chapter four:
❛ true sight? ❜

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Scarlett and Max continued their search for Dart through the school, their determination unyielding. Scarlett, ever the daredevil, glided effortlessly on her rollerblades, while Max walked alongside her, holding her skateboard under her arm. The school hallways were eerily quiet, the occasional flicker of fluorescent lights casting long shadows on the walls.

They approached the gym, where Scarlett suddenly slowed to a halt, her instincts tingling. Something wasn't right. The air felt charged, as if electricity was pulsing through it, making the hairs on Scarlett's arms stand on end.

"Come on, let's check the gym," Scarlett suggested, her voice low but firm. There was an underlying tension in her words, a sense of urgency that Max immediately picked up on.

Max nodded in agreement, and without a word, Scarlett tilted her head to the side. The gym doors creaked open as if responding to her silent command, the hinges groaning under the strain. The two girls exchanged a wary glance before stepping inside.

The gym was dimly lit, the vast space swallowed by shadows. The echo of their footsteps—Scarlett's rolling wheels and Max's cautious steps—bounced off the walls, adding to the unease that settled in their chests. The girls moved cautiously, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of Dart.

A faint noise caught Scarlett's attention, pulling her gaze toward the boys' locker room. She stopped, her body tensing as she listened carefully. The sound was muffled, almost like something scurrying in the dark.

Max noticed Scarlett's sudden change in demeanor and glanced at her, concern flashing in her eyes. Scarlett nodded toward the locker room, and without hesitation, they made their way toward the source of the noise. Scarlett's rollerblades glided over the polished floor, while Max followed closely behind, her grip tightening on her skateboard.

The locker room was pitch dark, the lights flickering ominously as they stepped inside. The darkness was thick, almost oppressive, pressing down on them as they moved deeper into the room. Scarlett's frustration bubbled up, her nerves on edge as she kicked aside a stray towel that had been left on the floor.

"Where the fuck is this slug?" she grumbled, her voice tinged with impatience. She began to throw things around, searching every corner and crevice, her agitation growing with each passing second.

Then, without warning, a loud yell shattered the silence, causing both girls to whirl around, their hearts pounding in their chests. Scarlett screamed in surprise, her powers surging uncontrollably as a surge of electricity crackled through the room. The lights flickered violently, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

But it was only Mike, who had somehow managed to sneak up on them. Scarlett's heart raced as she tried to catch her breath, her hand pressed to her chest in an attempt to calm herself.

"Freckles! You can't do that!" Scarlett snapped, her voice laced with both annoyance and relief. Her emotions were still in overdrive, and the sudden scare had rattled her more than she cared to admit.

Mike rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated. "What are you guys doing here?" he demanded, his tone sharp.

"We're looking for Dart," Max and Scarlett replied in unison, their voices echoing off the locker room walls.

"This is the boys' locker room," Mike reminded them, his voice dripping with irritation as if they had missed some obvious detail.

Scarlett shrugged nonchalantly, her expression defiant. "So? No one's here except us, Freckles."

Mike huffed in frustration, clearly not in the mood for an argument. "You should just go home," he snapped, turning away from them, clearly hoping the conversation would end there.

But Scarlett and Max were far from finished. They followed him out of the locker room, their persistence unwavering.

"Why do you hate us so much?" Max asked, her voice soft but carrying a hint of hurt. She had picked up on the tension between them and Mike, and it was starting to wear on her.

"I don't hate you," Mike snapped back, not even bothering to turn around. "How can I hate you? I don't even know you."

"But you don't want us in your party," Scarlett countered, her voice tinged with accusation. She wasn't going to let him dodge the question that easily.

"Correct," Mike replied bluntly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Why not?!" Scarlett demanded, her frustration bubbling over. She skated in front of him, forcing him to stop and look at her.

"Because you're both annoying!" Mike shouted, his irritation spilling over. Scarlett rolled her eyes, unimpressed, while Max looked taken aback, her confidence shaken.

Mike continued, his voice sharp with irritation. "We don't need more party members. I'm the paladin, Will's our cleric, Dustin's our bard, Lucas is our ranger, and El is our mage."

"El? Who's El?" Scarlett asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Someone. No one," Mike stammered, clearly flustered by the unexpected question.

