23. the testing of saunas

THE TESTING OF SAUNAS

✧･ﾟ: * The kids wait for hours for the pool to close. By the time everyone's left the sun has already gone down.

Nora finds it somewhat therapeutic to be in the pool this late at night. The water looks like it's glowing, there's no screaming kids running around, she's not getting splashed by water every two seconds. It's nice.

The group is hiding in the locker room as Billy takes a shower. He exits soon, and goes over to the lockers to change. As he pulls on a pair of red swim trunks, Mike slams the door shut.

"Pool's closed!" Billy's attention is raised. Mike slams the door again and Billy makes his over to wear the plan would take place. "Hey! Do you hear me? Pool's closed!"

Billy hits the exit door to the locker room which is now locked thanks to Lucas. Will runs out of his hiding spot to hit the lights, and Billy looks around suspiciously.

"Who's there?"

Mike speaks into the radio, sound coming out of the one in the sauna. "Billy!"

Nora thinks this would be a good prank if it their lives weren't on the line.

"Who's there?" Billy calls again. "You think this is funny, huh?"

"Billy," Mike continues. "Come and find me."

"If I find you, it's your funeral."

"Come and get me!" Mike keeps up. "Come on!"

Billy walks to the area the sauna is and the party follows closely. He sees the dummy the kids had set up and starts to laugh and clap. Psycho.

"Come and get me, you piece of shit!" Mike smirks.

Billy goes and grabs the dummy by the neck, holding it up. Mike sends El in the room, who then stands a few feet behind Billy.

"Hey. Behind you."

Billy drops the dummy and turns quickly. Ouch. Whiplash.

"Hi," El says.

Billy starts forward, but El tilts her head up and Billy goes flying into the wall, tiles falling around him.

The rest of the group rushes forward and Mike and Lucas shut the door, locking it with chains and a pipe. Once they are sure the door is locked, they run back to join the group standing a few feet behind.

Billy grunts and bangs against the door, eyes stopping as they land on his sister. "Max."

The kids look to Max, looking scared, conflicted, and angry all at once.

"Do it."

Will runs to the sauna heat controller, and he puts it to the highest setting. The amount steam Billy is suffocating in multiplies, and he bangs against the door again.

"Max! Let me out of here!" He lowers his voice. "Let me out. . . you kids. You think this is funny? You kids think this is some kind of sick prank, huh?" Billy spits at the window. "You little shits think this is funny? What is this? Open the door! Open the door! Open the door! Open the goddamn door!"

Billy seems to kneel down, out of the kids sight. Will rushes over to the controller again and informs everyone it's at the highest it can go.

"It's not my fault," Billy's cries start to echo and Nora raises her eyebrows. I didn't know he felt emotion. "It's not my fault. It's not my fault, Max. I promise you, it's not my fault."

"What's not you fault, Billy?" Max slowly walks over and looks through the window.

"I've done things, Max. Really. . . bad things," Billy's voice cracks. "I didn't mean to. He made me do it."

"Who made you do it?"

"I don't know. Like a shadow." The group shares looks, instantly knowing what he's talking about. "Like a giant shadow. Please, Max."

"What did he make you do?"

"It's not my fault, okay?" Billy cries out. "Please, believe me, Max. It's not my fault. I tried to stop him, okay? I did. Please believe me, Max. Please believe me."

"Billy, it's gonna be okay," Max puts a hand to the window, tearing up slightly. "We want to help you. You just have to talk to us, okay? You have to talk to us. I believe you, Billy. We'll figure it out together, okay?"

"I feel him," Will whispers, his body shaking. "He's activated."

"Max, get away from the door," Nora's eyes widen. She stares in worry as Max doesn't move. "Get away from the door!"

Nora rushes over and pushes her out of the way just as Billy breaks the glass window open, sending glass shards to Nora's side. Max grabs her quickly as she tries to stop the scratches on her arms from bleeding.

"Let me out, you bitch! Let me out! I'll fucking gut you!" Billy yells as he reaches down and tries to pull the pipe.

Lucas grabs his slingshot and hits Billy with a rock, making him drop to the floor. Max takes Nora's hand and drags the two of them back to the group at his moment of weakness.

The lights start flickering and the group looks around nervously, not sure what's going to happen. Too distracted by the lights, they don't notice Billy's grunting. It isn't until he stands up and roars loudly that the kids look in terror. Dark veins run across his body, like some sort of infection is taking him over. He charges towards the sauna door, trying to get it open. Everyone jumps at every thud signaling he's getting closer to getting out.

"He can't get out, can he?" Max asks in a shaky voice, still gripping Nora's hand, trying to avoid her open wounds.

"No way. No way," Lucas shakes his head, clearly unsure.

Billy let's out a final roar and bangs against the door rolling out as it's knocked off it's hinges. Everyone hides behind El who's standing face to face with Billy. She raises one arm and sends a dumbbell from her side flinging at Billy's throat, throwing him into a wall. El extends both arms and holds the dumbbell against Billy, pushing him further into the wall. Billy musters all his strength and chucks the dumbbell at El who has to duck, so it won't hit her.

Billy marches over and yanks El by her hair. He glances up the at the group, Will and Mike pressed together while Lucas stands in front of Max and Nora, still stuck together by their hands.

Without hesitation, - still staring at the group - he grabs El's throat and holds her up in the air, choking her.

Eleven gasps for air, "No! No!"

Mike acts quickly and grabs a bar from the side, hitting Billy in the head with it. Billy drops to the ground at the impact, El falling with him.

"Go to hell, you piece of shit!" Mike goes to hit him again, but Billy grabs the bar before Mike can deliver the blow, tossing it to the side.

Billy stalks towards Mike who has nowhere to go as he's pressed against the wall. Everyone looks in worry, unsure of what to do until El gets up, and she raises Billy into the air. She moves, so she's in front of Mike, protecting him, as Billy chokes in front of them. El lets out a scream and throws Billy into a brick wall, he breaks through in the process, ending up in the grass outside.

El falls to the ground in Mike's arms, crying against his chest. Mike holds her tightly, calming her down before lifting her up slowly.

Everyone moves to see the gaping hole in the wall, just as Billy gets up and runs away.

Holy shit.

a/n:

intense.

also, i think 🏳️‍🌈👄🏳️‍🌈 is the best emoji combination to describe me