chapter eight:
❛ jealous scarlett ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
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Scarlett couldn't stop picturing Bob in her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again—Bob, so full of life one moment, only to be torn apart by the Demodogs the next. The horrific scene replayed in her head, over and over, like a nightmare she couldn't escape. When they got back to Will's house, Scarlett couldn't take it anymore. She bolted upstairs, ignoring everyone, and locked herself in the bathroom.

The small room felt like it was closing in on her. Scarlett curled up into a tight ball on the cold tile floor, her arms wrapped around her knees as she rocked herself back and forth. Tears streamed down her face, hot and unrelenting, as she sobbed uncontrollably. She tried to push the image of Bob away, but it kept flashing through her mind, each time more vivid, more unbearable. The sound of his screams echoed in her ears, the sickening crunch of the Demodogs' teeth tearing into him—it was too much.

Her hands clenched into fists, knuckles white, as she tried to stop the pain. Electricity crackled around her fingertips, her emotions too intense to control. She didn't care—didn't even notice—when the lights in the bathroom began to flicker, mirroring the chaos inside her. Scarlett rocked herself harder, trying to drown out the memories, the guilt, the overwhelming sense of helplessness.

A soft knock on the bathroom door barely registered in Scarlett's mind. She was too lost in her grief, too consumed by the horror of what she had witnessed. The knock came again, this time more insistent, and Scarlett's breath hitched. Without thinking, she reached out with her mind, her powers responding to her emotional turmoil. A faint blue electricity surrounded the doorknob, twisting it to the side with a creak. The door slowly swung open, revealing Max standing on the other side.

"Scar? Oh my god," Max breathed out, her voice shaky as she took in the sight of her stepsister. Scarlett looked so small, so broken, huddled on the floor like a wounded animal. Max's heart ached at the sight, and she immediately dropped to her knees, reaching out to her.

"Scar, it's just me, Max," she said gently, her voice soft and soothing. She didn't want to startle Scarlett, who was still rocking herself, her eyes distant and unfocused.

Scarlett's breath came in short, ragged gasps as she continued to rock back and forth, her body trembling with the force of her sobs. The sound of Max's voice was like a distant echo, barely penetrating the fog of despair that clouded her mind. But something in Max's tone, the gentleness, the familiarity, managed to break through.

Slowly, Scarlett's eyes flickered to Max's face, her vision blurred by tears. "M-Max?" she whispered, her voice cracking. She looked so lost, so vulnerable, and the sight made Max's heart clench.

"Yeah, it's me," Max said, scooting closer until she was right beside Scarlett. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on Scarlett's arm. "I'm here, Scar. You're not alone."

Scarlett's lip quivered as she stared at Max, the memories of Bob still haunting her. "I—I can't stop seeing it," she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like it's happening all over again. I—I couldn't save him."

Max's heart broke for her. She knew how much Scarlett had cared for Bob, how much he had meant to all of them. Seeing him die like that—it wasn't something you could just forget. Max wrapped her arms around Scarlett, pulling her into a tight hug. "It's not your fault, Scar," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "There was nothing you could've done."

Scarlett clung to Max, her sobs muffled against her shoulder. The electricity that had crackled around her fingers slowly faded, leaving the room in a heavy silence, broken only by Scarlett's quiet cries.

"I'm so scared," Scarlett whispered, her voice trembling.

Max held her tighter, rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles. "I know," she whispered back. "But we're going to get through this. Together."

For the first time since she'd locked herself in the bathroom, Scarlett felt a small sliver of comfort. Max was here, and maybe, just maybe, that was enough to help her face the darkness that still lingered in her mind.

Scarlett's sobs grew quieter, but the weight of her guilt was suffocating. She pulled back slightly from Max's embrace, her tear-streaked face etched with anguish. "It's all my fault," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I—I should have done something. I should have used my powers to save Bob."

Max's eyes softened as she looked at Scarlett, who was trembling with the burden of her guilt. "Scar, no," she said firmly, gently placing her hands on Scarlett's shoulders. "You can't blame yourself for what happened."

