Krystal had a beaming smile on her face as she helped Heather bring dinner out to the Holloway's, sharing a knowing look with the teenager. If Heather's parents were surprised to see her bringing a friend home from work, they didn't show it. Their house was as extravagant as Krystal had expected, Heather had clearly been a spoiled child. As Krystal went to sit down opposite the brunette, she reached out with her mind, connecting with Heather's through the Hive. Krystal's forehead wrinkled when she could sense Heather's memories slowly disintegrating, feeling unsettled by the realisation. Was that what would eventually happen to her memories?

"So, how long have you two been friends?" Janet, Heather's mother, inquired, taking a dainty bite of her meal.

"Since this afternoon" Krystal replied, truthfully, her own meal untouched.

"Oh…a bit of a joker, are we?" Janet laughed, awkwardly.

"Krystal has just a wicked sense of humour" Heather agreed, a sly smile on her lips.

"And a very good taste in friends. Heather tells me you're a very important pillar in the community, Mr Holloway" Krystal announced, her eyes snapping to Heather's father.

"I do run the most successful newspaper in Hawkins" Tom, Heather's father, answered proudly.

"Isn't it the only newspaper in Hawkins?" Krystal retorted, watching Tom's jaw tense.

Krystal's eyes flickered over to Janet, who was coughing lightly, placing her fork on the table. She reached out to her glass of red wine, but her hand faltered and accidentally knocked the red liquid over, staining the table instantly. Tom let out an angry huff, irritated by his wife's clumsiness.

"Are you okay, Mommy?" Heather asked, tilting her head to the side.

"I told you to slow down on that wine, Janet" Tom complained, taking a bite of his meal, chewing obnoxiously.

"Yes, darling" Janet mumbled, her cheeks flushing.

"How's the food, Mr Holloway?" Krystal inquired, turning back to the older man.

"A little dry" Tom muttered, only just loud enough for Krystal to hear, but he still continued to shove the food in his mouth.

"You've barely touched your meal, dear" Janet frowned, looking at Heather's untouched plate.

"Oh, this food was never for us, Mommy. We just needed to keep up appearances" Heather explained, as Janet's frown deepened.

"Excuse me?" Tom questioned, his fork stopping in mid-air.

"Well, you would have thought it was odd if we only made the food for you. A more paranoid person could even think the meal was poisoned" Krystal scoffed, watching Tom's eyes widen.

"I…I don't feel well…" Janet stuttered, clutching at her chest, with a grimace.

"The infections working its way through your bloodstream. Eating you up from the inside…slowly" Krystal informed her, as Janet began to shake.

"What…Heather, what have you done?!" Tom exclaimed, pushing himself up from his chair.

Tom fell just as quickly as he had stood up, his knees buckling from underneath. By now, Janet was having a seizure-like episode in her chair, her eyes rolling back. Krystal reached over the table, picking up Janet's glass of wine and taking a sip, a smug expression on her face.

"Don't worry, Daddy. It will all be over soon" Heather told him, crouching down to face him on the floor.

"Heather, please. You don't have to—" Tom was cut off, as he felt a foot pressing into his back, shoving him further to the ground.

"These results are a little disappointing. I had hoped the transmission would be quicker…and less irritating" Krystal mumbled, pressing a little harder on Tom's back, who let out a cry of pain.

A thump had her eyes snapping over to Janet, who's limp body had fallen to the floor, black ooze now running down her lips. Krystal closed her eyes, feeling Janet becoming part of the Hive, her mind opening up to them.

Well done.

A large grin grew on Krystal's face as the Mindflayer's words echoed through her mind. Their experiment was a success. She could infect humans through transmission in their food and water. With this information, they would be able to infect far more people.

"P-please…" Tom cried, his eyes flickering down to his hands as he saw black veins rushing underneath his skin.

"Once you're infected, it can't be stopped" Krystal announced, taking her foot off his back.

"Heather…why?" Tom asked, tears welling in his eyes, as he looked to his daughter.

"I wanted us to be together, Daddy. As a family. And now we will be…forever" Heather smiled sinisterly, as Tom began to shake, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

Heather watched emotionlessly as her father began to fit on the floor, pushing herself to her feet. Krystal couldn't stop the small grimace on her face, as Tom's body contorted, as she could swear she heard bones breaking. She turned as she saw Janet slowly standing up, a peaceful expression on her face.

"How do you feel?" Krystal asked as Janet came to stand in between the girls.

