Hell is for Children

Hypnotic

Nancy docked the station wagon out front of Starcourt Mall, the gang piling out. 

"They've got to be around here somewhere. Try and reach them" Will suggested to Mike who held the Walkie Talkie. 

"Scoops Troop, do you copy? We have arrived at base camp" Mike said through it. 

"Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop. We're inside base camp, over" Dustin replied. 

The group began heading into Starcourt, Diana lagging behind. She looked around into the dark night. Billy was coming, she could feel him. She followed the group inside in search for the others. 

The group slunk around quietly, in case they ran into company. Just as Mike went to lead the way around a corner, he slammed into Hopper. Mike screamed like a girl, loud a shrill. Behind Hopper, Joyce's eyes widened in shock and Murray raised his hands in self defense. 

"Jesus Christ kid!" Hopper said, clapping his large hand over Mike's mouth to shut him up. 

"You guys need to shut up. There could be others" Hopper snapped, releasing Mike. 

El ran up and hugged Hopper tightly. Hopper looked over the heads of the others at Diana, signaling her to come in for a hug as well. 

He hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead. 

"Are you girls alright?" Hopper asked, concerned. The girls nodded. Everyone gathered around and Hopper began to explain how Starcourt Mall had become a base for Russian nuclear activity. He explained how they had been forcing the gate to the Upside Down open, and thats why the Mind Flayer was back. 

"We need to get down there and destroy their machine" Murray said to Hopper, who nodded. 

"We can transmit off our radio to you in case you need any help. We can handle things up here" Mike offered. 

"Theres no way the signal will reach that far" Joyce said skeptically, rubbing at goosebumps on her arms. 

"I know a way!" A voice called. 

The group turned to see Dustin, Steve, Lucas's sister Erica, and the girl Steve worked with, Robin walking towards them. 

"We can use Cerebro!" Dustin shouted over to them as they got closer. 

"Cere-what?" Hopper raised an eyebrow. 

"Its a transmitting tower Dustin built. Its how he first heard the Russians" Mike explained. 

"Ok. Fine. Can you get to it?" Hopper asked. 

"We'll need a car" Steve said. 

He walked over to Diana and pulled her into a tight hug, which she stiffened at. 

"Told you the calvary was coming" Steve told her. He looked at her for a moment and when she didnt respond he raised an eyebrow at her but let it go. 

"We have a car you can use" Joyce told Steve. 

"Ok, Steve, your group can go to the tower. Me, Joyce and Murray will go to the Russian base. Diana, you guys go back to the cabin and lay low until we signal" Hopper directed. 

Steve and the gang took off in the direction towards the car. 

"Um...the cabins kind of...destroyed" Jonathan informed Hopper. 

Hopper looked at him, not blinking.

"Of course it is. Ok, new plan. Go anywhere but here. Stick together. I dont want anyone here in case those Russians come top side" Hopper said. 

Hopper gave El and Diana a final hug and kiss on the cheek before running in the opposite direction. 

The gang headed back outside and piled into the station wagon yet again. 

Nancy went to turn the key. Only the car wouldnt start. 

"Whats wrong?" Jonathan asked. 

"It wont start!" Nancy said as she tried and tried again. 

Diana didnt say a word, just got out of the car. 

In the distance, headlights beamed up at them. Billy sat in the Camaro, aimed directly at the station wagon, revving the engine. 

"Oh my god, its Billy!" Max exclaimed. 

Billy gunned the Camaro full tilt towards the car. 

"Everyone out!" Nancy screamed, causing the gang to struggle out of the car. 

Nancy pulled her revolver, firing rounds towards Billy as he barreled the car towards her. 

She fired two shots before Diana came up behind her, slamming her to the ground as hard as she could. Nancy hit the ground hard, scraping her knees off the pavement, gun skidding away from her. 

"Diana!" Jonathan yelled, grabbing her into a tight bear hug from behind to stop her from hurting Nancy any further. 

Diana watched as the Camaro got within feet of them, a smile creeping across her face as she was about to watch Billy mow everyone down. 

But then, a yellow cadillac convertible smashed head on into the passenger side of the Camaro, sending it whirling away from the group. Glass shattered, tires squealed as Billy lost control. 

The passenger side of the Camaro went up in flames as Diana screamed. 

She rammed her head into Jonathan's nose, causing him to release her. She made a maddash towards   the Camaro, where Billy sat slumped over in the drivers seat. 

"Diana!" Max screamed, trying to run after her, but Jonathan grabbed her arm, stopping her. 

They watched on in horror as Diana reefed the door off the Camaro with a strength she could never have possessed on her own. She pulled Billy out of the burning car, eyes flashing in the direction of her friends. Black eyes. 

El screamed as she saw her sister, flayed. 

"We gotta go now!" Nancy screamed as she clambered to her feet, pushing the kids back towards the mall entrance. 

Diana watched as her friends retreated. Deep down she wanted so badly to go with them. She felt piercing hot fear threaten to suffocate her. But she was a puppet in her own body. 

Billy opened his eyes and Diana helped him to his feet. 

"Good job removing the ignition cable" Billy told her. 

"Well someone has to be the brains of this operation" she snapped at him. He went in to kiss her but she put a hand on his chest and stalked past him like a lion on a scent of prey. 

"They'll be plenty of time for that once we're finished here. After all, I have a job to do, remember?"