𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 - satan's baby

━━━━━━━

 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 pitched herself from the confines of the trunk the instant the car had come to a screeching stop. Gravel scuttled away from her hastened footsteps, seemingly breathing in relief as she soon turned tail and reach out a hand for both Robin and Steve to take.

 It took every ounce of willpower to stop herself from bursting right into the mall — Scarlet was beside herself with fear. It was still a new feeling to experience, having people you cared for so much that you'd do anything you could to keep them safe.

 Her biggest fear was that she'd trail inside the mall, circle around the Mind Flayer, only to find that they had done too little too late. What if they hadn't given Eleven and the others enough time to escape? What if Billy had found them and taken them right to his puppeteer? What if they were nothing more than pools of crimson...

 A rattling breath rasped through her lungs, and soon enough Steve Harrington was offering all of his warmth. His hand tangled through her fingers, and a light tug was all it took for her to fall right into his side.

 Scarlet truly didn't know what she'd have done if he hadn't been right by her side through everything. She'd probably have dissolved into a pitiful puddle on the ground, or... maybe those chimes would have gotten to her. Maybe the rage would have swallowed her whole.

 Still, Steve could sense something was wrong; he'd spent enough time gawking and goggling to know what those downturned lips and watering eyes meant. He wanted to comfort her, to spew words of wisdom and care — but could he tell her what she wanted to hear without lying to the both of them?

 Steve, of course, had thought the very same things as Scarlet. He couldn't stomach the idea of stumbling across Eleven all bloodied and bruised. Max might have dedicated her time and efforts to driving him completely insane, but Steve Harrington couldn't help but care about her. He'd always pictured being an older brother, actually, Steve could remember begging for a little sister so that he could be her protector like a knight in a storybook... so he could do what had never been done for him.

 To think he'd gotten two of them. Two little sisters. Eleven and Max... and now both of them were missing while a creature from another world chased after them.

 He had to steel himself, and that's why he grasped Scarlet's hand. So that he could keep her sane, and so that she could keep him standing.

 The others had clambered from the car, the sound of sneakers slapping against concrete filled their ears and Robin paused in her steps, "C'mon!" She held the door for them, watching onwards with disguised worry.

 Steve might have known Scarlet better than them all, but Robin could decipher her far better. Scarlet was reckless when it came to helping people, that much was so obscenely evident. So Robin knew when Scarlet's face morphed from fear to just... nothing... that something was going to happen. She was going to do something... something none of them would be able to stop.

 The inside of the mall felt colder than usual, be it from the gaping hole in the roof, shards of glass poking out like grizzly teeth... or from the Mind Flayer's mere presence alone. Either way, each child, teen and bloodied sailor felt a chill swell over their skin.

 Everyone came to a stand-still, following Nancy's lead as she shifted in place, "We need a plan."

 While all eyes might have drifted to the superpowered teenager twiddling with her thumbs, none of them made the move to point her way or even utter her name. It was obvious that they'd need her... But could any of them safely say that Scarlet as their fighter was a fool-proof plan?

 She was running on fumes, that much was as clear as day. Her upper lip was still stained pink from the blood that had slipped from her nose, even despite Steve's best attempts of cleaning it away. Her hands shook with every step, not from the nerves but from the lack of... well, anything in her system.

 Scarlet met Lucas' eyes first. While Dustin was brilliant at planning his silly little heists... Lucas was always the go-to for help on the battlefield. A mere few D&D sessions had made that abundantly clear. He seemed to brighten at her trust in him, eyes widening... then, it was like a lightbulb went off.

 "Oh!" He breathed, slinging his backpack to the ground. His hasty fingers tugged at the zipper, sliding it all the way around until he could dump out each and every item that had been weighing him down. Without a word, Will copied him.

 There was a pack of matches, the side already scraped from their use. A few — likely very dead — batteries scuttled across the ground like a mischief of mice. A few empty gum wrappers fell woefully to the floor like a huddle of dust bunnies... but none of that mattered. What did matter were the...

