chapter nine:
❛ battle of starcourt ❜

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Billy carried Eleven and Scarlett into the ruined Starcourt Mall, the remnants of the once bustling shopping center now an eerie wasteland. The place was devastated, with debris scattered everywhere and gaping holes in the walls and ceiling. The giant Mind Flayer, a monstrous, otherworldly creature, was emerging from a massive hole in the ceiling, its tentacles slithering menacingly through the ruined space.

Scarlett, barely conscious, groaned as pain radiated from her wounded leg. The injury was severe, the result of a vicious bite from the Mind Flayer. Her vision was blurred, but she could make out the frightening sight of the beast and the shadowy figure of Billy standing over them, a cruel smirk on his face.

"Don't be afraid. It'll be over soon. Just try and stay... very still," Billy's voice was cold, laden with malice as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction.

Scarlett struggled to move, only to realize her hands and feet were bound with thick ropes. Panic surged through her, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she tried to free herself. Eleven, who was beginning to stir beside her, looked over at Scarlett with wide, frightened eyes. She reached out and grasped Scarlett's hand, dragging them both backward, away from the approaching menace.

The Mind Flayer's tentacles began to advance toward them, their slimy, pulsating forms slithering ominously. The beast hissed, and Scarlett's heart raced with fear. She tried to focus, her mind whirling with desperate determination. Electricity crackled around her fingertips as she used her powers to shock the tentacle that reached out toward them. The Mind Flayer shrieked in pain, recoiling from the sudden jolt.

The sudden explosion of fireworks startled Scarlett, drawing her attention to Lucas, Will, Steve, Dustin, Nancy, and Jonathan, who were hurling them at the Mind Flayer. The pyrotechnics exploded with bright bursts of color, momentarily illuminating the darkened mall and creating a brief distraction for the monster.

"Eleven, where are Max and Mike?" Scarlett's voice trembled as she scanned the area, her eyes searching desperately.

"They were knocked out," Eleven replied, her expression one of grim determination. Scarlett's heart sank at the news. She focused again on the ropes binding her, seeing the electricity crackle around them before they finally snapped. With a pained, labored movement, she pushed herself up and began to run, despite the searing pain in her leg.

Billy's shout echoed behind her. "Get back here!" He lunged for her, grabbing her waist. Scarlett screamed, her powers flaring as she zapped him with electricity. He recoiled, though he wasn't significantly hurt. Scarlett limped into a store, her steps faltering as pain shot through her.

In the back rooms of the store, Scarlett found Max and Mike unconscious on the floor. "Max, Mike!" she shouted, shaking them urgently. Her voice was desperate, tinged with fear and concern.

Max stirred first, groaning and opening her eyes. "Scarlett, oh my god. You're okay," Max cried, throwing her arms around her sister in relief. Scarlett turned her attention to Mike, shaking him with increasing urgency. "Mike, wake up. Please."

Mike's eyes shot open, and he sat up abruptly, his face flushed with shock and embarrassment. He realized he had just kissed Scarlett. "S-Scarlett? You're okay," he stammered, his voice filled with relief and confusion.

Before Scarlett could respond, a sharp, agonizing pain seared through her leg where the Mind Flayer had bitten her. She cried out in pain, clutching her leg. Max and Mike exchanged worried glances, their concern palpable.

"Scar, you need to use your powers. There's a piece of the Mind Flayer inside your leg. It happened to El's ankle," Max explained urgently. Scarlett's eyes widened in horror and disbelief as she looked at her leg, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Determined, Scarlett hovered her hand over the wound, electricity crackling around her fingers. She focused intently, feeling the excruciating pain as her powers extracted the piece of the Mind Flayer from her leg. With a final, agonized scream, she pulled the creature out and threw it across the floor. The immediate relief was almost as intense as the pain, but she was exhausted.

Breathing heavily, Scarlett stumbled forward, supported by Mike and Max. "I feel like passing out," she muttered weakly. Max and Mike steadied her, their expressions a mix of worry and determination.

