CARLA WAS SCARED.

Standing with Max's arm around her waist, she could do nothing but watch what was happening, and honestly, she was pretty scared of what was happening, of what could happen if they didn't do something different.

Billy's grunts of frustration echoed through the small room as he threw himself at the bolted door, the chains shaking with every slam. As Max helped Carla get to the center of the room—she still couldn't properly walk, whether it be her legs or exhaustion—the Wheeler couldn't help but think of the possibility of Mike's plan failing—of Billy breaking past the chains and the lock.

She didn't want to find herself fighting against Billy again.....but it was a possible outcome, especially if he was granted with the Mind Flayer's strength.

Suddenly, Billy's grunts stopped and he fell quiet, face right up against the small glass window of the door. His eyes scanned around the small group, landing on his sister. "Max."

Max hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to hurt Billy; even if he was a total asshole, he was her brother. But then again, the boy in the sauna wasn't her brother. No, the boy in the sauna was the Mind Flayer's version of her brother, a cruel and emotionless version the boy she knew.

So, with determination, Max said, "Do it."

Getting the clear, Will ran up to the dial that controlled the sauna's temperature, turning it until it reached the highest setting. Even though she was still slightly unsure on what was happening, Carla had a good idea of the plan. The party knew Billy was flayed, and were going to burn it out of him, just as they'd done the year prior with Will.

It didn't take long for Billy to feel the heat start to increase, and he started to yell once more, the Mind Flayer inside of him becoming more irritated with the change in temperature. The lifeguard yelled towards his sister, the one person he knew he could get to with enough yelling, "Max! Let me out of here! Let me out. " His breath fogged up on the glass, eyes scanning over the group of kids, as well as Carla. "You kids.......Carla........You think this is funny?"

Max's grip on the Wheeler tightened as the boy continued to say, "You kids think this is some kind of sick prank, huh? You think you're protecting Carla?" She sharply inhaled at the mention of her name, the boy spitting on the glass window in return, "You little shits think this is funny?"

"What is this?" Billy was getting angrier as he spoke, and moved his face right up against the window. His voice was threatening, as if he was giving a final warning before unleashing hell upon the group of six, "Open the door." He slammed himself against the door, causing Carla to flinch in fear. "Open the door! Open the door! Open the goddamn door!"

When no one moved a muscle, Billy fell down to the floor, beginning to scream and slam his hands down on the floor tiles. In all seriousness, he reminded Carla of a toddler having a fit—except it was going to take a lot more than just a teddy bear to calm him back down.

Will walked back up, pointing at the thermometer above the dial, "We're at 220."

As he returned back to place beside Mike, sobs began to echo through the room, causing everyone to look at one another with confusion. Billy never cried—he let his emotion out in rage instead of tears—and if he were to break down, it definitely wouldn't be in a room full of people. Something wasn't right.

"It's not my fault." Billy's cries came through next, his voice strained and broken, just like Carla's, "It's not my fault. It's not my fault, Max. I promise you, it's not my fault." Even more unease began to fill Carla's thoughts as she listened to his pleas. Billy didn't plea for shit—and certainly not through tears.

Max's hold suddenly disappeared from the Wheeler and Carla watched as the young girl approached the sauna with caution. While she knew she couldn't stop Maxine from trying to help her brother, something was off about the situation—Billy couldn't be trusted; not right now.

The Mayfield walked right up to the window, "What's not your fault, Billy?"

"I've done things, Max. Really.....bad things. I didn't mean too." The boy spoke through sobs, voice shaky. "He made me do it. He made me hurt Carla. He wants her, Max. He wants her and he wants me to take her to him."

The entire party turned to Carla as Billy spoke, and she tightly closed her eyes taking in what she was hearing. Carla knew that the Mind Flayer wanted her, but that didn't mean hearing the words came any easier. She was scared of what could happen to her. She could end up like Billy, or worse, possessed and emotionless as she killed innocents for the sake of him.

"Who made you do it?" Max asked, "Who wants Carla?"

"I don't know, it's like a shadow." Billy whispered, "Like a giant shadow. Please Max."

"What did he make you do?" his step-sister continued to question, though she had some clue of what he'd been forced to do based on Carla's injuries.

"It's not my fault, okay? Max, please." the blonde cried out, desperate for his step-sister to believe what he was saying. "Please, believe me, Max, it's not my fault. I tried to stop him, okay? I did." He continued to plead for his sister, "Please believe me, Max. Please believe me."

Max put a hand on the window, her voice shaky as well. Carla felt awful for her, and if it wasn't for Lucas' hand around her waist, supporting her as well as keeping her put, the Wheeler would go and stand at her side, showing her comfort. "Billy, it's gonna be okay."

"Max, please."