"…Complete" Janet answered, as Tom's eyes shot open, black veins darkening the whites of his eyes.


"She seems pretty normal to me" Max announced, looking through binoculars at her sister lounging by the pool.

"She's talking with Heather. She hates her, and her perfect little family. It's not normal" Billy insisted, ushering to where Heather was sitting next to the teenager.

"Just because she's hanging out with someone who's not you, doesn't mean there's anything wrong with her" Max pointed out, as Billy pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You heard what Eleven said! Krys said she needed our help, and we're gonna' make sure she gets it" Billy insisted.

"They're not sweating" Will frowned, grabbing the binoculars from Max's hand.

"What?" Mike questioned, confused.

"The Mindflayer likes it cold. They should be sweating under this heat. They both look…fine" Will explained as Max raised a hand up.

"Exactly. Guys, what if we're wrong about this? How do we know it's not just the Mindflayer trying to pull us apart?" Max suggested.

"…Or maybe the Mindflayer isn't looking for a new host" Will mumbled, as all eyes turned to him.

"What if it needs Krystal for something different? Something even worse?" Will exclaimed as Billy felt sick at the thought.

"We need to figure out a way to know for sure" Mike announced, a fact which they all agreed.

"If the Mindflayer likes it cold…let's put a fire under its ass" Billy stated, an idea forming in his mind.

"What are you planning to do? Set my sister on fire?" Max scoffed, crossing her arms.

"There's a sauna near the lockers. If we put her in there, she'll…react, right?" Billy guessed, as Will nodded.

"It would be like torture for anyone flayed" Will answered, watching Billy grimace.

"But how are we gonna' get here in there? She won't go willingly" Mike pointed out.

"I can get her there," Billy told them.

"Billy, if she's been flayed, she'll be stronger than you" Will warned him, concern clear in his voice.

"Trust me, I can get her to go in willingly. I can be pretty…persuasive, if you know what I mean—" Billy was quickly cut off by Max, who was looking a little green.

"I really don't want to hear about you and my sister getting 'persuasive' with each other" Max complained.

"We'll get what we need to lock her in" Mike insisted, ushering over for the group to follow him towards the pool.

"…Do you think this is going to work?" Max questioned, looking up at Billy with wide eyes.

"We need to know for sure" Billy replied, his shoulders tense.

"But what if she is the new host…what then? How do we get her back?" Max asked, beginning to panic.

"Hey, she needs you to be strong right now, okay? And I need to make sure you have my back on this, Max. Look, I know the others care about Krystal but we're the only ones who…if I tell you we need to stop it, you'll help me, right?" Billy went on, as Max slowly nodded.

"She's all I've got, Billy" Max cried, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

"No…she's not," Billy told her, reaching out to place his hand on her shoulder, giving a comforting squeeze.

"Now, c'mon. We better see what those dipshits are up to" Billy exclaimed, ushering her towards the pool, as a sad smile spread on her lips.


Will had been trying to open the maintenance shed outside the pool for the last ten minutes when he saw Billy approaching. He opened his mouth to tell the older boy the shed was locked tight but was cut off by Billy raising his leg and kicking the door open. Will gaped a little as he saw Billy had broken the hinges on the door, turning to the boy who was ushering for him to step through the doorway. Will quickly rushed in, his eyes surveying the room for anything that could help them keep Krystal in the sauna. He went on his tiptoes as he ran his hands along the shelves, hearing an awkward cough behind him.

"How're you doing, man?" Billy asked, as Will turned to him with a frown.

"…Fine" Will shrugged, as Billy quirked an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh. The thing that possessed you less than a year ago is back and you just told your best friend he's the reason you don't like girls…but yeah, you're fine" Billy went on, crossing his arms.

"We have bigger things to worry about right now" Will mumbled, finding some large metal chains, and placing them into a nearby cardboard box.

"Well, we can't really do much until closing time, so…I mean if you need to talk…or whatever…I'm around…" Billy stuttered over his words.

"What happened to no chick flick moments?" Will retorted, still refusing to look at the older boy.

"I actually happen to like you, Byers. So, I'll make an exception" Billy told him, watching Will's shoulders slump.

"…I shouldn't have told him. It was stupid. I'm such an idiot" Will muttered, kicking at a nearby paint can.

"You can't spend your whole life living a lie. Trust me, I tried. It didn't work" Billy explained, coming to stand beside Will.

