The group of teens returned to Mike's place, their anxieties lingering in the air. Eleven, resolute in her mission to find Hopper, entered the void. 'Cassidy' insisted on assisting, eager to contribute, but Eleven, with a singular determination, denied her help and embarked on the journey alone.
As the room held its collective breath, Cassidy and Max sat diagonally across from each other, their hands tightly locked—a silent display of shared worry. The minutes passed, tension escalating, until Eleven reappeared.
"I found him," she declared, her voice carrying a mix of relief and urgency. Mike, his eyes reflecting hope, pressed for details, "Where is he?" The response came succinctly, "Woods."
With that revelation, Eleven removed her blindfold, leaving the group to absorb the significance of the location and contemplate the next steps in this unfolding quest to rescue Hopper.
"Woods?" Mike sought clarification, and Eleven nodded in confirmation. "He's with... Will's mom," she revealed, prompting a surprised reaction from Will, who looked up from the ground to meet Eleven's gaze. "My... My mom?" he stuttered, seeking further confirmation, and Eleven nodded again. 'Cassidy' pursed her lips, absorbing the unexpected information.
"What are they doing?" Cassidy inquired, her curiosity evident. "Ill... annoy," Eleven replied, causing Cassidy to silently chuckle at the amusing pronunciation of Illinois. "They're going to Illinois," Eleven clarified slowly.
"Mike! Breakfast!" Karen's voice echoed from outside, breaking the intense atmosphere. Mike rolled his eyes, glancing towards the door, torn between the urgency of the situation and the mundane call of everyday life.
"NOT NOW, MOM!" Mike's frustrated shout reverberated through the house, momentarily drowning out the call for breakfast. He refocused on Eleven, seeking clarification. "The state of Illinois?" Mike asked, trying to understand the cryptic message. Eleven, with a playful shrug and a mischievous smile, amusingly repeated, "Ill... annoy," adding a touch of humor to the serious situation.
Feeling the need to shift the focus away from the heavy revelation, Cassidy stood up, extending her hand to Eleven. "Come on, let's clean your face." Eleven, grateful for the break from intense discussions, locked hands with Cassidy. Together with Max, they walked to the bathroom, leaving the lingering mysteries behind temporarily. The ordinary act of cleaning up served as a momentary escape from the extraordinary challenges and uncertainties they faced.
Max carefully wet a paper towel with water, her focus on gently dabbing at Eleven's bloody nose. As Eleven caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she instinctively touched the tender spot on her neck. Concerned, Cassidy asked, "Does it still hurt?" Her eyes connected with Eleven's.
"Only when I talk," Eleven replied, her voice carrying a raspy undertone. The aftermath of the encounter with Billy lingered in the small bathroom.
"Well, it's a good thing you're not Mike, then," Max playfully teased, injecting a bit of levity into the moment. Cassidy snickered in agreement.
Taking a brief break from the serious conversation, Cassidy ran her hand through her hair. The action shifted her partially faded red and grown-out blonde roots, creating a casual side part—a subtle act of self-care amid the echoes of the recent ordeal.
"Blah, Blah Blah. And you'd be in constant pain," Max joked, her words breaking the tension and sparking laughter among the three girls in the bathroom. However, as they enjoyed this moment of levity, Cassidy's mischievous smirk hinted at a different plan.
"I have an idea," Cassidy said, biting her lip, a thin line of determination forming on her face. Max, intrigued, grinned and asked, "What is it?"
Cassidy's smirk widened as she proposed, "Are you guys up... for a prank?" The suggestion hung in the air, and Eleven, remembering past experiences, hesitated, "Woah... Woah! A prank? Do you remember the last time?"
Cassidy, with an air of assurance, reassured her, "It's not gonna be anything too crazy! I promise." The prospect of a harmless prank seemed to inject a light-hearted spirit into the room, momentarily diverting their thoughts from the more serious events that had transpired.
"Yea, El! It'll be fun," Max encouraged, prompting a smile and a nod from Eleven. "So, what's the prank?" Max inquired, eager for the details.
