grabs the other and they drag me over to a tree.
I groan in pain and Mike grimaces.
"That wasn't smart."
They slowly lift me up so I'm propped against a tree. I desperately try to keep my eyes open, but it feels impossible.
"What happened, Jonathan?" Will asks, looking at me cautiously.
"Mind flayer." I manage to choke out.
"Nancy." Mike whispers. "You mean Nancy."
I press my hands into the ground as I try to stand up. Mike quickly grabs my arm to help. I manage to get onto my feet, but soon my knees buckle and I collapse to the ground.
"You guys have to run." I say. "I'll be fine, just go."
"You aren't fine, you're delusional."
Mike grabs his phone and walks over to another tree.
"Dustin got away." Max says. "He's a wuss." She laughs trying to lighten the mood.

"Thank you, please hurry." Mike finishes, hanging up the phone.
He walks back over. "We took El to Joyce's house."
"That's impossible...". I say narrowing my eyes.
"How did you do all that so fast?" And how did you not run into the mind flayer?"

"We got here awhile ago and tried to move you, you were awake." Max says slowly. "You don't remember."
I shake my head. I begin to speak but sirens are heard and a man runs through the forest towards us. "Hey, kid." He says kneeling down beside me.
I look at Mike. "You called a police officer?"
The man smiles. "I'm better than a police officer, I know about all this stuff you're dealing with." He diverts his attention to my physical appearance. "You're pretty banged up aren't you." I shrug, which sends a wave of pain through my body.
"I'll apologize in advance, cause moving you might hurt, but we can't stay here."
I finally notice the stretcher behind him and smirk.
"Oh great I'm being fondeled."
The man smiles. "I'm Jim, by the way, but you can call me Hopper."