"He's never going to like me back" Will sniffed, rubbing at his eyes roughly.

"Maybe not" Billy shrugged, as Will gave him a look.

"Aren't you supposed to say something to make me feel better?" Will pointed out.

"Hey, it's not like I would know what it's like to get rejected, man. Everyone loves me" Billy teased, as Will let out a small laugh.

"She does, you know. Krystal. Love you, I mean" Will told him, as Billy's eyes flickered down to the floor.

"She shouldn't" Billy mumbled, too quiet for Will to hear.

"…What do you think the Mindflayer wants with her? You said he might not want another host?" Billy asked, a pained look on his face.

"He wants to grow. That's his main goal. He must need her for that, I just…I don't know how yet" Will explained.

"Are you sure you're up for this? No one's gonna' judge you if—" Billy began, but Will cut him off quickly.

"I need to do this. I need to face him" Will insisted, as Billy nodded sadly, leaning down to pick up the box with the chains inside.

"Thanks, Billy" Will smiled at him, as Billy gave him a frown.

"For what?" Billy queried.

"For asking if I was okay" Will replied, as the two shared a smile.

"…You waiting for a hug or something? Let's go" Billy ushered him towards the door, an amused look on his face.

With his other hand, he ruffled the boy's hair as he walked past, earning a shove in response. He knew he needed to protect Will and Max. In the way he hadn't been able to protect Krystal. He couldn't lose them.


Heather had left a little before closing time, to join her parents having a dinner party with the Mayor. Krystal closed her eyes for a moment, sensing that Heather had just sat down at the table, the meal in front of her having been laced with spores, ready to infect the Mayor and his family. Their plan was fully in motion. With a satisfied smile on her face, Krystal went to lock the metal gates of the pool, ready to help pick off any stragglers in the Mayor's family. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't seen Billy rushing across the parking lot, coming to stand by the gates, with a smirk on his face.

"Hey, baby. Closing up, huh?" Billy questioned, as she nodded.

"Yeah. I'm kind of busy actually, so—" Krystal was cut off as Billy's lips suddenly collided with her own, his hands wrapping around her waist.

Krystal kissed him back almost mechanically, little passion behind her actions, as Billy reluctantly pulled back. A part of him had hoped a simple kiss would be able to bring her back to him. He looked up at her with sad eyes, reaching up to brush his thumb against her cheek, their eyes connecting for a moment. That was when he saw it. Just for a second, the darkness in her eyes retracted, her whole face softening. Just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. But it still meant something. She was still in there; he could feel it.

"Why do you look so sad?" Krystal frowned, tilting her head to the side.

"I…I was hoping we could have a little after-hours workout in the showers, but I guess seeing as your so busy…" Billy trailed off, emphasising the second to last word.

"You're a bad influence, Billy" Krystal stated, raising an eyebrow.

"Hmm, and you love it" Billy grinned, leaning forward to press his lips to hers again.

He had them stumbling towards the boy's locker room, his lips never leaving hers, even as he shoved the door open with his foot. He practically dragged her inside, now running his mouth over her jaw, slowly pressing soft kisses down her neck. As he pushed them through the next door, he was proud to see how her face was flushing, her body clearly reacting to him, even if her mind was cut off. He could now see the room to the sauna behind them, and froze up with guilt, questioning what he was doing. Almost instinctively, Krystal leaned down to begin kissing him again, gripping onto his shirt. She barely seemed to notice as Billy pressed them up against the sauna door, her eyes closed. It wasn't until he opened the door, and she felt the heat coming from inside that her eyes snapped open. Without warning, Billy suddenly pushed her inside, slamming the door shut behind her. The kids ran out from where they had been hiding, looking a little green from having watched the pair. Mike wedged a large metal pole between the door handles, as Will and Lucas tied the large chain around the handle. However, before they could lock it shut, Krystal was banging on the door, an angry expression on her face.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Krystal yelled, her eyes wide.

She tried to wedge her foot between the space between the door and the doorframe, meaning the boys were unable to lock the chain in place. However, seconds later Krystal was suddenly thrown across the sauna, slamming into the far wall, as tiles cracked behind her from the force. All eyes turned to see Eleven had taken a step forward, blood now dripping down from her nose. Will and Lucas quickly locked the chains, taking a few steps back as Krystal slowly pushed herself to her knees. Max's eyes widened as Krystal stumbled towards the door, touching the back of her head, pulling away to find blood coating her fingers. Max's heart seized in her chest as Krystal looked towards her with a hurt expression.