Scarlett shook her head, tears welling up again. "But I could have stopped it. I could have—I don't know, used my powers, or something. I just stood there. I was useless."

Max tightened her grip on Scarlett's shoulders, willing her to understand. "Listen to me, Scar," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "You did everything you could. You were just a kid, just like the rest of us. What happened to Bob was horrible, but it wasn't your fault. The Demodogs... they were too fast, too strong. None of us could have saved him."

Scarlett looked down, her fingers clenching and unclenching as if she were trying to grasp onto something solid, something that made sense. "But I have these powers," she muttered, almost to herself. "What's the point of having them if I can't save the people I care about?"

Max's heart ached for Scarlett, seeing the pain and confusion in her eyes. She reached out and gently cupped Scarlett's face, lifting it so that Scarlett would look at her. "Your powers don't make you a superhero," Max said softly. "They don't mean you can fix everything, or save everyone. You're human, Scar. You're allowed to be scared, to be hurt. It doesn't make you weak, and it doesn't make what happened your fault."

Scarlett's eyes searched Max's, as if looking for reassurance, for something that could absolve her of the crushing guilt she felt. "I just... I feel like I let everyone down," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Max shook her head, her expression full of compassion. "You didn't let anyone down, Scar. You were there for all of us, just like you always are. And that's what matters. You cared about Bob, and he knew that. We all did. What happened to him wasn't your fault—it was the monsters. The real ones."

Scarlett swallowed hard, her lip trembling as she fought back more tears. "But it still hurts," she admitted, her voice cracking.

Max pulled her into another hug, holding her tightly. "I know it does," she whispered. "And it's okay to feel that way. But you don't have to carry this alone. We're all here for you, Scar. We'll get through this together."

Scarlett clung to Max, the warmth of her embrace offering a small but much-needed comfort. "Thank you," Scarlett murmured, her voice muffled against Max's shoulder.

Max just held her tighter, her own eyes damp with tears. "Anytime, Scar. Anytime."

Scarlett sniffled as she held Max's hand, her grip tight but trembling slightly. The two of them walked slowly over to the table in the kitchen where everyone else had already gathered. The room was tense, filled with the kind of silence that only occurs when people are waiting for the next piece of bad news to drop.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked, his voice filled with concern as he noticed Scarlett's tear-streaked face. She nodded quickly, avoiding eye contact with him, but Mike wasn't convinced. He reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. Scarlett's heart ached at his kindness, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Dustin, always the one to dive straight into the facts, slammed a book down onto the table, causing everyone to jump slightly. "The Mind Flayer," he began, his tone serious.

Hopper, who had been pacing near the doorway, frowned in confusion. "What the hell is that?"

"It's a monster from an unknown dimension," Dustin explained, flipping through the pages of the book with a grim expression. "It's so ancient that it doesn't even know its true home. Okay, it enslaves races of other dimensions by taking over their brains using its highly-developed psionic powers."

Hopper rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Oh, my God, none of this is real. This is a kids' game," he retorted, dismissing Dustin's explanation with a wave of his hand.

Dustin bristled, leaning forward defensively. "No, it's a manual. And it's not for kids, and unless you know something that we don't, this is the best metaphor—"

"Analogy," Lucas corrected, his tone slightly annoyed.

Dustin shot Lucas a glare, his patience wearing thin. "Analogy? That's what you're worried about? Fine! An analogy for understanding whatever the hell this is." He finished angrily, his voice rising with frustration. Scarlett, despite the tension, let out a small chuckle at the exchange, finding a brief moment of levity in the chaos.

Nancy, trying to focus on the bigger picture, spoke up. "Okay, so this Mind Flamer thing—"

"Flayer. Mind Flayer," Dustin corrected quickly, his tone sharp.

Nancy sighed, giving a small nod. "What does it want?"

"To conquer us, basically," Scarlett said, her voice cutting through the tension. Everyone turned to look at her, surprised at how quickly she had caught on. Scarlett offered them a flashy grin, shrugging casually. "I catch on quickly."