 "Fireworks?" Scarlet spoke, her voice like a dainty little bell echoing through the air. She reached out, prying the box from Lucas' hands. Her eyes flashed, darting from the box aptly named SATANS BABY to the matches slumped by Will's shoes. Heat. What was hotter than a pretty little explosion? Scarlet grinned, a real smile, "It is the fourth of July."

 "The best fireworks in all of Hawkins!" Lucas gushed, bumping his shoulder into Will's. Then he sobered, a smug smile dancing upon his lips, "I think we should invite the Mind Flayer to celebrate, don't you?"

 Steve, of course, had watched onwards with all the emotion of a frightened mother hen. His hands had found purchase on his hips, "Where the hell did you get those?"

 Lucas could have sworn he'd seen a flash of his own mother for a second, "Doesn't matter. What does matter is that these suckers are filled with a hundred and fifty grains of black powder... AKA..."

 "Gunpowder." Will finished, crouching down with a hidden grin as he tucked the fireworks away, aptly catching the box Scarlet tossed to him, "He hates the heat, we know that much, right?" 

 It wasn't really a question, after all, they all knew it to be true. Will could almost feel the searing sensation in his side again, right where Nancy had jabbed him with a hot poker. The scar would never leave him, and neither would the memories that came along with it.

 Steve's brow crawled ever so slowly up his forehead, disappearing into his limp frock of hair, "Yeah?"

 Lucas rolled his eyes, "So, strap two of these together, and it's bigger than an M-80. Five of them?" Lucas crept forwards, and Steve couldn't help bunch inch back at the beaming grin on the boy's face... it was almost manic, "We've got ourselves a stick of dynamite."

 Will took the stage, slinging the red and dirtied backpack over his shoulder. Even now he could still sense the imposing presence of the Mind Flayer. Its shaking footsteps did nothing to rattle Will... it was the pressure on his head, the feeling of a whisper darting over his pale skin.

 He just wanted it to be over. The Mind Flayer might not have been after him this time... But Will could feel him wherever he went.

 His wide-eyed gaze met with Scarlet, "El needs our help, we'll all weaken it with these... and then you'll come in with the finishing blow."

 It went silent, each set of eyes trained upon Scarlet. None of them quite liked the idea of Scarlet and Eleven shouldering their burdens. They hated having to ask so much from people who had already been through enough... But now they could help, even if it was only by slinging fireworks. They just needed Scarlet to be there to end it all. For good.

 None of them could spy even a hint of uncertainty as she plucked the final bag from the floor. She dusted it off, zipped it shut, and made her way behind Lucas. She held the handles open, waiting until his arms had slid through to breathe out a heaving sigh.

 Scarlet nodded at Nancy, "I guess we have our plan."

 They raced as fast as they could. Every single one of them trailed through halls, and turned up flights of stairs and Scarlet was certain that in their haste, all of them had tripped once or twice. The biggest accomplishment, however, was the fact that Robin Buckley was still standing.

 Robin's freckled fingers were clutching at Scarlets for dear life, hoping and praying that if she fell, Scarlet would catch her... or maybe Robin would drag her down too, and they'd both live with the embarrassment of face-planting the ground before they could even start the monster fight.

 The Mind Flayer hadn't spared them a glance. No roar of outrage as their steps echoed through the mall, no shrieks or bellows... no, it was focused on the person Billy Hargrove had dragged before it. Eleven.

 Scarlet almost faltered. She could barely see the girl in the distance as she begged and pleaded for Billy to let her go. Her cries shook Scarlet's bones, and the sheer terror within her little sister's voice was almost enough for Scarlet to drop to the ground in a miserable little heap.

 Instead, she ran faster. Her shoes thumped against the ground and she could hear the rasping wheezes from Robin who did her utmost to keep up. Steve flanked her other side, having no trouble remaining glued to her presence.

