El was brushing her teeth as I sat on Max's bed doing Max's hair for her. El finished just as I finished doing both Max's and my hair.

"Which one?" Max asked. Max holds up a "Wonder Woman" comic and a "Green Lantern" comic El gets into bed beside her.

"I don't know." El answers.

"Hey, there's nothing to worry about anymore, okay?" Max asked.

"It doesn't make sense." El answered.

"What doesn't make sense?" I asked looking confused.

"Heather. The blood. The ice." El answered.

"Heather had a fever, so she took a cold bath, but she's better now. That has to be it. I don't know where that blood came from, but... we saw her. We both saw her. She's totally fine." Max tried.

"What about Billy?" El asked.

"What about him?" I asked.

"He seemed wrong." El answered.

"[chuckles] Wrong is kind of like his default. But it's nice to know he's not a murderer, because that would've totally sucked." Max stated.  El points out the "Wonder Woman" comic.

"Who... is that?" El asked.

"That happens to be Wonder Women." I answered. 

"See, this is why you can't just hang out with Mike all the time. Even Alex knows her and she's always with Lucas." Max pointed out. She picks up the comic.

"This is Wonder Woman. AKA Princess Diana. She's from Paradise Island, which is, like, this hidden island where there are only women Amazon warriors." We managed to go to sleep. I woke up before the girls so I was reading the comics. Max and El's sleep is rudely interrupted by Lucas.

"(over radio) Do you copy? This is a code red." I heard Lucas say the radio static pops. "(over radio) I repeat, this is a code red. Max. Do you copy? This is a code red." Max scoffs as I reach for the radio and picks it up.

"Shut. Up." I answer. I turn off the radio and sets it down, Max turns around and gets back under the covers – obviously planning on getting more sleep. The phone was ringing I got up letting Max and El get more sleep.

"[scoffs] You've got to be kidding me." I heard Max say I answer.

"The girls are sleeping. Go away." I start.

"This is Mike. Do not hang up. Something happened, something bad. Our very lives can be at stake." Mike's voice pops up.

"What are you talking about?" I ask confused.

"Just come over to my house. We'll explain everything." Mike answered.

"I hate you sometimes Wheeler." I said before putting the phone down.

"What?" Max asks me.

"Get up get ready we are going to Wheelers." I answered.

"What'd he say?" El asked.

"Nothing about you so keep your hair on your head." I answered.

We were riding to Mike's El was on the back of Max's bike. We got to the basement and I noticed a cup of coffee on the table for me. I gave a quick smile to Will knowing it was his idea since I'm not really a morning person. I sat down and started drinking. I realised I was sat next to Lucas. My face changed to a pissed looking one.

"I didn't think it was anything at first. I mean, I think I just didn't want to believe it. The first time I felt it was at Day of the Dead." Will explained. Will remembers getting goosebumps at the movie theater.

"Power went out that night, too." Mike said.

"And then I felt it again at the field near the Nelson farm the next day." Will carries on. He remembers getting the same feeling at "Weathertop" Hill. "Then again yesterday outside Castle Byers." He remembers feeling it a third time and Lucas calling for him.

"What does it feel like?" Max asked.

"It's almost like... You know when you drop on a roller coaster?" Will asked I looked at him and nodded.

"Sure." Mike answered.

"Yeah." Max continued. El, who has spent the majority of her short life in a lab doesn't know the feeling.

"No." El answered.

"It's like... everything inside your body is just sinking all at once, but... this is worse. Your body... it goes cold and- and you can't breathe. I've felt it before, whenever he was close." Will explained. Will remembers seeing the Mind Flayer outside of his house and getting the same feeling.

"Whenever who was close?" Max asked.

"The Mind Flayer." Will answered. Will remembers getting attacked by the Mind Flayer and screaming for it to go away before it possessed him.

"We closed the gate." El piped up.

"I know, but... what if he never left? What if we locked him out here with us?" Will asked. The group gathered around a table, Will slams down a piece of paper and begins drawing the Mind Flayer on it with charcoal. I was sat on the couch with a banging headache. "This is him. All of him. But, that day on the field, a part of him attached itself to me." Will rubs his hand over the drawing leaving his hand covered it charcoal.

Will: My mom got it out of me..." Will carried on. "...and Eleven and Alex closed the gate. But the part that was still in me, what if it's still in our world?" He flips the page over and presses his palm to it leaving behind a black palm print.