"Like the Germans?" Steve interjected, his tone uncertain. He was met with a chorus of confused looks.

"Uh, the Nazis?" Dustin clarified in disbelief.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Nazis," Steve stammered, clearly realizing how out of place his comment was. Scarlett watched Hopper run a hand down his face in frustration, the weariness of the situation weighing on him.

Dustin, trying to steer the conversation back on track, continued, "Uh... if the Nazis were from another dimension, totally. Uh, it views other races, like us, as inferior to itself."

"It wants to spread, take over other dimensions," Mike added, his voice steady but grim.

Scarlett nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like he's trying to get revenge to me," she said with a shrug, her tone nonchalant despite the gravity of her words.

"We are talking about the destruction of our world as we know it," Lucas stated, his voice filled with dread.

"That's great. That's great. That's really great!" Steve exclaimed with exaggerated sarcasm, throwing his hands up in the air before turning away and running a hand through his hair in frustration.

Nancy, always the logical one, picked up the book Dustin had been holding and scanned it quickly. "Okay, so if this thing is like a brain that's controlling everything, then if we kill it..." she trailed off, looking around the room for confirmation.

"We kill everything it controls," Mike finished her thought, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"We win," Dustin said, but his optimism was tempered by the reality of their situation.

"Theoretically," Lucas added, ever the realist.

Hopper took the book from Nancy's hands, flipping through the pages with a skeptical look on his face. "Great. So how do you kill this thing? Shoot it with fireballs or something?" he asked sarcastically, his voice dripping with disbelief.

Dustin chuckled, shaking his head. "No. No, no fire—no fireballs. I mean, technically we have Scarlett, so she could use her electricity powers—"

"No!" Mike cut him off, his voice rising in panic. "She's not a machine, and she already died once today from using too much energy."

"What!?" Max exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at Scarlett. Scarlett gave her a nervous grin, trying to downplay the severity of the situation.

"I'll explain later..." Scarlett trailed off, the tension in the room growing thicker with each passing moment.

Hopper, losing his patience, slammed the book onto the table with a loud thud. "What the hell are we doing here?" he retorted, his voice filled with frustration and fear. "I thought we were waiting for your military backup."

"We are!" Dustin shouted back, the strain of the situation evident in his voice.

"Even if they come, how are they gonna stop this? You can't just shoot this with guns!" Scarlett argued, her voice trembling with emotion as the weight of everything that had happened began to crush her.

"You don't know that! We don't know anything!" Hopper shouted back, his voice cracking as he struggled to maintain control.

Scarlett's eyes began to spark with electricity, a sure sign that her emotions were reaching a boiling point. She glared at Hopper, her voice filled with a mix of anger and pain. "Yes, we do! All this week, I've watched Will be controlled by this thing, and it doesn't want me to know its stupid plan! And for the record, I watched fucking Bob die right in front of my eyes when I could've saved him! This thing is a killing machine, and guns aren't gonna stop it. It starts with me, and it ends with me! This El girl is gone! I have to take the responsibility of saving y'all's asses from this thing!" Scarlett shouted, her voice echoing through the room, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

Without waiting for a response, Scarlett turned on her heel and stormed towards the front door, slamming it behind her as she stepped out onto the porch. She could feel the electricity coursing through her veins, her emotions spiraling out of control. Letting out a yell of frustration, she stomped her foot angrily on the ground. Her eyes widened in shock as she watched a bolt of electricity leap from her body, striking a nearby tree and sending sparks flying. Gasping, she took a step back, her heart racing as she tried to regain control.

Inside, the room was silent, everyone still reeling from Scarlett's outburst. Mike frowned, his heart aching as he watched the door Scarlett had just stormed out of. "I should go talk to her," he said softly, his voice laced with concern.

Max grabbed his arm, shaking her head firmly. "No, don't. Let her cool off," she advised, her own heart heavy with worry for Scarlett. The group fell into an uneasy silence, each of them grappling with the weight of what lay ahead.

