PARANORMAL | ❝Nothing is stranger than believing.❞
Cath knows a thing or two about Will Byers. Daphne, on the other hand, knows virtually nothing about Tonya McCarthy. Still, none of that changes the fact that both of them have up and vanished with...
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( trigger warning: violence, some descriptions of blood)
SATURDAY 12th NOVEMBER, 1983
TONIGHT they prepare for battle. After swerving into the drive at the Byers' house and beginning to unload their supplies inside, Daphne finds herself continually glancing up at the strings of lights. Unlit now, but with a bit of luck — if you can call it that — they would be flashing in all the sharp primary colours to warn them the monster was coming.
A bear trap has been laid in the hallway, the carpet underneath soaked with gasoline that stinks so putridly it catches at the back of Daphne's throat. Jonathan has hammered nails into a baseball bat, making it much more lethal than before. Their plan is intricate, but if everything goes to plan, it might just work.
After retrieving a kitchen knife for each of them, they stand in a small circle in the middle of the upturned living room. Daphne turns the blade gingerly in her hand, watching her reflection distort. Then she stares at her empty palm — the one which will soon bear a cut. All three of them will have one. Their blood is the bait. Still, no matter how many times they go over the plan, she still finds herself hesitant as the blade hovers over her palm.
"You guys okay?" Jonathan asks shakily.
"Yeah..." Nancy replies, breathing heavily, while Daphne returns with a queasy nod.
"Remember..." he says.
"Straight into Will's room," Nancy trembles.
"And don't step on the trap," Daphne adds.
"Wait for the yo-yo to move."
"Then..." Jonathan brings out his lighter and flicks it on, a whisper of a flame being sparked. When — or if — they lure monster into the trap, the lighter will ignite the puddle of gasoline beneath, and hopefully they can burn the damned thing down to a pile of singed ashes.
"The lights will flash when it's near," Daphne stammers. "Often the faster they flash, the closer it is. I've seen them."
Jonathan and Nancy nod anxiously. Daphne swallows thickly, and notices her hands are trembling. She inhales deeply through her nose and out through her mouth, hoping it will still them. She doesn't want to make the cut too deep by accident.
"Are you ready?" Jonathan asks them both, still sounding slightly unconvinced himself.
Both of the girls nod quietly. Daphne places the edge of the blade to her palm, feeling lightheaded at the press of the knife against her skin. Not quite cutting through, yet, but soon. She glances quickly up at the lights again. How quickly would the monster come once they had drawn blood? Daphne doesn't quite know how ready she is to face this thing again.
