chapter two:
❛ entitled ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Scarlett sat at the kitchen table, savoring the last spoonfuls of her cereal while glancing at the clock. Today was a special day—her favorite holiday, Halloween, and also her birthday. She was turning thirteen and had dressed the part, wearing a crown and a sash that boldly declared, "Scarlett's Thirteenth Birthday." A grin tugged at her lips as she adjusted the crown on her head, enjoying the theatrics of it all.

The morning had been quiet, but that was about to change. Scarlett stood up, placing her empty bowl in the sink, and called up the stairs, "Max, come on! We're gonna be late!" Her voice echoed through the house, a mix of impatience and excitement.

Max came bounding down the stairs, her red hair flying around her face as she rolled her eyes. "Jeez, sorry, birthday girl. I was trying to finish wrapping your present," Max explained, handing Scarlett a neatly wrapped box.

Scarlett's face lit up as she tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a small box. Inside was a delicate charm bracelet. Scarlett looked up at Max, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Thank you, Max!" she exclaimed, pulling her sister into a tight hug.

Before the moment could linger, Billy's voice cut through the air, dripping with his usual sarcasm. "Move out of the way, shitbirds," he grumbled as he made his way down the stairs. Scarlett and Max stepped aside, watching him with a mix of annoyance and affection.

Scarlett placed her hands on her hips, fixing her brother with a pointed look. "Aren't you gonna say happy birthday?" she challenged.

Billy, ever the charmer, grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and shrugged nonchalantly. "Happy birthday, shitbird," he muttered, but before Scarlett could react, he caught her in a playful headlock, rubbing his knuckles against her scalp in a rough but affectionate noggy.

"Billy!" Scarlett yelped, trying to wriggle free from his grip. When she finally succeeded, she shoved him in the shoulder. "Dickhead," she shot back, her eyes narrowing at him.

Billy's expression darkened, his playful demeanor shifting as he loomed over her. "What did you call me?" he asked, his tone dripping with challenge.

Scarlett didn't back down. Her eyes flickered with a hint of blue electricity, the '007' tattoo on her wrist beginning to glow faintly. She could feel the energy swirling within her, just under the surface, ready to lash out if needed. But before things could escalate, Max jumped in, grabbing Scarlett's arm.

"Come on, Scar! We're gonna be late," Max urged, hurriedly pulling her towards the door and grabbing her skateboard along with Scarlett's rollerblades. She ushered Scarlett outside, the tension in the air dissipating as they left Billy behind.

Scarlett plopped down on the front steps, pulling on her rollerblades and tying the laces tight. As she stood, she glanced at Max. "What are you gonna be for Halloween, Max?"

Max gave her a smirk, already knowing where this conversation was headed. "Huh? I thought we weren't trick or treating this year."

"Of course we are! I've got my Melnitz costume ready and everything," Scarlett replied, her excitement palpable as she began to skate down the street.

"Oh, well... I guess I'll just be Michael Myers again," Max said with a shrug, pushing off on her skateboard to keep pace with Scarlett.

"You're always Michael Myers," Scarlett commented with a chuckle.

Max laughed, the sound carrying through the crisp morning air. "It's fun to scare kids."

As they skated towards the school, the conversation drifted into more curious territory. "What do you think of that kid, Mike?" Scarlett asked, her tone casual but laced with something more.

Max smirked, glancing sideways at her sister. "He's... kinda rude. Why?"

Scarlett shrugged, her eyes narrowing slightly as she thought about it. "I don't know. He's a jerk. He's always staring at me in class. It's weird and creepy."

Max chuckled. "Maybe he's got a crush on you."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, he's got a funny way of showing it."

The two girls continued their journey, the weight of the day ahead on their minds but for now, enjoying the freedom of skating through the streets on a crisp Halloween morning.