"Which is it? Someone or no one?" Scarlett pressed, her suspicion growing by the second. She wasn't about to let him off the hook.

Mike's face twisted in frustration, his patience wearing thin. "She was in our party a long time ago. She moved away, okay?" he snapped, trying to shut down the conversation before it could go any further.

But Scarlett wasn't letting go. She rolled in front of him again, determined to get answers. "She was a mage? What could she do? Magic tricks or something?"

Max, ever the curious one, chimed in, eager to keep the pressure on. "Yeah, like magic? I could be your Zoomer."

"And I could be your Electro," Scarlett added, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Mike scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "Those aren't even real things."

"They could be, Freckles," Scarlett retorted, her smirk widening. She began rollerblading around Mike in circles, twirling her finger as the lights overhead flickered in response to her powers. "See? Electro."

Mike stared at her, his expression blank, but his eyes betrayed a spark of curiosity. "Mind-blowing," he said dryly, but then his expression shifted, his eyes widening in realization. "I knew it! You have powers."

Scarlett's smirk widened, her blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "Whatever, Freckles. Just don't tell anyone. This stays between the three of us."

Mike watched her closely as she continued to circle him, his curiosity getting the better of him. "How do you have powers?" he asked, his voice softer, almost as if he didn't want to break the spell that had settled over them.

Scarlett's smirk faltered slightly, her tone becoming more serious. "Not sure. I lost my memories when I was eight."

Mike nodded slowly, his expression softening, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. It was a subtle change, but Scarlett noticed, and she wasn't about to let it slide.

"I see that smile, Freckles! I know you're impressed!" Scarlett exclaimed, continuing to circle him, the lights flickering and sparking with every movement of her rollerblades. Her nose began to trickle with blood again, a familiar but unwelcome side effect of using her powers.

But Mike, ever the skeptic, wasn't fully convinced. "I don't see any tricks other than you flickering the lights. You're just making them go on and off and spinning in circles."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated. "If it's so easy, be me for a day and try to keep your anger in control without making something flicker or your wrist glow."

She kept circling him, the room spinning as she skated around. Mike finally relented, holding up his hands in surrender. "Okay, you're making me dizzy. Please just stop."

Max, who had been watching with amusement, chimed in, her tone playful. "She won't stop until you let us join your party."

Scarlett hummed in agreement, still gliding in circles around Mike. "It's a simple question. Are we in or out? Zoomer and Electro."

Mike sighed, clearly worn down by their persistence, but Scarlett could see a small smile tugging at his lips. Just as he was about to respond, something strange happened.

Scarlett felt a sudden force, as if an invisible hand was yanking her backward. She was thrown off her feet, her rollerblades skidding out from under her as she crashed to the ground. It was as if a powerful magnet had pulled her, the force unexpected and disorienting.

"Scar!" Both Mike and Max cried out in unison, rushing over to her.

Mike quickly offered his hand, and Scarlett grabbed it, using him to steady herself as she tried to balance on her rollerblades. Her heart was racing, confusion and fear warring in her chest as she tried to process what had just happened.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked, his voice laced with genuine concern as he helped her to her feet.

Scarlett gave a shaky nod, trying to play it off with a joke despite the panic bubbling beneath the surface. "I'm fine, Freckles. Don't cry."

Mike rolled his eyes, but the concern in his gaze didn't waver. "What just happened?"

Scarlett shook her head, still bewildered. "I don't know. It was like a magnet pulled me off my feet. I didn't even trip."

As she spoke, Scarlett noticed Mike's eyes widening in realization. He suddenly looked towards the gym doors, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. He started to walk towards them, almost as if drawn by some unseen force.

Scarlett furrowed her eyebrows, suspicion and jealousy gnawing at her. She reached out with her mind, trying to read his thoughts. A single word echoed in her mind: "El."

Scarlett frowned deeply, feeling a pang of jealousy in her chest. This "El" was clearly someone important, someone Mike couldn't get out of his head. The realization made her feel small, despite the power coursing through her veins.

As Mike walked out of the gym, Scarlett followed him, her rollerblades gliding silently across the floor. "Hey, wait up!" she called, but Mike kept moving, not even glancing back. Scarlett quickened her pace, catching up with him just outside the gym doors. "What's wrong? I thought we were finally getting somewhere."

