𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕤: 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟠: 𝕄𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣

Darcy listened to Billy's words, but it was as if he were talking about someone else completely, not her. But everything he said, no matter how crazy it sounded, made sense. From his wide eyes and his shaky hands, he was telling the truth. When he finished, Darcy stared blankly at a Metallica poster on Billy's wall, taking time to process information longer than her aunt's home office computer. She picked at a thread on the carpeted floor.

"So...I'm really responsible for Tommy's disappearance? And the lie detector? And your," Darcy glanced down at the floor guiltily, "...your wounds?"

Billy nodded slowly, waiting for Darcy to speak.

Darcy stood up, opening the door to Billy's room to leave. "I should go. Far, far, away from here."

Billy followed Darcy, grabbing her hand before she could take another step. "Darcy, wait."

"No!" Darcy grabbed her hand back from Billy's. "Have you listened to yourself? I'm dangerous, especially if I can't remember the things I've done. How is my staying here going to help?"

"I've got help—"

"That's great, but what can they possibly do? Hold me down while I have one another of my episodes? I can't stay here in Hawkins!"

Billy huffed, crossing his arms. "You think leaving would completely solve everything?! You'd still have your episodes, you'd still put people in danger, and that spider monster would still be alive."

Darcy glared at Billy. He was right, to her dismay. Leaving wouldn't solve anything; it would only spread her problems further. Her eyes drifted towards the clock on Billy's nightstand: 3:46 a.m. "It's late. We need to rest."

Billy shook his head. "Not until we find a solution."

"We can't find a solution to this whole ordeal if we can't think straight." Darcy paused, listening outside Billy's door. "Did you invite people over?"

Billy glanced away, grateful for the darkness to cover his embarrassment. "Just a couple of Max's friends to help."

Darcy walked towards the dining room, where Max and her friends immediately quieted and stilled at the sight of Darcy. She watched their expressions, their eyes wide and their hands clenched into fists, each one ready to run away or fight. Darcy raised both her hands in surrender, which only made Max and her friends huddle closer together, particularly towards the girl with short brown hair.

Darcy cracked a small smile, speaking gently while keeping her hands where Max and her friends could see them. "I'd say that I won't hurt you, but I guess you and I don't exactly know that."

Max and her friends only stared back at Darcy, anticipating her next move.

Darcy sighed. "Billy told me everything, and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it, but I can't do that or protect Hawkins from myself without your help."

Mike spoke up first, clearing his throat. "Well, we need to know why you're having these episodes and what's the cause behind it."

"And how to stop your episodes," Lucas added.

"And how to defeat the spider monster," quipped Dustin.

Darcy nodded. "And what about the Mage?"

"We'll worry about the Mage later," Will replied quickly, stealing a brief glance at El, "but right now, we're just focused on how to stop another one of your episodes from happening."

"Well, they usually happen at night," Darcy said, "they haven't occurred during the day. But it's not like someone can keep watch over me 24/7."

Mike crossed his arms, thinking. "Is there some kind of pattern that happens before your episodes?"

"My hands get cold and the lights start flickering or they just go out completely. There's not a specific time or place, my episodes just...happen."

"But we can't leave you on your own." Billy appeared behind her.

Darcy turned to face Billy, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Well then, would you like to volunteer as my 24/7 babysitter?"

"Maybe you don't need a babysitter," Dustin replied. "Some of the stuff I learned during summer camp that might help."

Darcy snorted. "Like what, building a tracking device? Why don't I just head down to the station and ask them for one? Actually, why don't I turn myself in while I'm there?"

Dustin groaned at Darcy's attitude. "I'm proposing to set up a sensor of some sort to place near Brimborn. It will detect motion if anyone enters the mill, and it will detect electricity if you're using your powers. It won't prevent your episodes, but it'll let us know if you're having one."

Darcy nodded. "When will it be ready?"

"Five days, and it should be good to go."

Darcy took a deep breath. Dustin's contraption was better than nothing, it was genius, in fact, but in the meantime, what would she do? Five days was plenty of time for another episode to happen.

Sensing her unease, Lucas slid a walkie-talkie across the table in Darcy's direction. "Here. This also won't prevent another episode from happening, but it will let us know sooner while Dustin works on the sensor."

Darcy turned on the walkie talkie. "Thanks." She glanced at everyone in the room. She barely knew them, but they'd been dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to help her. "For everything."

Max shook her head. "It was Billy who called everyone."

Darcy stole a glance at Billy who leaned against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed. He had a chance to abandon her at the steel mill with the spider monster, but he instead chose to bring her back and call for help.

While El, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will filed out of the house, Darcy followed suit, but not before pausing at the doorway. She turned, facing Billy.

"Why are you helping me? You should have just left me at the steel mill. Then more people wouldn't be in danger because of me."

Billy pushed off the counter, walking towards Darcy. "Then I'd be no better than the spider monster or whatever it was I saw, would I?"

Darcy tilted her head. "Since when did you consider ethics as a part of your decision-making?"

Billy leaned in close, placing his hand against the door frame right by Darcy's head. His heartbreak-blue eyes pierced into her own. "This isn't just about ethics, Darcy. You think you're a monster because you have no control over your episodes. But the difference between you and a monster is that a monster couldn't care less about the destruction it leaves behind. And believe me, I know monsters."

A chill ran down Darcy's spine. She couldn't tell if it was because of Billy's proximity or his words.