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ISADORA HAD NEVER ONCE BELIEVED THAT THE SIMPLE ACT OF RECALLING A HAPPY MEMORY COULD HOLD ANY REAL POWER, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF SOMETHING AS MONSTROUS AS VECNA.

But now, standing in the middle of the school auditorium, with the distant echo of her own footsteps bouncing off the empty walls, she found herself leaning on that very idea. She smiled softly to herself, a mix of nostalgia and determination washing over her as her eyes swept over the familiar space. It was strange, almost surreal, to be back here under these circumstances, but she clung to the moment as if it were her lifeline.

She slowly made her way across the stage, her mind drifting back to the day that had changed everything for her and Billy. They had performed together, something that still felt like a dream. It hadn't been planned, certainly not by her. She remembered the adrenaline, the unexpected harmony between them, and the way their energy had flowed effortlessly as if they had always been meant to stand side by side in that spotlight, but more than that, she remembered the deep shock she'd felt afterward—a shock not from the performance itself, but from the realisation that hit her like a tidal wave.

It had been a difficult time for them. Isadora had nearly ruined everything between her and Billy. She had let the venomous words of a girl, someone who didn't care about their relationship, seep into her mind. The lies had been so convincing, so insidious, that she had believed them without question. She had hurt Billy deeply, pushing him away because of her own fears and insecurities, and yet, despite everything, he had come back. They had found their way back to each other in the most unexpected way—on that stage, in front of an audience that had no idea what was really happening behind the scenes.

It was in that very moment, standing next to Billy under the spotlight, that she had realised something undeniable. She loved him. Not in the fleeting, uncertain way she had once thought, but deeply and truly. The kind of love that made her heart ache and swell all at once, the kind that made her want to fight for him, for them, and she knew, standing here now, that this was the memory she needed to hold onto. It wasn't just about the performance; it was about what it represented—love, trust, and second chances.

This memory wasn't just a shield against the darkness creeping toward her—it was her strength. She could feel Vecna's presence pressing in on her mind, trying to pull her into his twisted realm, but she clung to this moment like a lifeline. She could picture Billy's face so vividly, the way his eyes had softened when he looked at her, the unspoken understanding between them as they shared that brief, perfect moment on stage. This was what she had chosen, not just because it was a happy memory, but because it was the moment she had realised she had something worth fighting for.

As the weight of Vecna's influence pressed harder, Isadora stood firm, her fingers brushing the edge of the stage as if she could still feel the warmth of that day. She had to survive. She had to keep Vecna distracted, to give her friends enough time to stop him. If holding onto this memory—this moment of love and realisation—was what it took, then she would fight with everything she had.

Because Billy was worth it. They were worth it. And no matter how strong Vecna's pull became, she wasn't going to let go. Not now, not ever.

~*~

Billy glanced up as flashes of red streaked across the stormy sky above the Creel House. The ominous glow seemed to pulse in time with their footsteps as the group made their way up the stairs and toward the house. His mind was racing, but he tried to stay focused, following closely behind as Nancy, Robin, and Steve led the way. Beside him, Kendra moved silently, her face tense with the same worry that gnawed at him.

He couldn't keep the question from spilling out. "Do you think it worked?"

Kendra looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Do I think what worked?"

"Is's plan," Billy said, keeping his voice low but urgent. "The one about focusing on a happy memory to hide from Vecna. She told me she was going to do it, but she wouldn't say which memory she picked. I have no idea where her mind is right now."

Kendra's expression softened slightly, and she gave him a knowing smile. "Come on, Billy. Who do you think her happiest memories are with?"

Billy hesitated, shrugging as he looked away. "I don't know. She didn't say anything about it."

Kendra stopped briefly and gave him a pointed look. "Her happiest memories are with you, Billy. And if I know my best friend—and I do—I can guarantee she's focused on one of those moments. She wouldn't hide anywhere else."

Billy blinked, taken aback by her words, a sudden rush of warmth cutting through his worry. He hadn't considered that. He nodded, letting the thought settle in as they followed the others up the porch steps.

As Nancy pushed open the front door, Steve let out a low whistle. "Oh, shit," he muttered.

Billy's eyes widened as he stepped into the house. The floor was covered in thick, writhing vines, each one pulsating as though alive. They were all connected—a part of Vecna's hive mind. One wrong step, and they'd alert him to their presence.

Kendra sighed heavily beside him, shaking her head as she surveyed the scene. "This isn't good."

Billy agreed silently, his stomach twisting as the group began to navigate through the house. Each step was slow, deliberate, as they avoided the vines, careful not to disturb even the smallest tendril. Every second that passed felt like a countdown, and Billy couldn't help but wonder what memory Isadora was hiding in, hoping that it would be enough to keep her safe from Vecna's grasp.

