chapter six:
❛ the flayed ❜

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Back in the familiar, dimly lit basement of Mike Wheeler's house, the group sat in tense silence. The air was thick with worry and anticipation, the walls seeming to close in on them as they all stared at Eleven, who was sitting cross-legged on the worn couch, her eyes covered by a makeshift blindfold—one of Mike's ties. The room was littered with old board games, comic books, and a scattering of papers from their recent investigations, but none of the usual clutter provided any comfort now.

Eleven's breathing was deep and controlled, the way Hopper had taught her, but even then, the strain was evident in the tension in her shoulders. She was in the void again, searching for Hopper—desperate to find him after his sudden and mysterious disappearance. The others waited anxiously, the only sounds in the room being the faint hum of the basement's lightbulb and their own uneasy breathing.

After what felt like an eternity, Eleven finally broke the silence. "I found him," she stated, her voice barely above a whisper. A single trickle of blood ran from her nose, a familiar but still unsettling sight.

Max was the first to react, her concern sharp and immediate. "Where is he?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of urgency that made everyone sit up a little straighter.

"Woods," Eleven responded, her tone distant, still partially connected to the void.

"Woods?" Lucas echoed, confusion and worry etched on his face. "What woods? Is he alone?"

El shook her head slightly, the blindfold still in place as she focused. "He's with... Will's mom," she added, her voice wavering slightly as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

A sharp intake of breath came from Will. "My—My mom?" he stammered, his voice shaky with both fear and relief. The idea of his mother being involved in whatever was happening was terrifying, but at least she was alive, and so was Hopper.

Scarlett, standing with her arms crossed, her expression as serious as ever, furrowed her brow. "What are they doing?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion. She knew better than anyone how strange things could get, and the mention of her brother's name had already set her on edge.

Eleven hesitated, her voice uncertain as she tried to decipher the images in her mind. "Ill... annoy. They're going to Ill-annoy."

Her pronunciation of the state was awkward, and it took a moment for everyone to realize what she was trying to say.

There was a sudden knock on the basement door, causing everyone to jump slightly. "Mike! Breakfast!" Karen Wheeler's voice called from the other side of the door.

"Not now, Mom!" Mike shouted back, his tone sharp with irritation. Scarlett shot him a look, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"What is it with you yelling at your mom? Be more respectful, bro," she teased, her voice light but carrying an undercurrent of genuine annoyance at Mike's tone.

Mike rolled his eyes at her comment, quickly mimicking her. "Be more respectful, bro," he mocked, before turning his attention back to Eleven. Scarlett gave him a glare but let it slide for now, focusing on the matter at hand.

"Illnois? Illnois, like the state? The state of Illinois?" Mike questioned, his words coming out in a rapid stream as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Both Max and Scarlett exchanged looks, silently questioning why Mike felt the need to clarify what was already obvious. El, now visibly tired, removed the tie from her eyes and shrugged, her uncertainty clear.

"Ill-annoy," she repeated, the word still not sounding right.

Max, seeing how drained Eleven was, stood up and took her hand gently. "Come on, let's go clean you up," she said softly, guiding El towards the bathroom. As they left the room, Mike watched the door close behind them, a worried frown creasing his brow.

The moment the door shut, Mike turned to Scarlett, his voice laced with frustration. "How are you not annoyed that they're leaving you out?" he asked, the question catching Scarlett slightly off guard.

Scarlett straightened, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "Eleven's her friend, not mine," she replied, her tone firm. "Max is my sister, and she can be friends with anyone she wants. That doesn't automatically mean they're my friends too just because we're related. You guys are my friends," she added, gesturing to Mike, Lucas, and Will. "And besides, I have bigger things to worry about right now."

Mike looked at her, not entirely convinced. "Like what?" he pressed, his impatience showing.

"Like Dustin," Scarlett snapped back, her irritation flaring. "I've tried to reach out to him, but he won't respond to my calls, and his mom hasn't seen him either. The last time I saw him, we heard something—" she began, only to be cut off by Mike, who was already lost in his own worries.