Max was fighting off tears of her own as she comforted the boy, "It's gonna be okay. We want to help you. We want to help you." Her voice turned shaky, and Carla had to stop the urge to go up and hug the girl. "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?"

A familiar burn started to form in her wrists, a burn that Carla knew all too well. The Mind Flayer was active, and ready to strike.

Carla's head turned to the rest of the group, hand on one of her wrists and a fearful expression on her face. The minute she turned, Will's eyes locked with hers, hand on the back of his neck. Did Will have the special sense ability too? There was no time to question, and Carla just took that as the hint that he did.

"I feel him," Will admitted, voice trembling, "He's activated."

Carla nodded, "My wrists are burning—he's fucking ready to kill."

Mike looked at his sister and friend before quietly saying, "Max, get away from the door."

"What?" Max asked, her words to Billy having gotten cut off by Mike's.

Carla knew that the redhead had no clue that the Mind Flayer was active—she didn't have the sense, and was too caught up with Billy to hear the conversation. So, looking at the Byers' boy to make sure that this wasn't a false alarm—to which he nodded—the elder Wheeler yelled in a hoarse voice, "Get the fuck away from that door!"

As if on cue, the moment the words left Carla's lips, Billy's fist came flying through the small window his sister had been in front of mere seconds beforehand, a sharp piece of tile glued to his palm. Max let out a scream as glass flew everywhere, nearly missing Billy's sharp tile as she backed herself into a wall.

Carla let out a yell, "Max!"

"Let me out you, bitch! Let me out!" Billy came back stronger than ever, staring a murderous stare at his sister whilst slamming himself against the door in an attempt to get to her, while Max backed herself away through sobs. "I'll fucking gut you!"

He reached down towards the metal bar which he was now capable of reaching, pulling it out from the door with ease, causing all six of the teens to go into fight or flight mode. Without that metal bar, there was nothing separating him from them.

"Let me out!" Billy roared, "Let me out!"

From Carla's side, Lucas pulled his wrist rocket, quickly shoving a rock inside of it with trembling fingers. Slinging the rock back, the group watched as it flew at the lifeguard, hitting him square on the forehead. Billy's body fell back, hitting the ground.

Lucas ushered his girlfriend back towards them, "Max, come on!"

The red head girl did hesitate before running back to her friends, Carla's arms wrapping around her in comfort. Even if it was the smallest embrace, Max felt safer than she had moments before and clung to the elder Wheeler with trembling hands.

Looking down at the trembling girl, Carla felt the urge to find whoever he was and beat him to death. These poor kids were just that—kids. They could put on strong facades and make plans to fight monsters but at the end of the day, they were children. Just children, trying to navigate life through a mind that had already been forced to mature; a mind that had been forced to get off D&D and skateboarding, and worry about what creature could threaten them next.

They didn't deserve this.

Hell, Carla didn't deserve this. She was always too busy worrying about the kids and how this would affect them rather than about herself. In all reality.....she was still a kid too, and truly speaking, she'd forgotten.

The Wheeler had forgotten that she was still a child, grasping on to adulthood. The Upside Down had put a new layer of maturity on to her—as well as Steve, Nancy and Jonathan—causing them to act more like adults than high-schoolers. They'd turned into protectors rather than people who needed protection, and Carla was rather sick of it. Where were her hugs of reassurance? She wanted her innocence back.

Still, Carla held the redhead girl close, acting like a mother and pushing back any of her previous thoughts. Her time as a child was over—here, she had to stay strong. She had to play the part of the protector.

"It's okay. It's-It's all gonna be alright." Carla whispered through trembling lips of her own, trying to make Max feel better—as if her words were actually going to help.

And they didn't really, because soon after, the lights began flickering above, putting everyone into fear. Carla tightly closed her eyes, because she really couldn't do this again. All the lights, the flashing—it was bringing back memories. Memories that Carla truly didn't need to be having right now. 

A loud roar came from the sauna, causing everyone to look at the door with caution, only to see Billy back on his feet, slamming his full body weight upon the bolted thing.   Unlike before, the chain rattled—thanks to the fact there was no more pole—but they still stood in place, keeping a very small barrier between Billy and the party.

 Out of instinct, the older Wheeler came forward, pushing the kids behind her for their own protection, though it wasn't like she could really do much if Billy broke through.  Either way, she'd rather get harmed herself than see any of the kids in that position.

Thinking differently, Eleven came forward, sending her sister-figure a knowing look.  Carla took the hint and stepped back, allowing the Hopper girl to push them behind her instead.  It made sense—Eleven was the one with powers, the one who could protect—but the Wheeler still couldn't shake off the fact that she was a kid.  Eleven shouldn't have to play protector.

Carla's thoughts were brought to a halt when Billy's body slammed once more at the door, chain rattling even more than it had before, space between the door and the inside of the sauna growing larger.  A few more slams and the Wheeler was sure he'd be out.