"We lure Mike into the bathroom, and there'll be a bucket on the door," Cassidy began, setting the stage. "Ooh, go on," Max urged, her anticipation evident. Eleven, however, bit the inside of her cheek, uneasy about the prank. She was well aware of the extent of Cassidy's pranks and hesitated to partake in one, especially involving Mike.
"In the bucket, there will be molded cheese, molded milk, and bugs," Cassidy announced, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Eleven's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected combination. "Where are you gonna get all that?" Eleven asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern.
Cassidy responded with a confident smirk, "The store, and the great outdoors, duh!" Her nonchalant attitude about the elements of the prank left Eleven grappling with a mixture of amusement and apprehension. The audacity of the plan and Cassidy's seemingly fearless approach to it added layers of complexity to the decision Eleven faced about participating in this mischievous venture.
"I like this plan!" Max grinned, fully embracing the mischievous scheme. Eleven, however, couldn't help but express her concern with innocence in her voice, "Isn't this... a little harsh?"
Cassidy, undeterred, argued her case, "Come on, El. He treated you like garbage. He needs to stop being a jerk." Her words carried a tone of conviction and a desire for retribution. Cassidy continued, "He didn't always be like this, before everything and Mildred disappearing. The three of us, Mildred, Mike, and I did pranks all the time! He needs to remember who taught them that."
Cassidy's words revealed a mix of nostalgia for better times and a determination to confront Mike's recent behavior, making Eleven grapple with conflicting emotions about participating in this prank.
Eleven sighed sadly, conceding to the plan. "Okay... Just don't include me in this, okay?" she requested. Cassidy's response was dismissive, "Whatever," accompanied by an eye roll. Eleven squinted at her, recognizing that this wasn't the real Cassidy—this was the Mindflayer using her memories.
"Brb. Gonna get the stuff!" Cassidy exclaimed before disappearing into black dust, teleporting away. Left behind in the bathroom, Max and Eleven navigated the awkwardness. "Guys, how much longer!" Lucas shouted from outside. "Just give us a few more minutes!" Max shouted back, attempting to buy time as they grappled with the unexpected turn of events.
Cassidy returned with all the necessary items, shadow-jumping back into the bathroom with a bucket. "I got it!" she announced with a mischievous grin, her eyes reflecting the thrill of the impending prank. Eleven, catching a whiff of the contents, couldn't hide her disgust. "Ew, it smells," she gagged, the odor not going unnoticed by Max either.
"No shit," Cassidy snickered, reveling in the discomfort. Unfazed by the unpleasant aroma, she dropped the items into the sink with calculated nonchalance. As the sink filled with the concoction, Cassidy casually ran her hand through her hair once again, a casual gesture in stark contrast to the peculiar atmosphere of anticipation and unease that filled the bathroom. The stage was set for the prank.
Max and Cassidy worked in tandem, pouring the concoction of molded cheese, molded milk, and bugs into the bucket. Eleven, seated on the toilet, observed the process with a mix of curiosity and growing concern. Feeling a need to assert some control over the situation, Eleven attempted to delve into Cassidy's mind every few minutes, but her efforts were met with an impenetrable barrier. It echoed the strange occurrence back at the sleepover at the cabin, leaving Eleven puzzled and somewhat unnerved.
Unaware of Eleven's internal struggle, Cassidy, with a satisfied grin, completed the prank by adding the last bit of molded cheese to the bucket. "Done!" she declared triumphantly, sealing the fate of the impending practical joke. The bathroom now carried an air of anticipation and uncertainty as the group prepared for the arrival of their unsuspecting target.
"You guys ready?" Cassidy grinned, her excitement evident. "Hell yeah!" Max eagerly held her hand up, and Cassidy slammed her hand onto Max's, completing a spirited high five. "Let the Sour Prankster revolve her pranking times back once again!" Cassidy declared with an evil laugh that resonated through the bathroom.
Eleven, observing the scene, couldn't help but acknowledge Cassidy's knack for a convincing evil laugh. "She does a good evil laugh," Eleven thought, momentarily appreciating the mischievous energy Cassidy brought to the situation. The stage was set for the prank, and the anticipation hung thick in the air.