 Scarlet then brought her watch to Billy, trying with every ounce of her to block out Eleven's tears and screams and yells. He stood with a back as straight as a board, seemingly proud to have completed his task... His eyes remained on the Mind Flayer as it slowly started to stalk forth, ready to devour the prey he'd been chasing.

 The strangest thing was... It seemed to be taking its time. Each step had a beat between, a still pause as it waited and waited... and then moved forth once more.

 Scarlet's only conclusion was... that it was waiting for her. Did it want to take them both out at once? Had the beast concocted a plan to lure Scarlet right back to her sister, just to kill them both side by side?

 It wouldn't matter, in the end.

 The Mind Flayer would die today. Whether beaten and burnt by the fireworks Lucas and Will had managed to get ahold of, or by her own two hands. Perhaps they'd finish the day within a flash of crimson, leaving the Mind Flayer as nothing more than an unmoving corpse.

 As for Billy... In Scarlet's eyes, Billy Hargrove had gotten exactly what had been coming for him. Karma had been chasing him like a bad smell, punishing him for the vile deeds he committed. Now, all his control had been stripped from him... he was just as powerless as he'd made his little sister feel. Just as cornered as he'd made Lucas Sinclair. Just as beaten as he'd left Steve.

 Max had told Scarlet everything; Billy Hargrove's father wasn't a gentle man. His face would bleed red and his voice would shatter the windows whenever his son wouldn't follow his precise  orders. He'd litter Billy's flesh with blue and yellow... but was that an excuse?

 Scarlet glanced to her side, eyes roving over the bruises on Steve's arms... Not all of them had been given to him by the Russians. The one right by the crook of his elbow had been gifted by his father. Steve hadn't admitted it aloud, but the red-rimmed eyes and defeated gaze had been enough for Scarlet to know well enough how it'd gotten there.

 Steve and Billy were... as much as Steve would hate her for thinking it, two sides of the same coin. They'd both been given fathers that redirected all of their anger into their children. But while Steve turned it around and chose to care and protect others from the things he'd suffered... Billy had always done the opposite. He chose to take his hurt and pain, and pass it along to others.

 His father was the reason for his actions, but he could never be the excuse. There was no excuse.

 And so, when Scarlet found herself admitting that Billy Hargrove likely wouldn't leave the mall by their side... she found no hint of guilt. She couldn't recover a sliver of that familiar need to save and protect. She felt nothing for him.

 Billy Hargrove was tainted and the black veins rippling beneath his skin were merely the physical representation of such a fact.

 So no. There was no guilt and shame. No pull to save him. The only thing Scarlet could feel was the predetermined guilt for Max. Max might have hated Billy with a passion burning brighter than her hair, but Max was a feeler. She tried to bury that side of her and pretend that nothing bothered her, that she took life in stride... but ever since her father stopped visiting, she blamed herself for everything.

 She blamed her mother's sadness on herself. Had she been a terrible daughter? Had the fights and bad attitude been the thing to drive her father away and let her mother descend into depression? Had she been too much to handle, so her mother sought out another man?

 If Billy died, and he would, Max would blame herself... because she always did. Maybe that was why she clung to Scarlet so much — she hoped the teenager could save her... she hoped Scarlet could keep her safe and sound.

 Soon enough, each of them slid to a stop.

 Will and Lucas unloaded their bags, distributing fireworks too and fro; the kids, Nancy and Jonathan would head back to the hallway, ready to strike the beast's side while Scarlet, Steve and Robin lingered right above Eleven, facing it head-on.

 The moment they were all in position, embers sparked to life. Jonathan dipped his lighter while Steve sparked a match to life. The fireworks began to cry and sizzle. Sparks dropped to the ground and bounced away until their light faded.

 The Mind Flayer parted its mouth, towering over Eleven and Billy. Layers of razor-sharp teeth glinted beneath the glaring neon lights, and soon enough, they could see a twinge of orange joining the luminous pinks and yellows. The colour of sparks began to ignite, and then Lucas took the lead.