Scarlett stood in the kitchen with Max and Mike, her hands busy as she helped tape together some supplies for their upcoming plan. The three of them were focused, though the tension between them was thick. They were about to confront Will, who was under the control of the Mind Flayer, and they needed to ensure he had no idea where they were or what they were planning. Mike was crouched by the sink, cleaning out the cabinet, his movements sharp and determined. Scarlett and Max worked side by side, but the silence between them was heavy, almost oppressive.

Max, sensing the awkwardness, decided to break it with a comment she'd been holding onto for a while. She glanced over at Scarlett, a small smile playing on her lips. "I get why El was your mage now," Max said, her tone light, trying to ease the tension.

Scarlett paused, biting her lip as she looked over at Mike, whose face instantly darkened. He shot Max a sharp look, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "What?" he asked, his tone defensive.

Max didn't flinch, though the sudden change in Mike's demeanor caught her off guard. "Lucas... he told me all about her," she explained, trying to keep her voice steady, but there was an underlying tension now.

Scarlett felt a pang of curiosity mixed with unease. "Dang. I still don't really know much about El. What happened—" she began to ask, her voice trailing off, but Mike cut her off harshly.

"No. Lucas shouldn't have told Max, and it's better if you don't know about her, Scarlett," Mike snapped, his tone harsh and filled with a protective edge that caught Scarlett off guard.

Scarlett blinked, her initial curiosity giving way to a sharp sting of hurt and frustration. "Sour subject, Mike?" she shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes, trying to mask the emotions that were bubbling up inside her. Mike's expression faltered, and for a moment, the usually confident boy looked uncertain, realizing he'd said too much. Mike noticed that she hadn't called him by his nickname, "Freckles," and it only added to his growing sense of confusion and hurt.

The tension in the room was unbearable. Without another word, Scarlett turned on her heel and walked out of the kitchen, her movements stiff with frustration. She pushed open the front door, stepping outside into the cool evening air, hoping it would calm the storm inside her. But instead of finding peace, the anger and confusion only grew stronger.

Scarlett's thoughts raced as she walked over to a large tree in the yard, her hands clenching into fists. Why did Mike keep sending her mixed signals? One moment, he seemed to hate her, treating her with cold indifference. Then, in the lab, he kissed her, bringing her back to life after she had nearly died fighting the Demo-Dogs. That kiss had meant everything to her—it had been a beacon of hope, a sign that he cared. But now, whenever El's name came up, Mike reverted to his cold, defensive self, shutting her out. Did he still have feelings for El? Was Scarlett just a rebound? These thoughts churned in her mind, fueling the anger that was rapidly building inside her.

With a growl of frustration, Scarlett kicked the tree as hard as she could. Her foot connected with the rough bark, and a surge of electricity shot from her body, lighting up the tree in a flash of blue light. The sight only intensified her emotions. She kicked the tree again, and again, each kick releasing more electricity, the sparks flying off the tree like angry fireflies. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to unleash her frustration, her mind a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and pain.

She didn't understand why Mike was acting this way. One moment he was kind, almost sweet, and the next, he was cold and distant, as if he regretted everything they had shared. It felt like he was toying with her emotions, and the thought of it made her heart ache. Was she nothing more than a distraction for him, a way to forget about El?

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Scarlett let out a scream, her voice echoing through the quiet night. She was so lost in her own turmoil that she didn't notice Steve approaching until he was right beside her, his concern evident on his face.

"Hey, are you okay?" Steve asked softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Scarlett quickly wiped at her tears, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "Yeah, I'm fine," she muttered, though her voice was thick with emotion, betraying her true feelings.

"I've been watching you, Scarlett," Steve said gently, his voice filled with understanding. He could see how much she was struggling, and it pained him to see her like this. "What's going on?"