~*~

Eleven walked along the sandy beach, her eyes scanning the shoreline for any sign of Isadora. The salty breeze whipped through her hair, but her focus remained sharp. It wasn't long before she spotted a young blonde girl, no older than seven or eight, sitting by the water's edge, carefully fastening the leg strap of her surfboard. As Eleven observed her from a distance, she knew immediately that the girl was a younger version of Isadora.

"Shouldn't you be playing with your dolls or something?" A teenage boy's voice rang out, breaking the peaceful sound of the waves. The blonde girl wrinkled her nose in annoyance as she turned to face him.

"Get lost, Michael," the young Isadora snapped back, her tone defiant as she finished securing her strap and stood up, gripping her surfboard with determination.

"You know her?" another boy asked Michael.

"Her family lives next door to mine," Michael shrugged, clearly unimpressed, as he and his friend turned away, losing interest.

Eleven watched them pass, but her focus remained on Isadora. She stepped forward, walking closer. "Isadora," she called out, hoping to get the girl's attention, but the young Isadora didn't seem to hear her. She moved toward the ocean, surfboard in hand, oblivious to Eleven's presence.

"I found her," Eleven said. "But she's young. She can't see me. She can't hear me."

Will frowned, "Do you see anything strange in this memory?"

"Any sign of Vecna or the Mind Flayer?" Hazel added, her voice filled with concern.

Eleven shook her head, her eyes scanning the surroundings more closely. "No, everything seems normal," she replied, her brow furrowing. But then something caught her attention—a speaker positioned near the edge of the beach, playing a distorted version of "You're The One That I Want."

She took a few cautious steps closer, her gaze fixed on the speaker. "Wait. There's something off about this... it doesn't belong here. I think this is part of another memory."

"A memory within a memory?" Argyle asked, intrigued by the idea.

Eleven didn't answer immediately, her instincts guiding her as she moved toward the speaker. The distorted music felt wrong, out of place, and she hoped it would lead her deeper into Isadora's mind—perhaps to where the real threat, or the real Isadora, was hiding.

~*~

The upbeat tune of "You're the One That I Want" played softly in the background as Isadora walked off the stage, making her way down to where the chairs were arranged. Her gaze fell on a book resting on one of the chairs, and she moved toward it, picking it up with a quiet curiosity. She ran her fingers over the worn cover, feeling a pang of familiarity.

"Alice in Wonderland," she read aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. The sight of the book sent her mind spiralling back to a day in the gymnasium, when Billy had found her engrossed in its pages. He had snatched it playfully from her hands, teasing her about her choice of reading. That day had been more than just playful banter—it was when he had begged for a second chance, asking her to give them another shot. Then, he'd nervously asked her to the school dance.

Isadora stared at the book, her heart heavy with the memory. It had once been her favourite, a source of comfort and escape, but Billy had never given it back. She couldn't help but wonder—did he still have it? The thought of Billy holding onto that piece of her felt bittersweet, but she pushed the thought aside.

Suddenly, a loud explosion behind her jolted her from the memory. Her fingers slipped, and the book tumbled to the ground with a soft thud. The sharp, unfamiliar noise brought her crashing back to reality, and Isadora remembered where she was and what she was facing. Now wasn't the time to reminisce. She had to stay focused—Vecna was close, and she needed to distract him.

The cheerful balloons and decorations that had once filled the auditorium began to burst around her, one by one, with eerie pops. Isadora looked around, her breath quickening as a sinking realisation hit her—Vecna had found her. The music in the background shifted, its melody twisting into something darker and distorted. As she walked through the room, she noticed everything around her beginning to wilt, colours draining from the walls and the decorations crumbling to dust.

Her eyes landed on the now-wilted copy of Alice in Wonderland lying at her feet, the pages brittle and yellowed. Her surroundings grew darker, the sky above flashing with ominous red streaks.

"No!" Isadora cried out, her heart hammering in her chest as another flash of red split the sky. The darkness pressed in on her, and the air felt thick with dread. Panic gripped her as the realisation settled like ice in her veins—Vecna had found her. There was no more time.

~*~

Isadora's breathing quickened, her grip tightening on Max's hand. Lucas, noticing the panic building, turned toward them with wide eyes.

"Oh, shit," he muttered, before rushing over to signal Erica. "What the hell is taking so long?"

Max's head snapped around at the sound of a door creaking open. She stood up, eyes narrowing as Jason walked into the room.

"Oh, no..." Ellie whispered, her voice trembling.

"Jason, you can't be here right now," Lucas said urgently, stepping forward. Beatrix immediately stood, positioning herself protectively in front of Isadora, her stance firm.