"Something's not right," Mike interrupted, pacing the room as he spoke. "I can't get Hopper off my back all summer, and now all of a sudden, he's hiking with Will's mom to Illinois? And Dustin's MIA too? I mean, this can't be a coincidence."

Scarlett shot him a glare, her irritation now fully surfacing. "Wow, thanks for cutting me off, Freckles. That's literally what I was trying to say!" she retorted, her sarcasm sharp.

Mike ignored her, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the puzzle. "What does it matter? The bottom line is, they're not here. It's up to us," he stated, his voice taking on a determined edge.

"Up to us to do what exactly?" Scarlett questioned, her tone challenging as she stared him down.

"Find Billy and stop him," Lucas answered, stepping in to back Mike up.

Scarlett's expression hardened. "He's my brother! We're not killing him. We are gonna find a way where we don't need to kill him," she insisted, her voice unwavering.

"Even if El could find him again, and that's a pretty big if, then what?" Mike questioned, his doubt evident as he stopped pacing and faced Scarlett.

Lucas, still holding his box of Cocoa Puffs, offered a suggestion. "We burn the shit out of him and make sure he doesn't escape this time," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Mike shook his head, not satisfied with the plan. "Okay, then what?" he asked, challenging Lucas's idea.

"Then we win," Lucas replied simply, as if it was that straightforward.

Scarlett, however, wasn't convinced. "No, see, that's the problem. We don't. We don't win. We got the Mind Flayer out of Will before, and he just came right back. We don't just have to stop Billy; we have to stop the Mind Flayer," she pointed out, her tone serious.

Lucas threw his hands up in frustration. "How in the hell do we do that?" he exclaimed, clearly at a loss.

Scarlett's eyes narrowed as she thought, her mind racing through the events of the past. "Me, obviously," she said, snapping her fingers at Mike to get his attention. "Remember back at the Lab? Will kept saying he doesn't want me to know his plans yet. Which means he's been planning to use my brother long before now. Why does he have a fascination with me? I have no idea. But we use that. Threaten him. Say you're gonna kill me. He's gonna have to back down," she stated, her voice filled with a mix of pride and determination.

Mike, Lucas, and Will exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Scarlett's plan sinking in. It was risky—dangerous even—but it might just be the only chance they had.

"Scarlett, that's insane," Mike finally said, his voice hushed but intense. "We can't just use you as bait. The Mind Flayer is too dangerous, and Billy—he's unpredictable. What if something goes wrong?"

Scarlett shook her head, her determination unwavering. "Something's already gone wrong, Mike. Everything's gone wrong. We don't have time to play it safe. The Mind Flayer has taken too much from us already. If using me can draw him out, make him show his hand, then we have to do it."

Lucas frowned, clearly uneasy with the plan. "But we don't even know what we're up against. The Mind Flayer could do anything—"

"Exactly," Scarlett interrupted, her voice rising slightly. "Which is why we have to hit it where it hurts. And right now, that's through me. He wants me, for some reason. So, let's use that to our advantage."

Will, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, finally spoke up. His voice was soft, but there was a steely resolve behind it. "Scarlett's right. If we don't do something, he's just going to keep coming after us, after everyone we care about. We have to stop him, no matter what."

Scarlett glanced at Will, her expression softening. "Exactly. And I'm not saying we go in guns blazing without a plan. We find Billy first, try to talk him down—maybe there's still a part of him in there that we can reach. But if we can't... then we have to be ready."

Mike sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glanced toward the closed bathroom door where El and Max had disappeared. "Okay," he muttered, resigned, before turning to the others. "What are they still doing in there?" His voice was tinged with impatience as he stared at the door, almost willing it to open.

Lucas, munching on his cereal, walked over to join Mike and Scarlett, who were standing side by side. "I don't know. Girls just like hanging out in bathrooms. Right, Scarlett?" he asked, his words slightly garbled by the mouthful of Cocoa Puffs he was chewing.

Scarlett rolled her eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Yes, and please don't talk with your mouth full, Stalker," she teased him, nudging his arm.