 His firework sailed through the air, sparks fizzling as it spun and spun... and then it hit. The Mind Flayer stumbled with all the grace of a drunk as the firework exploded upon impact, searing the side of its mangled and fleshy face.

 Eleven had covered her eyes for a moment, but when she opened them and peered upwards through her tears, she couldn't smother the sob that shook her chest. Her friends... Steve, and... she managed to laugh through a sob — her sister was grinning down at her with a firework in hand.

 Scarlet soon sent it flying and watched with a twisted sense of satisfaction as it exploded into a burst of fiery red. Her colour, how very fitting. Steve threw a firework, Robin's tailing. Blue and green popped in the air and rained a shower of sparks over Eleven and Billy, yet both of them remained entirely unharmed...

 Well, that was until Billy recoiled as another firework lit up the Mind Flayer's grotesque body. Nancy had thrown her own at one of its limbs, glittering yellow clawing at the beast. The Mind Flayer had stomped and shrieked all the while Billy pressed a hand against his singed arm. They sustained the very same injury.

 Firework after firework was thrown, and Starcourt Mall lit up like a damned beacon. Flashes of pink, blue, yellow and green all sparked through the air while the beast below wailed like a child. Billy had all but crumbled. His knees had met the ground, and the black veins scuttling over his flesh had grown, spreading like a virus.

 Eleven was unmoving, watching with a strange mixture of both fear and awe as the monster stumbled and shook under the haze of colourful lights.

 Scarlet dipped her hand to the ground, scooping up yet another firework. With Steve's hand holding a match, the firework was soon lit. Rather than keep her distance just as they all had been, Scarlet drew closer to the balcony and kept her eyes trained forth as her hands became engrossed in crimson.

 The beast's head flicked upwards, and none of them missed the way it seemed to scramble after getting a whiff of her power... But Scarlet merely threw the firework, watching as a veil of maroon bubbled around it. It sailed through the air, twisting and turning. Then it paused.

 Scarlet jolted her fingers, and the firework exploded. The sparks and coloured lights had nowhere to go, each little ember kept within the rippling bubble she'd conjured. Then, the ball of power and sparks was sent right into the beasts mouth.

 Scarlet didn't think it was right to stop there. No, the bubble bypassed the monsters head and soon trailed to its gut. With a single snap of her fingers, it burst, and out came the sparks. Green light flooded the belly of the beast, singing its insides, crawling up its throat until it seemed to breathe the flames itself.

 A green glow smothered Scarlet as she watched it writhe in pain. As Billy writhed in pain.

 The assault didn't end. Steve and Robin were right by her side with fireworks bouncing in their palms. They tossed them, watching with wide eyes and gleaming smiles as their fireworks each collided with the Mind Flayer's head. They'd dislodged one of its teeth, and it landed right before Eleven with a dull little clatter.

 As time ticked by, and as the Mind Flayer and his puppet shrieked, groaned and buckled... their stock of explosives depleted. Scarlet swallowed, eyes cast to the empty bag by Steve's sneakers. When she blinked, raising her line of sight, he was staring straight at her.

 It was evident that their assault hadn't been nearly enough to weaken the Mind Flayer, for the moment there was breathing room and the air remained empty of coloured sparks, it stalked forth. It wailed as Billy wrapped a hand around Eleven's leg, sure to dig his blackened fingertips into her unhealed wound.

 Scarlet's stomach twisted as her sister's cries clawed at her ears. Eleven was kicking and screaming, her hands struck the ground, trying to grab ahold of something, anything... but there was nothing.

 The plan had been simple. Strike with fireworks until the Mind Flayer buckled and bent, then, when it was down, Scarlet would finish the job. But it wasn't simple, was it? No, it had been optimistic.