"What the hell have you done?" Jason demanded, his eyes wild as he stalked toward them.

"Jason, you need to leave," Beatrix snapped, holding her ground. She wasn't about to let him get any closer to Isadora.

Jason's gaze darkened. "Is this what you did to Chrissy?" he accused, brushing past Beatrix and crouching beside Isadora.

"Don't touch her!" Max shouted, her voice sharp with fear.

"Just listen to me, Jason," Lucas pleaded, stepping forward, trying to de-escalate the situation. "Hey, come on, man."

"Jason, you need to leave," Lucas urged again, his voice more desperate.

Ignoring him, Jason reached out and gently touched Isadora, trying to rouse her. "Can you hear me?" he asked softly, his tone shifting into something almost concerned.

"Jason, don't touch her. I'm serious," Lucas warned, taking another step forward.

"Hey!" Jason snapped back, his hand still on Isadora.

"Get away from her!" Beatrix shouted, moving quickly toward him, but Jason pulled a gun, aiming it directly at her.

"Back up! Not another step!" Jason barked, his face twisted with anger.

Ellie grabbed Max, pulling her behind Lucas, the two girls watching in horror. Lucas froze, his hands raised slightly as he stared down the barrel of Jason's gun. He took a hesitant step forward, only to stop as Jason turned the weapon toward him.

"Wait... wait. We don't have to do this," Lucas said, his voice shaking. "We don't have to do this, man."

"I hope you're right," Jason replied, his voice eerily calm.

Beatrix glanced at Lucas, her face pale but determined. "Max, take Ellie and get out of here," she ordered, her voice low and steady.

"Don't move!" Jason yelled, pointing the gun back at Beatrix. "Is there anyone else in the house?"

"No," Lucas answered quickly, trying to keep the situation from spiralling further.

"Turn around!" Jason demanded.

"What?" Lucas blinked, confused.

"Turn around, all of you!" Jason barked, gesturing with the gun.

"Okay, okay. Relax," Lucas said, exchanging a tense look with the others. The three teenagers slowly turned around while Beatrix stayed protectively beside Isadora.

"And put down your flashlights," Jason added.

"Okay, okay, we're doing it," Lucas said, keeping his voice calm as they lowered their flashlights to the ground.

"And empty your pockets!" Jason ordered, his paranoia growing.

"Okay, okay," Lucas repeated, his hands trembling as he emptied his pockets along with the others.

Jason's eyes flickered between them, his grip on the gun tightening. "Here's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna back up to the top of the stairs, and I'll watch as the four of you wake her up from whatever the hell this is."

"We can't," Lucas said, shaking his head. "Not yet."

"If we wake her too soon, we'll all die," Beatrix explained, her voice firm, despite the fear in her eyes.

Jason's face twisted into a sneer. "No, you wake her up right now, or you die, Hargrove. And so do Sinclair, Mayfield, and Hopper here."

Beatrix's stomach dropped as she heard the unmistakable click of the gun's safety being switched off. She glanced at Lucas, her expression grim. If Jason forced them to wake Isadora too soon, everything they had planned would fall apart. Vecna would win, and they would all die. They had to protect her, no matter what.

~*~

"Careful," Kendra warned, her voice low and tense as the group cautiously made their way into the house, weaving through the mass of writhing tentacles that littered the floor. Billy kept his eyes forward, muscles tense as they ascended the creaking staircase. They all moved carefully, but the oppressive atmosphere of the house seemed to weigh down on them with every step.

At the top of the stairs, the group instinctively pulled out their weapons, preparing for whatever might come next. But before they could act, the ground beneath them rumbled violently, sending them stumbling back.

"I hate this place," Billy muttered under his breath, but his frustration was cut short by Robin's sudden scream.

He whipped around, horror freezing him in place as he watched the thick, pulsing vines wrap around Robin's body and yank her off her feet, slamming her into the wall with a sickening force.

"Steve! Nancy! Kendra! Billy!" Robin cried, her voice strained as she fought against the constricting vines.

Without hesitation, the group rushed forward, weapons swinging as they tried to free her, but before Billy could make any progress, the vines lashed out again, wrapping around him and Steve, pulling them both violently backward. They hit the wall hard, vines tightening around their bodies, pinning them in place. Billy's chest heaved as he fought against the suffocating grip, muscles straining as he struggled to break free.

It was no use. The vines were too strong.

A moment later, Nancy and Kendra were caught as well, their bodies slammed against the walls as the sinister tendrils coiled around them, tightening with every passing second. The air was thick with the sound of their desperate gasps as the vines wrapped around their throats, choking them, leaving them with little room to breathe or fight back.