Mike stopped in his tracks, turning sharply to face her. His expression was a mix of frustration and something else she couldn't quite place. "Just leave me alone, Scarlett. I don't need this right now," he snapped.

Scarlett recoiled slightly but refused to back down. "You're the one who was just impressed with my powers. Now you're shutting me out again? What's your deal, Freckles?"

Mike shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "My deal? You're the one who can't stop showing off! Maybe I was wrong to think you were anything but trouble," he retorted.

Scarlett's jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms defensively. "I'm not just some show-off, Mike. I thought... I thought we were starting to trust each other. But if you're going to keep pushing me away, then maybe you're right. Maybe you don't deserve to know what I can do."

Before Mike could respond, his walkie-talkie crackled to life. Will's voice came through, sounding tense and urgent. "Mike? Meet us at the boys' bathroom near Mr. Salano's room. Now!"

Mike and Scarlett exchanged a look, the argument momentarily forgotten. Without another word, they started walking quickly toward the bathroom. As they approached, they saw Lucas and Max trailing behind, and Dustin was already there, his posture tense and shifty. Scarlett's sharp eyes noticed something odd about the way Dustin was holding his hat. It was like he was hiding something underneath, but she decided not to press the issue—there were more immediate concerns.

"Where's Will?" Mike asked, his voice edged with worry as he glanced around the empty corridor.

"He's not here," Dustin muttered, his eyes darting nervously.

Panic set in as they all began searching for Will, splitting off to cover more ground. Scarlett and Mike ended up outside, behind the school. The field was eerily quiet, the setting sun casting long shadows over the grass. Scarlett spotted Will first, standing alone in the middle of the field with his eyes closed, his body unnaturally still.

"There he is!" Scarlett yelled, grabbing Mike's hand and dragging him toward Will.

As they reached him, Scarlett instinctively took Will's hand, her mind-reading powers kicking in without her even trying. She was suddenly pulled into Will's mind, a dark and chaotic space filled with swirling shadows. The largest shadow seemed to move with purpose, a malevolent force invading Will's very being. Scarlett felt a surge of desperation as she tried to use her electricity powers to fight it off, but the shadow was too strong. It lashed out at her, and she was thrown violently out of Will's mind.

In the real world, Scarlett's body went pale as a ghost. Her nose started to bleed profusely, and she crumpled to the ground. Mike was at her side in an instant, his arms wrapping around her as he desperately tried to wake her. "Scarlett, come on, wake up! Please, wake up!" he begged, his voice cracking with fear.

By now, Joyce had arrived, and the rest of the group—Max, Lucas, Dustin—were all gathered around, watching in horror. Max rushed over as Scarlett's eyes fluttered open, weak but conscious.

"Scarlett!" Max cried, flinging her arms around her in relief.

Scarlett groaned, the exhaustion hitting her like a ton of bricks, but she managed a weak, sarcastic smile as she looked up at Mike. "So... holding me in your arms, huh? Never took you for the romantic type, Freckles," she teased, even though her voice was barely above a whisper.

Mike let out a shaky laugh, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it," he muttered, but there was no mistaking the concern in his eyes as he gently helped her sit up.

Scarlett's head spun, and she leaned heavily against Max, who held onto her tightly. The group stayed close, their worry for Scarlett and Will unspoken but deeply felt as they tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Scarlett leaned heavily against the brick wall of the school, her body still trembling from the intense experience she had just been through. Her legs felt weak, and her mind was a jumble of confusion and fear, but she tried to mask it with her usual bravado.

She watched as Joyce gently guided Will into the car, her motherly concern palpable even from a distance. The sight of Will slumped in the back seat, looking pale and exhausted, made Scarlett's heart clench. She had never seen anything like what had happened to him, and the memory of the shadow she had encountered in his mind sent a shiver down her spine.

As Joyce's car pulled away, Scarlett exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself. She dabbed at her bloody nose with a tissue, but her hands were still shaking. Max, who had been standing quietly beside her, finally spoke up, her voice laced with concern. "That was... insane. What the hell happened back there?"