"In Hawkins." I piped up. 

"I don't understand. The Demodogs died when the two girls closed the gate. If the brain dies, the body dies." Max says.

"We can't take any chances. We need to assume the worst. The Mind Flayer's back." Mike says.

"Yeah. And if he is, he'd want to attach himself to someone again. A new me." Will added on.

"A new host." I stated.

"How can you tell if someone is a host?" El asked. Max, El, Mike, Will and Lucas are outside the pool's gates as I sat on the floor. Max watches Billy through some binoculars)

"I don't know. He looks pretty normal to me." Max says. 

"Normal? How many times have you seen him with a shirt on?" I pointed out.

"I mean, it's a little weird." Max answers.

"More than a little. He was in a tub with ice. The Mind Flayer likes it cold. Plus everything else-" Mike states.

"But he's lounging at the pool, which is, like, the least Mind Flayer thing ever." Max says.

"Not necessarily. The Mind Flayer likes to hide. He only used me when he needed me. It's like... like you're dormant. And then, when he needs you, you're activated." Will pointed out.

"Okay, so we just... wait until he gets activated." Max says.

"No. What if he hurts someone?" Mike asks.

"Or kills someone." Will suggested.

"We can't take that chance. We need to find out if he's the host." Mike pipes up. Mike begins walking away from the group in the direction of the pool entrance.

"Where are you going?" El asked.

"I have an idea. Boys only." Mike answered.

"Seriously?" I asked annoyed.

"Just trust me on this one." Mike answered. The boys run after him. El opens a padlock using her powers and enters a pool supply room I walk in behind her. El picks up a training dummy.

"Hey funny looking dummy." I pointed out.

"Hey, I found the breakers. Whoa, that thing is super creepy." Mike says. El turns around and Mike takes the dummy from her "Let me see it. I think this'll work. Right, buddy? [in squeaky voice – for the dummy] Right, Mike." Mike chuckles. El considers who the real dummy is here before taking the training one back and attempting to leave the room. I realised Mike was the bigger dummy,

"Hey, El... I just wanted to say... You know when I said Nana was sick? She wasn't. I lied." Mike tried.

"I know." El answers. She attempts to leave again I follow behind her.

"Right, right, right. No, I just... think it was important for you to know the context. Hopper, he went all crazy on me and Lucas, telling us I'm spending way too much time with you. He made us lie. I mean, you're the most important thing to us in the world." Mike says.

"What if he's right?" I asked.

"What?" Mike asked.

"Dad." I answered.

"No, no, no, no. He's just some angry old man who hates joy." Mike says.

"That's my dad your talking about!" I said getting mad.

"But if us two only see you and Lucas. (She pokes Mikes chest roughly and Mike rubs that spot as if it deeply pained him) and we're a different species than you, then we should be with our species more." El pipes up. 

Mike: What are you talking about?" Mike asked. El picks up the dummy again while the other dummy tries to figure out what she means. "[gasps] Did you spy on us? That's totally against the rules." 

"We make our own rules." El states. El leaves the supply room I follow behind her. The pool is now closed and we managed to set every thing up. We started the clanging so Billy could hear us. 

"Pool's closed." Billy yells. Some metallic was scraping, and some clanging.

"Hey." Billy yells. He slams his locker shut and speedily walks around to the other side of the lockers. "Do you hear me?"  He walks to the exit of the men's locker room and goes to push the door.

"Pool is closed!" Billy yells. The door is locked. Billy slams his hands against the door a few times the lights go out which made me huddle into someone slightly scared. 

"Billy!" Mikes voice could be heard.

"Who's there?" Billy asked.

"[in sing-songy voice] Billy!" Mike continued. Billy begins walking back into the locker room.

"[in sing-songy voice] Who's there?" Billy asked. My echoing laughter could be heard. Billy rips open a shower curtain but sees nothing behind it, he makes his way through the locker room slowly.

"Billy! Billy!" Mike yells slightly.

"You think this is funny, huh?" Billy asked. My laughter echoes around the place.

"Billy. Come and find me." Mike continues.

"I find you, it is your funeral." I was letting Billy's voice be heard where we were.

"Come and get me. Come on!" Mike carries on. Mike's voice echoes around the place.

"Billy!" Mike continues. Billy bursts into the gym room and spots the dummy in the sauna mistaking it for the person mocking him. I laugh so Billy could follow us. My laughter could be slightly scary.