Billy's vision blurred as the pressure around his neck increased, but even as the room seemed to darken, his thoughts turned to Isadora. He closed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest as he silently prayed she was safe. If they didn't find a way to escape—if they couldn't defeat Vecna—everything they had fought for would be lost.

With a renewed surge of determination, Billy pulled against the vines with all his strength, knowing that this couldn't be the end. He couldn't give up—not when so much was at stake.

~*~

Distorted music echoed through the dimly lit auditorium as Isadora grabbed another chair and carried it toward the door, adding it to the makeshift barricade she had already built. She was doing everything she could to keep Vecna out, but deep down, she wasn't sure how long her efforts would hold. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she turned back to grab another chair, but the moment she did, she froze in place.

The door, once blocked by the pile of chairs, now stood wide open. The chair slipped from her trembling fingers, clattering to the floor.

"You can't hide from me, Isadora," Vecna's voice slithered into the room, cold and menacing.

Isadora squeezed her eyes shut, her mind racing as she tried to focus on another memory—anything that could protect her, but no matter how hard she tried, the memories slipped away like sand through her fingers. Vecna's voice echoed in her head, taunting her, pulling her deeper into despair.

"You think I don't see what you're doing? You think I don't see everything?" Vecna's words cut through her concentration, and Isadora flinched, her heart pounding.

"Please," Lucas's voice broke through, pleading, but it only made Isadora's chest tighten.

"You thought you could trick me?" Vecna sneered, and suddenly, flashes of Eddie and Dustin fighting against the swarming bats filled her mind. The sight of her friends struggling, their lives hanging by a thread, made it impossible to focus on anything else. Panic surged through her as the images overwhelmed her senses.

"You thought your friends could stop me? I see them. I see your friends just as clearly as I see you. I can feel them." Vecna's words were like a crushing weight.

"No!" Billy's voice echoed in her mind, but it felt distant, like a fading lifeline.

"I can feel them dying, Isadora. It's time," Vecna said, and in the distance, she heard the eerie chime of a clock. Her eyes shot open, terror spreading through her as the music around her became more distorted, twisting into something sinister.

She stumbled backward, shaking her head, trying to will herself out of this nightmare, but it felt impossible. Her back collided with something solid, and she turned quickly—only to see Vecna standing behind her, his twisted form illuminated by a flash of red light.

"No!" she cried, her voice filled with terror.

"It's time!" Vecna snapped, his voice cold and final. With a flick of his hand, he hurled her across the room. Isadora screamed as her body flew through the air, slamming hard against the wall. Pain shot through her as she whimpered, pinned against the wall by an invisible force. She struggled in vain, helpless as Vecna slowly made his way toward her, his presence suffocating.

Isadora could barely breathe as she watched him approach, knowing that if she couldn't break free soon, it would all be over.

~*~

"We call him Vecna. He lives in another dimension, that's why you can't see him," Lucas explained, his voice urgent as he tried to calm Jason down.

Jason's eyes were wild, filled with disbelief. "And Eddie Munson and his... his Hellfire acolytes, what? You're saying you all summoned this Vecna?"

"No, no, you're not listening! Just listen," Lucas pleaded. "There's no cult, there never was!"

"You expect me to believe that?" Jason's grip on the gun tightened.

"It's the truth, Jason," Max interjected, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

"Then why was Chrissy at Eddie's trailer?" Jason snapped.

"She was buying drugs!" Max admitted, her words harsh but true.

"Liar!" Jason shouted, fury flaring in his eyes as he clicked off the safety of the gun. Beatrix's heart leapt in her chest, her breath catching as Jason swung the gun toward Max.

"Okay, okay!" Lucas raised his hands, trying to defuse the situation. "Chrissy... she was seeing things. Terrible things—things Vecna forced her to see. She was scared."

"No," Jason muttered, shaking his head in denial.

"She just needed help," Ellie added, her voice soft but sincere.

Jason's eyes darkened. "See, that's how I know you're all lying. If Chrissy was scared—if Chrissy needed help—she would've come to me. Not Eddie. Not that freak. Never!"

"You're wrong about Eddie," Max insisted.

Jason's gaze snapped back to Lucas, his voice low and cold. "No, but I was wrong about you. I never should've let you in the door."

Lucas's jaw clenched. "And I never should've knocked. I thought I wanted to be like you—popular, normal, but it turns out, normal's just a raging psychopath."

Jason's eyes narrowed as he raised the gun higher. "You have five seconds to wake her. Four. Three—"

Before Jason could finish, Lucas lunged at him, tackling him to the ground. The gun fired, and Ellie let out a sharp cry as one of the bullets grazed her leg.

