chapter five:
❛ the sauna test ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE

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The morning was still, the kind of stillness that makes everything feel heavy, like the world was holding its breath. Down in Mike's basement, the air was thick with tension, each of the kids lost in their own worried thoughts. The only sound was the steady, rhythmic tapping of Lucas's foot on the floor, a nervous tic he couldn't seem to stop. The supercomm in his hand felt like a lifeline, though right now, it was more like a dead weight. He brought it up to his mouth again, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Do you copy? This is a code red!" Lucas's voice echoed off the walls, sharper than before. "I repeat, this is a code red. Max! Do you copy? This is a code red."

There was a moment of static, followed by a muffled, half-asleep groan. "Shut... up." Max's voice was slurred with sleep, the irritation clear even through the crackling signal.

The line went dead, the finality of the click resounding in the silence that followed. Lucas stared at the supercomm, his face a mix of frustration and anxiety. "She turned it off," he muttered, half to himself.

Scarlett, who had been sitting tensely beside him, shook her head and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "I told you, you should've let me call her," she said, her tone tinged with irritation.

She pushed herself up from the couch, her steps purposeful as she crossed the room to the old rotary phone hanging on the wall. The boys watched her, knowing that Scarlett had a way of getting through to Max when no one else could.

Scarlett quickly dialed Max's number, the clicking of the rotary dial the only sound in the room as everyone else held their breath. The phone rang, each tone feeling like an eternity, until finally, Max answered, her voice laced with irritation.

"I'm sleeping! Go away," Max grumbled, clearly still groggy.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, biting back her own irritation. "That's a way to greet your sister," she teased, trying to keep her tone light despite the weight of what she had to say.

Max sighed on the other end, her annoyance still evident. "Sorry. Been in a mood because Lucas won't stop bothering me. Where are you? You didn't come home last night."

Scarlett exchanged a quick glance with the boys before turning back to the phone, her voice dropping into a more serious tone. "I'm actually here with the boys... You need to come over to Mike's. I'm not playing with you, Max. This is a code red."

There was a beat of silence on the other end, the kind that made Scarlett's heart tighten in her chest. She knew Max well enough to sense her worry, even through the phone.

"Just... Just get over here. We think he's back," Scarlett said, her voice barely above a whisper as she forced the words out. She didn't wait for a response, just hung up the phone with a click that echoed in the heavy silence of the room.

Turning back to the group, Scarlett's expression was grim, her earlier teasing completely gone. Lucas, who had been watching her with a mixture of hope and fear, leaned forward anxiously. "So?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Scarlett nodded, her face tight with worry. "She's coming."

The tension in the room grew thick as Will's words sank in, each of them feeling the weight of what he was saying. Max and El had arrived only moments before, and now they all sat in a tight circle around Will, their faces a mix of concern and fear. The basement, usually a safe haven for their meetings, felt smaller somehow, the walls closing in around them as Will began to explain why he thought the Mind Flayer was back.

"I didn't think it was anything at first. I mean, I think I just didn't want to believe it," Will started, his voice low and shaky. "The first time I felt it was at Day of the Dead."

Mike, who had been sitting beside him, leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "Power went out that night too," he added, glancing over at Scarlett.

Scarlett nodded, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she remembered the frustration of that night. "Yeah. I had to bring the power back on for the whole town," she said with a huff, her voice tinged with irritation at the memory. But beneath that, there was something else—something darker. She knew that night hadn't been just a regular blackout, and hearing Will now confirmed her worst fears.

"And then I felt it again at the field near the Nelson farm the next day," Will continued, his voice dropping even lower. "Then again yesterday outside Castle Byers."

Max, sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaned in closer, her eyebrows knitted together in concern. "What does it feel like?" she asked, trying to understand the gravity of what Will was describing.

Will hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "It's almost like... You know when you drop on a roller coaster?" he asked, looking around at his friends.

Scarlett shuddered slightly, the mere thought of roller coasters making her queasy. "Ugh, I hate roller coasters. So, yes," she replied, her tone half-joking but her eyes serious.

"Sure," Mike said, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah," Max said, her expression grim.

