Light ~ Billy Hargrove Story

Freedom Isn't Free

"Clean off the table and get me the first aid kit" Hopper ordered setting me on the table once Steve had knocked everything off of it and onto the floor Jonathon and Nancy already rushing around to gather first aid supplies that Hopper was shouting out as he washed his hands. "Hey, don't give me those looks" I coughed turning my head to look at the four kids cowered in the corner. "You're really hurt" Max whispered walking over and grabbing my hand "I'll be fine. I survived it once, I can do it again" I grinned pointing to the scar on my midsection. "Oh man, Billy is gonna be so mad if he finds out you got hurt" she whispered making me snort in amusement "I can handle your brother Max." I assured squeezing her hand tightly as Hopper peeled the towel away to reveal the oozing and bloody flesh of my thigh. "Help me get her jeans down." He demanded passing the bloody towel to Jonathon as Steve stepped forward and unbuttoned my jeans wiggling one side down as Hopper carefully peeled down the other. "Oh fuck" I whimpered as the rough material peeled away from the wound and scraped the irritated area. "No one tells Hargrove I just took her pants off" Steve ordered pointing at each of the kids before he held my hips still so Hopper could begin cleaning the wound. I tried to fight back screams but couldn't hold them as Hopper poured alcohol over the wound the liquid bubbling and fizzing immediately on impact with the wound. "Someone shut her up before Will wakes up" Hopper demanded wiping away the mess he had made as Jonathon slapped a hand over my mouth and held tight. "It's gonna be okay Piper" Jonathon whispered as tears poured out of my eyes the pain unbearable as I succumbed to the darkness and passed out on the kitchen table with my pants around my ankles.

Groaning quietly I woke up still on the table with my pants replaced and Steve sitting in a chair beside me with his head on his arms. "Steve" I groaned nudging his head until he sat up and looked at me the others rushing in looks of relief sliding on their faces. "Can you help me off the table" I asked using his shoulder to push myself into a sitting position as him and Lucas helped me to my feet and back down into a chair. "How are you feeling?" Mike asked stepping forward and giving me a hug "Like I got used as a chew toy" I admitted hugging him back tightly "Otherwise pretty decent" I smiled nodding at all of them shocked when Max threw her arms around me and squeezed. "I'm so glad you're okay" she whispered followed by a small sniffle. "I'm fine Max. You have nothing to worry about." I murmured running my hand through her hair until she had calmed down and pulled back. "What did I miss?" I asked looking around not seeing Jonathon, Nancy, Will, Hopper or Joyce. "They have a plan to save Will and kill the Mind Flayer" Steve informed casually "The what now?" I asked having no clue what he was talking about. "The Mind Flayer, it's the giant monster Will has been seeing in his episodes. It's trying to take over Earth" Mike explained, my mouth dropping into an 'o' shape. "Yeah, no that's cool" I nodded slowly about to ask more questions when noises came from the backyard. "He's talking in morse code" Nancy announced running in from the backyard followed closely by Hopper who grabbed one of the walkie talkies and left again obviously on a mission. "They tried to get through the mind flayer to Will" Lucas explained as Nancy sat down with a piece of cardboard and a crayon while Dustin got ready to translate for her. "He wasn't speaking but Hopper noticed his hand tapping in a pattern on the side of the chair." Nancy grinned concentrating as beeps began to sound in distinct short and long beeps. I remained quiet as she worked still feeling a little woozy and weak from blood lose and also trying to come to terms with what had happened to Bob. "Close Gate" they all read off simultaneously dragging my thoughts back to the present just as the phone began to ring.

Dustin picked it up and slammed it back down everyone sighing in relief thinking maybe Will hadn't heard it. The relief was short lived as it rang again Nancy pulling the entire contraption off the wall and shattering it on the floor. "What? What's going on?" I asked feeling completely in the dark as they all began to panic, Joyce and Jonathon running in with Hopper not far behind carrying an unconscious Will. "Come on, it can't really know where we are from a phone" Steve claimed loudly "Right?" he asked softening quickly as everyone sent him a look. "I think it knows Steve" I gasped pushing myself to my feet as the tell-tale shrieks sounded from the woods. "Max how many Demodogs do you see?" Mike asked before Hopper pulled the girl away from the window. I used the wall to stay standing as they all got ready staring between the window and the door. "It was too dark. I don't know" the redhead whispered cowering behind Steve who was wielding the nail bat with a determined frown on his face. "Piper you should sit down" Joyce whispered looking back over her shoulder at me only to turn to Hopper as he tossed me a handgun. "Be ready kid" he ordered sending me a stern look before turning his attention back to the door as the growls grew louder and louder until all the sudden they turned into squeals of pain. "What is going on? What is that" Jonathon asked everyone focusing on the door as it sounded like the central point of the noises. The room was filled with screams as the window suddenly shattered a body flying through and sliding to a stop at everyone's feet. "Is it dead?" Lucas asked quietly everyone peering over as Hopper nudged it with his boot, no movement coming from the beast. "It's dead." He nodded, everyone turning to the door as the lock began to slide open, the wood swinging open to reveal Eleven. "What the fuck" I whispered, staring wide eyed at the girl everyone had thought was dead. "Where have you been?" Hopper asked walking over to her and dragging her the rest of the way inside, slamming the door shut behind her. "Mike" she whispered completely ignoring the older male and instead rushing forward to wrap her arms around the boy who with her touch finally broke out of his shock induced trance.