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ISADORA SAT ON THE EDGE OF THE HOSPITAL CHAIR, HER HEART RACING AS SHE WATCHED THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS FLICKER IN A MADDENING RHYTHM.

Each pulse felt like a countdown, a sinister echo of the chaos that had unfolded just hours earlier. The lights buzzed and blinked, casting unsettling shadows that danced ominously across the sterile walls. A familiar dread clawed at her insides, reminding her too much of the way the lights had malfunctioned during their sauna test—a precursor to the darkness that had consumed them then. She clenched her fists, trying to steady her breathing as her thoughts spiralled.

She wished, more than anything, that this was all just a nightmarish illusion from which she could awaken. She longed for the mundane comforts of normalcy, for the comforting sound of laughter from her friends, for the mundane troubles of homework and friendship drama, but the heavy reality pressed down on her; she knew better. This was no dream. They were in danger, and she felt it in her bones.

"He's here," Will said suddenly, his voice slicing through the heavy silence like a knife. His face was pale, eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination.

Max turned to face the group, her resolve igniting a fire in her gaze. "We need to find Nancy and Jonathan. They could be in danger," she urged, urgency lacing her tone.

"Is that really a good idea?" Laura questioned, her voice trembling as she glanced around the room. The tension in the air felt almost suffocating, and Isadora could feel her pulse quickening at the thought of facing whatever horror lay ahead.

"I'm not staying here," Isadora declared, her voice steadier than she felt. She rose to her feet, determination surging through her like adrenaline. Following Max, she felt the weight of the situation settle around her like a heavy cloak. They moved past the nurses' station, ignoring the frantic shouts of a nurse warning them about the two-at-a-time rule, urgency driving them forward through the labyrinthine corridors of the hospital.

When they reached the elevator, Max hammered the button repeatedly, frustration etched on her features. "Come on, come on!" she muttered under her breath, but the machine stubbornly refused to budge.

"Stairs," Mike suggested, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air. The group nodded, sharing a collective resolve, and they hurried over to the stairwell. They sprinted up the steps, their hearts pounding in their chests, each breath heavy with adrenaline and fear as they pushed themselves to go faster.

Upon finally reaching the right floor, they burst through the door to find Jonathan standing with Nancy, a look of sheer panic on his face. Before they could catch their breath, Eleven stepped forward, her expression fierce and resolute. In one swift motion, she summoned her powers, and the door flew open with a deafening crash, but as they entered, Isadora froze, her heart plummeting at the sight of the grotesque creature snarling menacingly in the shadows.

"What the hell is that?" Isadora stammered, her voice barely a whisper. The fear that gripped her felt paralysing, her instincts screaming at her to run.

"Jesus," someone gasped, eyes wide in terror.

"What the f—" Max began, her voice trailing off as the creature lunged toward them, its grotesque form glistening in the dim light. Panic erupted in the room, and Isadora felt her body tense, instinctively stepping back.

In a flash, Eleven reacted with a fierce determination that left Isadora in awe. With a surge of energy, she unleashed her powers, blasting the creature backward with a violent force. It slammed against the wall, thrashing wildly as it let out a deafening roar, but before it could reach them, Eleven pushed harder, sending the creature crashing through the window, glass shattering everywhere like rain.

"Go!" Max yelled, urgency bleeding into her voice.

"Nancy!" Jonathan shouted, his face a mask of panic as he ran toward her, the concern evident in his eyes. The rest of the group sprinted down the stairs, adrenaline fuelling their escape as they burst through the exit into the night air.

"What just happened?" Isadora gasped, bewildered, as they regrouped outside. She watched in disbelief as the creature squirmed on the ground before disappearing through a nearby drain. Confusion swirled in her mind, but one thought stood out amidst the chaos: they had to find a way to stop this thing and save Billy. The realisation hung heavy in the air, a weight they could not ignore.

"Did you see that thing?" Laura whispered, her voice trembling. "What even was it?"

"I don't know, but it's not over. We need to regroup and figure out what to do next," Max replied, her eyes narrowing with determination.

As they quickly decided to head back to Hopper's cabin, Isadora felt a growing sense of urgency settle in her chest. They couldn't allow themselves to fall apart; they needed to stay focused. The familiar setting of the cabin offered a sliver of comfort, but the tension among them was palpable.

Once they arrived at the cabin, the group dispersed, each needing a moment to breathe. While the others settled down for some much-needed rest, Isadora found herself restless, her mind racing with thoughts and fears. She stepped outside, the chill of the night air wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. She sank onto the front porch steps, hoping to gather her thoughts and calm her racing heart.