"No," El said simply, her voice soft and curious as she tried to follow the conversation.

Will took a deep breath, trying to explain what was so hard to put into words. "It's like... everything inside your body is just sinking all at once, but... this is worse. Your body... it goes cold and— and you can't breathe." His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, the fear clear in his eyes.

Scarlett felt a chill run down her spine, goosebumps rising on her arms. Will's description was too vivid, too real, and she knew that feeling all too well. "I've felt it before, whenever he was close," Will continued, his eyes distant as he remembered those terrifying moments.

"Whenever who was close?" Max asked, her voice barely above a whisper, though she already knew the answer. They all did.

"The Mind Flayer," Will said, the words hanging heavy in the air like a dark cloud.

El, who had been listening intently, suddenly spoke up, her voice firm but laced with confusion. "I closed the gate," she said, as if trying to reassure herself as much as the others.

Scarlett nodded, her face tight with tension. "Yeah, and... I got it out of you," she added, referring to the excruciating moment when she had helped purge the creature from Will's body. That memory still haunted her.

Will looked at them both, his eyes wide with fear and doubt. "I know, but... what if he never left?" he asked, his voice trembling. He then turned to Scarlett, his expression desperate. "What if you accidentally locked him out here with us?"

Scarlett's heart sank at his words, the implications hitting her like a ton of bricks. "Shit. I didn't think about that," she muttered, running a hand through her hair in frustration. The possibility that the Mind Flayer was still out there, lurking, waiting—that was something none of them had considered. And now, the realization that they might have unintentionally trapped the monster in their world was almost too much to bear.

As they moved to the table, the atmosphere in the room grew even tenser. Will spread out a piece of paper on the table, his hand trembling slightly as he picked up a pen. Everyone leaned in, eyes glued to the page as Will began to draw, his strokes quick and deliberate. He drew the outline of a towering, menacing figure—the Mind Flayer, its dark, monstrous form looming large on the paper.

"This is him," Will said, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with dread. He paused, staring at the image, before continuing, "But that day on the field, a part of him attached itself to me." His hand moved over the drawing, smearing the ink as he wiped across the page, almost as if he could feel the remnants of the creature still clinging to him. "Scarlett and my mom got it out of me... and Eleven closed the gate." He flipped the paper over, as if trying to distance himself from the horrific image. "But the part that was still in me... what if it's still in our world?" Will's voice quivered as he placed his hand on the paper, leaving a dark, smudged handprint. "In Hawkins."

Max, trying to wrap her head around it, shook her head slightly. "I don't understand. The Demodogs died when El closed the gate. If the brain dies, the body dies."

"We can't take any chances. We need to assume the worst," Mike said, his voice firm. He glanced around the table, seeking agreement. Scarlett nodded, her expression grim, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"The Mind Flayer is back," Scarlett said, her voice steady, though fear flickered in her eyes. "And the source of my power is the key."

Max shot her a puzzled look, eyebrows furrowing. "The source of your power?" she asked, confusion evident in her tone.

Scarlett took a deep breath, trying to explain something she barely understood herself. "The source of my power... this blue lightning lady. I have dreams about her. She helps me understand the source of my powers. She helped me last night find Will. I bet if I can find a way to talk to her, she can help. Help us end this once and for all."

The room fell silent as they processed this. Will broke the quiet, his voice trembling with fear. "If the Mind Flayer is back, he'd want to attach himself to someone again. A new me," he said, his eyes wide with dread.

"A new host," Lucas added, glancing around the table. His eyes settled on El, who was deep in thought.

El finally looked up, her expression concerned. "How can you tell if someone is a host?" she asked, her voice small, filled with worry.

Scarlett thought for a moment before answering, "If they get hot really easily and just start acting... not themselves."

El bit her lip, a thought forming in her mind, one that she didn't want to voice but knew she had to. "Billy," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "We need to see if he is the new host."

Scarlett's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising in protest. "What!? My brother? Why?"

El's eyes were filled with concern as she explained, "He was acting weird. Not himself."

Scarlett let out a frustrated huff, shaking her head. "Weird is his default!" she exclaimed, exasperated. She looked to Max for support.

