chapter seven:
❛ the source ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Scarlett sat beside Eleven, her fingers gripping the cold metal arms of the chair as Dr. Brenner loomed over them. The stark, sterile room around them buzzed with an undercurrent of tension, the fluorescent lights casting an unforgiving glow on every surface. Scarlett glanced at Eleven, her heart pounding in her chest, echoing the dread she saw mirrored in the other girl's wide, haunted eyes. They both wanted to leave, to escape this suffocating place, but neither of them had that choice anymore.

Dr. Brenner stood in front of a large screen, looking intently at the brain scans displayed. He spoke in a soft, clinical tone, his words methodical and precise, cutting through the silence like a scalpel.

"Do you know what happens when someone has a stroke?" Brenner's voice lingered in the air, waiting for a response, but neither girl answered. Scarlett didn't trust her voice, and she could feel the tension radiating from Eleven as well. They both remained quiet, their unease thickening the room.

"The blood supply to the brain is cut off," Brenner continued, undeterred by their silence, as though he was giving a lecture to a class rather than speaking to two terrified girls. "It scrambles the signals in the brain, to the point where the mind can forget how to do things. To eat. To speak. To walk."

Scarlett's stomach twisted as Brenner's words sank in, his calm explanation feeling like a warning. She shifted in her seat, a familiar dread building in the pit of her stomach. The memories from the previous year were hazy, incomplete, and the thought of facing them again terrified her.

Brenner's gaze turned to them, finally breaking from the screen. "When you were both attacked last year, I believe that your signals were scrambled in much the same way," he explained, stepping closer. Scarlett stiffened, her body tense as Brenner approached, his presence like a looming shadow over her and Eleven. "But just as a stroke victim can learn to walk again, I believe you, too, can return to your full power."

His words hung heavy in the air. Return to your full power. Scarlett's fingers twitched in her lap, instinctively pressing against the cold steel of the chair. Her mind raced, trying to grasp the idea of reclaiming her abilities, of facing the trauma she had fought so hard to bury. Could she do that? Did she even want to?

Brenner moved toward Eleven first, gently placing a hand on her head. Scarlett could see the tension ripple through Eleven's body, her jaw clenched as Brenner held her, his voice soft but unnerving. "Your abilities are still in here," he said, his voice almost a whisper, coaxing her power from deep within her mind. Then, as if performing the same ritual, he turned to Scarlett. His hand hovered before resting lightly on her forehead, cold fingers pressing against her skin.

"And your memories are controlled here," he said, his touch sending a shiver down Scarlett's spine. "You just need to remember."

Scarlett's breath hitched in her throat. Her memories. The ones she had fought to lock away. She had tried to forget, to push it all deep inside, but Brenner's words dug at those buried memories, forcing her to confront the truth she had long hidden from.

She glanced at Eleven, her heart thudding in her chest. The same fear echoed in Eleven's eyes, their silent understanding passing between them like a shared burden. Neither of them wanted this, but they were trapped in Brenner's web, with no way out.

"Follow me," Brenner said, his voice a quiet command as he gestured for them to stand. Scarlett hesitated, her legs feeling like lead as she pushed herself up. She exchanged one last look with Eleven before following Brenner out of the room, their footsteps echoing in the narrow, sterile hallway.

They walked in silence, the sound of Brenner's footsteps in front of them the only noise breaking the tension. Scarlett's stomach churned with anxiety, the walls seeming to close in around them as they moved deeper into the lab. It felt like walking into the heart of a beast, each step drawing them closer to something dark and dangerous.

They stopped in front of a large metal door, its surface gleaming under the harsh lights. Brenner punched in a code, and with a soft hiss, the door slid open, revealing a room filled with shelves upon shelves of videotapes. Scarlett's eyes widened as she stepped inside, her gaze scanning the endless rows. Each tape was meticulously labeled with dates and numbers, cataloging years of experiments, of trauma.

"Everything that took place in my lab was captured on videotape," Brenner said, his voice echoing in the quiet room. Scarlett's heart pounded in her chest as she stepped further inside, the walls of tapes towering over her like silent witnesses to her past. "Every success and every failure."

Brenner's words lingered in the air, heavy with implication. Scarlett could feel the weight of those tapes pressing down on her, each one a piece of her history, a piece of the pain she had endured here.

"It's important for you to not just see your past, but to fully re-experience it," Brenner continued, pulling a tape from the shelf and sliding it into the player. "In doing so, I believe we can repair your broken signals. As we saw tonight, that process has already begun."

The old television flickered to life, its screen casting a dim glow across the room. Scarlett's breath caught in her throat as the image came into focus. It was her, younger, barely more than a child. She was standing across from a boy, Henry, with a sinister smile on his face. The date on the screen read September 5th, 1979.

