chapter seven:
❛ blue lightning lady ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE

introducing...
patricia clarkson as elaine fletcher (also known as blue lightning lady)

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Scarlett's footsteps echoed through the cavernous stairwell as she dashed up the final flights of stairs. Her heart raced, her breaths coming in shallow, panicked bursts. She reached the top, spotting her friends gathered near the elevator, their faces etched with concern. "Guys!
Nancy, Jonathan! They're in trouble!" Scarlett shouted, her voice trembling with urgency.

El and Mike's faces went pale as they exchanged hurried glances. Without a word, they surged into motion, sprinting after Scarlett as they raced through the narrow, dimly lit hallways. Scarlett led the way, her mind racing with fear and adrenaline. They rounded a corner to find Jonathan, fire extinguisher in hand, desperately hammering it against a bedroom window.

The scene before them was chaos. The room was filled with the acrid stench of smoke and the screeching of an enormous, grotesque creature. Its body, a writhing mass of dark, viscous limbs and rotting flesh, was thrashing wildly, causing the room's furniture to topple and shatter.
Jonathan's eyes were wide with desperation as he continued his futile assault on the window, trying to create an escape route.

El and Scarlett locked eyes for a brief, intense moment. Without exchanging words, they both understood their roles. El's face was set in a determined grimace as she raised her arms, focusing her telekinetic power. Scarlett's eyes shimmered with blue electricity, crackling with raw energy. El grunted as she pushed outwards with a powerful mental shove, sending the bedroom door flying off its hinges in a shower of splinters.

The creature turned its malevolent gaze toward them, emitting a blood-curdling screech that reverberated through the walls. Mike's voice was barely audible over the din. "Jesus!" he cursed, his eyes wide with terror.

"What the f—" Max's face was a mask of shock, her mouth opening in disbelief as Scarlett stepped forward. Her fingers crackled with blue electricity, and with a fierce shout, she thrust her arm outward.

The electricity surged, lifting the creature off its feet and hurling it against the nearest wall. The impact created a thunderous crash, and the room shook with the force of it.

Scarlett's breath came in ragged gasps as she used all her strength to keep the creature pinned. Blood trickled from her nose, a sign of the immense power she was exerting. She threw the creature into the ceiling with a forceful slam, then crashed it into the opposite wall. The creature screeched in agony, its body convulsing as it was slammed into the floor with a final, earth-shaking impact.

El, her brow furrowed in concentration, extended both arms. With a powerful yell, she focused her telekinetic energy, lifting the creature off the floor and sending it soaring out the broken window. The glass exploded outward, showering the yard below as the creature tumbled into the night.

The room fell silent as the dust settled. Scarlett and El turned to their friends, who were now catching their breath and assessing the damage. "Go!" El commanded urgently, her eyes darting toward Jonathan, who was already pushing past them to reach Nancy.

Scarlett darted toward the stairs, her mind racing with the urgency of the situation. She burst out of the building, her heart pounding in her chest. She skidded to a halt at the edge of a sewer grate, her eyes widening as she saw the Mind Flayer's form dissolving into the murky depths below. The creature's grotesque, writhing limbs were being swallowed by the darkness of the sewer.

"Come back here! You coward!" Scarlett shouted, her voice echoing with a mixture of rage and defiance. Her power surged, causing the nearby streetlights to flicker and sway erratically. The flickering lights cast eerie shadows across her face as she watched the creature vanish into the darkness.

Her friends arrived moments later, breathless and disheveled. They gathered around Scarlett, their faces reflecting a mix of relief and exhaustion. Scarlett's shoulders heaved with heavy breaths as she stood at the edge of the sewer, her eyes fixed on the darkness below.

Hours later, Scarlett and El sat cross-legged on the floor of El's room in the cabin, their blindfolds securely in place. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a nightlight. El's focus was on finding Billy, but Scarlett was deeply immersed in her own quest—seeking the enigmatic blue lightning lady who had appeared in her visions.