"That's what I told her," Max said, nodding in agreement.

But El wasn't convinced. "Heather... I saw her. She was begging for help. Billy did something to her," she said, her voice filled with a quiet urgency.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, her frustration growing. "Yeah, he was probably trying to have sex with her! Billy does stuff with girls," she snapped, dismissing the idea that her brother could be involved in something as dark as the Mind Flayer.

Mike, who had been listening quietly, finally sighed, stepping forward. "Scarlett, come on. We should at least check and see if he is the host," he said, trying to reason with her.

Scarlett stared at him, disbelief and fear warring on her face. "He's not the new host! I don't want my brother dying!" she yelled, her voice breaking as the fear for her brother's life overwhelmed her.

Mike placed his hands gently on her shoulders, his gaze steady and reassuring. "And this is a perfect way to find out if that's true," he said, his voice calm, trying to soothe her panic.

Scarlett looked into Mike's eyes, her resolve wavering. The idea of her brother being a host for the Mind Flayer was unbearable, but the thought of doing nothing—of letting the possibility go unchecked—was just as terrifying.

She nodded reluctantly, swallowing hard as she tried to push down the rising panic. "Fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But if anything happens to him..." She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

"We'll be careful," Mike promised, his hands still resting on her shoulders, offering what comfort he could.

Scarlett squinted through the binoculars, her gaze fixed on Billy as he lounged by the pool. The late morning sun gleamed off the water, casting shimmering reflections across the concrete, but Scarlett's attention was glued to her brother. Something was off—Billy was never the type to cover up, especially not in the heat of summer, and the sight of him with a hat on and a shirt buttoned all the way up made her stomach twist. But admitting that something was wrong meant confronting the possibility that Will's fears were real, and that was a step Scarlett wasn't ready to take.

"I don't know," she said, lowering the binoculars, her voice sounding more uncertain than she intended. "He looks pretty normal to me."

Lucas immediately shot her a skeptical look, his eyebrows arching. "Normal? How many times have you seen him with a shirt on?" he challenged, his tone cutting through the thin veneer of Scarlett's denial.

Scarlett shrugged, trying to play it off, though the doubt gnawed at her. "I mean, yeah, it's not exactly his usual, but maybe he's just trying to avoid getting in trouble. Maybe his manager told him to put a shirt on because he was flirting with too many women," she suggested, the excuse sounding weak even to her own ears.

Mike wasn't having it. He stepped closer, his face serious. "Scar, he was sitting in a tub filled with ice water earlier. The Mind Flayer likes it cold. You can't just ignore that. Plus, there's everything else—" His voice was filled with concern, but Scarlett cut him off, her own fears pushing her into anger.

"But he's lounging at the pool, Mike! He's drinking a slushie! That's the least Mind Flayer thing ever!" Scarlett's voice rose, a mixture of desperation and frustration bleeding into her words. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Billy, not after everything.

"Scarlett," Max said, her tone gentle, as if she was trying to reach out to her through the fog of denial. But before she could say more, Will spoke up, his voice calm but laced with a tension that made Scarlett's skin crawl.

"Not necessarily. The Mind Flayer likes to hide. He only used me when he needed me. It's like... like you're dormant until he decides to activate you," Will explained, his expression haunted by the memory of his own possession.

Max bit her lip, processing his words. "Okay, so we just... wait until he gets activated?" she asked, her voice unsure, like she was trying to find a solution that didn't involve confronting the horrible truth.

"No," Mike interrupted, his voice firm and decisive. "What if he hurts someone?" His question hung heavy in the air, pulling everyone's thoughts to the worst possible outcome.

"Or kills someone," Will added quietly, the weight of his words making Scarlett's heart race.

Mike's resolve hardened. "We can't take that chance. We need to find out if he's the host," he insisted, starting to walk away from the group, his mind already made up.

Scarlett felt a surge of panic. She knew where this was headed, and she wasn't ready to follow them down that path. "Where are you going?" she called out, her voice edged with desperation. El echoed her question at the same moment, and they exchanged brief, tense looks, each girl feeling the pressure of the situation bearing down on them.