 But there was no time left to formulate another plan, and there was no spare minute to sit down and ponder whether Scarlet would be able to fight the Mind Flayer alone... because that was the only option left.

 "Okay..." Scarlet breathed to quell the trembling upon her fingers. They already buzzed from the crimson glow that had encased them just minutes prior; like they were ready for more. But Scarlet could feel her head pounding already; how could her battery have recharged if she still hadn't slept? Still hadn't stuffed a damned thing into her gurgling gut?

 Her upper lip was wet with blood and she could smell the metallic twang already.

 Steve bristled at her whisper, "You —" He stopped short, words freezing over. What was he going to say? That she couldn't go? What would have been the point? Scarlet wouldn't listen to him, to anybody... and who else was there to save Eleven?

 Steve Harrington might have handed his heart over to Scarlet on a silver platter, but that didn't mean he cared for Eleven any less than he always had. He listened to her ragged cry, her gasp for a breath — then, Eleven called her sisters name. She called his name.

 Any argument he had died on his tongue.

 He stood before her, hands already finding solace upon her flustered cheeks. He could see how hard Scarlet was trying to hold back tears, how hard she was trying to muster a pathetic little smile. He cleared his throat, for the damned thing suddenly felt as though it were lodged with ooey-gooey honey.

 Scarlet found purchase in the fingertips dancing upon her cheeks, even if it was only for a short moment. She could tell he wanted to make her stay... and, looking over his shoulder to Robin who was twiddling with her own fingers, so did she.

 "I'll be alright." She said, but it felt like she'd spat out a tonne of rocks. It wasn't exactly a lie... but she couldn't wholeheartedly promise them.

 Eleven came first, she always would. That was her little sister down there, screaming out for somebody to save her after all the times she'd saved them. Her little sister who'd been through hell and back... the girl who had given Scarlet another chance at life. The little girl who just wanted her big sister.

 Another cry rang aloud. Will recoiled, covering his ears like a scared little kid.

 "You don't —" Steve felt his foot tapping against the ground, his fingers shaking against Scarlet's skin. There were some words he wanted, no, needed to say to her. Steve Harrington fell fast, everybody knew it and everybody could see it. So it was no surprise to even himself to realise that he wanted to tell Scarlet that he loved her.

 She was about to leave his side and face a monster head-on; one that had already pushed back at her before. There was nothing he, or the others could do to help. It was up to her. He knew Scarlet well enough to know that she'd give the thing hell. She was too stubborn to hold back... but sheer force and stubbornness seemingly inherited from Jim Hopper wouldn't be able to save her.

 So if everything did go to shit, then he needed to know that Scarlet Hopper knew he loved her.

 It wasn't even that Steve wanted her to know that he loved her... but that she was just... loved. Plain and simple.

 So with a heavy breath, Steve Harrington gathered the balls that Dustin thought he lacked, "You don't have to say it back but —" He planted his lips against her own as he savoured the little jolt that cover his skin, the sweet taste of strawberry, and with a daze little smile, he parted his tingling lips and let the words spring free, "I love you."

 It was like the world teetered on its axis.

 "Go give 'em hell." Steve finished, taking a step away without a hint of hurt written on his face. She hadn't echoed his sentiments, but he knew well enough how much she cared for him. He soon felt Robin slink to his side; sailor standing with sailor.

 Robin held back any gushy comments she wanted to make about itty bittie Stevie confessing his feelings... and settled on hastily curling her arms around her friend, "He kinda stole my thunder, but I love you too, you know? Go be a superhero."

 Scarlet was glad for the push Robin gave her, palm planted against her shoulder... if she hadn't been forced backwards even just that little step, Scarlet was sure she'd have stayed frozen in place.

 There wasn't any time to think about what Steve had told her, there was no time to respond to Robin who only ever parted her mouth to spew sarcasm; she had to go. It almost hurt to pull away, but when Eleven's voice reached her, her body acted upon its own accord.