Scarlett's concentration was interrupted by a trickle of blood from her nose. She reached up, feeling the warm liquid with a sense of unease. She pulled out a tissue, gently wiping away the blood, and noticed El doing the same. The black void around her seemed endless, its darkness almost palpable. Scarlett called out into the void, her voice echoing in the emptiness.

"Blue lightning lady! Please!" she shouted urgently, her voice quivering slightly.

Her call was answered by a soft, resonant voice that seemed to emanate from all directions at once. "Scarlett," the voice rang in her ears. She spun around, her eyes straining against the darkness. Emerging from the gloom was the blue lightning lady, dressed in an elaborate, witchy spiritual outfit that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal glow. The woman moved toward Scarlett with an air of quiet authority.

"It's time," the blue lightning lady said, her voice carrying an enigmatic tone.

Scarlett's confusion was evident as she tilted her head to the side. "For what?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"To fight. But you still have to find the source with El," the lady explained. "One thing before you go. You must know, you can stop calling me the blue lightning lady. I'm your grandmother."

Scarlett's eyes widened in shock. "G-Grandmother?" she stuttered, her voice a mix of disbelief and awe.

Her grandmother, Elaine Fletcher, extended her hands towards Scarlett. "I'm Elaine Fletcher, Michelle. I am the source of your power," Elaine explained, her voice gentle but firm.

Scarlett blinked rapidly, her mind racing. "What?" she said, trying to process the information. The use of her biological name, Michelle, left her reeling.

"Walk with me," Elaine instructed, and Scarlett complied, following her grandmother through the void. As they moved, images began to materialize around them—faded photographs and blurry memories that seemed to float in the air. Elaine's voice narrated the past.

"When your mother was involved in the MKUltra Project, she had no idea of the effects it would have on you," Elaine began. Scarlett watched as the pictures showed scenes of her mother's involvement in the project, and her heart ached with the weight of the revelation.

"And I wasn't alive at this point," Elaine continued, her voice carrying a note of sorrow. "It was too late for me to tell her that you would inherit the ability to control electricity like me."

Scarlett's eyes widened in astonishment. "You have powers like mine? But I thought I got these powers from the project, like everyone else?" she questioned, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Elaine shook her head, a serene expression on her face. "No, you're like me. It skips every other generation. So your child won't have powers, but their child will."

"But how are you the source of my power?" Scarlett asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Elaine's gaze softened. "Michelle, you asked for me to be your source. You don't remember it, but you will in a few months. You will get your memory back—but not through me. Someone else will help you regain it."

Scarlett's confusion deepened. "But how are you the source of my power?" she repeated, her voice insistent.

Elaine chuckled softly, a hint of mystery in her tone. "That I can't tell you, Michelle."

As the void around Scarlett began to fade, she felt her connection to her grandmother slipping away. "Grandma!" she called out desperately as the darkness receded.

Scarlett's eyes shot open, and she was back in El's room. Blood was still trickling from her nostrils, and she looked at El with a mix of frustration and concern. "What the hell, El! I was finally finding out what the source of my power was," she retorted, her voice tinged with exasperation.

El rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Whatever. But you need to hear this," she said, her tone firm.

Scarlett frowned, her curiosity reignited. "What's going on?" she asked as she peeked her eyes out from the blindfold. El motioned for Scarlett to listen, and they both strained their ears to catch the conversation happening outside the room.

Max and Mike were in the middle of a heated argument. "It can't be good for them to be in there this long," Mike insisted, his voice tinged with concern.

"Mike, you need to relax. Scar knows what she's doing, and so does El," Max reassured him.

"What if they get brain damage or something?" Mike pressed.

"Oh, shit. Is that, like, a real thing?" Lucas, who was holding a box of Cheerios, chimed in.

"No, it's not. He made it up. Mike doesn't know what the hell he's talking about," Max retorted sharply.