Mike turned, walking backward as he addressed them, a determined look on his face. "I have an idea. Boys only!" he announced, motioning for Will and Lucas to join him. They followed without hesitation, leaving the girls behind.

"Seriously?" Max scoffed, her frustration evident as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Scarlett's temper flared, her emotions spilling over as she watched them walk away. "The hell, Freckles! Get back here!" she shouted, her voice a mix of anger and fear. She couldn't let them do this, not without her.

But Mike just glanced back, a smirk playing on his lips despite the gravity of the situation. "Just trust me on this one!" he called back, continuing toward the pool entrance with the boys in tow.

Max turned to Scarlett, her eyes wide with surprise at her outburst. "You're calling him Freckles again?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity and confusion.

El, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke up, her voice tinged with something close to jealousy. "Wait, you had a nickname for Mike?"

Scarlett clenched her fists, trying to push down the mix of emotions roiling inside her. "It's nothing, okay?" she snapped, the tension in her voice clear. She could feel their eyes on her, waiting for more, but she wasn't in the mood to explain or justify anything. The nickname, the history with Mike—it all felt irrelevant compared to the looming threat of losing her brother.

She turned back toward the binoculars, gripping them tightly as she watched Mike, Will, and Lucas disappear into the pool area. The knot in her stomach tightened as the reality of the situation began to sink in. Scarlett knew they were probably right, that Billy might be the host, but acknowledging that felt like signing his death warrant. And that was something she just wasn't ready to do.

Later that evening, as everyone gathered supplies for Mike's plan to trap Billy in the sauna, Scarlett found herself wandering through the dimly lit hallways of the Hawkins Community Pool. The air was thick with the smell of chlorine and sweat, and the distant echoes of dripping water filled the silence. While the others were busy collecting what they needed, Max had been left behind in the parking lot, her expression unreadable as she sat on the hood of Billy's Camaro, staring off into the distance.

Scarlett was restless, her mind swirling with unanswered questions and a lingering sense of unease. She turned a corner and spotted the janitor's closet, its door slightly ajar. As she approached, the door swung open, and El emerged, holding a dummy in her hands. Their shoulders brushed as they passed, and in that brief contact, Scarlett instinctively sent a small jolt of electricity through El. It wasn't enough to hurt, but just enough to make El stop in her tracks, glancing back with a sharp glare before continuing down the hallway, her grip on the dummy tightening.

Scarlett watched El walk away, her heart pounding as a surge of irritation and jealousy coursed through her. She pushed the door open and stepped inside the cramped, dimly lit closet. Mike was there, standing amidst mops, brooms, and stacks of cleaning supplies, his expression a mix of guilt and determination. The tension between them crackled in the air as Scarlett closed the door behind her, crossing her arms over her chest.

"So, what was going on in here?" she demanded, her voice laced with accusation as she narrowed her eyes at him.

Mike sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to find the right words. "I was trying to explain to her why I lied," he began, his tone tentative. "Now, I need to explain why I lied to you."

Scarlett's gaze was cold and unyielding as she reached behind her, grabbing a hockey stick that was propped up against the wall. She held it over her shoulder, her knuckles white with the force of her grip as she stared him down. "Okay, explain," she said, her voice flat but edged with barely restrained anger. "Last night, you didn't really explain anything other than trying to ask why I was pushing you away. I told you my side, so now it's your turn. Your side, Mike."

Mike took a deep breath, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He knew he couldn't back out now. "Hopper did threaten me," he admitted, his voice steady but filled with a kind of resignation. "And I did tell El that I was busy that day... I tried to lie and say it was my Nana, but she didn't buy it. So, I said I was hanging out with a friend, and then she asked if it was you." He paused, watching as Scarlett's eyes widened slightly, though she said nothing. "It was going to be you because I wanted to patch things up... but I panicked, so I lied and said no, that I was gonna play Atari with Lucas. I was stammering a lot, so... I knew she knew I was lying."

Scarlett blinked, her mind reeling as she processed his words. The confession left her momentarily speechless, a mix of disbelief and hurt churning in her chest. "You lied," she said finally, her voice low and thick with emotion. "You lied to her. You lied to me. All because you couldn't just... be honest? With either of us?"