"Max? What…what is this?" Krystal questioned, panic clear in her eyes.

"…Do it" Max announced.

Will was quick to rush forward, turning the dial on the wall up into the red zone, as Krystal's eyes flickered to his. Will couldn't help but shake under her gaze, her blue eyes looking far darker than usual. He flinched when he felt a hand wrapping around his wrist and turned to see Mike pulling him back.

"What's wrong with you all? Why did you attack me?" Krystal insisted, feeling the air getting hotter around her.

"We needed to know for sure" Eleven spoke up.

"Know what?" Krystal asked, as Billy took a step forward.

"Know if you've been flayed," Billy told her.

They were all a little unnerved by the way Krystal began to laugh, almost hysterically, as she started to sweat. The amused look on her face disappeared instantly, as she started to bang her fists against the door again.

"Let me out. Now!" Krystal exclaimed, her jaw tense.

"Is it getting a little hot for the Mindflayer?" Mike goaded, as Krystal's lips drew back in a snarl.

"No, it's getting a little uncomfortable being in a sauna turned up to the max. You want to swap places, Wheeler?" Krystal retorted.

"Krystal, we're trying to help you—" Max began, only to be cut off by Krystal.

"Help me? Like all the times you 'helped' when Neil was beating the shit out of me?" Krystal spat out, as Max flinched at the comment.

"Hey, leave her out of this" Billy insisted, as Krystal's eyes snapped over to his.

"You're right, Billy. It's not her fault. It's yours. I wish I had never met you or any of your fucking family" Krystal exclaimed, as Billy took another step forward.

"Neil Hargrove is my father. If you want to hurt me, you're gonna' have to try a lot harder than that, Mindflayer" Billy scoffed, as Krystal rolled her eyes.

"You've all lost your damn minds! I'm not possessed! I'm the only one in this town who's not acting like a psychopath!" Krystal insisted, as sweat began dripping down her face.

"Will, has she been activated?" Mike questioned, in a hushed voice.

"I…I'm not sure. I'm not sure if she's ever been de-activated" Will admitted, as they heard a harsh laugh from the sauna.

"Jesus Christ. Are you honestly listening to that fucking wimp? Poor Will Byers. Always the victim" Krystal goaded, watching the fear grow in Will's eyes.

"This is what the Mindflayer does. He…he tries to play on your weaknesses. That means this is working. It's up to 190" Will went on, looking to the dial on the sauna.

"Let me out of here!" Krystal cried, her breathing quickening as she felt the heat start to suffocate her.

"Just…let me out" Krystal repeated, an almost pleading tone to her voice.

Billy grimaced as he could see the pain etched over her features, her skin shining with sweat, her hair sticking to her face. She almost sounded like she was hyperventilating when her eyes connected with his.

"Open the door!" She shouted, banging so hard on the metal that the whole room seemed to shake.

The kids jumped back in shock as they saw a small dent in the metal from where her fists had knocked on the door. They all shared a worried look as they realised the sauna might not be able to hold her.

"Open it! Open the fucking door! Open it, now!" Krystal insisted, desperation clear in her voice.

Suddenly clutching at her stomach, Krystal fell away from the door with a cry of pain. They heard a loud thump from inside and realised she must have dropped to the floor. Billy felt a shiver go down his spine as he realised that if they went much further, they might risk killing her.

"We're at 220" Will announced, looking to the sauna dial.

They could hear Krystal moaning in pain from inside, as Billy's feet moved on their own accord, looking through the window in the door. His chest tightened as he saw her writhing on the floor, her face turned away from him.

"Krys?" Billy called out.

Krys?

Krystal's eyes snapped open at the sound of the familiar voice, as she shot upright, scanning her surroundings. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness she was in, realising she was laying on her bed. She opened her mouth to call out Billy's name, but found no sound came out. With a frown, she touched her lips, finding her mouth had never opened. Pushing herself to her feet, she rushed towards the bathroom, switching the light on, and stopping still in her tracks when she saw her reflection. Krystal's eyes began to water as she saw the string that had her lips tightly sewn together, a sob racking through her body.

Krystal, can you hear me?

Billy's voice again, but it sounded closer this time. She sprinted towards the sound, to him. She found herself in her living room, but there was no Billy. She walked over to the front door, wondering if she had heard him from outside and ripped the door open. Her eyes widened when she saw there was nothing behind the door, only a blackness that never seemed to end. With a frown, she reached out to touch the substance, but Billy's voice made her falter.

