Nancy hits the back window, "Back in the mall."

I climb out of the car and assist Mike in helping El back inside.

We all hurry into the mall and start trying to warn the others about Billy. We can't leave and get the kids to Murray's house, where it's safe, since he cut out the ignition cable and is out there waiting for us to try to leave.

"Scoops Troop, do you copy?" Mike says into the walkie for what feels like the hundredth time, "Scoops Troop, I repeat, do you copy? We're trapped in the mall and in need of emergency transportation. Billy has found us. He has disabled our car and we are trapped in the mall." I watch as Nancy grabs a gun from one of the Russians body.

"You're gonna kill him, aren't you?" Max speaks up.

I put my arm on her shoulder and squeeze softly as Nancy shakes her head, "This is just a precaution, okay?"

"And not just against Billy," Will adds, "If he knows we're here, so does the Mind Flayer."

Nancy looks over at the flipped over car, "No chance that thing'll drive, right?"

Jonathan walks over, "We don't need it to drive. We just need the ignition cable."

I scoff, "Then what are we doing standing around here waiting for the Mind Flayer? Come on!"

We all walk over to the car and start pushing to flip it. The metal squeals and groans and I feel lightheaded, noticing I have already started bleeding through the bandana around my arm.

"Let me try," El suggests when we can't get the car to budge.

"El..." Mike pants, too out of breath to actually stop her.

El sighs, "I can do it."

We all move behind her and she raises her hand. The metal squeals again, but the car doesn't move, causing Ell to yell in frustration.

Mike gets an idea, "If we all push at an angle with the stools from the counter, we could probably flip it." We attempt his idea and eventually get the car upright, "Told you. Physics."

Jonathan and Nancy rush to get the ignition cable. I watch as El digs through the trash and I elbow Max gently to get her attention, "What is she doing?"

Mike turns to look at El as she gets a can of Coke out of the trashcan and puts it on a counter.

El stares at the Coke intensely as we walk over.

"El?" Mike says questioningly, "Are you okay?" El looks over at us before dropping her head.

I hear a rumbling sound outside of the mall and look up to see the Mind Flayer walking on the roof through the skylight. The glass creaks under its weight and Mike yells for Nancy before I gather the three kids and run with them and hide under a fountain just as the glass of the skylight shatters and the Mind Flayer falls through.

"Griswold Family, this is Scoops Troop! Do you copy? Over!" Dustin's voice comes from the walkie, "Griswold Family, I repeat, this is Scoops Troop! Do you copy? Griswold Family, do you copy?!"

The creature roars and the walkie gets thrown through the air. Dustin continues trying to contact us, and I squeeze my eyes shut tightly to keep the world from spinning.

The Mind Flayer makes it's way over to us and I grab Max's hands in mine, to console her or me, I'm not sure. I hear it start to move back over to where the car is and I slowly raise my body to look over the fountain at it.

I lower back down and look at the kids, whispering softly, "It's turned away. If you go up the stairs now, you'll make it."

"What? No!" Max scoffs, "We aren't leaving without you, and we won't make it with El's leg, anyway."

"You have to try."

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

I nod, "Okay. But if I stop, don't wait for me," Mike grabs El's hand and I grab his and Max's, "Now."

We quickly dash out from the fountain and go into the Gap. Some broken glass crinkles and a display falls over causing Max to gasp loudly, no doubt gaining the attention of the Mind Flayer. We hurry behind the shoe rack and the Mind Flayer grabs a mannequin, that coincidentally has the same shirt as El, and throws it in our direction.

We all rush to a different hiding spot behind a small island in the corner of the store. A tentacle comes so close to me that if I move even an inch, I'll be touching it.

I hear a balloon pop from afar and the tentacle shrinks back and the Mind Flayer goes to inspect it. We hurry out of the back of the Gap and I listen to gunshots outside of the mall followed by the squealing of tires.

The ground shakes and I hear the thudding footsteps of the Mind Flayer parting. Mike and Max help El walk and I stay in front of them as I open the gate.

We catch sight of Billy getting out of his totally destroyed car. There's a cut on his head and he limps towards us and the kids turn back as I hurry to close the gate before following after them. We get back inside the mall and the kids hide in an empty storage room. I slowly walk out to see Billy coming towards us.

"Billy," I gasp, tears forming in my eyes, "Billy, you don't have to do this, okay? Please. Billy. Your name is Billy Hargrove. I'm Y/n. You're my best friend. You told me that I was the first female friend that you've ever had, remember? Please just remember me. Okay, just...I just want my best friend back. Please. Billy, please. Bi--"

I get cut of by Billy's hand colliding with my face and the world goes black.