 Crimson began to pour from her palms as it weaved around each and every finger, jostling with even the slightest of movements. The Mind Flayer roared in time, and suddenly, it had forgotten all about Eleven.

 Scarlet steeled herself. With a heavy hand and heart, she pushed down that bristling sense of fondness and the desire to stay back, and instead replaced it with the rage she'd been burying all this time. It crawled through her lungs, mingling with the air as it pushed out of her mouth.

 Tunnel vision alighted the way, and soon enough, Scarlet was at the railings overlooking the ground floor. Eleven sobbed upon the ground, her body slumped as Billy peered down at her with that blank expression he'd seemed to have perfected.

 But the Mind Flayer had stooped its head, had the damned thing possessed eyes, Scarlet knew it'd be glaring right at her. It snarled, a low rumble beginning to bubble and swell within its throat

 A final breath to clear her mind was all it took for Scarlet to push her hands to her sides; crimson puddled together and, with a sudden flick of her hands, Scarlet was pushed into the air. It was something she'd practised before, out in the woods with Eleven.

 El had recalled how her powers had pulled her into the air, so much energy had flooded through her, that her limbs seemed to have followed a silent command... and with everything Eleven did, she always wondered if her sister could do it too.

 They were so similar, and yet miles different.

 So they'd spent the day among chirping birds, chittering squirrels — including one that Eleven had very aptly named Mr Squbbly — and damp leaves. Maroon tendrils had flooded their vision when Scarlet had tried to propel herself upwards; all she had to do was steady her footing and make sure she didn't topple to the side.

 She did. Multiple times. Her poor arm had been bruised to hell and back and she'd soon received a stern word from Hopper.

 She hadn't tried it in some time — unless she were to count the times she'd blast herself forth, like she'd done back in the food court — but with rage billowing through her veins like a nasty plume of poison; there wasn't anything that could stop her. Miraculously, it worked. There was no teetering mid-air, no slipping forwards or falling backwards, and there was no need to propel forth.. in fact, as she stared the beast down, watching as it roared at her and blew her hair away from her cheeks... Scarlet felt overcome with power.

 Kali's method worked, and as much as Scarlet had tried to tame her powers with fear... now she wanted them to explode like a firework.

 A burst came from the very centre of her chest; it glowed ever brighter than the fireworks had. Everyone was doused in red, it looked like a bloodbath. Benches screwed upon the ground, shattered clusters of glass and pieces of the pillars keeping the mall upright all began to rise.

 Debris became a weapon. Each little stone or shard of glistening glass was encased within a maroon trap, floating higher and higher until they twirled and jostled just above the Mind Flayer's fleshy head like a child's mobile.

 Eleven, despite the bruises on her arms and legs from Billy's rough grasp, despite the wound on her leg and the pounding within her head... she looked onwards with nothing but awe. Red danced within her vision, a tidal wave of crimson tendrils floating around like coiled snakes ready to strike. There her sister was, right at the very centre... all to keep her safe.

 She sobbed, wailing as though she was a newborn lying on the ground.

 Robin hollered and whooped, soon joining the cries of utter excitement from Will, Dustin and Lucas. They all cheered her onwards while Jonathan and Nancy gaped and gawked.

 Steve curled his fingers around the railing. He made no cheer, his eyes didn't follow a single sliver of crimson that brushed by his cheeks. His eyes remained on the figure in the centre. He didn't care if what he was witnessing was, in fact, pretty fucking incredible... he just wanted to make sure Scarlet came out of it alive.

 Then he'd cheer until her ears bled.

 Scarlet could feel it all... every ounce of anger, rage... she could see flashes of the Russian's crooked and bloodied bodies left behind in the tunnels. Bruises and cuts. Scars that would last forever... She couldn't hold back the scream that tore its way from her throat. It rivalled Elevens.

 With the rattling scream, each object within her crimson grasp was sent forth. Like bullets, shards of glass and hunks of stone whizzed through the air. Each piece flitted with energy, glowing like comets as they soared closer and closer...