"Got you." Billy pipes up. Billy cackles scares me slightly so I hide my face in someone's chest hoping it was Will. He walks towards the sauna and claps manically.

"Come and get me, you piece of shit." Mike yells. Billy rips open the door and sees the dummy hanging on a string with a walkie duct taped to it – he grabs it. Billy was grunting pretty loud.

"[on radio] Hey. Behind you." Mike says. Billy turns around and sees El standing there with me slightly behind her.

"Hi." We start. El uses her powers to send Billy flying into the back wall of the sauna as I stand there waiting for my que. El grunts meaning I need to help soon. Billy groans which made me smirk.  Billy slams into the wall so hard that it breaks tile Billy falls to the ground. Billy grunts which made my smirk grow. The other kids burst into the room.

"Now!" Mike yells. Chain rattling was pretty loud. I closes the door with my powers and just in time too because Billy is up and angry he slams against the door. Billy yells which made me wince I wasn't completely used to this. Mike slides the pipe through the handle to jam the door while Lucas and Will wrap the chain around and try to padlock it. Billy grunts which made my blood boil slightly.

"Come on." Mike yells.

"Got it." Lucas yells. They all run back and stand behind El as I was stood in front of El. Billy was pounding on door. Billy grunting was getting louder. Billy grunting, panting was louder then before. He looks through the window in the door of the sauna and spots Max/

"Max." Billy speaks up. Billy's voice echoes through the place.

"Do it." Max answers I nod to Will. Will cranks up the temperature of the sauna to the highest it can go.

"Max!" Billy yells. Billy crashes against the door making the others jump back I just stand there.

"Let me out of here!" Billy yells. Billy's voice echoes through the place.

"Let me out." Billy tries. Billy is extremely worked up and sweaty – he breathes heavily against the window and it steams up where his breath hits)

"You kids... You think this is funny? You kids think this is some kind of sick prank, huh?" He asks. He spits on the window.

"You little shits think this is funny? What is this? Open the door." Billy says. He saw me smirking in front of the party. He hits the door hard enough that all the kids jump and step back slightly I quickly get back where I was. "Open the door! Open the door! Open the goddamn door!" Billy collapses to the ground, out of view of the window. Billy screams was pretty scary but I didn't want to let my guard down. Will checks the temperature.

"We're at 220." Will says. Billy grunts was heard but I didn't want to show I was a slightly bit scared. Billy sobbing made me step forward lifting my hand slightly just in case. Everyone is confused as I got slightly in front of the window.

"It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault, Max. I promise you, it's not my fault." Billy pipes up. Max walks towards the door standing next to me and looks in through the window Billy is on the ground, on his knees with his hands locked in a praying position – he's frantically pleading,

"What's not your fault, Billy?" Max asked.

"I've done things, Max. Really... bad things. I didn't mean to. He made me do it." Billy answered.

"Who made you do it?" Max asked I stood there watching.

"I don't know, it's like a shadow. Like a giant shadow. Please, Max.

"What did he make you do?" Max asked.

"It's not my fault, okay? Max, please."  Billy answered. He leans against the sauna bench obviously effected by seeing him like this Max almost begins crying herself I slightly hold her hand in comfort.

"Please, believe me, Max, it's not my fault. I tried to stop him, okay? I did." Billy carries on. Billy sniffles slightly. "Please believe me, Max. Please believe me." Max places her hand against the glass still keeping her other hand close to mine.

"Billy, it's gonna be okay." I whisper. 

"Max Alex, please." Billy begs I'm surprised he even knows my name.

"It's gonna be okay. We want to help you. We want to help you." Max tries. Billy reaches under the bench and picks up a sharp shard of broken tile.

"You just have to talk to us, okay? You have to talk to us. I believe you, Billy." Max says.

"We'll figure it out together, okay?" I ask him.

"I need you to trust me trust us. Please." Max begged.

"Max, get away from the door." Mike says. I looked at him confused to why he didn't yell to me as well.

"What?" Max asked.

"Get away from the door!" Mike yells. Billy's arm suddenly crashes through the door and he yells like a mad man I step back slightly. Max yelps just as Billy yells. El gasps as I turn to her. El stands in front of the others protectively and they all step back. I run in front of El not wanting her to get hurt.

"Let me out, you bitch! Let me out!" Billy yells. Billy flails wildly out of the broken window and desperately tries to stab at Max who is cowering away from him. "I'll fucking gut you!" Billy grunts as he finishes his threat. He pulls the metal pipe out and starts viciously tugging on the chain.