"You guys ready?" Cassidy grinned, her excitement evident. "Hell yeah!" Max eagerly held her hand up, and Cassidy slammed her hand onto Max's, completing a spirited high five. "Let the Sour Prankster revolve her pranking times back once again!" Cassidy declared with an evil laugh that resonated through the bathroom.
Eleven, observing the scene, couldn't help but acknowledge Cassidy's knack for a convincing evil laugh. "She does a good evil laugh," Eleven thought, momentarily appreciating the mischievous energy Cassidy brought to the situation. The stage was set for the prank, and the anticipation hung thick in the air.
Feeling the strain of prolonged time manipulation, Cassidy sensed herself starting to get faint. Acknowledging her limits, she supersped into the bathroom with impressive speed. There, she swiftly placed the bucket onto the door, ensuring the prank was set. In another blur, she reappeared between Max and Eleven on the couch, signaling the return to normal time. As she wiped her bloody nose, Eleven caught a flash of black lightning, a jarring departure from the familiar pink she remembered.
Deepening curiosity, Eleven's focus shifted to Cassidy. "Hey, Mike," Cassidy called, successfully diverting Mike's attention from his conversation with Lucas. "What?" Mike responded with a sleethed tone and an eye roll. "Something smells in the bathroom. It smells weird," Cassidy smirked.
Mike sighed loudly, visibly annoyed, and stood up from the table. He walked over to the bathroom, standing at the doorway, attempting to identify the source of the peculiar odor. "Yeah, it smells weird in here," he agreed, unwittingly falling right into the trap of Cassidy's prank.
Cassidy's smirk deepened, and she tilted her head in satisfaction. The carefully arranged bucket on top of the door, laden with molded cheese, milk, and bugs, dropped precisely onto Mike. His scream echoed through the room, prompting Eleven to close her eyes and cringe in reaction. Meanwhile, Max and Cassidy burst into uncontrollable laughter, thoroughly enjoying the success of their prank. Even Lucas couldn't help but join in the amusement.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys!" Mike's frustrated shout filled the room. Undeterred by his anger, Cassidy stood up and walked over to the distressed boy attempting to rid himself of the unexpected surprise. The atmosphere crackled with a mix of amusement and tension, capturing the aftermath of the prank in all its chaotic glory.
"That's what you get, Mike. You deserved this. What happened to you? You changed. Don't you remember the good times when you, Mildred, and I did pranks?" Cassidy sleethed, her eyes turning red on the last sentence. The fiery gaze held a mix of accusation, disappointment, and an underlying intensity. Mike, looking at her with a combination of fear and confusion, found himself at a loss for words.
"MIKE!" a voice yelled from upstairs. "Not now, Mom!" Mike shouted, attempting to dismiss the interruption. However, the voice persisted. "Mike, open this door," a now familiar voice, Nancy Wheeler, demanded. The unexpected turn of events added an additional layer of complexity to the already tense situation, leaving the characters on edge and the room filled with a palpable sense of unresolved tension.
⭑⭑⭑
The Wheeler girl paced back and forth anxiously. "I just don't get it! The exact same thing that happened to Will last year. And look at this," she leaned forward, picking up a clipboard and placing it in front of them on the table. "Look at the body temperatures," she pointed out, drawing their attention to the data that could potentially unravel the mystery they were facing.
Will looked at the clipboard, his eyebrows shooting up as he read the temperatures. "He likes it cold," he emphasized, causing Nancy's eyes to widen slightly. The revelation added a layer of complexity to their understanding of the situation.
"Okay, so this crazy old woman who was eating fertilizer—" Will began, her words trailing off as she tried to piece together the puzzle. The room buzzed with a mixture of concern and determination as they sought to unravel the mysteries surrounding the events that mirrored those of the previous year.
Nancy gave him a scolding look. "Mrs. Driscoll," she corrected him, prompting a nod of acknowledgment. "Right, yeah, Mrs. Driscoll. What time was this attack?" Will asked with an unamused tone. "Last night," Nancy replied, the weight of the situation evident in her voice.
Mike, pressing for specifics, nodded attentively. "Right, but what time was last night?" he persisted, seeking a precise timeline. "Around nine," Nancy replied, the timestamp serving as a crucial detail in understanding the sequence of events.