Scarlett pushed herself off the wall, wobbling slightly before regaining her balance. "It totally freaked me out," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "When I went into his mind, all I could see was this massive shadow, and then it physically threw me out. Like, it actually tossed me out of his mind, like I didn't belong there," Scarlett explained, her eyes still wide with the lingering fear.

Lucas and Dustin, who had been hanging back a bit, exchanged shocked looks before stepping closer. Dustin's eyes were wide with a mix of fear and awe. "Wait, you were inside his mind?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief and a hint of excitement.

Scarlett nodded, still trying to process what had happened herself. "Yeah, it's like I got sucked in when I touched him," she said, her voice trailing off as she remembered the sensation of the shadow forcing her out. She shivered involuntarily at the memory.

Lucas, ever the analytical one, tilted his head slightly as he studied her. "So, you're like El, then?" he asked, his tone curious but cautious.

Scarlett furrowed her brows, not recognizing the name. "I don't know who this El person is, but sure, I guess. I don't really remember how I got these powers, but yeah, I have them," she said with a shrug, trying to play it off as if it was no big deal, even though inside, she was anything but calm.

Dustin's face lit up with a grin, clearly fascinated by the idea. "What can you do?" he asked eagerly, practically bouncing on his toes.

Scarlett smirked despite herself, appreciating the distraction. "I can control electricity and read people's minds," she said, her tone almost teasing as if she was daring them to be impressed.

"Tubular!" Dustin exclaimed, his excitement contagious. He looked at her like she was some kind of superhero, and for a moment, Scarlett almost felt proud of her abilities.

But Max's voice cut through the moment, bringing a dose of reality back into the conversation. "How did all of this not freak you guys out?" she asked, her voice tinged with incredulity as she looked between the boys.

The boys, however, seemed more preoccupied with their own thoughts, seemingly oblivious to Max's concern. Lucas muttered to himself, his voice low and troubled. "Two episodes in two days," he said, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

Mike, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up, his tone grim. "It's getting worse," he stated, his eyes clouded with worry.

Lucas turned to Mike, his expression questioning. "You think it's True Sight?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Scarlett and Max exchanged confused glances, both of them completely in the dark about what the boys were talking about. "What's True Sight?" they asked in unison, their voices tinged with frustration at being kept out of the loop.

But instead of an answer, Mike shot Lucas a warning look, effectively shutting down any further discussion. Scarlett, growing increasingly irritated by the secrecy, rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Okay, don't tell us. It's not like you don't know I have powers now," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She turned to Max, her irritation still evident. "Come on, Max, let's go home."

Carefully, Scarlett began to make her way down the school steps, her rollerblades making the descent a bit tricky. Max followed her, hopping onto her skateboard as they both headed off. Scarlett glanced back over her shoulder just in time to see Mike watching them go, his face a mix of concern, guilt, and something she couldn't quite place. It made her feel unsettled, like there was something important he wasn't telling them.

As they skated away, the distance between them and the school growing, Dustin turned to Mike with a pleading look, his voice filled with quiet urgency. "Mike, we should tell them. I mean, Scarlett has powers. She could help us," he said, his tone almost desperate.

But Mike shook his head, his expression hardening with stubbornness. "No. Scarlett is nosy, and she'll probably gossip," he snapped, his voice sharper than he intended.

Dustin sighed, clearly not convinced by Mike's reasoning. "I don't think she's either of those things, Mike—" he began, his voice softening as he tried to reason with his friend.

But Mike cut him off, his tone final and unyielding. "It doesn't matter. We're not telling them," he said, turning his back on Dustin and walking away, leaving the conversation—and Dustin's concerns—hanging in the air.

Meanwhile, Scarlett and Max skated in silence, both of them lost in their thoughts. The events of the day weighed heavily on them, and though they didn't speak, there was an unspoken understanding between them. They were in this together, whatever 'this' was, and they would figure it out, even if the boys wouldn't let them in on all the details.

As they continued on their way home, Scarlett couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming, something that would change everything. And for the first time, she wasn't sure if her powers would be enough to protect the people she cared about.