Max stated what everyone was thinking with a worried voice, "He can't get out, can he?"

"No way," Lucas replied, shaking his head.  Whether he was trying to convince himself, or generally believed his words, the Wheeler girl wasn't sure. "No way."

Carla wished she could have believed the Sinclair boy, but that became difficult when Billy slammed against the door again, the chains beginning to break under the pressure.  They were so fucked.

With one final slam, the chains completely broke, the door flying wide open to allow Billy entrance to the sauna room.   He fell to the ground, rolling so he was back on his feet in front of Eleven, who'd pushed everyone back.

As he stood up, Carla looked at him with a horrified expression.  While Billy wasn't fully himself before, whoever this was......was not Billy Hargrove in the slightest. No, whoever was standing in front of the party—black veins covering his body, a deathly expression set in his features—was the Mind Flayer. 

"Oh, fuck." Carla couldn't stop herself from whispering as Billy's eyes met with Eleven's.

For a few moments, the two just stared at one another—their stares full of hatred—and Carla's eyes darted between them, waiting to see who was going to make the first move.

Eleven did, using her powers to lift a dumbbell from its rack, thrusting her hand forward with a scream so it flew at the Hargrove boy.  The dumbbell did just that, the metal pressing up against Billy's neck, forcing his body to slam against the brick wall.

Blood dripped down Eleven's nose, and she lifted her other hand to put even more energy and concentration into keeping the possessed boy locked against the wall.  So much energy that the wall behind Billy began to break from the dumbbell's force.

But, so much power caused the Hopper to begin to tire, and she panted to keep from exhaustion.  Billy easily slid into the new-found weakness, and gripped on to the dumbbell's handle, pushing away from the item with his Mind Flayer induced strength.

Eleven screamed, trying her best to keep fighting, but she was growing exhausted, and soon enough, Billy's strength overpowered her.  He broke past her powerful hold, tossing the dumbbell in her direction, which she nearly missed, causing Carla to let out a yelp for her, "Eleven!"

On the ground, the girl tried to get back on her feet, but was stopped by Billy's hand, which grabbed the scrunchie-wrapped pony tail on top of her head.  The young girl let out a scream as she was forced to look up at her attacker.

Holding Eleven by the hair, the Hargrove boy looked over at the party who stood helplessly to the side, staring coldly at them.  He skimmed past each child, eventually landing on Carla who stood with fists clenched, trying to keep herself from running at the boy.

Emotionless eyes staring at the older Wheeler, Billy wrapped his hand around Eleven's throat, cutting off her air supply.  He was trying to kill her, just as he'd tried to do with Carla moments beforehand. 

The Hopper let out choked gasps as Billy lifted her by the throat, the girl's hands clawing at his grip on her.  Tears streamed down her face as she kicked and screamed helplessly, feeling the air leaving her body. "No! No!"  But, the screams began to fall into nothing as her eyes crossed and her face turned red from lack of oxygen.

"No!" Carla's voice came through next.  She was fucking terrified of what could happen to her if she fought back, but that didn't matter right now.  Eleven—a girl who'd become something like a sister to Carla—was about to be killed if someone didn't do something, and Carla sure as hell wasn't going to let that happen.  

The Wheeler was done with the Mind Flayer harming her friends.

Eyes scanning around the room, she was quick to find the metal bar that had been wedged between the door, and quickly ran up to the item, retrieving it in her shaky hands.   Ignoring the screams for her to come back from the party, Carla came up upon Billy, raising the metal above her head before striking him with it against the neck.

The boy fell from impact, letting go of Eleven, who fell to the ground as well.  Carla took a moment to make sure that the Hopper was breathing—it was a ragged sound, but better than no breathing at all—before returning to the boy ahead.

If he wasn't pissed before, he was definitely pissed now that Carla had stepped out of line.  With ease he grabbed on to the metal bar in her hands, pushing back with enough force that the Wheeler got pushed back too.

Carla pushed back against the metal bar, but her strength was no match to the Mind Flayers, and she soon found herself backed against the brick wall that Billy himself had found himself against minutes beforehand.

Well, shit.

Billy grabbed the metal bar that was in her hands, tossing it on the ground before bringing his hands right back up to her neck where his fingerprints still sat imprinted into her skin from before.   With force, he slammed her against the brick wall, a sharp pain echoing through Carla's head—definitely making her concussion even worse.

The kids screamed for Carla as they watched Billy's grip tighten around her throat, choked gasps leaving her lips just as they did for Eleven.  The brunette's hands clawed at his, trying to get to the boy she once knew.  Trying to find some part left of the real him that would stop the violence—that wouldn't allow her to die.