Jonathan, however, wore a disapproving expression, challenging her decision-making. "You waited all night to call?" he scolded, his tone reflecting a mix of frustration and concern. Nancy defended her choice, stating, "I was waiting for the doctors to run some tests," emphasizing the need for thorough examination before taking action.
Will gave his brother a disbelieving look. "You weren't there?" he asked, shocked by Jonathan's absence. Jonathan, in response, shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" he retorted sarcastically. Nancy couldn't help but interject with a hint of sarcasm, "Hallelujah!" Her words were accompanied by a wry smile, adding a touch of tension and humor to the already charged atmosphere in the room.
Lucas couldn't help but react to the exchange. "Ooh," he cringed, his expression reflecting a mix of discomfort and amusement at the sarcastic banter unfolding in the room.
Cassidy couldn't resist a sly smirk. "Trouble in paradise, Nance?" she teased, earning a sharp glare from Nancy. The Sinclair girl, feeling like an unwitting observer in someone else's drama, sealed her lips shut, staring at the ground as if anticipating repercussions.
Nancy sighed, recognizing the need to refocus on the pressing matter. "Um, so, what—what time was your... sauna test?" she inquired, attempting to steer the conversation back to the central issue. In a synchronized response, the group of teens chorused, "Around nine," their collective acknowledgment underlining the strange alignment of events.
Nancy's eyebrows shot up. "Well, that proves it. That proves my theory," she exclaimed, a sense of triumph evident in her tone. The revelation seemed to offer a breakthrough, connecting the dots between the two incidents and potentially shedding light on the mysterious occurrences they were grappling with.
Mike nodded his head. "She's flayed, just like Billy," he stated, drawing a connection between Mrs. Driscoll and the previous incident with Billy. Jonathan, unfamiliar with the term, gave a confused look. Cassidy, stepping in to clarify, cleared her throat. "The Mind Flayer. He likes to flay people, go inside their minds, and control them," she explained, introducing the group to the sinister nature of the entity they were up against.
Lucas gasped, the weight of his realization evident in his expression. "If there are two flayed..." he trailed off, leaving the unspoken implication hanging in the air. Will, picking up on the gravity of the situation, finished Lucas's thought, nodding his head. "We have to assume there are more," he asserted, emphasizing the need for heightened caution.
El furrowed her eyebrows, her concern deepening. "Heather," she spoke up, leaning forward with a sense of urgency. "Billy was doing something to her. She was scared. She was screaming. Bad screams," Hopper explained, recounting the disturbing events they had recently witnessed involving Heather.
Lucas gasped, the weight of his realization evident in his expression. "If there are two flayed..." he trailed off, leaving the unspoken implication hanging in the air. Will, picking up on the gravity of the situation, finished Lucas's thought, nodding his head. "We have to assume there are more," he asserted, emphasizing the need for heightened caution.
El furrowed her eyebrows, her concern deepening. "Heather," she spoke up, leaning forward with a sense of urgency. "Billy was doing something to her. She was scared. She was screaming. Bad screams," the Hopper girl explained, recounting the disturbing events they had recently witnessed involving Heather. The room fell into a tense silence as the group absorbed the growing realization of the Mind Flayer's expanding influence, signaling a new level of danger they were collectively facing.
Cassidy removed her head from her hands, looking up at the Wheeler girl. She crossed her arms against her chest, ready to provide the needed information. "She's a lifeguard at the pool," she explained, offering a straightforward answer to Nancy's inquiry.
Nancy's eyebrows raised in recognition. "Heather Holloway?" she quizzed, earning a nod from El. Nancy and Jonathan turned their heads toward each other, sharing the same realization. "Tom," they said in unison, a revelation that added another layer of complexity to the mysterious events they were grappling with.
Cassidy got up from the couch and followed her friends outside to Nancy's car. She walked around to the back of the car and opened the trunk, climbing inside. In the confined space, she made herself as comfortable as possible, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. Though it was a bit cramped, the small space in the trunk provided a moment of respite as they prepared to tackle the next phase of their investigation.
Cassidy's eyes darted to Mike and Will getting into the back, prompting her to squeeze herself closer to the edge of the trunk, away from them. Throughout the car ride, she avoided looking at Mike, choosing instead to focus on staring outside the window.