"Oh, and you do?" Mike shot back.

"No, I— I just know Scarlett does this kind of thing all the time. She likes to spy on people," Max stated, a defensive edge to her voice.

"Thanks a lot, Max. For exposing me," Scarlett whispered, her tone laced with annoyance. El chuckled softly beside her, and Scarlett shot her a glare. They listened intently as Max and Mike walked over to where Will, Jonathan, and Nancy were gathered in the kitchen.

"Okay, can you guys settle an argument for us? Who do you think should decide El and Scar's limits? Mike or Eleven and Scarlett?" Max asked with a smirk.

"The way you frame that is such bullshit," Mike retorted.

"It's not bullshit, Mike! This is your whole problem. And it's also precisely why El dumped your ass and why Scarlett won't date you!" Max exclaimed, her voice rising.

El and Scarlett exchanged a look, their curiosity piqued even more.

"This doesn't mean I like you now," Scarlett whispered to El.

"Same," El replied quietly.

"El dumped you? And you like Scarlett again?" Nancy asked, her shock evident.

"Yeah, because she's conspiring against me. And Scarlett is just being stubborn! Max is corrupting El!" Mike shot back, his frustration palpable.

"No, enlightening her. The fact is, El is not yours. And Scarlett, too. They're their own people and fully capable of making their own decisions!" Max argued fiercely.

"She's risking her life for no reason!" Mike exclaimed.

"For no reason? Mike, the Flayed are out there doing God knows what," Nancy yelled.

"Killing, flaying..." Lucas trailed off.

"Transforming into monsters," Will added solemnly.

"And El and Scarlett are not stupid. They know their abilities better than any of us," Nancy stated firmly.

"Exactly, thank you," Max said.

"And they are both their own persons," Nancy continued.

"Exactly," Max agreed.

"With their own free will," Nancy added.

"Exactly," Max repeated.

"Feminism," Scarlett muttered with a sly grin, whispering to El. El frowned in confusion.

"Fen-isim?" El whispered back, her pronunciation off.

"Max and I will explain later," Scarlett said, rolling her eyes. She peered through the door, still listening to the argument.

"El has saved the world twice, and Scarlett has proven she can handle things on her own. Mike still doesn't trust them," Max stated, her tone dismissive.

"Yeah, Mike, seriously?" Lucas added with a grin.

"You wanna talk about trust, really? After you made Eleven spy on us?" Mike yelled, his voice rising in anger.

Scarlett's jaw dropped, and she glanced at El, who smiled nervously. Max looked away, guilt written on her face.

"Wait, what?" Lucas questioned, clearly shocked.

"Oh, she didn't tell you this?" Mike asked, a triumphant edge in his voice.

"No," Lucas said, shaking his head.

"Your girlfriend used El's powers to spy on us!" Mike exclaimed.

"No, no, no, I did not make her. It was her idea! And why are we even talking about this?" Max said, her frustration mounting.

"Yeah, who cares?" Will said, trying to defuse the situation.

"I care!" Lucas insisted.

"Yeah. I guess girlfriends don't lie; they spy!" Mike shouted.

"We were just joking around. Plus, we spied on Scarlett too! We saw her drawing a stupid dragon in her journal!" Max exclaimed.

Scarlett's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Sorry," El muttered, and Scarlett chuckled despite her irritation.

"We were just joking around!" Max said defensively.

"Wouldn't it have been so funny if I was taking a massive shit or something?" Mike stated, trying to lighten the mood.

Scarlett cringed at the thought. "You weren't," Max said with a look of disgust.

"But what if I was?" Mike pressed.

"Then gross!" Max shot back.

"Seriously, Mike?" Nancy said, exasperated.

"I'm just trying to demonstrate how careless Max is with Eleven and Scarlett's powers," Mike said, his voice tinged with frustration.