Scarlett and Max moved through the school hallways, skating and rollerblading like they owned the place. The rhythmic sound of their wheels clacking against the floor echoed through the corridors, turning a few heads as they zipped by. Scarlett, feeling the energy of her birthday and the thrill of her favorite holiday, had an extra spring in her step—well, in her roll.

"I'll see you later, Max," Scarlett said with a grin, her voice laced with anticipation. Max gave her a nod, pushing off with her skateboard and heading in the opposite direction. Scarlett took a sharp turn down another hallway, gaining speed as she felt the wind whip past her face.

As she rounded the corner, her mind was more focused on her plans for Halloween night than on where she was going, and before she could react, she slammed right into someone with enough force to send her crashing onto the floor.

"Hey!" Scarlett shouted, her eyes immediately sparking with blue electricity, a reflex she had yet to fully control. The small, crackling sparks danced around her irises, barely contained.

The person she had collided with spun around, revealing none other than Mike Wheeler, who looked just as surprised as she was. Recognition flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by irritation. "Shit, sorry," Mike muttered, extending a hand to help her up. His tone was sincere, but the annoyance was still there.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes at him, contemplating whether or not to take his hand, but the ache in her backside convinced her otherwise. She grabbed his hand, and he pulled her up with surprising strength. As she steadied herself, she shot him an exasperated look. "Thanks a lot, Freckles. You keep bumping into me!" she accused, her voice tinged with both irritation and mockery. The blue electricity continued to flicker faintly in her eyes.

Mike blinked, clearly taken aback by her boldness. "Says you! You're always bumping into me!" he snapped back, crossing his arms in a defensive posture.

Scarlett rolled her eyes dramatically, clearly unimpressed. "You should apologize. It's my birthday," she stated with an air of entitlement, crossing her arms over her chest as if daring him to challenge her. Her crown tilted slightly, adding an extra touch of drama to her already theatrical persona.

Mike scoffed, his irritation deepening as he let out a sharp breath. "You're so entitled, Hargrove. Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you own the place."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Maybe not, but it does mean you should be nice to me," she retorted, leaning into the moment. "Or is that too much to ask from the great Mike Wheeler?" Her tone was sarcastic, almost mocking, as she adjusted her sash that declared, "Scarlett's Thirteenth Birthday."

Mike's eyes narrowed, clearly not appreciating her attitude. "I'm not the one rollerblading through the halls like I'm in some kind of speed race," he shot back, his tone matching her sarcasm. "Maybe if you slowed down for two seconds, you wouldn't be crashing into people."

Scarlett snorted, her eyes flashing with a playful challenge. "Maybe if you weren't always in my way, I wouldn't have to worry about it."

Mike opened his mouth to retort, but as his gaze locked onto hers, he finally noticed the faint blue sparks that crackled around her eyes, reflecting an intensity that wasn't just from their argument. His words faltered as he tried to process what he was seeing, but before he could say anything, his eyes fell to her wrist, where the '007' tattoo shimmered faintly. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks—those sparks, that energy—it was eerily similar to what he had seen from El.

A flicker of confusion crossed his face, but Scarlett was already moving on. "Whatever, Wheeler. See ya, don't wanna be ya," she quipped, flipping her hair with a huff and pushing off with a smooth glide, her rollerblades humming as she sped down the hallway.

Mike stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together in his head, but he couldn't quite make out the full picture yet. As he watched her skate away, adjusting her crown with a confident flick of her wrist, he couldn't help but wonder who Scarlett Hargrove really was—and what she might be capable of.

But before he could dwell too long on the thought, Scarlett turned back around, catching him staring at her. "Hey, Wheeler!" she called out with a mischievous grin. "Next time, try not to look so starstruck. It's just a birthday, not a coronation."

Mike's cheeks flushed slightly as he rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the small, grudging smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Static Scar," he muttered, the nickname slipping out before he could stop himself.

Scarlett's eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and amusement flashing across her face. "I knew you were a creep, but I didn't think you were spying on me in the arcade, too," she teased, her smirk widening.