"I was trying to protect—" Mike began, but Scarlett cut him off, her temper flaring.

"Protect who, Mike? Because it sure as hell wasn't me!" Scarlett snapped, her grip tightening on the hockey stick as she took a step closer. "Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? You can't just go around lying to everyone and expect things to magically work out!"

"I know, Scarlett, I know!" Mike insisted, his voice rising in frustration. "I didn't want to hurt anyone, but I didn't know what else to do! I was trying to figure it out, but everything just kept getting more complicated!"

"Complicated? Mike, you made it complicated! You could have just talked to me, to El, instead of sneaking around and making things worse!" Scarlett's voice cracked slightly, the raw emotion spilling out despite her attempts to keep it in check.

Mike looked at her, his own frustration giving way to a sense of helplessness. "I didn't mean to screw everything up," he said quietly, his shoulders slumping. "I just... I didn't want to lose you, either of you."

Scarlett stared at him, her heart aching with the weight of the situation. The anger that had been driving her began to ebb, replaced by a deep, gnawing sadness. She looked down at the hockey stick in her hand, suddenly feeling foolish for holding it like a weapon.

"Mike," she said softly, the fight draining out of her. "You've got two girls after you... me or El. Which will it be?"

Mike's eyes widened, caught off guard by the ultimatum. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He stood there, frozen, as Scarlett turned away, the silence between them heavy and suffocating.

Without waiting for an answer, Scarlett tossed the hockey stick aside and pushed past him, her emotions swirling in a chaotic storm as she stormed out of the closet. The door swung shut behind her, leaving Mike alone in the dim, musty space, the gravity of her words sinking in as he realized just how much he stood to lose.

The atmosphere in the small, dimly lit storage closet was thick with tension as Mike, Lucas, Will, Max, El, and Scarlett waited in silence, their breaths barely audible. The only sound was the faint crackle of Mike's walkie-talkie as he taunted Billy, luring him toward the trap they had set in the sauna room. Scarlett could feel her heart pounding in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears as they all held their breath, waiting for Billy to take the bait.

Mike's voice cut through the silence, sharp and defiant. "Come and get me, you piece of shit."

A chilling cackle echoed down the hallway, and they knew Billy was close. The sound of his laughter sent a shiver down Scarlett's spine, a stark reminder of the danger they were about to face. She felt a wave of nausea as the reality of what they were doing hit her. Billy wasn't just a monster; he was her brother. But she also knew they had no choice. If he was the Mind Flayer's host, he had to be stopped.

El was the first to move, slipping out of the storage closet with the stealth of a cat. The others followed, peeking through the narrow gap of the door, watching as Billy appeared in the dim light, holding the dummy high above his head. His eyes were wild, filled with a malevolent energy that sent a cold chill through Scarlett.

"Hey. Behind you," Mike's voice taunted through the supercom, and Billy spun around, his gaze locking onto El.

"Hi," El said with a smirk before she unleashed her power, sending Billy crashing into the wall of the sauna room. With a flick of her wrist and a surge of her mind, the door slammed shut, trapping him inside.

"Now!" Mike yelled, and they all burst out of the storage closet in a flurry of movement. Scarlett snapped her fingers, and the lights flickered on, illuminating the scene before them. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the massive crack in the wall of the sauna, evidence of just how powerful Billy had become under the Mind Flayer's influence.

Mike, Will, and Lucas moved quickly, grabbing a metal pole and jamming it into the door handle, securing it in place with a chain. Billy's grunts filled the air as he slammed against the door, his voice a guttural mix of rage and desperation. Scarlett felt the tears welling up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she watched her brother struggle, trapped like an animal.

Her hand was trembling when Mike reached out and took it, squeezing it tightly. The warmth of his touch was a small comfort in the midst of the chaos, but he didn't let go, grounding her in the moment as they faced the terrifying reality of what they were doing.

Suddenly, Billy stopped banging on the door. His breathing was heavy, labored, and then his eyes found Scarlett's through the small window of the sauna door. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—recognition, pleading, a shadow of the brother she once knew.