 The Mind Flayer stomped in protest, only sending more pieces of the pillars crumbling, and more glass tumbled from the sky as the mall shook in place... it added further ammunition to Scarlet's arsenal. It howled like an injured animal as glass and stone cut through its flesh. She forced every piece forth, and when Billy dropped to his knees, and the Mind Flayer stumbled backwards... only then did Scarlet lower herself to the ground.

 She wanted to answer Eleven's calls of her name — God did she want to run to her side and encase her with a bone-crushing hug... But it wasn't quite over yet. With Eleven's sobs in the background mingling with cheers scattering from up above, Scarlet took her place before the beast.

 It was all too familiar; opposing the Mind Flayer all in the hopes of protecting a child. First Will, now Eleven. First within the mind, and now... It was brought to life.

 Scarlet willed her powers forth once more, ignoring the blood pouring from her nose and the buzzing at the very back of her skull. Somewhere... beneath all that fuzziness she could hear the chimes of a clock. No matter the noise within her ears, she always heard that damned clock. She thought it would join her even in death.

 When all fell silent from behind, Scarlet twisted her neck. She jolted, almost sprinting to her sister as Billy Hargrove hovered over her... but he did nothing. Eleven's lips were moving as tears flooded her cheeks, and now, with a flash of light, Scarlet could see the makings of water trailing down his own face.

 Eleven was getting through to him. How? Scarlet had absolutely no idea, but all she had to do was buy her time. Buy time for Eleven to break the shackles smothering Billy's mind, and buy time for her father.

 Jim Hopper... all he had to do was close that gate and everything would be done. They could finally go home and rest. Scarlet could cuddle up with her father and little sister as old westerns played in the background. She could belt to Madonna with Max and Lucas — not that the boy would ever admit to such a thing. She could — She could be happy with Steve, after so much running away.

 Everything would be perfect.

 She just had to buy time.

 Scarlet parted her feet, legs bending just ever so slightly as she hardened her stance. She wouldn't need to kill the beast, just stall it... She blinked, eyes aglow once more, fingertips lit like flares.

 A pulse sparked from her fingers and the roaring beast towering high above her was blanketed in red. Every inch of bubbling flesh, every shard of bone poking through was swamped, drowned.

 The Mind Flayer strained to move, but with every step it tried to take, it would only find maroon weighing it back down. It was like trying to walk through thick snow, to wade through water all the while bundled in winter clothes. She was holding it steady, just as she had done with Steve the year before.

 She could remember it so easily, the first time she'd properly teased him. Even all that time ago she could recall him blinking beneath her narrowed gaze, flushing under her words... and she certainly remembers the swift look he'd taken at her lips.

 She wondered if it started then for him; perhaps all the arguing had been the pair of them avoiding feelings that were sprouting far too soon.

 But unlike that time, Scarlet wasn't peering down at the prettiest boy in Hawkins while uttering teasing words from her silver tongue. She was holding back a monster that would kill them all, just like it had promised Eleven.

 When Steve had fought against her hold, it'd been easy for Scarlet to stand her ground and keep him frozen beneath her fingers... he was just a teenager, a boy who had just lost a fight. She hadn't broken a sweat.

 Now, as she coiled the Mind Flayer with her powers and kept it at bay, she could feel her hold slipping. Sweat was already beading on her temple, trailing down to the damp hairs upon her neck. Her fingers shook, and her legs threatened to buckle.

 Then the blood came. It slipped from her nose like a waterfall. No little droplet, no smear of red... It surged from her nose, falling down her skin until it bubbled on her chin, scrambling to hold on. It dripped and soaked her shirt, staining the cute little patch she'd sewn upon it.

 Her breathing was the next to deteriorate. From steady and clear, to hazy and raspy. Her lungs were working overtime, her legs pushed to keep her upright... and that damned clock wouldn't shut the hell up.