Mike groaned inwardly, realizing he'd just given himself away. "I wasn't spying! You're just... hard to miss."

Scarlett laughed, a sound that was equal parts genuine and mocking. "Nice save, Wheeler. Real smooth."

As she skated off, Mike watched her go, still trying to wrap his head around everything that had just happened. Something told him that this wasn't the last time Scarlett Hargrove would throw him off balance.

Later that morning, Scarlett continued rollerblading through the bustling hallways of Hawkins High School. She effortlessly maneuvered around students as she waited outside Max's math class. When Max emerged, Scarlett launched into a tirade about a particularly bothersome classmate. "Ugh, he's just so annoying! He's always bumping into me, Max!" she exclaimed, her frustration clear.

Max, who was busy arranging her books in her locker, glanced up with a smirk. "Sounds like you like him, Scar," she teased, her tone light-hearted.

Scarlett, her back to the approaching boys, continued her rant. "I so do not! He's annoyin—"

Her complaint was abruptly interrupted by a throat clearing. Scarlett, her cheeks flushed with annoyance, turned around and nudged Max to indicate the source of the noise. Standing behind her were two boys: Dustin and Lucas. Dustin wore an eager grin, and his eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

"Happy Birthday, Scarlett," Dustin greeted, his voice warm and friendly. Scarlett's eyes widened, and she squealed with delight. "Thank you, Dustin!" She beamed at him, clearly flattered. Dustin's heart raced as he took in Scarlett's enthusiastic response; he thought she looked stunning.

"Hi, Max, Scarlett. I'm Dustin, and this is—" Dustin began, motioning toward his friend.

"Lucas," Lucas interjected, his voice steady despite his own nervousness.

"Yeah, we know. The stalkers," Max remarked with a smirk that bordered on mischievous.

Dustin and Lucas exchanged worried glances, their faces flushing as they stumbled over their words. "Uh, no. Actually... We weren't stalking you," Lucas said, his voice trailing off with uncertainty.

Max narrowed her eyes at them, her expression skeptical. Scarlett, noticing the boys' discomfort, tried hard to suppress her laughter. "No, we were just concerned because, you know, you're new and all," Dustin explained, his voice rising in a slightly defensive tone.

Lucas nodded emphatically. "Yeah, for your safety," he added.

Scarlett tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Our safety?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement.

Dustin nodded vigorously. "Mmm-hmm. There are a lot of bullies here," he said with a hint of seriousness.

"So many bullies, it's crazy," Lucas added, his voice carrying an undertone of genuine concern.

Scarlett struggled to hold back a laugh, finding the boys' earnestness endearing. "Is that why you're wearing proton packs?" she asked, glancing at the Ghostbusters-themed gear they were sporting.

Max raised her eyebrows, clearly intrigued.

"Well, these don't actually function," Dustin admitted, his enthusiasm undeterred. "But... I do have this handy-dandy little trap here. Look, it even opens and closes. Look, look, look... Voila!" Dustin proudly demonstrated the trap, his face lighting up with pride.

Scarlett's eyes sparkled with amusement as she observed Dustin's excitement. "God, I can't help it, you're just so prepossessing," she said, reaching out to pinch Dustin's cheeks playfully. Dustin's cheeks flushed a deep red as he giggled nervously.

Max, observing the scene with an unimpressed look, spoke up. "It's cool, right?" Dustin asked, hoping for a positive response.

Scarlett nodded, her smile widening. "Super cool! Actually, it's ironic because I'm going as Melnitz for Halloween."

Dustin and Lucas's faces lit up with excitement. "Tubular!" Dustin exclaimed, clearly thrilled by the coincidence.

"Actually, this is funny. We were talking last night, and since you're both new here, you probably don't have any friends to take you trick-or-treating, and you're probably scared of bullies, so we thought it'd be okay if you joined us," Dustin said earnestly, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice. "'It'd be okay'?"

