the flayed

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"I found him," I blurt as I looks for dad. "Where is he?" Max asks. "Woods," I explain. "Woods?" Mike asks. "He's with... Will's mom." I explain. "My-- My mom?" Will asks. "What are they doing?" Max asks. "Ill...annoy. They're going to Ill-annoy." I reply. Mike's mom knocks on the door, telling him it was time for breakfast. "Not now, Mom!" He shouts back, "Illinois? Illinois, like the state? The state of Illinois?" He asks. "Ill-annoy." I stammer.

I was in the bathroom with Max as she made fun of Mike. I laughed along with her but I kind of felt bad. Mike really was actually really sweet yesterday after the fight.

time skip 

"It was the same thing, the exact same thing that happened to Will last year. And look at this. Look at the body temperatures." Nancy explains. "He likes it cold," Will blurt. "Okay, so this crazy old woman who was eating fertilizer--" Mike starts, "Mrs. Driscoll," Nancy butts in. "Right, yeah, Mrs. Driscoll. What time was this attack?" Mike asks. "Last night," Nancy replies. "Right, but what time last night?" Mike asks again. "Around 9:00," Nancy replies back. "You waited all night to call?" Jonathan asks. "I was waiting for the doctors to run some tests," Nancy responds. "You weren't there?" Will asks, "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" Jonathan replies. "Hallelujah!" Nancy exclaims sarcastically, earning an "ooh." from Lucas. "Um, so, wha--what time was your... sauna test?" Nancy asks, "around 9:00." we all say in unison. "Well, that proves it. That proves my theory." Nancy exclaims. "She's flayed, just like Billy," Mike says. "Flayed?" Jonathan asks. "The Mind Flayer. He flays people. Takes over their minds. Once they do that, they basically become him." Mike explains. "If there are two flayed--" Lucas starts. "-We have to assume there are more." Will continues. "Heather. Billy was doing something to her. She was scared. She was screaming. Bad screams." I explain. "What's a good scream?" Lucas asks. "Max said--" I began. "-Doesn't matter," Max says, cutting me off. "I'm sorry, I'm lost. Who is Heather?" Nancy asks. "Heather's a lifeguard at the pool," Max replies. "Heather Holloway?" Nancy asks. I nod. Jonathan and Nancy look to each other, "Tom." They blurt at the same time.

time skip

"Seatbelts," Nancy demands.

Nancy rang the doorbell to Heather's house as we stood behind her. When no one answers, Nancy looks at me. I open the door with my powers. "Tom? Heather?" Nancy calls out, once again, no response. "Jesus, it's freezing," Max whispers. "Do you guys smell that?" Nancy asks, and we all sniff, "Oh, God. More chemicals," she exclaims. "You think they're guzzling this shit?" Jonathan asks. "Yeah, either that or they just went on a hell of a cleaning spree," Nancy exclaims sarcastically. "But last year, Will didn't eat chemicals. Did you?" Max asks. "No. This is something new." Will explains. "Mr. Clarke, fifth grade. Posit. What happens when you mix chemicals together?" Mike asks. "You create a new substance." Lucas and Will reply in unison. "What if they're making something?" Mike suggests, "In themselves? I mean, come on, if you drink this crap, it'll kill you." Max says."Yeah, if you're human." Lucas retorts.

We walk into the dining room, Nancy leading the way. "Blood." She exclaims, crouching on the carpet. "Yesterday, Tom had a bandage on his forehead. He was attacked." Nancy exclaims, picking up the wine bottle. "Mrs. Driscoll. She kept saying... "I have to go back." What if the flaying, it's taking place somewhere else? There must be a place where all this started, right? A source." Nancy murmured. "Somewhere he didn't want me to see," I say. "If we can find the source, then maybe we can stop him. Or at least stop it from spreading, or doing whatever the hell he's doing with those chemicals." Nancy exclaims. "How do we find it?" Max asks. "Mrs. Driscoll. If she wants to go back so badly, why don't we let her?" Will exclaims.

time skip to the hospital

We were about to sneak past the front desk, but the woman saw us. "Woah, Woah, Woah! Excuse me! Where do you think you're going?" She asks. "Oh, um... I was just going to visit my grandma again. And--and this... this is my family." Nancy lies. The woman glares at Lucas, "Extended." He adds, "I don't care who they are. You know the rules. Two visitors at a time." She explains. "Yeah, but--" Nancy began. "Two! Girl, this child has lost her mind. She brought a whole zoo in here." She cuts Nancy off, then continues to talk to her friend on the phone. Jonathan and Nancy went up while the rest of us stayed in the waiting room. Mike and Lucas went to the vending machine.

time skip

Lucas and Max were trying to catch candy in their mouths. Mike sat down next to me. "Hey." he blurt. "Hi," I reply dryly. "Does your species like M&M's?" He asks me. I crack a small smile. He takes my hand, shaking the bag above it. I pops them into her mouth as my smile widened. "I like the new look, by the way. The clothes look nice on you." he continues. "Thanks," I smile, popping another m&m into my mouth.


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