𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕤: 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟛𝟟: 𝕋𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘

Darcy peered into the sauna of the Hawkins community pool. It had been three nights since Dustin installed the sensor at Brimborn, and she was still lucky to have not experienced an episode. Yet. She was tired of counting down the seconds until the next episode, and this sauna was the only solution.

Once Billy, Dustin, El, and Mike had returned from Brimborn, Darcy and the Party began working on the next step: curing her of her episodes.

"If you're in any way connected to the spider monster, heat is the only way to sever that connection," Mike had explained. "Will was connected to something similar to it last year, and it really, really did not like heat."

Darcy snorted. "So all I need is a hot bath?"

Will shook his head. "That's not enough heat."

Billy spoke up. "The sauna at the community pool. I can stay behind and manage the sauna."

Darcy raised a brow. "Won't your boss chew you out for that?"

Billy smirked. "He won't if he doesn't know."

"But Darcy," Max began, "if you were able to fight off all three of those spider monsters at the lake party without having an episode, don't you think you should use your abilities to fight this spider monster?"

Darcy paused, considering Max's words. It was tempting; it had been a while since her last episode, but as long as she still had her abilities, she'd probably still have her episodes. Darcy shook her head with finality. "There has to be a way to defeat the spider monster without my powers."

"Without your episodes, you might not have your powers anymore," Lucas warned.

Darcy nodded. "No powers, no episodes. No more people going missing."

Now, Darcy watched as Billy unlocked the door to the sauna as the Party stood off to the side, watching warily. Darcy has dressed warmly for the occasion, wearing her lucky flare jeans, fleece-lined leather jacket, and her maroon sweater.

Billy opened the door to the sauna for Darcy with concern in his eyes Darcy peered into the sauna of the Hawkins community pool. It had been three nights since Dustin installed the sensor at Brimborn, and she was still lucky to have not experienced an episode. Yet. She was tired of counting down the seconds until the next episode, and this sauna was the only solution.

Once Billy, Dustin, El, and Mike had returned from Brimborn, Darcy and the Party began working on the next step: curing her of her episodes.

"If you're in any way connected to the spider monster, heat is the only way to sever that connection," Mike had explained. "Will was connected to something similar to it last year, and it really, really did not like heat."

Darcy snorted. "So all I need is a hot bath?"

Will shook his head. "That's not enough heat."

Billy spoke up. "The sauna at the community pool. I can stay behind and manage the sauna."

Darcy raised a brow. "Won't your boss chew you out for that?"

Billy smirked. "He won't if he doesn't know."

"But Darcy," Max began, "if you were able to fight off all three of those spider monsters at the lake party without having an episode, don't you think you should use your abilities to fight this spider monster?"

Darcy paused, considering Max's words. It was tempting; it had been a while since her last episode, but as long as she still had her abilities, she'd probably still have her episodes. Darcy shook her head with finality. "There has to be a way to defeat the spider monster without my powers."

"Without your episodes, you might not have your powers anymore," Lucas warned.

Darcy nodded. "No powers, no episodes. No more people going missing."

Now, Darcy watched as Billy unlocked the door to the sauna as the Party stood off to the side, watching warily. Darcy has dressed warmly for the occassion, wearing her lucky flare jeans, fleece-lined leather jacket, and her maroon sweater.

Billy opened the door to the sauna for Darcy with concern in his eyes— a rare occurrence for those who knew him well. "Listen, if at any point you want this whole thing to stop, just tell me, and I'll turn off the sauna and open the door. No questions asked."

Darcy managed a small smile and stepped inside the sauna without another word.