"Why?" Mike pressed, his curiosity piqued. "I mean, I don't know. We just do," Scarlett replied with a shrug, clearly not understanding the fascination either.

"They're conspiring against me," Mike whispered, leaning in closer as if sharing a dark secret. Scarlett gave him an incredulous look, raising an eyebrow.

"Seriously, Mike?" she said, exasperation creeping into her voice. Will, standing nearby, shared her frustration.

"That's what you're concerned about now?" Will asked, his voice full of disbelief as he glared at Mike.

"It's not my main concern. It's just a sub-concern," Mike quickly clarified, though the defensive tone in his voice didn't go unnoticed. Scarlett shot him a 'really?' look, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I thought it was already over," Will muttered under his breath, glancing at Scarlett with a hint of confusion.

"It is! I still care about her... Besides, Scarlett and I might date," Mike explained, the words tumbling out in a rush, as if that made everything clear.

Scarlett scoffed, shaking her head. "Yeah, I said that when you choose if it's me or El. And I'm still not sure if you actually chose me or not," she said pointedly, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"I thought you were dating Dustin?" Will asked, his eyebrows furrowing in genuine confusion now.

Scarlett chuckled, the sound light but tinged with a hint of mockery. "Yeah, I was fake dating him to get back at Mike," she clarified, smirking at the memory.

From the bathroom, Max's voice suddenly rang out, loud and clear. "You guys do realize we can hear everything you're saying, right?" she shouted, causing Scarlett to slap her forehead in exasperation.

"Mike, you need to learn how to whisper better," Scarlett said, shaking her head at him.

"Oh, really? You're a terrible whisperer too!" Mike shot back, clearly offended, as he crossed his arms defensively.

Before Scarlett could respond, there was another knock at the basement door. "Not now, Mom!" Mike yelled, clearly irritated, but Scarlett threw her hands up in exasperation.

But instead of Karen, it was his older sister, Nancy, who responded. "Mike, open the door," Nancy's voice came through, calm but with a hint of urgency.

"Oh, shit," Scarlett muttered under her breath, eyes widening. "If she's talking to you, something is up," she added, her tone teasing but also a little concerned.

Nancy and Jonathan were now downstairs, their expressions serious as they began recounting the strange experience they had encountered with an elderly woman named Mrs. Driscoll. Nancy, clearly distressed, took the lead in explaining what had happened. "It was the same thing, the exact same thing that happened to Will last year. And look at this," she said, her voice laced with urgency as she tossed a clipboard onto the table.

Will and Scarlett leaned forward, their eyes scanning the numbers on the clipboard. The data revealed abnormally low body temperatures. Will's face paled as the realization hit him. "He likes it cold," he murmured, the words hanging heavily in the air.

Mike, still trying to wrap his head around the situation, spoke up. "Okay, so this crazy old woman who was eating fertilizer—" he began.

"Mrs. Driscoll," Nancy corrected him sharply, not wanting her to be dismissed so easily.

"Right, yeah, Mrs. Driscoll," Mike repeated, nodding quickly. "What time was this attack?"

"Last night," Nancy answered, her tone still tense.

"Right, but what time last night?" Mike pressed, wanting to piece together the timeline.

"Around nine," Nancy replied after a moment of thought.

Jonathan, who had been silent until now, turned to Nancy with disbelief. "You waited all night to call?" he asked, his voice rising slightly in frustration.

"I—I was waiting for the doctors to run some tests," Nancy said quietly, a hint of defensiveness in her voice as she looked away.

Will, who had been following the conversation closely, couldn't hide his shock. "You weren't there?" he asked his brother, his disbelief mirroring Jonathan's earlier question.

Jonathan's frustration bubbled over. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" he snapped, clearly irritated.

Nancy rolled her eyes, the tension between them palpable. "Hallelujah," she muttered sarcastically, crossing her arms.

Scarlett, sensing the undercurrent of unresolved tension between the couple, snickered. "Oh, I'm sensing some drama," she teased, though her comment did little to lighten the mood.

Nancy, trying to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand, turned her attention to the group. "Um, so, wha—what time was your... sauna test?" she asked, her mind working to connect the dots.