As they made their way back through the store, they stopped in their tracks. The sight before them was harrowing: the Mind Flayer's tentacles protruding grotesquely from Billy's stomach. Scarlett's and Max's faces went pale with shock. "Billy!" they cried out in unison.

Scarlett limped toward her brother, tears streaming down her face. Billy was on the ground, gasping for air, his body convulsing as he coughed up black blood. The Mind Flayer's massive form slumped to the ground, lifeless. Scarlett knelt beside Billy, her sobs racking her body as she hovered over him. "Billy," she cried, her voice breaking with anguish.

Max dropped to her knees beside Eleven, who had remained frozen in shock. Eleven wrapped her arms around Max, comforting her as Max cried. Mike stood nearby, watching Scarlett's desperate grief with a heavy heart.

"Billy, please. Get up. You're— you're not dying on me," Scarlett pleaded, her voice desperate and broken.

Billy gasped for air, his strength fading rapidly. "I'm sorry, Scar. I'm sorry," he managed to whisper before his eyes closed, his body going limp. "Billy... Billy!" Scarlett's scream was filled with a heart-wrenching pain as she tried to wake him, but it was too late.

In her fury and heartbreak, Scarlett turned on Eleven, her eyes blazing with accusation and anger. "What did you say to him!? What the hell did you say!" she screamed, her voice trembling with rage and pain.

Eleven's face was filled with sorrow and regret. "Scarlett..." she started, but her voice was lost in the overwhelming tide of Scarlett's grief. As Scarlett's rage subsided into tearful sobs, Mike stepped forward, pulling her into his arms as she wept uncontrollably. The chaos and destruction of the mall seemed to fade into a painful, sorrowful silence as Scarlett's cries echoed through the ruined space.

The blaring sirens of the ambulance cut through the night air as it parked outside Starcourt Mall. The once grand shopping center was now a scene of devastation, with emergency lights flashing against the backdrop of a smoky, wrecked landscape. Scarlett sat on the edge of the ambulance stretcher, her leg propped up as a paramedic carefully cleaned and stitched the wound left by the Mind Flayer.

Scarlett's face was pale, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Her leg throbbed with pain, but the medication numbing the area provided some relief. The paramedic worked efficiently, his hands steady as he threaded the needle through the gash on her leg. Scarlett winced occasionally, but she remained quiet, her focus elsewhere.

Mike sat beside her, holding her hand tightly. His face was etched with worry and concern as he looked at her, trying to offer whatever comfort he could. He was silent, but his presence was a source of strength for Scarlett. Every so often, he would glance up at the paramedic's work, his expression one of grim determination.

Scarlett's gaze wandered outside the ambulance. The night was dark, illuminated only by the flickering lights of emergency vehicles. She saw Joyce Byers standing nearby, her arms wrapped around Eleven, who was sobbing into her shoulder. The sight of Eleven's tears, mixed with the overwhelming sense of relief and joy, hit Scarlett hard.

Eleven was clearly overcome with emotion, her sobs a mixture of joy and exhaustion. She had been through so much, and despite the turmoil, she was grateful to be safe and surrounded by those she cared about. The scene was poignant, a stark contrast to the turmoil Scarlett had just experienced.

Scarlett's heart ached as she watched them. She remembered the anger and grief that had fueled her earlier outburst, the raw pain she felt as she watched her brother die. In her fury, she had lashed out at Eleven, blaming her for things that were beyond anyone's control. Now, seeing Eleven in such a vulnerable state, Scarlett felt a wave of remorse.

The paramedic's voice brought her back to the present. "Almost done here," he said, his tone professional but kind. He finished stitching the last part of the wound and began to bandage it carefully.

Mike squeezed Scarlett's hand gently. "You did great," he said softly, his voice filled with reassurance. Scarlett nodded, managing a weak smile.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice strained.

As the paramedic finished up, Scarlett's eyes drifted back to Eleven and Joyce. The sight of Eleven's joy was bittersweet, a reminder of the pain and loss that Scarlett had experienced. She felt a deep pang of guilt for her harsh words, knowing that Eleven had also suffered immensely.

"Mike..." Scarlett's voice was barely a whisper. "I feel so awful about what I said to Eleven. She didn't deserve that. I was just... I was just so overwhelmed."