The silence was thick, interrupted only by the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. She sat alone for a while, lost in her thoughts, until she heard the creak of the front door. Looking up, she saw Hazel walking outside, her expression thoughtful and a bit hesitant.

"Hi, Isa," Hazel said, taking a seat beside her on the steps.

"Hey," Isadora replied, studying her friend's face. "I thought Ellie would be with you."

"I don't know where she is. She might be at one of her friends' houses. Usually, she would be hanging out with Max, and since Max is here, it's likely she's at someone else's place," Hazel said, her gaze drifting away, avoiding Isadora's penetrating stare.

"Stop lying to me! Just tell me the truth, Hazel. Does Ellie know about any of this?" Isadora snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface, each word punctuated by the rising tension between them.

"Yeah, she does. She found out when Dad brought Eleven home. Ellie and Eleven have never really gotten along," Hazel admitted reluctantly, her voice quiet but edged with an uncharacteristic tension.

"And let me guess, I'm the last to know about it?" Isadora asked, her fists clenching at her sides, feeling a mix of anger and betrayal.

"Isa, we were trying to protect you," Hazel pleaded, her tone soft but firm.

At the mention of "we," Isadora scoffed, frustration boiling over. "You were all lying to me!"

"We were trying to keep you safe!" Hazel insisted, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Well, I never asked you to do that! You know what? I'm going to bed," Isadora said, turning on her heel, her heart pounding with a mixture of hurt and indignation.

"Isadora—" Hazel tried, but Isadora ignored her, marching inside the cabin. She made her way to the bed that had been prepared for her, collapsing onto it and attempting to find some semblance of sleep. As the hours stretched on, exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and the worries of the night echoed in her mind, refusing to let her rest.

The following morning, Isadora woke up feeling more annoyed than rested, the events of the previous night replaying in her thoughts like a broken record. She couldn't shake the images of the creature from her mind or the unease that had settled in her stomach. As the group gathered to discuss their plan, she listened intently as they decided that Eleven would try to enter Billy's mind. Folding her arms across her chest, she exchanged glances with the others, uncertainty gnawing at her.

"How is any of this possible?" Isadora asked, voicing her confusion as Eleven prepared to enter the other room.

"I've asked myself that every day since Will disappeared," Hazel replied, her expression pained, revealing the weight of worry she carried.

Isadora turned her attention to Laura, who stood with Max nearby. "Can we talk?" she asked, stepping closer to the younger girl, her heart aching for connection amid the chaos.

"Y-yeah," Laura nodded, looking a bit shy and uncertain. Max exchanged glances with Mike and Eleven, stepping away to give them privacy.

"I just wanted to apologise for how I reacted when you told me about your crush on Billy," Isadora said, her tone sincere as she tried to mend the rift that had formed between them.

"It's okay. You were right; I know he's too old for me, but ... I guess I just wish he'd notice me," Laura shrugged, her gaze dropping to her hands, vulnerability shining through.

"I understand," Isadora nodded, offering a comforting smile. Laura's shoulders relaxed, and she smiled back, grateful for the understanding.

Meanwhile, Mike couldn't contain his anxiety as he paced back and forth, glancing toward the closed door. "It can't be good for her to be in there for this long," he said, the worry evident in his furrowed brow.

"Mike, you need to relax," Lucas urged, trying to keep the group grounded.

"What if she gets brain damage or something?" Mike shot back, panic creeping into his voice.

"Oh, come on. That's not even a real thing!" Max rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed with Mike's frantic energy.

"Really? You made it up?" Lucas asked, skepticism in his voice, and Isadora could see that the group was beginning to unravel under the pressure.

"Up until two days ago, I didn't even know Eleven had powers," Isadora muttered under her breath, feeling frustration building as they spiralled into their arguments.

"You're treating her like some kind of machine, and I don't want her to die looking for the Flayed when they've obviously vanished off the face of the Earth," Mike argued, his voice rising, reflecting his growing desperation.

"Can we just come up with a new plan? I love her, and I can't lose her again!" Mike snapped, his emotions boiling over in a confession that left the room in stunned silence. The vulnerability in his voice surprised everyone, including Isadora.

Just then, the door swung open, and Eleven stepped into the room, her face pale and drawn. "What's going on?" she asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"Nothing," they all chorused, but Isadora felt a growing sense of dread.

"I found him," Eleven announced, her voice steady but urgent, instantly shifting the atmosphere.