 She tried so hard to keep her energy flowing around the Mind Flayer... but it wasn't just Scarlet that had noticed one of its legs squirm. Soon the others followed; its front leg skidding across the ground a few centimetres, its vile head lowering just ever so slightly... with more movement, more fight... Scarlet just couldn't hold on.

 Her knees blossomed with pain as she plunged to the ground, all the while keeping her quaking hands held high. The crimson cage was maintained, even despite the way she was steadily growing nearer to the cold ground beneath her.

 The cheering from above had flipped; now they were crying out, begging for her to fight.

 But even Scarlet Hopper had her limits, and with a final and shrill shriek from the Mind Flayer... the crimson around it shattered like the glass ceiling above. A burst of red backfired, sweeping through the mall. It didn't harm any of them, it was lacking all the fight and power that Scarlet had filled it with... it was a mere gust of tinted wind.

 Scarlet had fallen, her back planted against the ground as blood pooled within her nose, as she scrambled to breathe.

 DING

 Scarlet quivered, rolling onto her side as a pitiful groan fell from her bloodied lips.

 DONG

 She wanted to scream as it grew louder than it ever had before.

 DING

 No. She wouldn't turn away, she wouldn't curl into a ball and cry and scream. She'd face the thing that wanted her; it had been screwing her over for months. It had targeted Eleven. It had chased Will.

 DONG

 She twisted, and with the final shred of strength she possessed, Scarlet planted her hands on the cold ground. A shiver trailed the length of her spine, and she pushed herself up. Her eyes remained fixated on the Mind Flayer towering over her in all its gruesome glory.

 DING.

 It was like someone was screaming right into her ears; even the cries from Will, Lucas and Dustin couldn't puncture through. The calls from Nancy and Jonathan withered into nothingness. Robin's raspy voice was a mere whisper to her ears... and Steve... she almost heard him, she was sure. His tone, the anguish... but his words were mangled and were brushed aside by the ringing.

 She was certain that Max had cried out, perhaps even Mike.

 She was scared, Scarlet Hopper would admit that immediately... but did she ever indicate anything as such? Never. As the beast lifted its head higher, as though staring down its nose at her, Scarlet did the same.

 Its head came closer, sharpened teeth glaring at her.

 DING.

 DONG.

 DING.

 The closer the beast drew, the louder it became.

 DONG.

 DING.

 DONG.

 This was it.

 Scarlet could feel an odd sort of smile creeping to her lips; while fear might have shuddered within her gut... a sense of pride flooded her heart. The others would be alright. She knew her father would seal the gate in time for Eleven to be freed. Nancy and Jonathan would be just fine. Dustin, Lucas and Will would scurry down to Mike and Max and they'd soon be well on their way to the best D&D campaign they'd ever create. Max and Eleven would have sleepovers until Hopper begged and prayed for the duo to stop hounding him.

 Robin would find someone far better to fawn over than little miss muppet, and Steve... Steve...

 Scarlet swallowed. 

 She was a Hopper, it was in their nature to sacrifice themselves... wasn't it?

 With a final roar that rattled the entirety of Hawkins — one of victory, it seemed — the Mind Flayer widened its gaping jaw. Saliva stretched to strings, spittle flew to the floor in puddles...

 The sound of flesh squelching hit Scarlet's ears, and so, she closed her eyes and braced herself for the pain to come.

━━━━━━━

20-06-2020

edited version: 29/11/22

:･ﾟ★ oh dear, a cliffhanger... oopsie daisy HAHA.  lol this chap was originally 2100 words. it's now 6200? how?

no more chaps until there's more interaction from you mean little ghost readers!

don't forget to let me know what you think; and remember that i now require a particular number of comments and feedback before i consider releasing the next part (this is just to ensure people remain engaged and supportive, as well as to allow me to see what you all enjoyed most!), and please do NOT leave comments telling me to update; they'll be ignored and you'll be muted, much love <3