Krys…please, just let us help you.

She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and realised it was coming from the TV. She cautiously walked over to the machine, seeing that Billy's face staring back at her on the screen. There was blackness for a moment, as the screen darted around a steamy room. It took Krystal a few moments to realise what the millisecond of blackness that happened every so often was. Blinking. The screen was showing what she was seeing through her own eyes. She tried to call out Billy's name, but it was no good, her lips were still unable to move. Rushing towards the kitchen, she soon found what she was looking for. With shaky hands, she raised the pair of scissors to her mouth, scrunching her eyes shut as she cut the string holding her lips together. She let out a sigh of relief as she felt air coming into her mouth, ripping away the bloody string with a grimace.

"Billy?" Krystal exclaimed, turning back to the TV.

Billy was taken aback as he could hear the change in her voice, the softness behind it. Krystal looked up at him with sad blue eyes, still clutching at her stomach.

"I'm sorry" Krystal sobbed, as Billy reached out to touch the door.

"Is…is that really you?" Billy questioned, as Krystal nodded slowly.

"Oh God, what have I done? All those people, I hurt them…I wanted to hurt you…what's wrong with me…" Krystal cried, as Will took a step forward.

You're better now. I made you strong.

The Mindflayer's voice boomed inside her skull, as her heartbeat continued to rise. He was still there.

"It's not your fault, Krystal. You're not in control" Will tried to soothe her.

You attacked those people. You can't ever be forgiven.

"I can feel him…in here. He's whispering to me, even now. I've tried to hold on, some tiny part of me…but he's found me" Krystal cried, as Billy's hands balled into fists.

"Just hold on, Krys. Please" Billy all but begged.

They make you weak. Don't listen to them.

"He's too powerful" Krystal shook her head, which dropped to her knees.

"You're stronger. I know you are. Please, we still need you, Krystal" Max insisted, as Krystal's body shook violently.

I'll make you hurt them.

"My head...it hurts so much..." Krystal cried, gasping from the pain that was ripping through her head.

"We'll figure this out. We'll help you!" Max told her, coming to stand beside Billy.

You can't be helped.

"N-no. Leave me alone. Get out of my head—" Krystal gasped, her hands flying over her ears.

Well done. I think that was convincing enough.

Krystal's eyes snapped open, finding the TV screen in front of her was now only showing static. She had lost control of her body again. With a horrifying realisation, she wondered whether she had ever been in control...the Mindflayer needed them to believe she was breaking through...

"You can fight this" Billy told her, seeing Krystal's eyes flutter open.

They flickered over to a broken piece of tile on the floor, her jaw tense. She slowly reached out to grip the jagged tile tightly between her fingers, a determined look in her eyes.

"You're right" Krystal mumbled, as she pushed herself into a sitting position.

"What are you…no…no, don't!" Billy cried, when he saw her press the jagged edge to her throat.

"I don't want to hurt anyone else" Krystal sobbed, as her hands shook.

"Stop! Krys, don't do this!" Billy pleaded, his hands ripping away the metal pole from the door.

"Give me the key. Give me the fucking key, Lucas!" Billy yelled, his hand outstretched as Lucas quickly gave him the key for the chains.

"Krystal, please!" Max begged, her hand flying over her mouth as she saw blood beginning to drip down Krystal's neck.

Billy opened the lock with trembling hands, ripping the chains away, his eyes darting to Krystal's and the line of blood starting to stain her top. He didn't see how Will's hand began to grip at the back of his neck, a look of horror on his face. Or the grin that was slowly growing on Krystal's lips.

"She's been activated…Billy, don't—" Will's panicked voice was cut off, as Billy wrenched the door open.

Billy stepped back with wide eyes as he saw Krystal was suddenly on her feet, dark veins covering so much of her eyes, they seemed black. She had a sinister smile on her face as she held the shard of tile in her hand, tilting her head.

"You really shouldn't have done that" Krystal smirked, her voice far deeper than usual.


Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Uh-oh, looks like their going to be in big trouble next chapter, the Mindflayer played them. Please leave a review:)

LoveFiction2020: Thanks for the review!

bowtiesandcryingeyes: Aw, thank you! Wow, that's impressive, haha. It's going to be a tough road ahead, filled with a lot of angst. I hope you liked the update:)