Chapter Thirty-Four: Corridor Confrontation

(The Battle Of Starcourt, Pt. 5)

***

Alistair grunted as he, Mike, Max and El hobbled through the corridor, toward the entrance and the hope of safety beyond it. The corridor provided safety, but Alistair knew it wouldn't last long.

They had to get out of here. Now.

Mike, Max or El hadn't said anything about what Alistair had done. He knew there would be questions—there would be fear—but it could wait until they were all out and safely far enough away from the Mind Flayer.

When the service door arrived, Alistair let El go and wrenched it open. Hugin flew out first as Alistair followed, holding it open as Mike, Max and El shuffled out, making a break for the gate and what waited beyond it.

However, when they got there and through the open gate, Alistair noticed two things:

Nancy's car was gone, and so was the Mind Flayer. In its place was a totalled yellow convertible.

And that the Camaro was on fire and Billy was crawling out of it. And he had seen them.

"Fuck," he hissed as Max exclaimed, "Shit!"

"Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!" Mike yelled as he and El turned around, hobbling back to the delivery corridor as Alistair took Max's place, the redhead slamming the button for the gate to close it before running up to them.

Alistair threw the door open and he, Mike and El ran inside, Hugin flying in and cawing as Max closed it before they ran down the delivery corridor, desperate to find another way out before the Mind Flayer returned.

However, they didn't get long before they heard the sound of the door opening.

"Shit," Alistair cursed as they kept running, his heart pounding as he panted, risking a look back and seeing Billy storm closer to them. "Shit!"

Eventually, they came to a dead end in the form of an elevator. Seeing an opportunity, Mike let go of El as he moved to the door and said, "In here. In here."

He began smashing the button, trying to get the door open. Alistair's heartbeat spiked as Hugin croaked worriedly, and Mike grunted, "Okay. Come on, come on, come on..."

The bang of a door opening and the loud stomp of footsteps echoed in the silent corridor. Alistair and Max turned and saw Billy there, face blank, totally under the Mind Flayer's control.

Alistair immediately moved in front of El as Hugin cawed angrily, feathers ruffed up as Max tried to get through to her stepbrother.

"Billy. Billy, you don't have to do this," she said.

Billy ignored her, marching forward as she kept begging.

"Billy. Your name's Billy Hargrove. You live on 4819 Cherry Lane. Billy, please, I'm Max, I'm your—" Max begged, but her attempts were cut off as Billy backhanded her. Hard.

Max fell to the ground and didn't get up.

Red and white exploded in Alistair's vision as he howled in rage, lunging, hands burning with light and cold as Hugin screamed with fury, claws primed to tear through Billy's skin as Alistair grabbed Billy's arm, the older teen crying out from pain as Alistair's exorcising light sought out the darkness of the Mind Flayer.

"Go to hell and don't touch El, you motherfucker!" he screamed as Billy cried out from both the pain and Hugin's claws slashing down, dangerously close to his left eye. Black blood poured down, the smell making Alistair's stomach curdle as he ground his teeth and made the light burn brighter, the Mind Flayer screeching in pain.

Billy cried out, before he panted, "You."

Alistair's head whipped up, shock on his face as he saw Billy Hargrove, eyes wide and blue and free of the influence of the Mind Flayer. Black blood poured down, as Billy stared at him, as Alistair saw the Mind Flayer flickering back in. Even if Alistair could successfully exorcise the Mind Flayer out, it wouldn't be before it got El.

He had to get El out of here. Now.

Immediately letting go, Alistair turned and grabbed El. They immediately began running as the Mind Flayer took back control, as Mike stepped in Billy's path to give them time.

But a smack sounded and Alistair's heart lurched as he looked back and saw Mike slumped on the ground.

"Shit, run El!" he yelled as they ran, Billy advancing.

But they didn't get far.

Billy grabbed Alistair's curls, tearing him off. Alistair cried out in pain as Billy flung him to the floor. Alistair raised his hands, calling on the exorcising light as Hugin cawed and dove in, but Billy grabbed Hugin by the throat and slammed him against the wall, the bird slumping to the ground and not moving,

"HUGIN!" Alistair yelled, gasping as the bond stuttered, close to breaking. He whirled, already getting to his knees to fight, to exorcise the Mind Flayer, but Billy was faster.

He grabbed Alistair and threw him against the wall. Alistair's head cracked against it and he slumped to the ground, stars spinning in his vision. Through his darkening vision and ringing ears, he heard El cry out and thrust her hand forward to ward Billy back, but he grabbed her and—

Darkness.

***

>:)

This chapter was short, but I hope you liked it! And yeah, Alistair managed to loosen the Mind Flayer's control, but it didn't last long

(and don't worry, Hugin's fine!)

But now, we're coming even closer to the end. And readers—prepare yourselves  >:)

Please read, comment and vote!

GhostWriterGirl out!