⭑⭑⭑
As Mike took a shower, Nancy shared the revelation of another flayed person, Mrs. Driscoll, at the hospital. 'Cassidy' wasn't pleased that their plans were being unraveled. The group, prompted by Eleven's mention of Heather, found themselves at Heather's house. Secretly, Mike and Eleven discussed 'Cassidy's' odd behavior, with Mike expressing concern about the glowing eyes.
Eleven suggested the possibility of the Mind Flayer, and they agreed not to reveal their suspicions just yet, adding an additional layer of tension to the unfolding events.
Eleven stood poised at the door, her focus on unlocking it. The door slowly creaked open, allowing everyone to enter the house. "Tom? Heather?" Nancy's voice echoed through the tense silence as they called out for any sign of the missing individuals.
In the midst of the collective inquiry, Cassidy subtly slipped away from the group, moving with calculated steps to avoid drawing attention. She made her way to the bathroom, seeking a moment of solitude in the midst of the unfolding events. The atmosphere inside the house carried a mix of anticipation and concern, heightening the tension as they pressed on in their search for answers.
Cassidy locked herself in the bathroom, shutting her eyes. As blood trickled down her nose, she found herself in the eerie landscape of the Upside Down. A sly smirk curved on her lips. Harnessing her ability, she shadow jumped back to the real world, reuniting with the real Billy and Cassidy who were now hiding out in a Seven-11.
Billy questioned their presence, "Okay, why are we here?" Cassidy, grappling with the enigmatic connection she felt, replied with uncertainty, "I-I don't know, actually. I felt a connection here. Like something is going to happen soon." She turned to face Billy, the mysterious intuition lingering in the air. The Seven-11 became a backdrop for their clandestine meeting, fraught with the tension of imminent events yet to unfold.
"What do you mean?" Billy furrowed his eyebrows, a mixture of confusion and concern in his expression. Cassidy's response was casual, yet there was an underlying enigma to it. "I never asked you what is the last thing you remember back in the real world?" she probed.
Billy recounted with a furrowed brow, "I was in the showers at the pool, and Heather came in asking if I was okay, and then I blacked out." The specific details of their last memories hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty as they grappled with the mysterious circumstances that led them to their current situation in the Seven-11.
"Mhm... The last thing I remember was going to Heather's to check on her," Cassidy explained, her voice carrying a hint of concern. In a shared moment of realization, both Billy and Cassidy grasped the unsettling truth—they were simultaneously taken over, and Heather had fallen victim to being flayed.
"I have to warn them again... This is not okay. More and more are getting flayed. We need to try that thing again, like at the library," Cassidy suggested, her urgency driving the need for action. Before Billy could respond to her proposal, a mysterious voice interjected, its sudden presence adding an unforeseen layer of complexity to their discussion.
"I'm back, bitch!" The voice echoed, causing both Billy and Cassidy to whip their heads in its direction. To their shock, Cassidy stood there – or at least, someone who looked exactly like her. "What the fuck?" The genuine Cassidy couldn't hide her disbelief.
The doppelgänger smirked, reveling in the chaos. "I'm the one who took over your body, asshat!" she cursed, claiming responsibility for the perplexing situation.
"Who are you, anyways?" Cassidy questioned with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. The imposter Cassidy sauntered towards them, each step adding an eerie layer to the already tense encounter.
Cassidy instinctively put a protective arm in front of Billy, urging him to take a step backward. She clenched her fist, and flames flickered to life, engulfing her body. "I'm Troy Anderson," the imposter 'Cassidy' smirked.
"Troy? Troy as in the person who bullied my friends for years?" Cassidy asked, a mix of confusion and disbelief in her voice. "YES!" He shouted, banging his hand on a wall.
"You're working with the Mind Flayer?" Cassidy inquired, attempting to hold back her laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
"Yes! Now I'm here for revenge after your little friend Eleven broke my arm!" Troy declared, a vengeful glint in his eyes as he pointed his finger accusingly at Cassidy. The intensity of his grudge hung in the air like a storm cloud.
