Cindy Harris

Dylan picked Eleven up in his arms, the way Steve had picked him up before. Dylan's hands carefully held her legs up at the back of her knees as his other hand gripped around her shoulders. Her yellow shirt mushed between his fingers, and her wound actively dripping, as they left a trail down the concrete platforms right outside the entrance.

"We're almost there....." Dylan huffed, as El nodded, her face morphed with pain. The warm breeze didn't really ease her pain nor did it satisfy Dylan's lungs.

Nancy and Jonathan rushed ahead to the car that was unevenly parked next to the sidewalk. Nancy jumped into the drivers side as Jonathan got into the passenger seat.

Max swiftly opened the trunk of the car, revealing an empty space perfect for three people.

Dylan quickly but gently placed El on a seat to the right side, as she leaned her head back almost immediately, her eyes closing. "Hey, I need you to stay awake. Okay?" Dylan said as he jumped in the seat across from her.

"Ok.." Eleven weakly replied, blinking fast to try and wake herself up.

Mike followed as he sat in the seat next to Eleven. Grabbing her hand as the girl rested her head on his shoulder.

Elevens feet were rested on the seat next to Dylan's as the boy sat infront of the couple. His legs tangled with Mikes. He looked ahead to see Mike smiling sweetly at him. As he couldn't help but copy it.

As Dylan's shoulders rested against the soft walls of the car, he could almost feel the freedom of driving away. Yet the sounds of Nancy Wheeler jerking her keys and the engine sputtering but not starting, pulled that feeling from him.

"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked

"I don't......I don't know." Nancy muttered repeating her failed attempts of starting her car "You can't be serious. Come on!"

"Didn't your mom just buy this car?" Lucas asked his voice laced with confusion

"Yes. I'm sure it's fine." Nancy said, Dylan could tell she was growing frustrated.

"Did you leave the lights on?" Will asked

"No." Nancy firmly replied

"Do we have gas?" Lucas asked once more. Nancy frustration turned to anger, as she wanted to stick to the plan of getting these kids away from danger but her escape route had begun to ruin it.

"Yes!" Nancy yelled as she started to violently try and start the car, before Jonathan stopped her.

Dylan saw Eleven slightly dozing off, as she squirmed from her leg. "Mike." Dylan said softly as the boy looked at him, Dylan made notice to El who was still on Mikes shoulder

Mike nodded, as he quickly lifted Elevens head away from his shoulders. "I know it's probably hard, but we really need you to stay awake."

Eleven took in a couple of deep breaths, as she sat up more, nodding again.

Dylan's attention went to Jonathan opening his door as he walked to the front of the car, Nancy shortly following, the couples hands grazed against the hood before they both paused looking to their right, their eyes widening.

Dylan looked to the nearest window, to try and see what the two were staring at, but the window was too small and foggy.

Yet, Dylan didn't need to see.... as his eardrums flooded with the sounds of a car revving, it was loud and clear. Almost like it was speaking. Max's brother was the first to be controlled by the Mind flayer. As he was told by the group.

Dylan's also remembered Fall of 1984. The day of Halloween. As him and his friends were riding back from school, Dustin, Lucas, and Mike, were all in ghostbusters costumes as Dylan's ghost costume was still in his backpack. He remembered the sound of a car, speeding up behind them.

It was identical to the car he was hearing now.

This was Billy Hargrove.

Nancy Wheeler ran to the side of the car, banging on the window that was next to Lucas As she screamed "In the mall! Now!"

She didn't have to tell Dylan twice as the boy opened the trunk, jumping out, his feet landing hard on the road. He stretched his hand out as Mike wheeler took it, following him as his feet quickly landed on the road as well.

"Go inside! I got her." Dylan instructed, Mike hesitated for a moment before he followed his sister and friends inside the mall.

Dylan carefully picked Eleven the same way he did before, just a little more rushed, as the sounds of Billy's car grew louder and rushed shouts continued

He didn't care to close the trunk as he just ran as fast as he could to the entrance without tripping or stumbling so the girl in his arms didn't feel anymore pain then she already did.

"Hurry!.....Hurry!" Jonathan yelled, as he kept the double doors open, Dylan swiftly went inside as Jonathan closed the doors, locking it. He then moved to the other doors on the left side locking it as well.

Dylan placed the girls good leg on the ground, as Max quickly ran over helping the girl over to a bench for her to sit down, as Eleven thanked her.

"Are you okay?" Will asked Dylan

"Yes. Yes I'm fine." Dylan replied as he smiled. "Are you?"

"Yeah I'm good." Will responded

"Was that Billy?" Dylan asked, seeing if his suspicions were right.

"Yea.....it was." Max answered walking over to them . Dylan could tell she was holding in all her emotions. As she anxiously fiddled with her fingers and crossed her arms. But still staying strong as she face was monotones showing no emotion. He admired her for that.