Scarlett hesitated, unsure if she should open up to him. But the emotions were too overwhelming to keep bottled up. She needed to talk to someone, and Steve had always been a good listener. "Ever since I got here, Mike hasn't liked me—or Max, for that matter," Scarlett began, her voice trembling. "And I finally got him to like me when I was helping Will in the lab... but then I died. I used too much energy trying to kill the Demo-Dogs, and the defibrillator wasn't working, so he... he kissed me. And it brought me back to life. I thought it meant something. I really did." Her voice broke slightly as she spoke, the tears welling up in her eyes again. "But now, when Max and I asked about El, he got all defensive and... it just made me feel jealous and confused."

Steve listened intently, nodding as she spoke, his heart going out to her. He could see how much this was hurting her, and he wanted to help. "Look, Mike's been through a lot, and I'm sure he's confused," Steve began, choosing his words carefully. "But you need to figure out what he really wants. It's either you or El, and he needs to make up his mind. He can't keep stringing you along like this."

Scarlett looked at him, her expression conflicted. "But what if he still has feelings for her?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Steve sighed, understanding her fear. "He might. But that's something he needs to work out on his own. You can't be the one to figure it out for him," Steve said, his tone firm but gentle. "And trust me, I get it. I still like Nancy, even though we broke up a few days ago. But I know she likes Jonathan, and I've had to come to terms with that. Mike's just a boy—he's going to be confused. But he needs to figure it out before he hurts you any more than he already has."

Scarlett looked down at the ground, kicking at the dirt with the toe of her shoe. "It's just... hard, you know?" she said softly, her voice filled with vulnerability.

Steve nodded, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "I know it is. But you're strong, Scarlett. You've been through so much already, and you've come out the other side stronger than ever. Whatever happens next, you'll get through it. And remember, you've got people here who care about you. We're not going anywhere."

Scarlett looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Steve," she said, her voice sincere. "I really needed to hear that."

"Anytime," Steve replied, patting her shoulder before stepping back. "Just give Mike some time. He'll figure it out. And if he doesn't... well, that's his loss."

Scarlett watched him go, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm the lingering storm inside her. Steve was right—Mike needed to figure out what he wanted, and she needed to be patient. But that didn't mean she would let him walk all over her. She was stronger than that, and she wouldn't let herself be a pawn in someone else's game. She had survived too much to let this break her. Whatever happened next, she would face it with her head held high, ready to fight for what she wanted—or to walk away if it wasn't meant to be.

The tension in the room was palpable as Hopper and the others burst in from the shed, finding Scarlett perched on the counter, lost in thought. The atmosphere shifted as she replayed Steve's words in her mind, tuning out the ongoing conversations around her.

Dustin, his curiosity piqued, was the first to speak up. "What happened?" he asked, concern etched on his face. Hopper's expression was grim as he grabbed a piece of paper, slamming it onto the table with urgency. He clicked his pen, ready to write. "I think he's talking, just not with words," Hopper explained, and as he began scribbling dots and dashes, it became clear that Will was communicating through Morse code.

"Morse code?" Scarlett questioned, her voice tinged with both curiosity and concern. Hopper nodded solemnly, his focus unwavering. "H—E—R—E," the group read aloud, their heads huddled together over the paper. Hopper's breath was heavy as he broke the silence. "Will's still in there. He's talking to us," he stated, casting a meaningful glance at Joyce. She returned the look with an odd mix of relief and fear.

Max, Lucas, Dustin, Scarlett, and Mike crowded around the table, their eyes fixed on the Morse code. The room seemed to hold its breath as Hopper deciphered more of the code, the letters slowly forming the words "Close Gate." The realization hit them like a ton of bricks.

Suddenly, the shrill ring of the phone shattered the tense atmosphere, startling everyone. Dustin, startled, reached for it, but before he could answer, Nancy's frustrated voice crackled through. In a fit of anger, she hurled the phone against the wall, silencing its incessant ringing as it shattered into pieces.

Scarlett, recovering from the shock, cleared her throat. "Y-You don't think Will heard that, right?" she asked, her voice shaky with worry. Steve, attempting to calm her, shook his head. "It's just a phone. It could be anywhere, right?" he replied, but before anyone could answer, the distant roar of a Demo-dog reverberated through the air, sending a chill down their spines.