"Ellie!" Max cried, rushing to her side. Ellie clutched her thigh, her hand pressing down to stem the bleeding.

"I'm okay," Ellie said shakily, her face pale but determined.

"Here, let's stop the bleeding," Max said, taking charge. Ellie quickly shrugged off her jacket, handing it to Max, who wrapped it tightly around Ellie's leg, tying it off to slow the blood loss.

Meanwhile, Lucas and Jason continued their brutal struggle. In the chaos, Lucas accidentally knocked the Walkman to the ground, and Jason, eyes wild with fury, stomped on it, shattering it into pieces.

"No! We needed that, you asshole!" Beatrix screamed, her anger boiling over as she rushed forward, throwing a punch at Jason. Without the Walkman, they had no way to help Isadora if things went wrong.

As the fight raged on, the door suddenly creaked open. Lucas, still grappling with Jason, turned his head just in time to see one of Jason's followers step into the room, his eyes locked on Isadora, Max, and Ellie.

Realising the danger, Lucas broke free from Jason's grip and bolted toward the new threat, determined to stop him before he could reach the girls. Time was running out, and the situation was spiralling out of control.

~*~

Isadora struggled against the invisible force holding her pinned to the wall, her body trembling as Vecna drew closer. She whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut, desperately hoping to hear music that would free her from this nightmare, but all she could hear was the distorted tune playing in the background, and for the first time since coming up with this plan, true terror gripped her.

"You are brave, Isadora, braver than your boyfriend," Vecna taunted, his voice cold and mocking. "But in the end, you are weak and fragile, just like him, just like all of them, and you will break." His hand rose, hovering ominously over her face.

Isadora's heart raced in her chest, knowing she was in serious danger. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as fear threatened to overwhelm her, but then, in a sudden blast of force, Vecna was thrown backward, and Isadora dropped to the ground. Shaking, she struggled to her feet, her eyes widening as she saw a familiar figure approaching.

Eleven.

"Oh, thank goodness," Isadora whispered, relief flooding her as Eleven turned toward Vecna.

"You," Vecna snarled.

"Hi," Eleven replied calmly, before blasting Vecna through a nearby wall. Isadora watched in awe, a glimmer of hope igniting in her chest. With Eleven here, maybe—just maybe—they had a fighting chance.

Eleven hurried over to her, helping Isadora to her feet. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Isadora blinked, still in shock. "Are you real? Are you really here? How is this even possible?"

"I'm real," Eleven reassured her.

"How?"

"I piggybacked from a pizza dough freezer," Eleven explained with a small, serious smile.

Isadora let out a surprised laugh. "What? What does that even mean?"

Before Eleven could respond, a loud clattering sound echoed through the room. Both girls whipped around, their eyes widening as they saw Vecna standing once again, slowly advancing toward them.

"Stay back," Eleven ordered, stepping in front of Isadora.

"Okay," Isadora nodded, her heart pounding as she retreated.

"If you touch her again, I will kill you again," Eleven warned, her voice filled with steely resolve.

Vecna chuckled darkly. "Is that what you think you did? Killed me? I'm so glad you're here, Eleven. This is going to be beautiful. So beautiful."

Isadora's stomach twisted with dread as Vecna raised wooden boards into the air and hurled them at Eleven. With a quick motion, Eleven deflected them, but Vecna was faster. He flung her backward with a powerful blast of energy, sending her crashing across the room. Isadora's heart sank—she had to do something.

She grabbed a wooden stake from the wall and charged toward Vecna, but before she could reach him, he turned and blasted her back as well. The stake flew from her hands as she collided with the wall, crumpling to the floor in pain.

Eleven attempted to attack again, but Vecna stopped her, lifting her into the air with a wave of his hand. He pulled her toward him slowly. "Before I kill you," Vecna hissed, "I want you to watch."

"No!" Eleven screamed as she was thrown across the room, landing hard on the ground. Red fog swirled around her, and before she could react, vines lifted her, pinning her against a door adorned with a stained-glass window. Eleven opened her eyes just in time to see Vecna lifting Isadora's unconscious body, vines wrapping tightly around her.

"P-Papa is dead!" Eleven yelled, desperation clear in her voice. Vecna paused, turning toward her.

"I know what he did to you," Eleven continued, her voice softening. "You were different, like me. And he hurt you. He made you into this. He's the monster, Henry, not you."

Vecna's expression shifted, cold and calculating. "You're right," he said softly. "We are different, and Papa did hurt me, but he wasn't the monster. He was just a man—an ordinary, mediocre man. That's why he sought greatness in us, in you and me. But in the end, he couldn't control us. He couldn't change us. He didn't make me into this, Eleven. You did."

