CHAPTER THREE: PAWNS

I entered Hawkins High with a clear mind the next day. The cloud over my mind had lifted slightly, allowing me to fit in so that I didn't stand out as Hawkins' next big problem.

Nancy quickly found me, but she was cautious. I remember trying to tell her what was happening to me, but I blacked out not long after that.

When I regained my vision half of the day had gone by in a blur. The Mind Flayer seemed to have done an okay job at pretending to be me, but I didn't doubt that his performance lacked emotion.

Around lunch, I made my way to my usual lunch table, a look of confusion on my face as I stared down at my feet. I used muscle memory to weave around the tables, before sitting down next to Nancy. Steve sat in front of us, his food untouched as he watched me warily. I didn't notice the person who sat next to him, as I played with my food.

"Harper?" A soft voice brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up in confusion before noticing Nancy looking at me with worry. I quickly put a fake smile on my face to let her know that I was doing okay, but she saw straight through it. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You've seemed kinda... out of it, all day." Steve spoke up, causing me to turn and face him. I then noticed Jonathan, who was sat next to him. My eyes widened in surprised, as the two of us didn't know each other well, and he usually avoided me due to his shyness.

"I'm fine." I answered, after eyeing Jonathan for a moment. The boy seemed uncomfortable under my gaze, but didn't try to leave the table like he usually would. He wanted answers too, I realized.

"You can talk to us." Steve pressed. "About anything."

But I couldn't. Every time I tried, it felt like my lips had been sewn shut, and soon after, I would black out. I brushed off those negative thoughts, and shrugged. "I know. But I'm okay, really."

The trio didn't look convinced.

Jonathan looked as if he wanted to speak, but he didn't quite know what to say. I felt a sliver of sympathy within me, but I quickly ignored it as I turned my head to look down at my lunch tray.

An apple, a bottle of water, a chicken wrap and a mini bag of chips that I was planning on saving for later. I didn't feel hungry in the slightest, I felt sick to my stomach. I knew if I tried to eat anything, I would throw up soon after.

I pushed my tray away from me, and ignored the stares. "So," I started, "did anyone want to do anything after school." I tried to make conversation, even though I knew if I made plans, I would have to cancel them later in the day. I would be busy doing other things. Horrible things.

"Oh," Nancy seemed surprised by my offer, "we could go book shopping today." She suggested, "if you're feeling up for it."

I nodded with a small smile, "yeah, absolutely." I leaned my elbows on the table, noticing the blush on her cheeks that she couldn't seem to control.

I could see Steve and Jonathan glancing at each other in the corner of my eye.

"Can we come too?" Jonathan spoke up, causing Steve's eyes to widened.

"Dude—" Steve raised a hand to object, but Jonathan only sent him a look before speaking again.

"We can help you find some books that you might want." I ignored the look in Jonathan's eyes, and took it as a friend who wanted to help out.

"Yeah, why not. I'm gonna be looking for The Hobbit, but be warned, it's almost never there." I sighed, resting my chin in the palm of my hand.

"I'm sure we'll find it this time." Jonathan reassured.

     "I have my doubts." Nancy muttered, but it was loud enough for us all to hear. Steve laughed softly, but he still looked slightly on edge as he looked at me.

     I furrowed my brows at the teen, causing him to look away from my sharp gaze. The rest of lunch carried on in silence.

By the time that school had ended, Nancy decided that we would all drive to the book store in Steve's car. The drive there was silent, and I felt uncomfortable under the gazes of my friends, who subtly glanced at me every chance they got as if they were waiting for me to break.

I wished that I was hanging out with them as a friend, but the voice in the back of my head had other plans.

When we arrived at the old bookstore that I was vaguely familiar with, I took in my surroundings. I began to realize just how much of my memory was clouded over, as I glanced at each crack in the brick wall, and the vines growing along the side of the building.

The paint on the roof was peeling, and the door had a large window on the front with a flickering 'Open' sign. Despite it's looks, I felt at peace in the bookstore.

I was the first to walk in, with the other three on my tail. The Hobbit. I strained my memory for what the cover looked like, but quickly gave up as I realized it would never come to me. I would have to keep an eye out for the title, instead.

Soft music played in the back room, where the owner of the store must've been. It was classical, and felt very fitting for the environment I was in.

My fingers trailed along the bookshelf, my eyes skimming the titles as I searched for The Hobbit. I felt a new presence to my right, and quickly turned my head to find Steve standing there. "Hey." I greeted. It was the first time that we'd spoken since lunch, I realized.

"Hi." I noticed how he kept his distance, and eyed me. He knows. I felt the need to try even harder to fit in, so I straightened my posture, and sent him a half smile. He didn't seem pleased with my behaviour. "Are you okay?"

I faked confusion, "yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" I let out a dry chuckled, "why is everyone checking up on me, lately?"

Steve frowned at my bitterness, "we're just worried about you. That's all."