"In fact, how careless all of you are. You're treating her like some kind of machine when she's not a machine. And I don't want Scarlett to die looking for the Flayed when they've obviously vanished off the face of the Earth. So can we please just come up with a new plan because I love Scarlett and I can't lose her again!" Mike rambled, his emotions raw.

Everyone stared at Mike in shock. Lucas and Max exchanged knowing grins, but Scarlett's heart skipped a beat at Mike's admission. She felt a mix of emotions, a smile curling on her lips despite the tension.

El's face fell into a frown as she opened the door, and Scarlett stumbled forward, feeling an invisible force push her down. She glared at El, who feigned innocence.

"What's going on?" El asked, her tone casual.

Scarlett stood up, brushing past El with a bump of her shoulder and crossing her arms defensively. "Did we miss something?" she asked with a smirk.

"Nothing. Nothing," Mike denied, shaking his head vigorously.

"Just a family discussion," Lucas said with a wink.

"Oh," El said, her voice tinged with sadness. Scarlett raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Okay," Scarlett said sarcastically.

There was a brief silence before El spoke up again. "I found him."

"Found who?" Nancy asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Billy," El said simply.

"Also, I found out the blue lightning lady is my biological grandmother, Elaine Fletcher. She's like me. I didn't get my powers from the lab like Eleven did. I tried to get her to tell me more, but she insisted I wait until I get my memories back from when I was in the lab, which I haven't had a memory of in seven months," Scarlett explained.

"Well, shit," Lucas said, clearly taken aback.

Scarlett turned to El with a glare. "What was Billy doing?" she asked.

"He was just in his room... staring at nothing," El explained, frowning.

Scarlett and Max exchanged concerned looks. "Our brother is up to something," Max said quietly, her worry evident.

El sat cross-legged in front of the TV, its static channel casting a shifting, eerie glow across her face. The room was thick with tension, each person silently waiting for El to reveal what she had found. The static crackled loudly in the background, a white noise that made the atmosphere even more tense.

Finally, El pulled off the blindfold, her face flushed and her breathing heavy. Sweat glistened on her forehead, evidence of her intense concentration. She wiped her brow with the back of her hand and turned to face the group, her expression one of exhaustion.

"What's he doing now?" Max's voice broke the silence, filled with a mix of concern and impatience.

Scarlett, standing beside Max, couldn't hide her anxiety. "Is—Is he still just sitting there?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation.

El shook her head slightly, her eyes closing momentarily as if trying to steady herself. "Yes. Need water," she said, her voice strained. She stood up, her movements slow and deliberate, and walked into the kitchen, leaving a heavy silence behind her.

Nancy, who had been pacing nearby, turned to Scarlett with a worried expression. "And that's not normal, right?" she asked, her tone low and urgent.

Scarlett nodded, her gaze distant as she tried to process the situation. "Billy staying in his room on the Fourth of July? No, it's not. He's usually out partying, hitting up all the local spots. It's like he's deliberately avoiding everything."

Will, who had been watching the exchange with a thoughtful frown, spoke up. "He wants us to find him."

Nancy's face grew even more serious. "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. If we go to Billy, then the rest of the Flayed will know where we are. It's a trap."

"It's a trap, I agree," Mike said, his tone grim. "We'll be ambushed if we're not careful."

Scarlett nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on the floor. "We won't be surprised. We'll know they're coming."

"Exactly. We'll know they're coming, and we'll kick their Flayed butts," Lucas said confidently, flashing a determined grin.

Max's correction was sharp. "You mean El and Scarlett will kick their butts," she said, her gaze flicking between Scarlett and Mike.

Scarlett's frustration bubbled to the surface. She felt a sharp pang as Max's words seemed to reinforce her growing sense of being used just for her powers. She stole a glance at Mike, catching his eye for a brief, uncomfortable moment before quickly looking away.

"It's too risky," Jonathan interjected, his voice carrying a note of caution.

