Chapter Twelve

When Lila got home that night, Hopper was sitting on the couch waiting for her.

"It's past curfew." He stated not taking his eyes from the television.

"I'm sorry." Lila replied. "We have a problem."

"Yeah, we do." He snapped. "Both of my children are disobedient."

"No, bigger problem!" Lila exclaimed.

Hopper turned his head to look at her before motioning her to sit down. "What is it."

"We were driving and something hit the car," Lila began. "Billy got out and was almost taken away! I think it's the monster!"

"Lila we killed it." Hopper sighed. "Closed the gate."

"Don't believe?" Lila frowned.

"Honey, I'm not saying you're lying." Hopper said. "Just trying to figure out how it'd be true."

"I don't know." Lila shook her head. "But it almost got him."

—

Lila laid peacefully in bed, curled up underneath her warm blanket.

Billy stood at her doorway, half smiling at her. He still couldn't wrap his mind around everything that'd happened in the last year. Never did he expect to be madly in love with what he was consider a 'weird kid.'

"What almost got you?" A voice said from behind him.

His heart nearly jumped from his chest. He turned around to find Eleven standing there.

"I don't know." Billy replied. "It was like a-a vine."

"A tentacle." Eleven replied.

"I mean if that's what you want to call it." Billy shrugged.

"Where?" She asked.

"At the steelworks." He answered. She simply nodded before walking away.

When he turned back around he found Lila awake. She was sitting against the headboard with her knees to her chest.

"Hi, sweetheart." Billy grinned as he walked towards her.

"Hi." Lila said, furrowing her eyebrows. "Are you sick?"

"Why? I feel fine." Billy questioned as he sat down.

"Your eyes are dark. You're pale," Lila said. "And sweaty."

"I'm a little tired." He shrugged.

"Something wrong." Lila shook her head, grabbing his hand.

"Lila, I'm fine." Billy snapped, snatching his hand from her grip.

He didn't feel fine. He did feel sick. But he didn't want Lila to worry about him. So lying was the best option.

"Pool?" Lila asked.

"I do have to work." He nodded. "I just wanted to see you first."

Lila squealed in excitement before kissing him sloppily. "You're my boy."

"You're my girl." He laughed. "Do you want to go eat dinner tonight?"

"Like a date?" Lila beamed, grabbing both of his hands.

"A date, yes." He nodded.

"Yes, yes!" Lila smiled.

"I'll come and get you after work." Billy replied.

Billy left not too long after. El appeared back in Lila's room, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Billy is sick." El said.

"I know." Lila agreed. "The monster."

"You can't see him." El shook her head. "He's bad."

"I'll fix him." Lila replied, crossing her arms.

"Hopper says no. Not safe." El argued.

"I'll fix him!" She exclaimed throwing her covers off of her and walking out the bedroom.

The door slammed before Lila could exit. She whipped around to find El wiping her nose.

"No." She spoke.

"El, yes! My boyfriend!" Lila exclaimed once more.

"Fine!" El yelled. "Don't ask for help!"

"I won't!" Lila shouted back before exiting her room. She huffed as she sat on the couch, turning on the television.

"My boyfriend." She mumbled to herself, crossing her arms again.

A funny feeling arose in her stomach. The same feeling she had after she escaped. Fear.

"I have to save him." She whispered to herself.

Her mind was made up.

She would do whatever it took to save Billy from whatever evil spell he was under. Whether she lived or died.