"I'm stronger than you! Even if you shapeshifted to look like me and have the same abilities as me, it doesn't mean you have my leveled-up abilities," she sleethed confidently. Cassidy's fiery display and unwavering demeanor reflected her determination to face this unexpected adversary, while Billy, standing behind her, bore witness to the escalating confrontation with a palpable sense of fear.
She recalled seeing her fight him last year, remembering how she had kicked his ass. "True... but I can call my friends," Troy smirked, prompting Cassidy to look at him with confusion. Then it dawned on her—Demogorgons.
"Yep. I know everything!" He grinned, reveling in the advantage he held. "I have a question..." Cassidy smirked.
"One question, then I'm killing you!" Troy threatened, a sense of urgency in his demeanor. Cassidy raised an eyebrow, ready for her inquiry. "Let's just say... You took over my body in the real world subconsciously, right?" she asked, and he nodded. "Who's in Billy's body?" Cassidy pressed further.
"The Mind Flayer himself," Troy answered, unveiling a chilling revelation that added a new layer of complexity to their predicament.
"Okay, now time to die!" Troy's yell pierced the air, intensifying the confrontation. Cassidy groaned but didn't falter, summoning flames to envelop her body. Troy, fueled by vengeance, charged at her with a punch aimed at her face.
However, Cassidy was quick to react. With precise timing, she grabbed Troy's incoming fist, and the searing heat caused him to groan in pain. Capitalizing on his vulnerability, Cassidy squeezed his fist, leveraging her strength to execute a deft bodyflip. The Seven-11 transformed into an impromptu battlefield as they collided, the clash of their powers echoing the intensity of the unresolved conflict between them.
Cassidy, having landed on top of Troy, wasn't about to tolerate his taunts. "Ooh, touchy," he smirked. Disgusted, she promptly slapped his face. Unfazed, Troy grinned and delivered a counterpunch to her jaw. The impact sent Cassidy tumbling backward, and she groaned as she held her aching jaw.
With determination, Cassidy got back on her feet, blood trickling from her nose. In the heat of the moment, she noticed Troy picking up an object nearby. Panic surged through her, and her eyes scanned the surroundings for something to defend herself. Spotting a nearby pole, she acted swiftly, using her telekinetic abilities to grab it and hurl it toward Troy, hoping to create a diversion and gain the upper hand in their fierce confrontation.
Troy took a direct hit to the head as the pole struck him, causing him to collapse to the floor. Cassidy grunted and, with a burst of speed, closed the distance. She seized him and forcefully pinned him against a wall.
"Wouldn't it be weird to have sex with your own clone?" he smirked, attempting to provoke her. "You shapeshifted into my body, you dumbass!" Cassidy sleethed in response. "AND I would never hook up with someone like you," she spat, her fiery determination evident as she prepared for a decisive strike.
However, before the punch could land, a familiar voice echoed in the distance. "Cass?!" Max's voice rang out. Cassidy halted mid-punch, her attention torn between Troy and the unexpected interruption, a momentary pause in the heated confrontation.
Blood continued to trickle down Cassidy's nose as the fire in her fist flickered out at the sound of Max's soothing voice. Troy seized the opportunity to taunt her further. "I wouldn't try to kill me just yet. Looks like your nerdy friends are looking for you, well, me. I don't think they want to see their friend, do they? No," he smirked, his words designed to fuel Cassidy's frustration.
Fighting back her anger, Cassidy released her grip on him. Troy, seemingly unfazed, casually brushed off his shirt with an air of arrogance. "See ya," he snickered before disappearing. "That asshole!" Cassidy yelled in frustration, her emotions boiling over as she walked past Billy. The echoes of their encounter lingered in the air, leaving Cassidy seething with a mix of anger and determination.
"Where are you going?" Billy's voice echoed in the confined space, his curiosity evident. Cassidy, driven by a sense of urgency, swiftly summoned knives with her mind and neatly placed them into a box.
"Woah, Woah. What are you doing?" Billy approached cautiously, sensing the gravity of the situation. Cassidy, her frustration still lingering, turned around to face him. The anger in her eyes was palpable as she explained, "If we're going to find a way out of here and survive, we're gonna need these. I can't use too much of my energy in case we really need to rely on my abilities."