"Yeah, and unnecessary. Killing the Flayed won't stop the Mind Flayer. We need to figure out where it's spreading from. We need to find the source," Nancy said, her tone resolute.

El reappeared, looking even more worn out than before. "Billy knows it," she said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion.

Everyone turned their attention to El, hanging on her every word. "Billy's been there. To the source," she explained, her gaze unwavering.

Mike, still trying to make sense of the situation, protested. "Yeah, but—"

"It's a trap, I know. We can't go to Billy," El said, cutting him off. "But I think there's another way. A way for me to see where he's been... and I need Scarlett's help."

Scarlett's eyes widened in surprise and apprehension. "My help?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

El nodded, her expression serious. "You're his... sister. You go. Not me. All you need to do is get into his mind... Ask him."

Scarlett's expression was a mix of confusion and hesitation. "I don't know..." she trailed off, clearly struggling with the idea.

"You should," Mike said, his voice firm and earnest. He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "We need to know what Billy knows. If anyone can get through to him, it's you."

Scarlett sighed deeply, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. She felt a growing unease about the situation, questioning whether she was being used merely for her abilities. The pressure to act weighed heavily on her shoulders, and she felt the sting of being perceived as just a tool rather than an equal participant in their fight.

As the room fell silent, Scarlett and El shared a look of mutual understanding, both burdened by the gravity of their roles in this ongoing battle against the unknown.

Scarlett settled herself in front of the static TV, the blindfold resting on her lap. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nerves and determination. Mike kneeled beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her knee. "You got this, okay," he said, his voice steady. Scarlett looked at him with a soft smile, her cheeks warming with a blush. "Thanks, Mike... I, uh, I'm not sure how to do this. I've only gone into the void to talk to my grandmother... not to find people," she admitted, her fingers brushing his hand.

"It's just your brother. Easy, right?" Mike smiled encouragingly. Scarlett nodded, feeling a surge of confidence. She leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before slipping the blindfold over her eyes. With one last deep breath, she focused on her brother, trying to reach him through the veil of her mind.

As Scarlett delved into the void, the world around her shifted. She found herself in a surreal, ethereal landscape, the static noise of the TV blending with the background. In the distance, she saw Billy lying on his bed, his gaze fixed vacantly at the ceiling. Scarlett's heart pounded as she moved toward him, her steps echoing in the emptiness.

"Billy... I don't know if you can hear me. But please, let me see," she pleaded softly. Billy's eyes snapped open, meeting hers with a menacing grin. Scarlett felt a jolt of fear as the scene around her began to collapse, pulling her back into the void. It felt as if she were drowning in dark, swirling waters. Her breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps as she struggled to remain anchored.

In reality, Scarlett was breathing heavily, her body tense and her face flushed with effort. Mike's concern was palpable. "Scar, are you okay?" he asked repeatedly, his voice laced with worry.

"I'm okay," Scarlett managed to gasp as she fought her way through the turbulent void. The dark waters gave way, and she found herself in a bright, sunlit beach scene. She swam forward, her surroundings shifting to a memory from her past.

Young Scarlett, full of energy and joy, was on a surfboard, riding the waves. Scarlett remembered this moment vividly; it was a time before Billy had become bitter and withdrawn. She saw herself on the board, laughing as she rode the waves, with her adoptive mother, Carrie, cheering from the shore.

"Scarlett!" Mike's voice echoed around her, but she remained focused on the memory. "I'm on the beach. I'm watching a younger me surf," she replied with a chuckle, stepping out of the water and seeing her mother in the distance. Carrie's presence was comforting, and Scarlett's voice trembled with emotion. "What else do you see?" Max's echoing voice asked, prompting Scarlett to look around.

"Mom. I see Mom. She's so pretty," Scarlett said softly, her voice laced with longing. She missed her mother dearly. It had been a month since Neil, her biological father, had broken her telephone, cutting off her communication with Carrie. The sight of her mother, cheering and smiling, brought tears to Scarlett's eyes.