Dylan gave her a comforting look, as the girl just looked down at the ground. Max didn't like people's pity and she definitely didn't need anyone's pity at the moment. She just wanted everyone to be safe, and to have her asshole brother back to normal.

Dylan walked away from Max and Will rubbing his face and combed his hair with his fingers, the feeling of the gauze that was over his palms lingering on his face. He had just gotten out of this mall. And now he was back inside.

Eleven put her fingers through the gaps of the bench holding on to them, as if something would blow her away, she wanted to distract herself from this feeling in her leg. Even if she had some strength from the fear that coursed through her body. She still felt tired, like she could sleep for years. And her injury hurt no less.

Eleven slowly closed her eyes, trying to imagine she was somewhere else. She did this quite often, it was comforting to her, after escaping the lab she enjoyed being able to actually see things that weren't just drawn on a piece of paper.

Feeling a weight sit next to her she opened her eyes, to see her brother, Dylan.  His body facing hers, as a bit of his hair fell unto his face, his arms that were always covered now exposed.

"Hey El." Dylan greeted as he smiled weakly. His eyes exposing how tired he was.

"Hi.." Eleven weakly smiles back, she straightened her torso as she moved her hair away from her face, as some strands got stuck in her mouth.

"Here." Dylan said taking the hair tie that was on his wrist off, handing it to the girl.

She looked at it for a second before looking back up at Dylan blankly. Her eyebrows furrowing and her lips pursing in confusion.

"It's to tie your hair.....like...uhh." Dylan paused "You know what. Turn around." He motioned to El as she hesitated but listened.

The girl positioned herself towards the food stands and away from Dylan, wincing at the movement in her leg. El felt Dylan fingers gently pick up strands of her brown hair at her hairline.

Dylan began French braiding the girls bob, as it seemed that would be the most convenient and logical hairstyle for the lack of length. "Cindy......taught me how to do this. She needed help braiding her hair sometimes, so she taught be how to braid." Dylan said as he continued reaching to the end of the girls hair. Tying it all together.

"There! I don't have a mirror...but is it comfortable?" Dylan asked

Eleven felt the cool air in the back of her neck for the first time in a while, as the heat that was once there making her condition more unbearable wasn't. She felt the back of her head, as it almost felt like a pattern on her scalp.

"How did you do this?" Eleven asked as she continued to feel her hair.

"It was hard at first but after a while it just got easy, this is called a...French braid? Yeah a French braid. It's like twisting your hair. Look Max has braids in her hair." Dylan pointed to Max. "Except it's not connected to her scalp, like yours." Dylan smiled.

"Teach me." Eleven said.

_________________________________

Dylan sat very still as the girl infront of him focused on the three strands of curly hair that she was attempting to braid. Dylan coaching her through it.

"Yep, and then you fold the first strand over the third one..." Dylan grimaced as he tried his best to keep a straight face while his hair was tugged and pulled on.

Mikes voice bounced off the walls as he walked around in circles talking into his super comm trying to get a message back from someone. "Scoops Troop, do you copy? Scoops Troop I repeat, do you copy? We're trapped in the mall and in need of emergency transportation. Scoops troop do you copy?! Billy has found us!"

The sound of Lucas tactical slingshot, being pulled back every second was "music" to Dylan's ears as his hair was also pulled back. Thankfully Eleven finally finished the small braid as she exclaimed excitedly "I did it! Do you like it?"

Dylan felt the side of his head"Yeah, it's great. I love it." Dylan smiled as Eleven smiled back hugging the boy sweetly

"Thank you. Dylan." Eleven said, she could also hope for Dylan to make her feel better. She missed him this summer, even though she never admitted it. It was nice to talk to him again.

"Thank you too, El." Dylan responded placing his hand on the girls arms that were wrapped around his shoulders. Dylan didn't know why he was thanking her, but, he felt like he needed to anyway.

Nancy's gun clicked as she checked the amount of ammo she had which was close to Zero.

"You're gonna kill him, aren't you?" Max asked her eyes set on the gun in a somber gaze

"This is just a precaution. Okay?" Nancy explained.

"And not just against Billy. If he knows we're here, so does the mind flayer." Will added

Mike wheeler began to walk alongside the food stands the static from his comm making Max, Will, and Nancy look up. But they weren't looking at Mike, they were looking at the car that was crashed alongside the cookie stand.

"No chance that thing will drive, right?" Nancy joked, yet there was till hope in her question.

"We don't need it to drive." Jonathan spoke up"We just need the ignition cable."

Nancy looked at the car again without hesitation. Her eyes widening as she set a new plan out in her mind.

_______________________________

  The 5 all went behind the car using their strength to push it as hard as they could. Nancy's feet against the wall using her whole weight.