Billy, understanding the practicality of her decision, nodded solemnly. "Okay, well... You need to be careful," he urged, his concern evident as he watched Cassidy rush past him. The tension in the air mirrored the challenges they faced in the strange and perilous world they found themselves in.
Cassidy's frustration erupted, and she groaned before turning around to face Billy squarely. "You're not my parents or my brother! You're just someone I'm stuck in here with," she spat, her emotions raw and unfiltered.
Billy, feeling the strain of the situation, shot back with determination. "I don't want to be in here with you even more than you do. But y'know what? We are! I'm older than you, so I'm technically in charge of you," he asserted, the underlying tension shaping their dynamic.
Cassidy, unimpressed, rolled her eyes at his retort. The weight of their circumstances hung in the air as the two of them, with their uneasy alliance, walked out of the store. The struggle for dominance in their makeshift partnership mirrored the challenges of survival in the mysterious realm they found themselves trapped in.
The imposter claiming to be Cassidy, now revealed as Troy, opened his eyes and wiped his bloody nose. As the door swung open, Max stood there, concern evident in her expression. "You okay?" she asked. Troy, wearing a smirk, responded, "Peachy."
"Well, I'm guessing you went to the bathroom. Soo... We found out the flayed eat chemicals, and we decided Mrs. Driscoll should go back to the flayed so we lure the Mind Flayer to us and kill it," Max explained. Troy nodded, processing the information shared by Max. The unfolding events in Hawkins were becoming increasingly complex, and the plan to confront the Mind Flayer added a layer of urgency to their efforts.
Max left Troy to his thoughts, and as he closed his eyes, he communicated with the Mind Flayer, instructing it to come to the hospital, setting the stage for what could be the final confrontation. The gravity of their actions hung heavy in the air, and the unfolding events in Hawkins were hurtling towards a pivotal moment.
---
In the limited space of the hospital waiting area, Max and the imposter Cassidy found a momentary escape by sitting together. They sought comfort in the mundane activity of flipping through magazines, creating a temporary refuge from the heightened tension around them.
As Cassidy rested her head on Max's shoulder, she couldn't help but cast a sharp glare in Eleven's direction. The complexity of emotions, intertwined relationships, and the impending threat of the Mind Flayer added layers of intensity to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, Eleven, engrossed in her conversation with Mike, remained oblivious to the unspoken tensions brewing in the room. Yet, a subtle feeling of being observed lingered in the air, adding an extra layer of unease to the already charged atmosphere.
As the lights flickered ominously, Cassidy couldn't help but smirk. The telltale sign of the Mind Flayer's presence was unmistakable. Will, with a sense of urgency, declared, "It's here." Everyone quickly abandoned the waiting area, ignoring the protests of the lady at the desk, and rushed to Nancy and Jonathan's location.
Upon entering, they were met with the unsettling sight of the Mind Flayer on top of Nancy. Cassidy and Max, standing side by side, shared a moment of disbelief and shock. Max, attempting to voice her confusion, started, "What the fuc---" before being interrupted by the Mind Flayer's screech. However, it became apparent that the Mind Flayer was communicating directly with Cassidy.
"It's not over yet. Plan C," the Mind Flayer declared through screeches and hisses, signaling that the unfolding events were far from their conclusion. The tension escalated as the group grappled with the unexpected turn of events.
Cassidy and Eleven, sharing a moment of unspoken understanding, locked hands and simultaneously exerted their telekinetic force on the Mind Flayer. Their combined efforts sent the menacing creature crashing into a wall and then through a window. The group, witnessing the unexpected turn of events, exchanged bewildered glances.
Without hesitation, they rushed outside to find the Mind Flayer dissolving into goo and oozing into a drain. The collective reaction was a shared sentiment of bewilderment and a profound sense of "What the fuck," as they tried to process the surreal conclusion to their confrontation with the Mind Flayer.
⭑⭑⭑
ASH SPEAKS !
Plot twist!! Troy is back in this story. 2 more chapters until Cassidy is back in the real world and Troy is dead, but 3 more chapters until I'm done until Season 4:((
But Season 4 is coming real soon!! (6ish months maybe? Idk the release date yet, there's not a final one..but still!)
012 is restarted! It's a whole new book.