It was silent for a few moments as I thought over his words. I wanted to give the boy a hug, and thank him for caring, but I knew that I couldn't. I decided on saying, "well, thank you. But I promise I'm all right."

Steve sighed, his eyes were trained on the books ahead rather than me. "Okay, Harps."

     He walked away soon after, and found himself standing next to Nancy. The two were whispering about something, probably me. Clearly the Mind Flayer wasn't very good at fitting in. He was doing a shit job at it so far.

     I glanced behind me to see Jonathan skimming the shelves, he turned to face me, and his eyes widened when he saw that I was already looking at him. He turned back towards the shelf in a hurry, trying his best to act as if nothing had happened.

     I rolled my eyes, and turned back to the shelf in front of me. I stared at it unseeingly, forming a plan in my head. I brushed my fingers along the spines of the books, and darted my eyes between them to act as if I was looking for my book.

     A hand on my shoulder caused me to jump, "we're just gonna go ask Mrs. Brown if she has The Hobbit, we'll be right back." Nancy's voice caused me to calm down, but I was still on edge. Surely all three of them didn't need to go to ask for a book.

     I nodded anyway, "okay. I'll keep looking out here." I muttered. Nancy sent me a small smile before leading Steve and Jonathan to the back. The door closed behind them, leaving me alone, the only sound was the classical music that slipped beneath the door.

     My hand suddenly dropped to my side, and my eyes unfocused. As if I was a game character who never got to make a choice of my own, my legs began to carry me out of the bookstore.

     This time, however, I mentally questioned where I was going. I hadn't been sent any memories from him, or given any instructions beforehand. I just knew that he was leading me away from the others, and to something else.

     Someone else.

     The walk was long, and it grew dark. Finally, I stopped. I felt more in control now, but I still couldn't move, or speak, I only had a better understanding as to what was going on. My eyes finally focused, and I noticed the figure standing in the distance

     He was surrounded by trees, as was I. I quickly noticed we were in the woods. I looked back at the figure, who tilted his head at me. He began to walk forward.

     I slowly took in his appearance as the moonlight fell onto his pale skin. His hair was curly, and down by his shoulders. He had a strong build, and wore a white tank top, along with a pair of dark blue jeans.

     My eyes widened a fraction when I recognized his facial features. Billy Hargrove. He was unmistakeable, impossible to forget. I knew he was an asshole too, but that was irrelevant at the moment.

     "I've been waiting." He spoke, his eyes glazed over with a fog. They bore into mine, yet he looked straight through me, as if I wasn't even here. But he was speaking to me, so he must've seen me.

     "For me?" I asked, "why?" I seemed to have control over my own voice now.

     "You failed," he sneered in disgust, "so, I've come to help you." I quickly realized that he was talking about Eleven, and I felt a strange sense of embarrassment for failing such a simple task. "Follow me."

     He began to walk away, and I had no choice but to follow; my legs forced me to follow after him, against my wishes. I felt pity, knowing that Billy was in the same boat as I was. The two of us were just pawns, in a game that we didn't know the rules to. It was like some fucked up version of chess.

     I glanced down at Billy's hands, they were shaking by his sides. I frowned, but didn't say anything. It wasn't Billy now, and I was slowly losing myself too.

Billy led me to an old building, that was so beat up and broken that I couldn't tell what it used to be. It frightened me, though. I was sure that I was going to have nightmares of this place if I ever made it out alive.

I was led inside, and I quickly noticed the sound of a rushing wind. It was so familiar. I paused for a moment, thinking deeply.

Then, it hit me.

The mist that was taking residence in me now, was also somewhere in this building. It was hiding from the outside world, and using Billy and I to get away with doing it's dirty work. I felt sick to my stomach.

I rounded a corner, and stopped next to Billy, who stared ahead; his eyes looked tired. I followed his line of sight, and felt my heart begin to race at the sight.

The mist ahead of me was violent, far more aggressive than I thought it would be. It slowly took a new form, almost like a new spider that hadn't been discovered by scientists yet.

What I thought to be it's head, turned into my direction. It looked at me for a long moment, before walking forward. "Just stand still," Billy muttered. "This will only take a moment."

He held a hand a the back of my neck, and wrapped his other arm around my torso to keep me from running. "No, wait—" I tried to move, but he felt inhumanly strong.

"I said..." he seemed annoyed now, "stand still."

I didn't listen, I continued to thrash around as much as my body would let me. I felt my control slipping more and more. "No!" I felt the tears rushing down my face, "no please!"

I couldn't get another word out, because I was suddenly struck with an agonizing pain. I could feel my lungs aching, and my throat burning. My eyes glossed over with tears as the mist entered my lungs once again. It was far more painful that the last time it happened.

Blood dripped from my ears, and my head began to pound. Soon enough, I stopped fighting it. I was too late, what would I do now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

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lizzie speaks...

do y'all think i started writing the mind flayer story too early?? i didn't wanna bore y'all by making it just them going to school the first few chapters... idk... personally i'd rather read it like this bc i get impatient