Will, El, and Dylan watched the struggle their friends had, waiting until they all stopped for a second to catch their breath.

"Will you please just-" Dylan pleaded putting his hands together before he was cut off again.

"No! You and El need to take a break. We got this." Mike answered quickly, his tone leaving no room for an argument.

Dylan rolled his eyes again, seeing this whole situation as stupid and unnecessary.

"You need to take a break....." Dylan mocked Mike as he slightly nudged Elevens shoulder. The girl giggling a bit as the two made fun of her boyfriend.

"I heard that!" Mike yelled his hands still pressed hard against the car, as the vehicle still didn't move an inch. He sighed loudly pushing himself off the car as he looked at it before smiling.

"Wait! I have an idea! Physics!" Mike exclaimed

"Physics?" Max questioned

"There!" Mike pointed towards a bunch of spinning chairs that were alongside a Chinese stand. "Grab one of the chairs and unscrews the bottom. We need something heavy that can easily push the car."

"That could work!" Lucas agreed

The 5 all ran to get a chair believing the boy, Dylan cracked his knuckles slowly making his way towards the car. Seeing everyone else was distracted with unscrewing the bottoms, especially Mike who had his back completely turned. Dylan snuck over to the back of the car. Grabbing the metal, as he grunted and easily moved the car to its wheels.

A loud bang, made its way over to everyone's ears as the car slightly shook from the impact, Dylan fingers molded into the cars metal. He looked forward to see Mike along with everyone else looking at him, as they dropped their chairs."I said don't use your powers!" Mike scolded him.

"I hate physics." Dylan shrugged as he wiped his hands off. Walking towards Mike who gave him an annoyed look. Dylan simply gave him a cheeky smile back walking past him.

Mike tried his best to keep his face annoyed to express how he didn't appreciate Dylan risking his health over something that could have easily been solved. But his best friend giving him that smile he always received...he couldn't help but let the edges of his lips curl.

Away from the group. Dylan walked over to a water fountain that was next to the Scoops Ahoy that was dark and closed. bending down to get a drink of water. He wiped the droplets that fell down his chin, as he heard the sound of boots walking. He looked to the left into the back of the mall, a door leading to the pathways behind the walls. Seeing a glimpse of blond hair, and black boots. His eyes narrowed as he looked behind him seeing the group focused on the cars engine.

He slipped away from them, walking towards the door, opening it. The familiar tunnel with pipes, and water that dripped, the slightest sound echoing. To see Cindy....far away. Just close enough to see her figure. Dylan knew that it was her. "Cindy?" Dylan asked

"D-Dylan..?" The girls voice cried, her voice laced with fear. In a second the girl was grabbed by a force as she was pulled into a separate room.

"Cindy!" Dylan yelled as he ran after her his shoes hitting against the floor in a rush as it seemed the hallway was getting longer and longer, his legs growing tired but he persisted.

"Cindy! Cindy!" Dylan shouted, trying to hear anything back from the girl. He looked around seeing the tunnel that he was once in now a different direction, one could even argue a different color.

Dylan's face morphed with confusion, his fist tightly closed, as his eyes lingered everywhere. He felt like someone was watching him. That feeling of dread hanging over his head, as the slight ringing of his ear came back. Something was wrong.

He heard the sound of labored breathing to his right as he quickly turned his head, the once empty hallway was now a door, slightly cracked. The lights inside hued to a yellow, orange color.

Dylan quickly but carefully placed his hands on the door as he pushed it open, slowly. He peeked through the crack that was getting bigger before seeing, his girlfriend her back to the ground, as it was her making the sound. "Cindy!" Dylan said as he ran inside falling to his knees as he slightly lifted the girls head. "Hey...hey. Cindy?"

Dylan's heart was racing as his fingers shook, the feeling of the girls hair in between his fingers. Her smudged makeup was now mixed with dirt, as her face was scratched up and dirty. The girls eyes slowly looked at Dylan's. As she placed her hand on his arm.

"Cindy!" Dylan cheered "thank goodness you're not dead....okay, I'm going to get you out of here and we're going to get you help."

Dylan's voice slightly shook as he was so confused on why Cindy was here. What happened.......?

"Y......y" Cindy whispered, her voice stopping as if someone was holding her back

"I'm going to get you out." Dylan placed his arm underneath Cindy's legs as he was about to pick her up before he felt a force pull him down harshly, not allowing him to move.

Dylan felt that dread creep up on him again, along with pain, as the once gentle hand on his arm was now black painted nails digging into his skin. Before he could react Cindy's other hand reached to his shoulder as she roughly pushed him off of her, Dylan staggered back holding the fresh wounds in his arms, her fingernails creating a pattern similar to a bite mark.

"You! Left me! You left me alone! And now look at me! I'm ruined!" Cindy's once lighthearted country accent was now raspy and harsh her words laced with venom.