"Younger Billy and Younger Scarlett are running to her," Scarlett continued, her voice breaking slightly. The memory played out with younger versions of herself and Billy, both full of joy and excitement. "Did you see me, Mommy!? I was going woosh!" younger Scarlett exclaimed, giggling as she and Billy approached Carrie with their surfboards.

"Yes, honey. You were great," Carrie replied, her voice filled with pride.

Scarlett's emotions swelled as she watched the loving family scene. But then the memory shifted. The serene beach scene was replaced by a dark, menacing storm. Scarlett's heart sank as she saw the source of their current troubles. "I see the source. I'm going in," she said resolutely, her voice steady despite the growing turmoil within her.

"Be careful," Eleven's echoing voice advised. Scarlett pressed forward into the storm, her hair whipping around her face as the winds roared. She saw younger Scarlett dodging a thrown chair, her face marked by fear. "Daddy!" younger Scarlett cried out, a sense of dread hanging in the air.

"Leave Scar alone!" younger Billy yelled, pushing Neil away. Neil retaliated by smacking Billy across the face. The memory was painful, a stark contrast to the earlier happiness. Scarlett struggled to hold back her tears as she witnessed these moments of conflict and pain.

She continued to navigate through the storm, encountering more troubling memories: Billy fighting with another kid, and their first meeting with Max. Each memory was a painful reminder of how Billy had changed and the difficult times they had endured.

Scarlett's journey through the void was a tumultuous one, filled with both cherished memories and painful truths. She emerged from the void with a heavy heart, but with a clearer understanding of the challenges they faced and the connection to the source.

Scarlett's tears streamed down her face as she fought to push past the painful memories that had flooded her mind. With a final, desperate push, she emerged from the storm and looked up, spotting a dark, ominous cloud above her.
Her eyes fell on a sign that read "Brimborn Steelworks."

Relief mingled with exhaustion in her voice as she declared, "Found it. It's Brimborn Steelworks."

"Scar, Scar, we found it! Get out of there!" Mike's concerned voice echoed through the void. Scarlett closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to center herself. When she opened her eyes and removed the blindfold, she found herself alone in the room.

"Oh, no," Scarlett said in a whisper, her voice tinged with panic. She stood up, feeling a growing sense of dread. "I'm still... in his mind." Her breathing grew heavier as she heard Billy's unsettling chuckle behind her.

She turned to see Billy standing there with a sinister smirk on his face. "B- Billy?" she stuttered, her voice trembling.

"You shouldn't have looked for me. I don't want you to know my plans," Billy said, his tone cold and threatening.

"Who are you!? Why-Why did you take my brother?" Scarlett demanded, her voice cracking with desperation.

Billy's smirk widened as he stepped closer, his presence menacing. "You will remember one day again, Seven. You will. You will not find out my big plan, but I will tell you," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I am going to use my army to kill Eleven. We can all see you and your friends. I'm going to kill Eleven first... then your friends. Then, you will come with us. We've been building this army for Eleven, and you will join us. Even if you don't want to."

Scarlett's fear turned to anger. "Get away!" she screamed, thrusting her arm out. Electricity crackled at her fingertips, and a bolt of lightning shot towards Billy, knocking him back.

The force of the attack jolted Scarlett back to reality. She pulled the blindfold off, tears streaming down her face. Mike rushed forward, his worry evident. As soon as she saw him, she threw her arms around him, clinging tightly. Her sobs came uncontrollably, the weight of the vision and Billy's threats crashing down on her. Mike held her close, offering silent comfort as she cried.

ASH SPEAKS!

THIS TOOK ME HOURS TO WRITE SO ENJOY THIS CHAPTER JUST SAYING.

MIKE FINALLY CONFESSSED!!!

ALSO THANKS TO janiabeans FOR THE NEW COVER

DONT GORGET TO COMMENT AND VOTE!! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED