NOT SCARY ENOUGH !

☀︎

IT HAD TAKEN SOME PHYSICS AND MUSCLE, BUT THE GROUP HAD MANAGED TO FLIP THE CAR. They jumped down from the counter and began to scatter. Jonathan and Nancy worked to grab the ignition cable while Mike and Max had followed Eleven who had been hunched over a garbage can. Digging through, she searched for an empty can of Coke, wanting to test her powers. She knew they had been falling short, but now it seemed as if they were coming to a slow stop.

Alex, Will, and Lucas had watched Jonathan and Nancy, waiting for them to give them an escape out of the mall. Once they had that ignition cable, they were free to head out to Illinois and leave Hawkins behind until this had all come to an end.

Then a chill had washed over Will, causing his hand to clutch onto the back of his neck. His breathing became feathery as he looked over at Alex. She had seemed unbothered as she continued her conversation with Lucas. They were making plans of what would happen when they were free of this night. A horror movie marathon seemed like a long shot when they didn't know if they would survive until tomorrow.

"Poltergeist is a good one too," Alex added in. "Maybe The Evil Dead."

"What about Ghostbusters?" He asked, but she had scrunched up her nose with a shake of her head. "Not scary enough." Lucas gave in, shrugging as he nodded his head. "Maybe after then if anyone's scared."

Will shifted his eyes across them as they spoke, waiting for Alex to speak up and wondering if she ever would. She had seemed calm and unaware of the feel of the Mind Flayer. Reaching his hand out, Will went to pat her arm to get her attention. When his fingers had just gently touched her shoulder, Alex had felt her body grow cold with numbness. Hunching over, her hands covered her ears as a ringing overtook her mind. Blood had gushed from her nose as the untouched parts of her brain battled against the darkness the Mind Flayer had implemented inside of her.

Lucas stepped closer to her, laying his hand on her back as he looked around for some help. Will grew panicked as he watched her. "He's here."

His warning had been too late as the others had pulled their eyes off of Alex when the ceiling above them had begun to rumble. Through the glass ceiling of the Starcourt Mall had the large flesh-made monster of the Mind Flayer. The glass threatened to break with every pounding step of the monster.

Taking a hold of Alex, Lucas had guided her over as she kept her hands over her ears and her eyes squeezed shut, blocking the pain the best she could. It was a matter of safety to him and even if he enjoyed battling it out with Alex, he could never leave her behind. When Max had run over to the two, she had grabbed Alex by the waist and pulled her from Lucas. "I got her. Get by Nancy," she instructed. Lucas debated, keeping ahold of Alex but when he had met Max's eyes, he knew this meant something to her. Alex was one of the greatest things in her life. She was an older sister to her when that was all she had ever wanted.

Thanking him, she had pulled Alex along with her back to Mike and Eleven. Alex had groaned as she fell behind the counter alongside Mike and El, finally dropping her hands from her ears.

The glass had shattered around the mall when the ceiling finally gave way and the Mind Flayer had broken in. He had let out an agonizing shriek as his body had hit the floor. Snarling, its head had turned to examine the mall in search of Eleven. Coming up short, he had called out a warning, roaring to call out to them.

The only bodies laid out in his path had been those of the Russian guards. His feet had pounded against the ground with each step he had taken, watching out for any sign of those he longed to end. It was only a matter of finding them.

Up on the highest peak of Hawkins, Dustin screamed into his radio to those left in the mall. They had noticed when the lights had flickered out in the distance and needed to confirm their safety. He hoped for some reply or signal that they had made it out safely but he had gotten nothing.

He hid his worry well as he looked around the group. They were all worried to say the least, and he was their leader— appointed or not. He was the one that banded them together and he had to be the one to stay strong. Holding the radio back up, he had called out to the group once more.

This time he did get an answer, one that sent a shiver down his spine. The roar of the Mind Flayer had come out crystal clear on their end. Dustin kept a tight grip on the radio, fearful that his panic would cause him to drop it.

Steve had kept his eyes to the ground, his breathing paused. He told himself it would have been better if he had stayed and here he was regretting his decision to leave. He may not have been much help, but he would have been there. It could've made all the difference.

Steve's eyes followed out to where the Toddfather had been left behind halfway up the hill. He may have not been able to get it all the way up, but he knew he could get it back down. Not taking the time to clear his head, he stood up and made a run for the car to get back to Starcourt Mall.

Sitting up straighter, Erica was frustrated that another member of the Scoop Troop had been ready to walk away. "Where are you going?"

"To get them the hell out of there. Stay here, and contact the others!"

"You can't head into that!" Dustin called out to him.

Coming to a stop, he looked at Dustin. "Alex is there. You know I have to go."

Standing up next, Robin had made the bold decision to follow along with Steve. Dustin had the choice to stay or go, but he had his own set of duties. He needed to be there for Hopper, Joyce, and Murray. Tossing the radio to Robin, he did what was best for all of them. "Stay in touch."

Catching the walkie, Robin nodded. "Got it." Turning on her heel, she had hurried down Weathertop after Steve. "We're really doing this, huh?" She called over to him as they neared the car.

"For Alex? I'd do anything," he replied back, throwing open the drivers side door as Robin hopped in the passenger seat yet again. To him, there was no other way.

『••☀︎••』

Back in Starcourt, the group had been locked in their hiding spots, with no clear way out without the Mind Flayer spotting them. They needed to think quickly because staying where they were was not an option. They needed an out and they needed to be able to do that without being spotted or stopped by Billy when they made it outside.

Mike popped his head over the counter, catching sight of the Mind Flayer. He was turned away and his growls were low as he listened for any bit of noise from the group. Holding his breath, Mike sat back down with some information that could help them achieve their goal of getting out. The Mind Flayer was coming for El so they needed to be the ones to leave. If he found out El was gone, he would be able to leave the others alone. What they needed to do first was create a distance for themselves.

"It's turned away. If we go up the stairs now, we'll make it," he whispered. It was a longshot being able to pull it off, but he was sure that they could do it.

Max didn't think so. "No way, not with El's leg. Even if Alex was good enough to carry her, we wouldn't be able to make it up that fast."

Grabbing ahold of Mike, El had turned him over to get a better look at the three. "There's another way." She signaled over her shoulder where a specific store had been. "Through the Gap."

"I can carry her then. If he sees us and goes for El, I'll drop her for you guys to help her out. He'll be too occupied with me that you guys will have a better shot at getting out here." Alex had felt confident in her decision even if it was a risky one.

"We'll all make it," Mike whispered. "Let's do it. We need to go now."

Crawling over to Alex, Eleven had positioned herself on her back, heart beating rapidly against her chest. There was a small window of opportunity for them to flee. It was only a matter of time before the Mind Flayer would turn and take notice of them still in the mall. The four had prepared themselves and with Mike's signal, they had made a run for it. They were light on their feet as they neared the Gap.

With everything destroyed in the Mind Flayers' path of destruction glass and chaos of the mall had been thrown about. Turning into the Gap, El's foot had stuck out, knocking over a rack in their escape. Unable to stop, they had to continue, even when the roars of the Mind Flayer had boomed throughout the mall.

His feet had pounded against the floor, following the sound of the fallen rack. He had screeched out, a warning that he was not too far behind. The four had to think quickly. There was no chance now that they would not be able to escape with him now on their tail. Taking cover behind a shelf within the Gap, they had held onto one another, listening and hoping as his steps had neared that they would be able to make it out of this one.

Soon, the loud steps had come to a halt and were replaced by the sound of tiny screeches of the small arms that shot out from the Mind Flayer. Hearing a furious screech, the mannequin wearing the same outfit as El had soon fell right next to Mike. He was determined to find her.

Unwilling to give up, the Mind Flayer had sent out his smaller arms in search of Eleven. They had slowly maneuvered their way around the Gap, on the hunt.

Behind the car, Lucas Sinclair had shut his eyes. He was supposed to be the hero. That's what Alex told him and he had made that promise that that was exactly what he would be. To sit behind the car knowing that his friends were in mortal danger was not what heroes did. He and his wrist rocket were supposed to save the day. Opening his eyes, he had tightened his grip on the handle of his slingshot.

Nancy had turned over to him, her face flushing with worry. "What are you doing?"

"Don't worry," he reassured. This was their weapon from the very start and though it didn't always live up to its standard as the 'monster killer', Lucas looked until he found the perfect object to hurdle out to grab the Mind Flayers' attention. Squeezing it tightly in his hand, he knew it was the one. Just as he knew the giant rock that the three boys had found at school to take out a Demogorgon had been the right one before. This wouldn't be the monster killer, but it would've saved the people he loved.

Taking a stand, Lucas prepared the slingshot, closing his eyes and taking in a sharp breath. Thinking of the inevitable terror that would be coming his way, he let it go. It had hurdled forward, but rather than aim at the Mind Flayer and risk it all, he aimed for a balloon. The pop of the balloon had filled the silence in the air and the Mind Flayer had let out a horrifying screech.

His arms had shot back into his body as he thought he was taking on another threat. The pounding of his feet had furthered themselves from the four and they had seen the opportunity that Lucas had opened up for them. Back on their feet, they raced to an exit that would lead them away from the Mind Flayer. Through all that fear, Alex still found herself smiling. The pop of the balloon was her indicator that Lucas Sinclair was a hero. He was always destined to save them and she would thank him endlessly for it.