Dylan's mind flashed as the memories of his promise to her left broken, in the same mall. Then visions......Seeing the girl stand alone in a dark night. The only light she had being a streetlight. Her running up.....to Billy. Then Dylan could see what was infront of him again, his eyes becoming clear.

"Cindy—" his words were cut off by a hand thrown to his neck. Dylan could barely breathe as Cindy held on to him.......his hands gripped to Cindy's arm, but he didn't want to hurt her, he can't. He can't hurt her again. He looked down at the girls face, all he saw was her....his mother. Cindy pushed him to the tiled wall, as it cracked behind his back.

Dylan felt a tear slip down his cheek, as he grunted in pain. "I'm sorry....." he said quietly. The sound and feeling of a crack in his chest as Cindy's hand met with his ribs. Severe pain shot up his entire side as it burned. He gasped before quickly regretting it, his breathing making it feel worst.

Dylan felt Cindy drop him as he fell to the floor, taking in deep breaths each one hurting even more. As he quickly stood up. Rubbing his neck. He saw how Cindy had anger on her face as her veins popped out, each one being black as her eyeshadow. Tears still flowed down her face.

"No.....no" Dylan said, the Mind flayer got her. He has to save her. He can't hurt her.

He saw the girl begin to walk towards him before, her legs stopped. Her face grew frustrated as it screeched. Something was holding her back. She started to thrash around holding her face.

"C-Cindy...if you can hear me, fight." Dylan said. As he lifted one hand up. The other rested on his ribs. The low frequency filled Cindy's ears, Dylan's nose began to burn.

"Your fault! Your fault!" Cindy repeated, as she held her head. Shaking uncontrollably. She hit her head with her palm over and over again. Clawing at the tiled wall, her nails bending back, and breaking. "Stop this! Stop! STOP!"

The girl had a bloodcurdling scream, as the black veins began to flow all around her body, the black smoke leaving her mouth, as it quickly disappeared through the door.

Dylan's eyes widened as the girl collapsed. He quickly ran catching her before she fell. The colliding of her weight against his ribs sent a shock of pain that caused his knees to bend. Falling on them, as he made sure to get all the impact.

Dylan could clearly see the girls face. She was sacred, frightened, and tired. "C-Cindy. I-I didn't m-mean to Lea-....to leave you. I got stuck, and I......" Dylan's words mashed together as they didn't make sense, the sight of the girl bringing tears to his eyes. He's seen this look before.

"Dylan........." Cindy muttered her cracked lips barely moving.

"Yes! It's me! I'm gonna g-get you out. I'm gonna help y-you." Dylan said his hands still holding the girl. She slowly grabbed the hand that was holding her shoulder. As she placed it gently on her neck.

"Please.........." She muttered again her eyes fixated on Dylan's face. She was begging him. Pleading for him to end her misery. The same way she would beg him to hang out with her. Braid her hair. Be with her.

She could be mean, and rude. Hurtful. But she was a teenager, a kid. Who just wanted to be loved. Dylan realized that now.

"I...I-i can't, do that." Dylan responded "No. I can't do it again" His chest hurt as every time he would let a tear slip his rib would poke his skin in a taunting manner.

The girl just kept looking at the boy, slowly rubbing his hand that was on her neck, letting him know, she wanted this.

Dylan paused looking at her, seeing her state up close. The wound on her stomach, that actively bleed. Her lips that had chemical burns on them. Dylan didn't want to accept it, but the girl was already dead, she just still felt the pain of living.

Dylan's breathing staggered as he gripped her neck a bit harder. Wanting this to be quick, and painless. His vision was blurry, as he couldn't even look at the girl anymore. He turned his head away.

The crack that he felt in his hand. The fragile skin around her neck going soft, the sound of her last breath. And the sight that he turned back around to see—being her once lively eyes, now dark. As her body grew completely limp.

She was dead.

"Mom—-Cindy." Dylan corrected himself, his voice growing quiet along with his tears. He moved his hand to her face. Remembering all of the moments the eye had together, each thought hurting more and more. The day he saw her in the arcade......When she asked him to dance....he should've said no.

He let the girl down on the floor, gently, guiding her head with the back of his hand. Closing her eyes. As he painfully stood up.

He walked towards the door before throwing up in the corner of the room, the pain from his ribs and the act of what he had done getting to his stomach. He couldn't even look back.

He gripped his ribs as he slightly limped towards the door he exited out of. Seeing a clear path. Red lights were flashing, as an alarm was sounded.

Dylan thought about their tumultuous relationship, despite never truly loving her, Cindy had loved him, through her visits, and kisses. She had loved him to her last breath. Now she's gone....and Dylan finally felt the guilt and regret of never giving her that love back. Never giving her the love that she deserved.