Mike looked at her, his eyes full of understanding. "I know, Scar. It's okay to feel that way. We all went through something traumatic. Eleven understands. She knows you were just grieving."

Scarlett nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again. "I hope she does. I just wish I could take it back."

Mike placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You'll get a chance to make things right. But right now, you need to take care of yourself. Everyone's been through a lot, and we all need to heal."

Scarlett took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. As the ambulance doors closed and the vehicle began to move, Scarlett looked once more at Eleven and Joyce, hoping that one day, they could all find some semblance of peace and understanding amidst the chaos and heartbreak.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Scarlett and Mike stood in the midst of the cluttered room, the atmosphere charged with the mixture of their emotions and the reality of their impending separation. The room, once vibrant with memories, now felt empty as Scarlett packed away her belongings.

Scarlett's gaze was fixed on the koala bear perched precariously on the top shelf of her closet. Her attempts to summon her once-powerful electricity to retrieve it were futile, the absence of her abilities leaving her feeling powerless. Her frustration boiled over as she muttered a curse under her breath, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

Mike's quiet chuckle caught her attention, and she turned to see him standing in the doorway, a soft smile playing on his lips. "What are you doing here?" Scarlett's voice was a mix of surprise and curiosity.

Mike walked towards her, his gaze gentle and full of understanding. "You're not gonna leave without a goodbye, are you?"

Scarlett's expression faltered, a shadow of sadness crossing her face. "I thought it would be better that way..." Her voice trailed off, her eyes dropping to the floor, burdened by the weight of her grief and the changes in her life.

Mike reached up to the top shelf, retrieving the koala bear with ease. He handed it to Scarlett with a reassuring smile. "You'll get your powers back, Scar."

Scarlett looked at him skeptically, her brows knitting together. "I don't know about that, Freckles."

Mike's gaze softened as he took a step closer. "Did you talk to your mom about Thanksgiving?"

Scarlett nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Yes. She's super hyped to meet you. Although, now she thinks we're dating."

Mike's expression shifted, a mixture of relief and nervousness crossing his features. "About that... Scarlett, I love you."

Scarlett's laughter was soft and filled with affection. "What?" Mike's confusion was palpable.

"I know, Freckles. Eleven and I heard you at the cabin two months ago when you said you loved me. Eleven and I are on good terms now, so..." Scarlett leaned in, closing the distance between them, and pressed her lips to Mike's. The kiss was tender, yet passionate, a culmination of their shared history and feelings. As they pulled away, Scarlett's eyes held a mixture of love and certainty. "I love you too, Mike. I have since the moment you brought me back to life at the lab two years ago."

Mike's eyes widened in surprise, the memory of those words from two years ago resurfacing in his mind. "Electric love," he said, repeating the phrase that had become so significant to them both.

Scarlett chuckled, her heart swelling with warmth. "So... will you be my boyfriend?"

Mike's grin was wide, though he stuttered slightly. "Y-yeah."

Before Mike could react further, the door burst open with a sharp bang, and Neil's voice cut through the moment with harshness. "Scarlett! Let's go!"

The interruption was jarring, and Scarlett and Mike pulled away from each other, their faces flushed with the lingering emotion of their kiss. Scarlett's eyes darted to the door, where Neil stood with an impatient, almost venomous expression. The reality of the move and the finality of leaving were thrust back into focus.

Scarlett took a deep breath, her hand slipping into Mike's for a moment before she had to let go. "I'll see you soon, okay?" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mike nodded, his eyes filled with both sadness and hope. "Yeah, soon."

With one last, lingering glance at Mike, Scarlett walked towards the door, the weight of her grief and the uncertainty of the future heavy on her shoulders. Mike watched her go, his heart aching with the knowledge that their time together was momentarily cut short, but filled with the hope that their love would guide them through the coming changes.

ASH SPEAKS!

and thats a wrap on season 3! onto season 4...which means this fic is almost over :((

dont forget to comment and vote!! it helps us writers stay motivated:)

also i published a peter parker fic so you guys should check that out! its called "bad chem"