Max, ever the skeptic, chimed in. "Yeah, it sounds like you're making decisions for us."

Dustin's face turned even redder. "N— No! Our party's a democracy. The majority voted for you to come," he stammered, trying to maintain his composure.

Max responded with a sarcastic grin. "Didn't realize it was such an honor to go trick-or-treating with you."

Scarlett stifled a laugh, finding Max's sarcasm amusing. "We know where to get the full-sized candy bars. We figured you'd want in," Dustin said, his tone earnest.

Lucas, standing awkwardly beside Dustin, added nothing, instead focusing on his shoes.

"That's presumptuous of you," Max said coolly, her tone final. Dustin and Lucas looked at each other with confusion, not understanding the term. Scarlett struggled to contain her laughter at their bemused expressions.

"Yeah, totally. Uh, so, um... you'll come?" Dustin asked hopefully, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Max rolled her eyes, closed her locker with a decisive clang, and grabbed Scarlett's arm. "Max, careful, I'm on rollerblades right now," Scarlett whispered as Max pulled her away.

As they skated and walked out of the school, Dustin called after them, "We're meeting at the Maple Street cul-de-sac at 7:00. That's 7:00 on the dot!"

Once outside, Scarlett nudged Max with a shrug. "I think we should go," she suggested, carefully navigating the stairs on her rollerblades.

Max stopped, a laugh escaping her lips. "I think you're crazy! They were thinking for us, like you said."

Scarlett shrugged, a playful smile on her face. "Dustin's adorable. I think they were just nervous."

Max rolled her eyes, clearly still unsure. "I don't know..."

As Scarlett and Max approached the car where Billy was waiting, Billy's disapproval was palpable. He stood by the vehicle, leaning against it with a cigarette dangling from his lips. His eyes narrowed as he noticed them.

"You're late again," Billy said gruffly, his tone stern as he pulled the cigarette out of his mouth. He didn't even bother to make eye contact with them, his gaze focused on the ground.

Max started to explain, "I had to catch up on homework, and Scarlett was—"

Billy cut her off sharply, "Jesus. I don't care. You're late again, and you're skating and rollerblading home. Do you hear me?" His voice was threatening, his anger evident as he took another drag of his cigarette.

Max rolled her eyes, clearly irritated by Billy's attitude. She opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by Billy, who dropped the cigarette onto the ground and stomped on it with a heavy foot. The ember sizzled out with a puff of smoke.

Scarlett, feeling defiant, stuck her tongue out at Billy. He gave her a challenging look, clearly unfazed. In response, Scarlett flipped him off with a bold gesture before sliding into the back seat of the car.

Billy, still visibly annoyed, watched as Scarlett settled into the backseat and then turned his attention back to Max. "Just get in," he said with a dismissive wave, his frustration evident in his posture.

With her headphones on and music blaring through her ears, Scarlett leaned her head against the window, trying to block out the world. The rhythmic beats of her playlist provided a cocoon of normalcy amid the tension she felt brewing in the car. However, as the car picked up speed, Scarlett's sense of impending danger jolted her out of her reverie. She lifted her head, her face contorted with alarm.

Despite the loud music, Scarlett could sense the escalating conflict between Max and Billy. The muffled shouts from the front seats suggested a deeper argument was unfolding. Billy's aggressive driving and the way he kept revving the engine added to her growing unease.

Scarlett's heart raced as she sat up straight, her eyebrows knitting together in concern. Her eyes darted out the window, and she spotted Lucas, Dustin, and Mike biking up ahead. The realization hit her with a jolt.

"Billy! No! My friends!" Scarlett yelled, yanking her headphones off and desperately trying to get Billy's attention.

Billy glanced back at her, his expression twisted into a menacing grin. "Oh! I see! Maxine, these aren't your friends, but these are your friends, Scarlett," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

Scarlett's anger flared. She shot Billy a fierce glare, her jaw clenched tightly. "Billy, I swear to god!" she gritted out, her eyes sparking with blue electricity.

