American Heroes: A Stranger Things 3 Fic

Griswold Family

"Griswold Family, do you copy? Over," Dustin's voice echoes over a walkie-talkie. Underneath a food stall counter, Will, Max, El, and Mike huddle together as the Mind Flayer storms around them. "Griswold Family, I repeat, this is Scoops Troop. Do you – Griswold Family, do you copy? Do you copy?!"

The Mind Flayer lets out a roar. Will winces at the sound of what he assumes is the walkie-talkie flinging across the food court and smashing into the ground. "Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop," Dustin continues. "Please confirm your safety! Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop! Please confirm your safety! Are you en route to Bald Eagle's nest?"

His voice is indistinguishable as static overtakes it. The Mind Flayer roars again. "Please confirm your safety! Someone, please just answer. Is anyone there? Just answer! Anyone, please..."

Curling his legs closer, Will trembles as the ground rumbles around them, the Mind Flayer walking past the food stall. Will's heart beats out of his chest. All he can think about is the day on the field last fall. The Mind Flayer taking over him. Before that point, he thought he was crazy. That it was all a terrible nightmare. When he realized it wasn't, that this monster was real, he thought he was screwed. And now, with the Mind Flayer here again, this time in a physical form, all he can think is that this is it. It came back for him, and it's going to kill everyone. It's finally going to get him for good, and nothing can stop it. Every inch of him trembles, his stomach churning and neck tingling. He squeezes his eyes shut.

Growling, the Mind Flayer rumbles past them again to the opposite side of the food court. Will flinches when someone grabs his hand, his eyes flying open. Across from him, Mike mouths, "Are you okay?"

He nods quickly. Mike glances above the counter before crouching back down. "It's turned away," he whispers. "If we go up the stairs now, we'll make it."

"No way," Max says, "not with El's leg."

"We have to try."

"There's another way..." El says, "to get out. Through the Gap."

As Mike peers back over the counter, Will takes a deep breath, his rapid heartbeat slowing down slightly. The Mind Flayer snarls. Crouching back down, Mike nods to the three of them. "Okay. Now."

They rush out from under the food stall and over to the entrance of the Gap. Mike and El move ahead of Will and Max, but they let out a cry as they bump into a clothing rack, and it crashes to the floor. From the other side of the food court, the Mind Flayer roars and storms towards them. Dodging counters and clothing racks, they tear into the store and duck behind a shelf.

The Mind Flayer, pressed against the entrance of the Gap, lets out a shriek. Squished between El and Max, Will pulls his knees in close, holding his breath. The four of them gasp as a mannequin flings onto the ground beside Mike. Staying low, they slide across the floor in the other direction and hide behind a counter, barely concealed.

Will can hear the tentacle of the Mind Flayer curling through the air towards them. Crouching low, Will turns in the opposite direction and moves out from behind the counter. Mike reaches out and grabs his arm tight. "What are you doing?" he hisses.

When the Mind Flayer growls, Will motions Mike, Max, and El to stay quiet. He tiptoes down the aisle, unsure of what to do. From the floor, he picks up a plastic hanger and as he's about to throw it towards the entrance, a loud pop sounds from the other end of the food court. The Mind Flayer turns and pounds in the direction of the sound, its tentacle shooting away with it.

Will feels a tug at his shirt and turns to see Mike pulling at his sleeve and motioning for him to hurry. Without another thought, he follows Mike, Max, and El out the exit.

They tear down an empty hallway, Max and Mike holding El up while Will rushes ahead of them. Pushing open the door at the end of the hallway, they're met with a wave of warm air from outside. "This way," Will says, opening the gate to the parking lot. They get a few feet into the parking lot but halt when they see Billy standing beside his flaming car, watching them.

"Shit!" Max says.

"Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!" Mike turns around with El and hobbles back through the gate. As Max and Mike help El back into the mall, Will hits the button to close the gate and watches Billy staggering towards them.

"Will," Mike says from beside him.

Will spins around. "Mike? What are you doing? We need to get El to safety." He grabs Mike's arm and moves after his Max and El.

"In case something happens," Mike says as they reach the door, "I just need to say-"

"Mike, nothing's going to happen. We'll be fine." He moves to follow Mike inside but stops when he feels a prickle in the back of his neck. "Mike, you need to go."

"Wait, what?"

He turns to see Billy grab the gate and shove it back open. Will pushes Mike forward. "Go help El and Max. I'll keep him back."

"Will, no, you can't-"

"Mike, go!"

Hesitating, Mike pats Will's shoulder and rushes off down the hallway. Will turns to Billy . "Billy," Will says in a wavering voice, backing up into the hallway, "you don't have to do this. I went through what you're going through, but you can't let it take over. Think of your family, your friends. Billy-"

Billy's fist comes swinging down at Will. Will throws his arms up to block him, but Billy is thrown to the side as Mike hurls himself at him. Both Mike and Billy barrel into the wall, struggling against each other.

"Mike!" Will staggers back, eyes wide. Billy throws Mike onto the floor, turns his attention to Will, and surges forward. Before he can reach Will, Mike jumps to his feet, grabs a handful of Billy's hair, and yanks him backwards. Billy stumbles onto the floor, holding onto the back of his head. Lurching forward, Will grabs Mike's arm, pulling him out of Billy's reach. They turn to run, but Will lets out a cry as Billy grabs him by the ankle and yanks him to the floor. His elbows hit the tiles, sending a wave of pain through his arms.

"Go to hell!" Mike cries, throwing his fist at Billy's face. Billy dodges his blow, grabbing his wrist and twisting it before shoving him against the wall. He slams Mike's head forward, and Mike drops to the floor. As Billy marches on down the hall, Will rushes to Mike's side, shaking his shoulder. His eyes stay shut, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead, but his chest rises as he breathes.

Will struggles to his feet, wincing at the pain in his arms. "Billy, this isn't you!" he shouts after him. "This is the Mind Flayer. Don't let it take over. Think of your sister, Billy. Think of Max!"

When Billy ignores him, continuing towards where El and Max are waiting for the elevator, Will takes a deep breath and charges forward. He catapults himself on top of Billy, hitting his back like a cement brick. They both lurch forward. Will locks his arms around Billy's neck, clutching onto him as he flails about. Billy slams backwards into the wall, knocking the air out of Will's lungs. He wheezes, Billy throwing him off. He grasps the back of Billy's shirt. "Don't do this-" he chokes.

Whirling around, Billy smashes his fist at the side of Will's head, knocking him to the floor. His head hits the hard tiles, and the world around him goes black.