"Around nine," the teens said in unison, the realization hitting them all at once.

"Well, that proves it. That proves my theory," Nancy declared, her voice firm as she stood by her conclusion.

"She's flayed, just like Billy," Mike added, his expression grim as he referred to Mrs. Driscoll.

"Flayed?" Jonathan asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"The Mind Flayer," Mike explained. "He flays people. Takes over their mind. Once they do that, they basically become him."

Lucas, who had been quietly absorbing the conversation, spoke up, his voice trailing off as the gravity of the situation dawned on him. "If there are two flayed..."

"There is probably more," Scarlett finished, her voice tinged with realization.

"Heather," El said suddenly, drawing everyone's attention to her. Her eyes were wide with concern. "Billy was doing something to her. She was scared. She was screaming. Bad screams," she added, her tone sad as she recalled the disturbing memory.

"What's a good scream?" Lucas asked, squinting in confusion at El's choice of words.

"Max said—" El began to explain, but Max quickly cut her off.

"Doesn't matter," Max interjected, shaking her head to dismiss the topic. The focus needed to stay on the pressing threat at hand.

Nancy, still trying to piece everything together, looked puzzled. "I'm sorry, I'm lost. Who is Heather?" she asked, needing more context.

"She's a lifeguard at the pool," Max explained, her tone serious.

"Heather Holloway?" Nancy questioned, her worry deepening when El nodded in confirmation. Nancy and Jonathan exchanged a look of growing concern, the implications of what they were uncovering sinking in.

"Tom," Jonathan and Nancy said in unison, the name spoken like a warning, as if they had just connected a crucial piece of the puzzle. The tension in the room grew thicker as they realized the danger might be spreading further than they had anticipated.

After hearing the unsettling news about Heather, the group quickly decided to head over to her house. Nancy was the first to ring the doorbell, but there was no response. She exchanged a worried glance with Jonathan before turning to El, who stood just behind them, ready to use her powers if necessary. But before El could act, Scarlett stepped forward. Her fingers crackled with electricity, and with a swift motion of her hand, she unleashed a burst of energy at the door. The door blasted open with a loud crack, splinters flying, as a small trickle of blood slid down her nose. She wiped it away with a smirk, clearly satisfied, and led the group inside.

As they cautiously stepped into the house, Nancy called out, "Tom?" Her voice echoed in the eerie silence.

"Heather?" Scarlett called as well, her voice carrying down the hallway. She suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned to the others, a puzzled look on her face. "Do you guys smell that?" she asked, sniffing the air. It was a harsh, chemical odor, and their heads turned toward the kitchen, where the smell was even more intense.

Scarlett gagged and turned to the side. "I'm gonna be sick," she managed, her face contorted in disgust.

Max was quick to ask, "You good?" She looked concerned as Scarlett hunched over, trying to control her nausea.

Scarlett nodded shakily. "Yep, I'm—I'm fine," she stammered, pulling herself together before joining the others in the kitchen.

The kitchen was a mess, the strong chemical odor making it hard to breathe. Max, trying to make sense of what they were seeing, asked, "Last year, Will didn't eat chemicals. Did you?" She looked over at Will, who was standing beside her.

Will shook his head. "No. This is something new," he stated, his voice steady but concerned.

Mike, always quick to make connections, brought up a memory. "Mr. Clarke, fifth grade. Posit. What happens when you mix chemicals together?"

Lucas and Will answered in unison, "You create a new substance."

Mike's eyes widened as he pieced it together. "What if they're making something?" he suggested, the idea chilling.

"In themselves? I mean, come on, if you drink this crap, it'll kill you," Max countered, disbelief evident in her tone.

"Yeah, but they're not human," Scarlett pointed out, her voice tinged with fear and realization.

They followed Nancy into the dining room, where the table was still set with food, as if someone had left in a hurry. Scarlett noticed a bottle placed haphazardly in the middle of the room and picked it up. "This is... interesting," she murmured, inspecting it before placing it back down.