"Billy, come on, stop it!" Max pleaded, glancing back at Scarlett for support.

"Just stop it, Billy! This isn't fucking funny!" Scarlett shouted as Billy's laughter filled the car. His manic enthusiasm only intensified as he tapped the steering wheel and accelerated dangerously, closing in on the boys.

"Billy, stop it, please!" Max begged, her voice choked with emotion. Her face was flushed with a mix of anger and fear, her eyes welling up with tears.

Scarlett, feeling a surge of desperation, sat back and focused intently on the car. Blue electricity began to crackle around the vehicle, illuminating the interior with a strange, eerie glow. The boys on the bikes glanced back, their faces a mix of shock and confusion as they saw the car surrounded by electrical energy.

Summoning all her strength, Scarlett used the nearby electricity to help guide the car away from her friends. The sudden surge of power made the vehicle veer sharply off course. The boys, startled by the display of electricity, quickly swerved off the road as the car roared past them.

"MadMax and StaticScar," Dustin said breathlessly, the shock evident in his voice as he and his friends watched the car speed away.

Scarlett's vision blurred as the car sped off. She felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion, her nose trickling with blood as she tried to steady her breathing.

Billy's laughter echoed menacingly in the confined space of the car. "Yeah! That was a close one, huh?" he shouted, clearly reveling in the chaos he had caused.

Max turned to look back at Scarlett, her face a mask of concern as she took in her friend's pale, drained appearance. "You okay?" Max asked softly, her voice trembling.

Scarlett nodded weakly, her eyes closing as she fought to stay conscious. "I'm okay," she murmured, though her exhaustion was apparent. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to keep herself awake as the car continued to speed away.

Scarlett and Max navigated the dimly lit streets in their Halloween costumes—Scarlett dressed as Janine Melnitz from Ghostbusters, complete with oversized glasses and a quirky outfit, and Max as Michael Myers, the infamous masked killer from *Halloween*. The night air was crisp, and the two girls reveled in the thrill of the evening.

"I see them," Scarlett whispered, pointing out a group of boys in the distance. Before Scarlett could react, Max yanked her behind a nearby bush, causing her to stumble slightly in her excitement.

"What are you doing?" Scarlett hissed, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to regain her balance. Max simply pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Scarlett to stay quiet before she dramatically jumped out from behind the bush, landing right in front of the boys.

The boys all jumped back in shock, and Lucas let out a high-pitched scream that echoed down the street. Scarlett doubled over in laughter, stepping out from behind Max, who was already pulling off her mask with a wide grin.

"Holy shit! You should have seen the look on your faces," Max exclaimed, her voice filled with satisfaction as she basked in the success of her scare.

Scarlett, still giggling, noticed Mike rolling his eyes at the sight of her, his expression one of mild annoyance. Max, however, was too caught up in the moment to notice.

"And you?" Max continued, pointing at Lucas, who was still recovering from his scare. "Who screams like that? You sound like a little girl."

Scarlett chuckled again as Lucas flushed with embarrassment. Max began to walk away, and Scarlett followed her, the two girls glancing back at the boys.

"You guys coming or not?" Scarlett called over her shoulder, her tone teasing. "You're the ones who invited us."

Max nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I heard we should hit up Loch Nora. That's where the rich people live, right?" She chuckled, her eyes glinting with the anticipation of getting the best candy in town.

As Max and Scarlett walked off, Dustin and Lucas exchanged a glance, then squealed in excitement as they hurried to catch up. Mike, however, stayed back, his expression still sour as he watched Scarlett.

Sensing an opportunity, Scarlett slowed her pace and walked over to Mike with a playful smirk. "Happy birthday, Charlotte," Will said awkwardly, stepping forward and interrupting Scarlett's approach.

Scarlett glanced at Will, slightly amused. "It's Scarlett," she corrected gently, a smile playing on her lips.

Will's face flushed with embarrassment as he realized his mistake. "Oh, I'm so sorry," he stammered, quickly apologizing.

Scarlett laughed softly, brushing off the mistake with a wave of her hand. "It's okay, Will!" she said warmly before turning her attention back to Mike. She stepped between him and Will, positioning herself in the middle as they started walking.

Mike rolled his eyes again, clearly not thrilled with Scarlett's presence. Sensing his annoyance, Scarlett couldn't resist the urge to tease him further.

"Aw, am I annoying you?" she asked with a mock pout, her voice dripping with faux innocence.

"Actually, yes," Mike replied bluntly, not even bothering to hide his irritation.

Scarlett shrugged nonchalantly. "Too bad, Freckles," she retorted, her smirk widening as Mike groaned in frustration.

"Can you not call me that?" Mike asked, his tone exasperated.

"No can do," Scarlett responded, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Unless you want me to call you Frogface."

She turned on her heels and walked backward for a few steps, her smirk never fading. Mike furrowed his eyebrows in confusion—how did she know that nickname? *Troy* used to call him that, but there was no way Scarlett could've known.

As Scarlett caught up with Max, Lucas, and Dustin, Mike fell into step beside Will, still deep in thought.

"Mike? What are you thinking about?" Will asked, noticing his friend's preoccupation.

Mike glanced at Scarlett, who was now laughing with the others, her carefree demeanor masking the thoughts swirling in his mind. "I think Scarlett is like El," he said quietly, his voice tinged with suspicion.

Will's eyes widened in shock. "What? What do you mean?" he asked, his mind racing.

Mike nodded, his expression serious. "I saw a '007' tattoo on her wrist, her nose randomly bleeding at times, her somehow knowing that nickname. And Lucas, Dustin, and I all saw her move her brother's car with electricity!" Mike explained, his words tumbling out in a rush.

Will hesitated, trying to process what Mike was saying. "This could all have logical explanations, Mike. She might not be like El," Will suggested, trying to be the voice of reason.

But Mike shook his head firmly, his conviction unwavering. "No. She is. I know she is," he insisted, his eyes narrowing as he continued to watch Scarlett, now more convinced than ever that she was hiding something—something big.

Lucas, Dustin, Max, and Scarlett walked together down the dimly lit street, their bags heavy with candy from the last house they visited. The cool autumn air was filled with the rustling of leaves and the occasional laugh as they compared their Halloween haul. Mike and Will trailed behind them, their pace slower, absorbed in their own conversation.

"Another full-size candy bar. Like, seriously, rich people are such suckers," Dustin commented, holding up his latest prize.

Scarlett chuckled in agreement. "Right? This one guy at Max and I's old school lived in a mansion, and they always gave out the best candy. Best birthday ever!" she exclaimed, her tone full of nostalgia.

Dustin looked curiously at her. "So, you and Max aren't rich?" he asked.

Scarlett shook her head. "Nah. We live up on Old Cherry Road," she replied, glancing back at Mike and Will, who were still lagging behind. Sensing something off with them, Scarlett jogged over and inserted herself between them once more.

"What's got you so down, Freckles?" Scarlett asked Mike with a smirk, matching their slower pace.

Mike shot her a sideways glance, clearly annoyed. "You," he replied bluntly.

Scarlett feigned shock, gasping dramatically. "Oh, I would've never thought!" she said sarcastically, drawing out the words for effect. Mike rolled his eyes, turning to Will, who had his camera aimed at them, recording their interaction.

"Did you agree to this?" Mike asked, his irritation clear.

Will pulled his camera down, looking puzzled. "What?"

"To Max and Scarlett joining our party," Mike clarified, ignoring Scarlett's presence entirely.

Scarlett shot Mike a glare, crossing her arms. "Um, you know I'm right here, right?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Mike nodded, unfazed. "That's the point," he snapped.

Scarlett chuckled dryly, clearly unimpressed by his attitude. "Yeah, Max... she's not into the idea of joining the party from as far as I know, but yeah, I'm in this party now, Freckles. You can call me your Electro," she declared with a smirk, enjoying the irritation she was causing.

Mike gave her a look, unimpressed. "Well, I never voted for you, and Electro isn't a thing," he retorted.

Scarlett shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes, it is. Because I made it up. It just fits for me," she stated confidently.

Mike sighed, glancing back at Will for some backup. "They were excited, Mike. They thought you'd be okay with it," Will tried to reason, sensing the tension between Mike and Scarlett.

Mike's eyes narrowed as he glared at the back of Max's head. "Scarlett and Max are ruining the best night of the year," he muttered, his frustration boiling over.

Scarlett huffed, refusing to let Mike's words get to her. "Um, it's my birthday. This is the best night of the year, and I'm not gonna have you ruin it," she snapped back, her voice filled with defiance.

Mike turned his glare on her, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "No one cares that it's your birthday, Scarlett," he spat.

Scarlett's eyes flashed with blue electricity, her anger sparking her powers. As they walked past a lamppost, a jolt of electricity surged out, shocking Mike. He gasped, stopping dead in his tracks as he stared at Scarlett in shock. The two stood there, staring each other down, unaware that Will had slipped away.

"Did you just do that?" Mike asked, his voice a mix of accusation and disbelief.

Scarlett crossed her arms, her expression defiant. "I don't know what you're talking about," she lied smoothly, though the confidence in her voice wavered slightly.

But Mike wasn't fooled. "No, I know you have powers. You're like El," he insisted, his eyes narrowing as he watched her closely.

Scarlett's smirk faltered, her bravado crumbling under his scrutiny. "I—I don't know who that is, and I don't have powers," she stuttered, half-lying—she genuinely didn't know who El was, but her denial of having powers was a blatant falsehood.

Before Mike could press further, they heard Will shouting for them. "Mike! Scarlett!"

Mike and Scarlett exchanged a glance, their argument momentarily forgotten. "Will!" they called out in unison, their voices laced with urgency as they began searching for him.

They found him curled up in a ball near a brick wall, his body trembling with fear. Mike knelt beside him, shaking him gently. "Will, are you okay?" Scarlett asked, her voice softening as she took in Will's terrified state.

Will gasped, his eyes wide with fear as he looked up at them. Lucas, Max, and Dustin came running over, their faces etched with concern.

"What happened?" Lucas asked, his voice filled with worry.

Scarlett furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, trying to make sense of what was happening. "Are you okay?" she asked Will again, but before he could respond, Mike answered for him.

"I don't know," Mike said, his voice tight with frustration.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, annoyed at Mike's tendency to speak for Will. "No need to speak for him," she snapped, focusing her attention back on Will. "Are you okay?" she asked again, her tone more insistent.

Will shook his head, clearly not okay. Scarlett arched an eyebrow, her concern deepening.

"I'm gonna get you home," Mike told Will, helping him to his feet. Dustin tried to offer his assistance, but Mike brushed him off. "I got him," Mike snapped, his tone sharp.

"Mike?" Dustin called after him, his voice filled with uncertainty.

"Keep trick-or-treating. I'm bored anyways," Mike snapped back, walking away with Will in tow.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes, sensing something off about Will's behavior. She focused, attempting to read his mind, and was startled when she heard him repeatedly muttering "Upside Down" in his thoughts. A cold shiver ran down her spine.

"Upside Down," she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible.

Dustin and Lucas, however, heard her. "What did you say?" Lucas asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Scarlett shrugged, her expression guarded. "Nothing," she lied, walking away before they could press her further.

As she caught up with Max, Scarlett couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that something much bigger was at play—something that connected her powers to whatever was happening with Will. But for now, she kept her suspicions to herself, determined to uncover the truth on her own terms.

ASH SPEAKS!

THE ANGSTTTTTA