"[roars] Let me out!" Billy yells. Lucas gets out his wrist rocket and launches a rock directly into Billy's forehead Billy falls back on the ground of the sauna Billy groans quite loud.

"Max, come on!" I yelled to her. Max runs over and stands behind El with the others the lights begin flickering. I whimper quietly not wanting to look weak. Billy groans slightly as I put my hand up. He chokes up come liquid and rolls over onto his side. He writhes on the floor and dark veins appear along his side. I just look confused. The kids look around in fear at the flickering lights Billy is pulled off of the ground by an unseen force as the dark veins appear under his skin over his whole body. Billy grunts as he stood up slightly Billy roaring was sending a shiver down my spine. The kids all look towards the sauna where I was already looking. Billy roaring continues as I think of what to do. El stands in front of the others protectively as I stand in front of her. Billy throws his body against the door. The chain holding the door closed strains

"He can't get out, can he?" Max asked.

"No way." Lucas answers.

"No way." I mumble. Billy hits against the door twice more and on his final hit the pipe that the chain was attached to breaks. Billy grunting was getting on my nervures. The kids jump back as Billy begins getting up I stood my guard slightly shaking it was a bit noticeable but not massively. Billy breathes heavily made me smirk slightly. Billy and El are locked in an intense glaring match El uses her powers to lift a barbell and throws it at Billy as I use my powers to lift some tiles that were broke and I fling it at him. El screams as my whimpering got louder. Billy is pinned to the wall by the barbell and was hit in the head by the tiles.

Billy groans slightly. Mike was gasping trying to get his head around everything. El grunting was heard from slightly behind me. She's struggling to hold Billy but forces the barbell harder it starts pressing into the brick as I send things his way hitting his head every time. The bricks cracking as I used some of them to get him. El yells as I grunt using most my energy. She raises both hands and focuses everything she can to hold him as I fling more things his way. El grunts as I use things around the room to hit Billy. The bricks was cracking more so I started using them. Billy groans slightly as I was losing my energy quick but didn't show it. Billy begins pushing the barbell away. I use my powers to help her. El was screaming which made me grunt even louder.

Billy musters up enough strength to throw the barbell – it narrowly misses El who falls to the ground in exhaustion. Billy roars which annoys me. El tries to crawl away but Billy grabs her by the hair and pulls her back. Eleven gasps and screams which was setting off my protectiveness. Billy looks at Max and Lucas as he grabs El by the throat that set me off so I was using the last of my energy to hit him with things. El was choking which upset me. I used my powers one more time before I needed to rest. She was choking, gasping for air I was stuck on the floor not being able to help. He lifts her off the ground I felt bad for not doing anything. El was coughing pretty bad.

"No! No! No!" El begged. El hits at his arm frantically trying to stop him. I couldn't move I felt trapped.

"[screams] No!" I screamed.

"[choking] No..." El says gasping for air. I looked at the party for help. Mike appears behind Billy with the metal pipe. Mike yells slightly but seeing him trying to save El made me smile. Mike hits Billy over the back with the pipe hard enough that Billy drops El and falls to the ground. Billy groans which made me chuckle at the sight of him getting hit.

"Go to hell, you piece of shit!" Mike yells Mike goes to hit Billy while he's down but Billy rolls over and grabs the pipe before it can hit him. Billy stands up and I try standing up. El was panting not far from me. Billy rips the pipe out of Mike's hands and throws it across the room. There was a sound of clanging from beside me.

Billy walks threateningly towards Mike just as I stood up. Just as Billy is about to attack Mike, who has his back pressed to the wall, El suddenly lifts Billy off his feet and into the air as I help her. Billy groans then screams. El is using every last bit of energy she has to hold Billy she gets up slowly. I had a bit more energy left. El was yelling using her last bit of energy. Billy screaming, grunting El moves around Billy to stand in front of Mike protectively as I stand in front of El. El was grunting and panting to stop Billy as he wails. They were both screaming. El uses the last of her energy to throw Billy through the brick wall to the outside she falls back into Mike's arms who clings to her before helping her get up I fall to the floor but I noticed Lucas's arms catch me before I hit the ground. Billy is obviously injured outside he gets up. There was squelching. The kids look at of the hole that Billy's body left in the wall – they see Billy struggling to run off as he wails. 

"Thanks Lucas." I mumble in his arms.