Nancy knelt beside the table and pointed at a dark stain on the carpet. "Blood," she muttered, her voice low and tense.

A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone took in the implication of that single word. Then Nancy spoke again, her voice filled with realization. "Yesterday, Tom had a bandage on his forehead," she said, her mind racing to connect the dots. She grabbed the wine bottle Scarlett had just set down. "He was attacked," she concluded, her face pale.

Scarlett, trying to lighten the mood even a little, quipped, "You should be a detective." But Nancy, too focused, ignored her.

Nancy's eyes were drawn to a section of the carpet near a bedroom door, where it seemed out of place. She moved toward it, and the others followed closely behind her. There was more blood on the door, and they cautiously entered a room that led out to the garage. They all stopped in their tracks when they saw a rope lying on the ground, its presence ominous.

"They must have tied them. They must have taken them somewhere," Jonathan said, his voice grim as he pieced together the scenario.

"Mrs. Driscoll," Nancy said, recalling the old woman's frantic words. "She kept saying... 'I have to go back.' What if the flaying, it's taking place somewhere else? There must be a place where all this started, right? A source."

El, her face pale with concern, nodded. "Somewhere he didn't want me or Scarlett to see," she added, her voice filled with dread.

"If we can find the source," Nancy continued, "then maybe we can stop him. Or at least stop it from spreading or doing whatever the hell he's doing with these chemicals."

Scarlett, still puzzled, asked, "How do we find it?"

Will, thoughtful as ever, offered a suggestion. "Mrs. Driscoll. If she wants to go back so badly, why don't we let her?" His voice was steady, but the implication of his words sent a chill through the group.

Nancy nodded in agreement, her mind already racing with a plan. The decision was made—Mrs. Driscoll would be their key to uncovering the source of the evil spreading through their town.

As they entered the quiet hospital ER, the group tried to slip past Janice at the front desk, but she immediately stopped them. "Woah, woah, woah! Excuse me! Where do you think you're going? And where the hell have you been, Scarlett? You're late for your shift," Janice exclaimed, her voice stern.

Scarlett, without missing a beat, forced a smile and walked up to the desk. "I'm so sorry, Janice. I'm having a family matter," she began, her voice breaking as she faked a sob. "My—my brother. He's been having a rough time. But I'm here now. I'll go change," she sniffled, putting on an impressive show of fake tears.

Janice's stern expression softened a little, though she still looked skeptical. "Well, alright. But don't make this a habit, Scarlett," she warned, her tone slightly less sharp.

Scarlett nodded, dabbing at her eyes with the back of her hand, then turned away from the desk. As soon as her back was to Janice, her face broke into a sly smirk, the tears vanishing instantly. She walked towards the backroom, where she could change, while Mike blinked at her in shock, clearly impressed and a bit bewildered by her performance. Scarlett wiped away the last of her fake tears as she disappeared into the back, leaving the rest of the group to exchange amused and amazed glances.

After Scarlett changed into her hospital uniform, she walked down the dimly lit corridor. As she passed a room, she was startled by the sounds of screams and banging. Her curiosity piqued, she sprinted towards the noise, pushing the door open.

Inside the room, she saw Nancy, her face set with determination, wielding a fire extinguisher. Tom was on the floor, clearly knocked out from a recent blow. The scene was chaotic, with the lights flickering erratically before suddenly going out completely. The room was plunged into darkness, filled only with the eerie sounds of distant commotion.

Scarlett's heart raced as she stood frozen for a moment, her eyes straining to adjust to the pitch-black surroundings. Realizing the danger, she quickly turned on her heel and bolted out of the room, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts. She ran down the hallway, her mind racing as she sought a way to regroup with the others and figure out their next move.

ASH SPEAKS!

we're nearing the end on season 3!!

i wanna thank you all for the love and support on this book 🫶🏻🫶🏻 i was worried no one would read it because the last time i published my "hayloft" mike wheeler book no one reads it :((

please check out my other books as well!! :))

can we also not forget how i forgot that dustin and scarlett are still fake dating??? (at least dustin still thinks so bc lucas figured it out and told mike)