The next day, Scarlett stayed home from school, nursing the worst headache she'd ever experienced. It felt like her brain was being squeezed, the pressure pulsing behind her eyes. She knew it was a side effect of what happened the day before—the encounter with that shadow in Will's mind had taken a toll on her, both physically and mentally. But despite the pain, she couldn't stop worrying about Will. Something was wrong, something beyond what they could see, and she needed to make sure he was okay.

Sitting on the porch of her house, Scarlett methodically laced up her rollerblades, the routine motion helping to ground her amidst the swirling thoughts. She grabbed her backpack, which she'd stuffed with a few comics and a change of clothes, just in case. She had no idea what to expect, but she had to be prepared for anything.

Scarlett didn't know where Will lived—she hadn't exactly spent time at the Byers' home. But she knew she could find out. She closed her eyes, focusing on the image of Will in her mind, trying to visualize his house, the layout, the feel of it. The process was still new to her, and she wasn't sure how much control she had over it, but she concentrated, letting the image form.

Suddenly, she was enveloped in darkness. The black void stretched around her, and in the distance, she could make out a house, small and worn but filled with a sense of warmth. It was like she was seeing through Will's eyes, feeling the familiarity of the place. She took note of the details—the paint peeling on the front door, the small porch cluttered with a few old chairs. Then, just as quickly, she snapped back to reality, her eyes fluttering open. A small trickle of blood ran from her nose, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand.

The image of the house was fresh in her mind as she stood up, wobbling slightly as she adjusted to the sensation of being back in the real world. Carefully, she made her way down the porch steps, her rollerblades clicking against the wood, and then set off toward the Byers' home.

The autumn air was crisp against her cheeks as she skated through the streets, the fallen leaves crunching under her wheels. The neighborhood was quiet, the kind of quiet that made her hyper-aware of every sound, every movement. As she approached the Byers' house, Scarlett slowed down, taking in the sight of the place she had just envisioned.

To her surprise, she wasn't the only one with the idea to check on Will. As she approached, she spotted Mike walking up to the front door, his posture tense and his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Scarlett groaned inwardly—of all the people to run into, of course it had to be him.

"I guess we both got the same idea," Scarlett remarked as she carefully walked up the steps, her rollerblades making it a bit tricky. Mike was already knocking on the door when she caught up to him.

Mike turned sharply at the sound of her voice, his expression sour. "What the hell are you doing here?" he snapped, clearly not in the mood for company.

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "To check on Will," she replied, pausing as she tilted her head slightly, reading his thoughts. "Just like you," she added with a smirk, causing Mike to glare at her.

"Don't read my mind," he muttered angrily, just as the door opened, revealing Joyce. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of both of them on her porch.

"Hey, Mike... And Scarlett, right?" Joyce asked, her voice strained but polite. Scarlett nodded in response.

"Hi, Mrs. Byers. We're really sorry to intrude, but we're both worried about Will," Scarlett said, her tone soft and apologetic.

Joyce's eyes flickered with anxiety as she stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind her. "Sorry, guys. Now's not really a good time," she said, her voice tinged with a forced calm that did nothing to hide her underlying panic.

"Is he okay?" Mike asked, his concern evident as he stared at Joyce, trying to read her expression.

Joyce sighed, running a hand through her hair as she glanced back at the door. "Yeah... You know, he's just not feeling real well," she said, her voice wavering slightly as she tried to usher them away. "He's laying down, so I'll tell him you two stopped by, okay?" she added, patting their shoulders in a motherly gesture.

Scarlett gave Mike a look, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sensed there was more going on than Joyce was letting on. Before Joyce could close the door, Mike blurted out, "It's about the shadow monster, isn't it?"

Joyce froze, her hand still on the door handle as she turned back to face them, her expression now one of fear and resignation. She hesitated for a moment, then sighed, stepping aside to let them in. "Come inside," she said quietly, her voice trembling as she opened the door wide for them.

Scarlett's heart pounded in her chest as she exchanged a quick glance with Mike. They both knew this was about more than just a sick day. The tension in the air was thick as they stepped into the house, the door closing behind them with a soft click. Whatever was going on with Will, it was far from over, and Scarlett had a sinking feeling that this was only the beginning.

ASH SPEAKS!

the hargrove-mayfield sisters are separated for 2 or 3 chapters☹️