"Scarlett, Max," Billy said, his voice low, strained.

Scarlett's tears spilled over, running down her cheeks as she stared back at him. The sight of him, trapped and helpless, broke something inside her. She felt Max's eyes on her, and when she turned to look at her stepsister, she saw the same pain, the same turmoil reflected in her expression.

"Do it," Max said, her voice trembling but resolute.

Scarlett nodded, her voice barely a whisper as she echoed Max's words. "Do it."

Will didn't hesitate. He sprinted over to the control panel and turned the sauna's temperature all the way up. The room filled with the oppressive heat almost instantly, and Billy's grunts turned into screams of agony as the temperature soared. Scarlett flinched at the sound, her heart breaking with every cry that tore from his throat.

She could barely stand to watch, but she couldn't look away. This was her brother, the same brother who had once protected her, teased her, looked out for her. But now he was something else, something dark and twisted, and she couldn't save him.

Mike's grip on her hand tightened, and she held on, squeezing back as if to anchor herself in the midst of the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She didn't know if she could forgive him—or herself—for what they were doing, but she knew it had to be done. They had to stop the Mind Flayer, no matter the cost.

But as Billy's screams grew louder, Scarlett couldn't help but wonder if the cost was too high.

The intensity in the sauna room grew with every passing second. Billy's frantic banging and shouting echoed through the corridor, each slam against the door reverberating in Scarlett's chest. His voice, once familiar and comforting, was now twisted with anger and desperation.

"Max! Scarlett! Let me out of here!" Billy's voice was raw with pain as he pounded on the door, his shouts growing more desperate with every moment. "Let me out. Let me out!"

Scarlett's eyes were locked on the door, her heart aching at the sight of her brother's torment. She watched as he pounded his fists against the door, the sounds loud enough to make everyone jump. "You kids... you think this is funny?" Billy's voice dripped with venom, each word a mix of rage and confusion.

"You little shits think this is funny?" He spat on the window, his anger palpable. "What is this? Open the door. Open the door!" His repeated demands grew louder, his frustration evident in each forceful bang against the door.

Billy's fury was interrupted by a sudden, violent outburst. "Open the door! Open the goddamn door!" His shouting and banging shook the door, making everyone flinch. Scarlett felt a sob rise in her throat as she watched Billy drop to the floor, his anger dissolving into a fit of childlike screams and pounding fists.

Will walked over to the temperature control, checking the readout. "We're at 220," he announced, his voice tense. He walked back to the group, casting a worried glance at the sauna door.

Billy's cries turned to soft, agonized sobs. "It's not my fault. It's not my fault, Scarlett." His voice was broken, the words barely more than whispers. Scarlett's heart shattered at the sight.

She let go of Mike's hand, her steps faltering as she approached the door, tears streaming down her face.
"What's not your fault, Billy?" Scarlett's voice trembled as she spoke, her hand pressed against the window.

"I've done things, Scar. Really... bad things. I didn't mean to," Billy cried, his face contorted in anguish. Scarlett's heart ached as she watched him, her own tears mixing with her determination to help him.

"He made me do it," Billy sobbed, his voice a plea. "The Mind Flayer?" Scarlett asked, her lip quivering.

"I don't know, it's like a shadow," Billy whispered, rocking back and forth. "Like a giant shadow. Please, Scar."

"What did he make you do?" Scarlett questioned, her voice breaking as she tried to understand.

"It's not my fault, okay? Scar, please!" Billy's voice was desperate now. "Please, believe me, Scarlett, it's not my fault. I tried to stop him, okay? I did."

Scarlett's sobs were uncontrollable now. "I'm so sorry, Billy. I'm trying to help you, I promise. Everything's gonna be okay." Her cries were filled with anguish and empathy. "We want to help you. You just have to talk to us, okay? You have to talk to us. I believe you, Billy. We'll figure it out together, okay?"

"Scarlett, get away from the door!" Mike's urgent command cut through her emotional haze.

"What?" Scarlett looked at Mike, confused and distressed.

"SCAR, GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR!" Mike's shout was filled with panic.

Scarlett's heart raced as she stepped back quickly. As she did, Billy's rage reached a new level. He broke the glass window with his hand, shards falling to the floor as he screamed at her.

"Let me out, you bitch! Let me out! I'll fucking gut you!"
Billy's fury was uncontrollable. He ripped the pole from the door handle, and the sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the corridor. Lucas, acting quickly, grabbed his slingshot and fired a rock at Billy, hitting him with enough force to make him stumble back.

"Scar, come on!" Lucas yelled, urgency in his voice.
Max, tears streaming down her face, ran over to Scarlett and pulled her away from the door.

Scarlett stumbled as Max guided her, her sobs growing louder as she was dragged to safety. The sight of her brother's suffering and the chaos of the moment left her feeling helpless and heartbroken.

The room was filled with an eerie, flickering light as panic set in. Scarlett's voice trembled as she tried to explain, "I— I'm not doing that." Her words barely reached the others over the cacophony of Billy's roars and the chaotic scene unfolding before them.

Billy, now freed from the sauna's confines, lunged at the door, desperately trying to pry it open. The door flew ajar, and he stumbled out into the hallway. The group gasped and recoiled as Billy stood up straight, glaring menacingly at El.

El instinctively positioned herself between Billy and her friends, her arms extended protectively. "He can't get out, can he?" Max's voice was tinged with anxiety.

"No way," Lucas answered, shaking his head, but his confidence faltered as Billy charged at them, using his body to force the door open. The door flew open, and the terror in the room escalated as Billy stumbled forward.

Mike grabbed Scarlett's hand, pulling her towards him as El focused on lifting a heavy weight with her mind, directing it towards Billy with a fierce scream. The weight slammed into Billy, pinning him against the wall. El threw both her arms out, her concentration evident as she held Billy in place.

Scarlett stood frozen, her mind racing. "This can't be happening," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the chaos. Mike squeezed her hand tightly, trying to offer comfort amidst the unfolding disaster.

Billy roared, pushing against the weight, and with a powerful surge, he threw the weight forward, knocking El to the ground. He lunged at El, grabbing her by the hair and forcing her head back. The sight of Billy gripping El's neck, lifting her into the air, was almost more than Scarlett could bear.

El gasped for air, her face a mask of terror. Scarlett's fear turned into a surge of determination. "Come on, lightning lady!" she shouted, her eyes glowing with a blue hue as lightning crackled around her. She extended her arms, unleashing a torrent of blue electricity that surged from her hands, knocking Billy off his feet.

Billy released El, who collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Scarlett, her face contorted with concentration, lifted Billy into the air with her power, her hands trembling with exertion. She moved in a circle, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and then threw Billy forcefully through the brick wall. The impact created a massive hole, and Billy tumbled through it, disappearing into the woods.

The lights stopped flickering, and Scarlett's energy seemed to drain all at once. Her eyes rolled back, and she swayed on her feet. Mike rushed to her side, wrapping his arms around her, his hands gently stroking her hair as she sobbed uncontrollably.

El, watching from the floor, glared at the sight of Mike comforting Scarlett, a pang of jealousy evident in her eyes. She turned to look at the gaping hole in the wall, seeing Billy fleeing into the woods, before shifting her gaze back to Mike and Scarlett.

Scarlett, still sobbing, buried her face in Mike's shoulder. "I— I can't believe I just hurt my brother," she cried, her voice breaking with the weight of her grief. Max, her own eyes filled with tears, moved in to embrace Scarlett in a comforting hug, trying to offer solace in the midst of the emotional wreckage.

ASH SPEAKS!

will el and scar ever be friends?? we will never know. i always see most people ocs be immediately friends with el so i wanna be the odd one out and have scarlett and el hate each other for a bit

i know that scarlett was defending billy in this, but she is his sister and of course she loves him. she knows billy is an awful person, but she didn't wanna believe he was flayed.

also what should scarlett and maxs friendship ship name be? scarmax?? maxlett? scarline? maygrove? harfield?

what do you guys want to see with mike and scarlett in season 4?

who should play blue lightning lady?

also this is scarletts spotify playlist!