Eleven's heart sank as Vecna continued. "I thought you sent me to my death, to purgatory, but I was wrong. I became an explorer of a new realm, unspoiled by mankind, and one day, I found something extraordinary—something that would allow me to transcend my human form. I became the predator I was always meant to be."

"It was... it was you. Always you," Eleven realised, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yes," Vecna sneered. "All I needed was for you to open the door, and you did. And when you resisted, I found my own way. I sought your power."

Eleven's mind flashed back to memories of Billy, possessed by the Mind Flayer. His voice echoed in her mind: "All this time, we've been building it for you." It had always been Vecna.

"And now," Vecna continued, his voice triumphant, "once again, you have freed me."

"No," Eleven begged, her voice breaking. "You can still stop this."

"It's over, Eleven. Your friends have lost."

"No!" Lucas's cry rang out as one of Jason's friends beat him mercilessly. Jason shoved Beatrix aside as Max rushed to help her sister. Eddie, surrounded by bats, struggled to fend them off as Dustin raced to his side.

Billy, Kendra, Robin, Steve, and Nancy fought against the tightening vines, their strength fading. Tears welled in Billy's eyes—if they couldn't escape, Isadora would die, and everything they had fought for would be lost.

"There's nothing you can do to stop this now," Vecna said, his voice low and final. "Hawkins will burn, and when it does, I will be there to pick up the pieces and remake it into something beautiful. I had hoped to have you by my side, but now I just want you to watch."

As the vines choked Eleven, she watched in horror as Vecna approached Isadora, who was still unconscious, held up by the tentacles. Isadora stirred, whimpering as Vecna ran a finger down her face.

"Don't be afraid," Vecna whispered, his voice soft but menacing. "Stay very still. It will all be over soon."

"Isadora!" Eleven screamed, her heart pounding as Vecna held his hand over Isadora's face. Isadora squeezed her eyes shut, whimpering as she tried to summon her happiest memories, praying they would be enough to keep Vecna at bay for just a little longer.

~*~

"Isadora!" Ellie screamed, her voice breaking as she watched in horror while Isadora began to lift into the air, her body twisting unnaturally.

Lucas, struggling as he was being choked by the other jock, glanced over, his eyes widening in panic when he saw what was happening. Ellie, despite the pain in her leg, hobbled forward, desperation in her voice. "No! We have to help her!"

"How?" Max asked, her voice trembling. "Jason broke the Walkman!"

"There has to be something we can do!" Ellie insisted, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "We can't lose her!"

Max swallowed hard, her mind racing as she looked at Isadora, suspended helplessly in the air. The weight of their helplessness pressed down on her, and she struggled to hold back tears. "I know," she whispered. "But what do we do?"

They were out of options, and with every second, Isadora was slipping further into Vecna's grip. Max's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at her friend, knowing they had to act fast—but unsure of how to save her.

~*~

"El? El, can you hear me? El, come on! Wake up! Wake up, El!" Mike yelled frantically, his heart pounding as he watched Eleven struggling to breathe, her body going still.

"She can't breathe," Hazel said, her voice tight with panic.

"El, come on! Get outta there! God, El, wake up!" Mike continued, his voice cracking. "Help me! Help me! Get her on the table!"

The group scrambled, lifting Eleven and carefully moving her onto the table. Mike kept shouting, desperate to reach her. "El! El, can you hear me? El, wake up!"

"Mike, don't stop," Will urged, stepping closer. "You're the heart, okay? Remember that. You're the heart."

Mike's eyes darted between Will and Eleven, his face etched with fear and desperation. He leaned in closer to her, his voice soft but filled with emotion. "El, I don't know if you can hear this, but... if you can, I need you to know I'm here, okay? I'm right here. And... I love you. Do you hear me, El? I love you."

Hazel gently squeezed Will's shoulder as they stood by, watching Mike pour his heart out to Eleven.

"I'm sorry I don't say it more," Mike continued, his voice shaking. "It's not because I'm scared of you. I'm not. I've never been scared of you. But... I'm scared that one day you'll realise you don't need me anymore. And I thought if I told you how I really feel, it'd hurt more when that day came. But the truth is, El... I don't know how to live without you."

His voice cracked as he remembered their past. "My life started the day we found you in the woods. You were wearing that giant Benny's Burgers T-shirt, and it was so big on you. I knew right then and there that I loved you. And I've loved you every day since. I love you on your good days, I love you on your bad days. I love you with your powers, and I love you without them. I love you for exactly who you are. You're my superhero, El. And I... I can't lose you, okay? I can't."

Mike's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he leaned even closer. "You can do anything. I know that. You can fly, you can move mountains. I believe in you. But right now, you just have to fight. Do you hear me? You just have to fight, El."

"P-please..." Isadora whimpered weakly, her voice barely audible as she felt herself slipping further into Vecna's control.

"You need to fight!" Mike shouted, his voice filled with raw emotion. "You have to fight! Fight, El! Fight for me, for all of us!"

Eleven's mind cleared as she heard Mike's voice, his words wrapping around her like a lifeline. Her gaze shifted toward Vecna, where she saw Isadora had stopped struggling, her body limp in his grasp. The sight jolted something deep within her.

Closing her eyes, Eleven summoned every ounce of strength she had left, willing herself free from the vines that held her. She had to stop Vecna. She had to save Isadora.

~*~

"No!" Ellie screamed as Isadora's arm snapped with a sickening crack. Max immediately grabbed hold of her, pulling the trembling brunette into her arms as she sobbed. Lucas, straining to break free from the jock's grip, fought with everything he had. He landed a series of hard punches, knocking his attacker to the ground. Nearby, Beatrix, still reeling from the chaos, managed to push herself to her feet. With a fierce cry, she delivered a solid punch to Jason, sending him sprawling to the ground before rushing over to Isadora.

When Beatrix reached her, her heart shattered at the sight of Isadora's broken arm hanging limply by her side. "Is, no!" Beatrix sobbed, her voice shaking with fear. Tears welled in her eyes as she crouched beside her friend. "Come on, Is... please, hold on. Fight him, Issi. You can fight him. I know you can."

Ellie's cries grew louder as Isadora's other arm and both legs snapped, the horrific sound echoing in the room. "Isadora, no!" Ellie sobbed, collapsing in Max's arms, overwhelmed by fear and grief.

Max's tears flowed freely now, her heart breaking as she held Ellie close, desperately praying for a miracle, for any sign that Isadora would be okay, but deep down, she was terrified of how this was going to end. She could feel the hopelessness creeping in.

Then, with a thud, Isadora's body fell from the air, and Beatrix barely caught her in time. The two of them tumbled to the ground together, but Beatrix quickly sat up, cradling Isadora's limp body in her arms. She hugged her tightly, rocking her gently as she sobbed, willing her friend to wake up, to come back to them.

~*~

Suddenly, as if released from an unseen force, Steve, Billy, Kendra, Nancy, and Robin fell to the ground, freed from the vines that had been holding them. None of them had any idea what had transpired back in their dimension or in Vecna's mind space, but as they coughed and caught their breath, a collective sigh of relief swept through the group.

"What just happened?" Kendra asked, sitting up, still dazed.

"I don't believe in a higher power or divine intervention," Robin said, standing shakily, "but that was a miracle."

"Then we better not waste it," Nancy said firmly, her eyes flicking toward the attic door.

"I hope it's not too late," Billy muttered under his breath, a shadow of doubt crossing his face.

"Phase four," Steve said, reminding the group of their plan.

"Flambé," Robin finished, exchanging a look with him. The group quickly pulled out their weapons, steeling themselves as they headed toward the attic to finish what they had started—to end Vecna.

"This has to work," Billy said, following closely behind Kendra. She nodded, the determination in her eyes mirroring his.

Suddenly, Vecna's chilling voice echoed in their minds. "You and your friends think you've won, don't you? But this is only the beginning. The beginning of the end."

Billy's grip tightened on the bottle in his hand. "Let's finish this son of a bitch," he growled. He held out the Molotov cocktail to Kendra, who gave him a determined nod and lit it for him. Robin followed suit, lighting another for Steve.

Vecna's voice hissed, "You have already lost."

"Go to hell!" Billy shouted, and he and Steve hurled their fiery bottles at Vecna, the flames engulfing him instantly. The group jumped back, covering their faces from the heat as Vecna, now ablaze, fell from the vines holding him aloft.

Without hesitation, Billy and Steve lit another round of bottles and hurled them at Vecna, feeding the fire. Nancy stepped forward, pulling the trigger of her gun with precision, her shots pushing Vecna back. With a final, powerful shot, she sent him flying through the attic window.

The group rushed to the window, their breath catching as they watched Vecna's burning body plummet to the ground below, engulfed in flames. They exchanged quick, triumphant looks and hurried out of the house to confirm their victory.

But when they reached the spot where Vecna had fallen, there was nothing—no body, no trace. Just empty space.

"What the hell?" Kendra whispered, her eyes wide in disbelief as they all looked around. Vecna had vanished.

Billy's gaze met Kendra's, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. Had they failed?