"Billy—" she managed to get out, though it was more of a gasp than an actual word. "Billy—it's me." The girl knew she was wasting whatever air she had, but she had to try.  She had to try and search for the real Billy.  "Please, this isn't you—"

The burning in her lungs returned and Carla knew that it was too late.  She wasn't going to get to Billy, not before he killed her.   Which began to actively happen as her words turned into ragged gasps and her eyes began to roll back, clawing hands going limp as her oxygen ran out.

Carla had never thought about how she wanted to leave this world, but going in the place of her friends seemed like a pretty good way to do it.   

But, just as the older Wheeler felt herself slipping away, she heard a yell and suddenly she could breath again.  Carla gasped and sank down to the floor, free from the Hargrove's grip.  Her eyes scanned around the room to find who'd saved her, and were quick to spot her brother standing above Billy—who'd fallen to the ground—the same metal pole she'd used in his hands.

Carla owed her brother for saving her at this point.

Mike met her gaze, thankful that his sister was breathing and able to look at him.  He didn't know what he'd do without Carla.  Watching her get choked out like that.....it had to have been the scariest thing he'd seen—and Mike had seen a lot of shit over the years.  He really thought he was going to lose her, and that was scarier than any monster or other world.   It's what gave him the balls to go up and defend her, to fight back against Billy.

"Go to hell, you piece of shit!" Mike raised the metal pole over the possessed boy once more, and swung it down only for Billy to roll over on the ground, catching the object before it could hit him. 

Mike's eyes widened as the boy advanced on him, easily grabbing the metal pole and throwing it across the room, making the Wheeler boy completely unarmed.   As Billy stalked towards him, Mike backed up, barely missing his sister as his back hit the wall.  

Carla was about to grab on to her brother to pull him down when suddenly, his threat started to levitate in the air.  All eyes in the room turned to see Eleven getting off of the ground, hands extended towards the possessed boy.   Suppressed yells left her lips as she stood up, teeth gritted in concentration as she held the Hargrove above the ground.

The Hopper turned, maneuvering Billy so he faced one of the many brick walls of the sauna room.  With labored breaths, she turned the both of them so that she was now in front of both Wheeler's—who stood frozen—Billy facing her.   

Carla had never been so thankful for Eleven.  She knew how lucky they were to have her in their lives, because would they really have survived as many monster attacks as they had without her? 

Both the lifeguard and the power-granted girl let out a scream, and with a final push of her hands to the side, Billy went flying right through a wall, bricks and debris caving in on top of him.

The moment the boy's body went through the wall, Eleven's body crumpled from the amount of pain and exhaustion it was in.  Mike, who was behind her, was quick to catch the weak girl, the two of them sliding down the wall together. 

Carla crawled over to her brother and her sister-figure, watching as the girl clutched on to Mike.  Eleven was such a strong girl—the Wheeler girl could never imagine going through everything that she had and still ending up such a sweet young girl.  

 El never backed away from a fight, and always put her friends first.  She was always there to save them and Carla wished she could do the same thing to her in return.  She wished that for once, Eleven didn't have to be the one to save everyone.  She shouldn't have to take the job every time.

So, grabbing on to the younger girl's hand, Eleven appreciating the support by squeezing it, Carla spoke through a weak voice—getting choked again didn't help her already broken voice—as well as tears, which had fallen at some point throughout her painful evening.   "You are so, so strong, El."

The girl being spoken to let out a sob and nodded, listening to the Wheeler's words.  "You are such a strong girl."

Mike nudged his sister, the girl's eyes falling towards the rest of the party, who'd clumped up around the gaping hole in the wall.  Wanting to see what was going on, Carla slowly stood up off the floor, body aching.  Pushing back the pain, she helped her brother get Eleven off the ground, ad the three made their way over to the hole, looking outward into the night sky.

The pavement was covered in debris, but in the distance, Billy's figure was clear as he ran off and away from the party and Hawkins Pool.  

Watching, Carla didn't know how to feel.  Sure, they'd managed to survive Billy and his Mind Flayer filled mind, but she knew that this wouldn't be the last time. He'd come back sooner or later, more stronger and durable than before. 

And to be honest, Carla isn't sure that they'll be as prepared as they were tonight when he does.

mara's misc!

like i said last chapter, this update would be quick!

i currently have ptsd.....post-taylor-swift-depression, (i have a book if ya'll wanna see all the photos), so the end of the chapter is just eh to me, but i like how the rest of it went.  

instead of having carla totally ruin the mileven moment, i allowed mike to save her instead of el.  i couldn't take out mike trying to save someone entirely, and it still makes sense that he'd try and defend his sister.  (plus, mike wouldn't just let his sister die like that....)

also, justice for el.  miss girl gets put through the worst shit every season.

hope you enjoyed! see you back with chapter eleven <33