"Found who?" Nancy asked, standing up straighter, her eyes sharp with interest.

"Billy," Eleven replied, and the group quickly moved to follow her into another room, tension hanging in the air.

Isadora found herself sitting between Max and Laura on one of the couches, her mind racing. She watched as Eleven put on her blindfold again, her heart pounding in sync with the unfolding tension. Suddenly, Eleven pulled off the blindfold.

"What's he doing now?" Max asked.

"He's just sitting there," Eleven replied before standing up and leaving the room. Isadora watched her for a moment, frowning, then got up to follow the younger girl into the kitchen. As Eleven poured herself a glass of water, Isadora leaned against the counter.

"You know you don't have to do this, El," Isadora said softly. "We can find another way to get to Billy."

"I want to," Eleven insisted, taking another sip. Isadora nodded, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze before heading back to where the others were still talking about Billy.

"And that's not normal, right?" Lucas asked.

"Billy staying in his room on the Fourth of July? Definitely not normal," Max confirmed.

"Especially since we had plans to go to the fair together," Isadora added.

"He wants us to find him."

"Yeah, and that's what scares me," Lucas muttered. "If we go to Billy, the rest of the Flayed will know where we are."

"It's a trap," Will agreed. "We'd be ambushed."

"We won't be caught off guard. We'll know they're coming and we'll kick their Flayed butts," Max said confidently.

"You mean El will kick their butts," Lucas corrected.

"It's too risky," Isadora interjected.

"Yeah, and it won't stop the Mind Flayer," Will said. "We need to find the source—where it's spreading from."

"Billy knows it," Eleven said, rejoining the group. "He's been to the source."

"Yeah, but—" Mike started.

"It's a trap. I know, but I think there's another way for me to see where he's been," Eleven explained. She laid out her plan, and soon the group gathered in a room while Eleven put on her blindfold. Mike sat beside her, looking worried.

"El, you don't have to do this," he said quietly. "Last time, you did this with your mom, and she loved you and wanted to show you the truth, but Billy's mind—" he glanced at Isadora, then continued, "—it's not the same. It's infected. The Mind Flayer is inside him."

"He can't hurt me. Not in there," Eleven assured him.

"We don't know that," Mike insisted.

"Mike, I need you to trust me," she said firmly.

"Just... be careful," Mike told her, his voice laced with concern. Isadora watched as Eleven nodded, then slipped on the blindfold. The blonde anxiously wrung her hands together, her eyes never leaving Eleven. Suddenly, Eleven whimpered.

"Something's wrong," Mike said, alarmed.

"Eleven?" Isadora called out.

"El, are you okay?" Mike asked, voice tense.

"I'm okay," she replied.

"What's happening?" Lucas asked.

"I'm... on a beach," Eleven said slowly.

"Wait, there aren't any beaches in Hawkins," Lucas pointed out.

"California..." Isadora whispered, piecing it together.

"What else do you see?" Mike pressed.

"There's a woman. She's... pretty. And... there's a boy. It's Billy," Eleven said, her voice distant.

"It's California," Max said softly, her expression dawning with understanding. "It's a memory."

"I think I see it—the source," Eleven said, her voice shifting to one of focus. Isadora leaned closer, feeling a surge of curiosity mixed with dread about what Eleven was witnessing.

"Brimborn Steelworks," Eleven finally revealed, her eyes bright with determination. Jonathan sprang into action, flipping through a phonebook with urgency. "Got it! 6522 Cherry Oak Drive."

"That's close," Max said, glancing at the others with hope.

"Get out of there, El!" Mike urged, his voice strained with concern, but there was an unsettling silence that filled the room, causing Isadora's anxiety to heighten.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Isadora whispered, unease settling in her gut.

"Eleven!" Mike shouted, trying to pull her out of Billy's mind.

"Something's wrong," Isadora said again, her voice trembling slightly, as her instincts screamed at her to take action.

"Come on, El!" Max pleaded, desperation creeping into her tone.

"NO!" Eleven screamed, tearing off the blindfold and collapsing into Mike's arms.

"Are you okay?" he asked, cradling her in a protective embrace.

"I'm okay," Eleven managed, but her voice trembled, and Isadora could see the fear in her eyes.

Isadora's heart raced, knowing that whatever had just transpired had left a dark shadow hanging over all of them. She felt the weight of uncertainty settle heavily in the room, and in that moment, she realised that their fight was far from over.

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Isadora is mad at her friends for knowing the truth about everything and keeping it from her 🥺

Enjoy! Xo

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