Will to Survive

The Fair and the Arrival

Hopper and Joyce ran as fast as they could through the fair. Others were running as well as they were being chased by rats and zombified people. The police chief recognized many of them that were victims of the rat bites, but he didn't think it would be as serious as it is now. He clutched onto Joyce's hand as they continued to run.

The two ducked inside the Hall of Mirrors that was on the side of the fair grounds. Hopper took out his gun and held it up just in case anyone followed them in. Still holding hands, they walked around as quietly as possible, Joyce looking around with wide eyes just in case of anyone coming in after them.

A sound burst through the Hall of Mirrors, causing for both of them to jump and let go of each other's hands. Hopper gripped his gun even tighter as Joyce was shaking with worry. The noise was heard again and they made it out to be a gunshot. 

Hopper immediately stepped out in front of Joyce with his gun raised. "Who's there?!" He yelled. "Show yourself!"

It was dead silence once the police chief had said this. That was until they heard loud footsteps coming closer to them. Hopper gripped onto his gun so tight that he was close to pulling the trigger on whoever was coming. The mirrors showed a man holding a gun coming closer to them. He looked as if he was ready to kill anyone on sight, and these people would be Hopper and Joyce.

They soon came face to face with this man, still holding up his gun, but aiming at them. Joyce was the one to notice that his eyes looked dead and black, which caused for her to back up more behind Hopper. The police chief couldn't help but squeeze his gun tighter than ever, terrified for not only him, but for Joyce, who was defenseless against this man.

All of a sudden, a gunshot rung through the Hall of Mirrors, but it didn't come from either Hopper or the man. Instead, the man slumped to the ground, bleeding from the head. Behind him revealed Mayor Kline, who was lowering the gun he had just used. Hopper lowered his gun as well, but was furious at the mayor.

"What the hell was that?!" He yelled, walking closer to him. "We could've given him help and all of the others help! Who else did you kill out there, huh?!"

"Calm down, Chief. We only killed the ones that were taking the offensive side," Kline replied as he held his hands up in surrender. "When these people and the rats arrived, I called the army. They're here and they aren't going away until we have whoever is responsible in custody. They told me to kill anyone who attacks me or the citizens, so that's what I did. He was going to kill you, Chief."

Hopper was still furious, but Joyce calmed him down. The woman turned to the mayor with a worried look in her eyes. "I need to find my two sons and his daughter. There are kids that are important to us in danger and we need to find them!" She said, frantically.

Mayor Kline shook his head. "I can't let you do that, Mrs. Byers," he responded. "I have to take you to a safe house and you have to stay there until the army fixes this. It's protocol."

"Listen here, Kline," Hopper said, wagging a finger in his face. "My daughter and her two kids are out there as well as their friends. If we don't find them, they could die out there. I don't know where the hell they are, but you know damn well we won't stay at any safe house, knowing that children are out there in danger. We won't rest until our children are safe in our arms and we won't rest until the others are reunited with their families. Now, let us find them or I won't hesitate to shoot your precious army."

Finally giving in, Kline nodded and led the two adults out of the Hall of Mirrors.

..

Steve and Cat continued to scream in pain from the visions that Quinn was giving them. Everyone looked on in horror as Evelyn and Grayson were injecting them with something, smirking at the pain they were in. The two collapsed to the ground, unconscious, as Quinn laughed and kicked their bodies.

"What the hell did you do to them?!" Dustin yelled, scared out of his mind for his friend and his practical mother.

"Just a little something something that will make them end up like Billy," Quinn said, smirking. She motioned over to Billy, who was becoming weaker by the second. Even though he had done horrible things to Max, the others couldn't help but feel bad for him because of the bite on his arm. It was changing him.

All of a sudden, a vent from the ceiling crashed to the floor, causing for everyone to jump. Quinn and Evelyn looked up to where the vent dropped and glared. Grayson, Ezra, and Shawn immediately got into their defensive positions, waiting for whatever was going to come out.

Someone did drop down, landing on top of Evelyn and punched her in the back of the head. It was Erica, who was wearing a helmet with flashlights attached to it. Everyone's eyes widened as she punched the others and went to go untie everyone else. 

"Oh you little shit!" Quinn yelled, furious at the little girl for escaping her clutches. Evelyn used her telekinesis to pull Erica towards her, but Heather shot a light beam into her face once she was freed, causing for her to lose focus and let go of Erica. 

Dustin and Robin grabbed guns that Damien handed to them as the others readied their powers to fight. Erica took out a mini wristrocket she had made and loaded it up with rocks. The clones also readied their powers as they lined up to fight. 

Crashes were heard from the outside of the mall, causing for everyone to freeze and look to where the sound was coming from. All of a sudden, the door burst open and in came El, leading in Mike, Max, Will, Lucas, Nancy, Jonathan, Reyna, Keelan, Delilah, and Kali. Dustin grinned when he saw his friends come in, happy that they were there to help.

Cat and Steve were woken up by the noises as they weakly stood up to line up in the fight. Everyone else readied their weapons and powers as they stared at the shocked clones. Quinn was furious when she saw Delilah with the party, not knowing that she had betrayed them. She could tell that it was a genuine friendship she had made with the rest of the party.

El took the forefront as she wiped her bloody nose from opening the door. "Party members!" She called out as everyone looked over to her.

"Assemble!"