Scarlett's instincts kicked in. Her eyes flickered with blue electricity as she prepared herself, blue energy crackling around her. Just then, Jonathan, Joyce, Mike, and Hopper burst into the room. Joyce wasted no time, swiftly placing the unconscious Will on the couch, indicating that they had been forced to knock him out after he overheard the conversation.

Max, Mike, and Lucas rushed to the windows, trying to gauge the situation outside. Hopper, noticing the potential danger, barked a stern command. "Hey, hey, get away from the windows!" The urgency in his voice was unmistakable, and Max quickly retreated, only for Scarlett to pull her further back, positioning herself protectively in front of her.

Scarlett's gaze darted to the door, her senses heightened. She noticed Mike standing beside her, gripping a lamp tightly as if ready to use it as a weapon. Without a second thought, she pushed him and Max behind her, taking the lead. Mike's eyes widened as he noticed the blue electricity dancing in Scarlett's hands, realizing the extent of her powers.

Hopper, still on high alert, handed a gun to Jonathan, who looked at it with a mixture of confusion and hesitation. "Do you know how to use this?" Hopper asked, his tone leaving no room for doubt. Jonathan hesitated, clearly uncertain. "What?" he asked, taken aback. "Can you use this?" Hopper repeated, his eyes locked on Jonathan.

Nancy, sensing the urgency, stepped forward. "I can," she declared with determination. Hopper tossed the gun to her, and Nancy caught it with practiced ease, immediately taking aim. The group braced themselves, each armed and ready for the worst.

Scarlett's heart pounded in her chest as the sounds of Demo-dogs grew louder outside. She clenched her jaw, knowing that with El gone, the responsibility to protect everyone now rested heavily on her shoulders.

The silence was suddenly broken by loud thudding sounds, sending a wave of panic through the group. They exchanged nervous glances, their fear palpable. "What are they doing?" Nancy whispered, her voice barely audible. The rustling in the bushes outside intensified, heightening the tension in the room.

Scarlett, unable to stay still any longer, stepped forward, trying to get a better look. "Scar!" Mike hissed, his voice filled with concern, but Scarlett ignored him, her focus solely on the threat outside.

More snarling filled the air, sending a shiver down everyone's spine. Lucas tightened his grip on his slingshot, standing protectively beside Max. Scarlett found some comfort in knowing that Max was safe with Lucas by her side.

The eerie silence was abruptly shattered when a Demo-dog crashed through the window, causing everyone to scream in terror. Scarlett reacted instinctively, unleashing a powerful blast of electricity at the creature. It convulsed violently before collapsing to the floor.

Cautiously, Scarlett approached the fallen Demo-dog, her breathing heavy. "It's dead," she announced, though blood trickled down from her nose, a sign of the toll her powers were taking on her. Mike, still shaken, sought reassurance. "You sure?"

With a weary sigh, Scarlett shot another bolt of electricity at the Demo-dog, ensuring it was completely lifeless. "It's dead," she confirmed, nodding as she wiped the blood from her nose.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the group spun around, weapons ready to defend themselves. The tension was unbearable as the door slowly swung open, revealing a figure with slicked-back hair entering the room.

Mike's eyes widened in disbelief, a smile slowly forming on his lips. "Eleven," he breathed out, his voice filled with a mix of relief and awe.

Scarlett lowered her hands, her frown deepening as she watched Eleven and Mike lock eyes. The group exchanged shocked glances, unsure of what to do next. They had all thought Eleven was lost forever, trapped in the Upside Down. But here she was, standing in front of them, very much alive.

"No," Scarlett muttered under her breath, her heart sinking as Max took her hand in comfort. Scarlett's frown deepened. "I knew it," she whispered to Max, her voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and something else—something she couldn't quite name.

ASH SPEAKS

yeah so... im breaking your guys hearts next chapter. also next chapter is the last of s2!! omg