~*~

"Issi, I've got you. You're okay," Beatrix whispered, her voice trembling as she clung to Isadora, holding her tightly as if her grip alone could keep her friend tethered to life. Isadora's body shook uncontrollably, her eyes wide and glassy, the whites stark against the deep red of the blood pouring from them, streaking down her pale cheeks. Her breaths were shallow, laboured, and the sight of her in this state was almost too much for Beatrix to bear.

Max stumbled forward, her own tears streaming as she dropped to her knees beside them, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. "No... no, Issi, it wasn't supposed to be you. It... it shouldn't have been you. It should have been me," Max sobbed, her hands trembling as she reached out, touching Isadora's arm gently as if afraid to cause her more pain.

"Lucas!" Erica's panicked voice echoed through the room as she sprinted in, eyes wide with fear.

"We need a doctor! Call an ambulance! Hurry!" Lucas shouted, his voice raw and desperate as he fought to control the rising panic in his chest. Erica nodded quickly, turning and racing out of the room, her footsteps a blur of urgency.

Ellie, her face drained of colour, knelt beside Max, her heart breaking as she took in the sight of Isadora's fragile state. She could hardly process what was happening, her mind screaming for a solution, for anything that could save her.

"B-Bea," Isadora gasped, her voice weak and broken, barely more than a whisper.

"I'm here, sweetie," Beatrix choked out, trying to keep her voice steady even as her tears fell. "I've got you. I'm right here, Issi."

"I-I c-can't f-feel or s-see a-anything," Isadora whimpered, her words shaking as her body seemed to grow colder by the second. Her breath came in uneven gasps, and she struggled to hold onto consciousness.

"We know, Issi, we know," Max said gently, her hand gripping Isadora's tightly, as if the connection could keep her grounded. "You're going to be okay, we're getting you help. Just hold on, please." Tears continued to roll down Max's face as she clung to hope, even though every passing second made it feel more fragile.

Beatrix's heart was breaking, shattering in her chest as she watched Isadora slipping away. "Please, Issi, just hold on," she begged, her voice trembling. "You have to hold on... for us, for Billy. Please, you have to hold on."

"I-I w-want B-Billy," Isadora sobbed, her words barely forming as the fear overtook her. "B-Beatrix, I-I'm s-so scared. P-Please, I-I j-just w-want B-Billy."

Beatrix's tears flowed freely, her voice breaking as she responded. "I know, Issi. I know. I'm so sorry. I'm right here," she whispered, wishing she could somehow bring Billy to her side, anything to ease her friend's fear.

"I-I d-don't w-want to d-die," Isadora gasped, her voice barely audible as her body continued to weaken. "I-I'm n-not r-ready. P-Please, B-Beatrix, I'm s-so c-cold."

"You're not going to die, Issi," Max said tearfully, trying to keep her voice steady. "Please, just hang on, okay? You just have to hang on." Her words were more for herself than anyone else, as if saying them would make them true.

"I-I want B-Billy," Isadora whimpered again, her voice breaking into sobs. "I-I don't w-want t-to g-go. I-I'm n-not r-ready."

Ellie, tears streaming down her face, shook her head, her heart aching as she spoke. "Please, Is. You have to hang on, if not for us, for Billy. He needs you."

Isadora's breathing grew more laboured, her chest rising and falling unevenly as her body struggled to keep going. "Issi? Issi?" Beatrix called out, her voice panicked now as she realised how close Isadora was to slipping away. "No, no, no, Issi. Stay with us. Stay with us! Don't go, Issi!"

Beatrix's tears fell harder as she cradled Isadora in her arms, her voice pleading. "Issi, please stay with us. Just look at me, Issi... I know you can't see me, but I'm here, sweetie. I'm here, and I'm not going to leave you. Please, hang on. Just hang on a little longer."

"P-please..." Isadora gasped weakly, her voice barely a whisper as her body gave out. Her chest heaved one last time, and she choked, her hand slipping lifelessly from Beatrix's grasp. The sound of her final breath filled the room as her body went still.

Beatrix felt Isadora's body fall limp in her arms, the weight of the moment crushing her. The room fell into an oppressive silence, the air thick with grief and disbelief. Time seemed to stop as the reality of what had just happened settled over them.

Tears streamed down Beatrix's face as she rocked Isadora's still form, her voice trembling. "No... no, no, no, please, Issi... please..."

Max, Ellie, and Lucas stood frozen, unable to speak, unable to move, as the silence around them became deafening.

And then, breaking through the stillness, the eerie, haunting sound of a clock chiming echoed through the room. The chime was slow and deliberate, filling the air like a death knell, its presence cold and final.

As the clock's sound faded, the reality of Isadora's last breath settled over them, and the weight of their loss pressed down on them like an unbearable force. They had lost her.

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Honestly I cried writing this chapter 😭💔

Enjoy! Xo

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