Scarlett felt her stomach twist at the sight. Henry's voice echoed through the room, cold and manipulative. "I'm your cousin," he had said in the footage, his smile never reaching his eyes.

"If this all happened," Eleven finally spoke, her voice fragile, "why can't we remember?"

Scarlett looked over at her, the same question burning in her own mind. Why couldn't she remember these moments? Why did her mind refuse to let her access those parts of herself?

"Because, Eleven," Brenner answered, his voice soft but unwavering, "you don't want to. And for you, Seven," he said, turning his gaze to Scarlett, "you were injured. Our brains have a defense mechanism in place to protect us from bad memories. From trauma."

Scarlett swallowed hard, her throat tight. She had known that-deep down, she had always known that her mind had been protecting her, but hearing it laid out so plainly felt like a wound being ripped open.

"You buried these memories long ago," Brenner added, stepping back as if giving them space to absorb his words.

Eleven's voice cracked as she spoke again, tears welling in her eyes. "Papa... Scar... When I was in there, I saw something. There was blood. So much blood."

Scarlett's breath hitched, her own pulse quickening. "I did too," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The memory of blood, of violence, was like a shadow lurking in the corners of her mind, just out of reach.

Brenner's expression softened, but his eyes remained sharp. "Girls, that was another memory-an older, more powerful one, invading from your subconscious. You both have demons in your past. That's why we must proceed carefully. One step at a time. One memory at a time."

His voice was measured, as though he were leading them through a delicate process, but Scarlett could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her. "If we go too fast," Brenner warned, his gaze flickering between them, "I'm afraid you could become lost in the darkness. And if you are lost... so are we all."

Scarlett swallowed the lump in her throat. The ominous warning hung in the air, thick and heavy. She didn't want to get lost in the darkness. She didn't want to face the demons lurking in her past-but she had no choice now.

Brenner motioned for them to follow once more, but this time, they were separated. Scarlett hesitated, her eyes flicking to Eleven as the distance grew between them. The sense of isolation was immediate and overwhelming, the silent understanding they had shared moments ago slipping away.

Scarlett was guided down a different hall, the sterile, clinical atmosphere tightening around her. A technician fitted a cap onto her head, the cold metal prongs pressing uncomfortably against her scalp. She winced but didn't move as they led her to the sensory deprivation tank. The knot in her stomach twisted tighter with each step, dread coiling inside her like a living thing.

She climbed the ladder to the tank, the metal rungs cold against her hands. Scarlett hesitated at the top, glancing at the dark water below. It felt like standing on the edge of a precipice, knowing that once she stepped in, there would be no turning back.

Taking a deep breath, Scarlett stepped into the tank. The water was lukewarm, surrounding her as she settled into it. The glass lid of the tank slid closed above her, sealing her in. She was alone now, floating in the quiet darkness, her body weightless in the water.

Above her, the dim glow of the television screens flickered on. Old footage from the lab played, images of the sterile hallways, the white-gowned children, and the dark, haunting figure of Henry. Scarlett's breath hitched as the memories began to stir, her vision blurring as the water seemed to pull her deeper, into the recesses of her mind.

And then the memories hit her like a tidal wave.

The lab. The experiments. The endless tests.

Harvey stumbled out of the van, his legs numb after the long ride. He stretched awkwardly, rubbing his backside with a groan. "My ass is numb," he muttered, his face scrunched up in discomfort. Will climbed out after him, chuckling under his breath.

"You're not the only one," Will said, rubbing his own back. Mike hopped down next, rolling his eyes as he overheard Argyle, who was still inside the van, letting out an exaggerated grunt.

"I can't feel my butt!" Argyle whined, dramatically rubbing his behind.

Harvey snickered and repeated in a lower voice, "Can't feel my butt." Then he looked at Mike and Will. "Can you guys feel your butts?"

Will gave him a crooked smile, still rubbing his lower back. "Barely," he said, while Mike just shook his head in mock exasperation.

"I can feel mine," Mike stated matter-of-factly, as if it was the most normal conversation in the world.

Jonathan, who had been unloading a few things from the van, turned to the group with a firm tone. "Okay, everyone needs to be on their best behavior, got it?"

His eyes shifted pointedly toward Argyle, who raised his hands in defense.

"Why are you looking at me when you say that?" Argyle asked, pretending to be offended.

Jonathan sighed. "I didn't," he replied, rolling his eyes as if this were a conversation they'd had a thousand times before. Harvey walked up to the house, her arms folded across her chest, already tired of the back-and-forth.

"They're really religious," Jonathan explained as they approached the door.

Argyle shrugged, nonchalant as ever. "Yeah, and I'm super spiritual, dudette."

Harvey let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "I think they're spiritual too, just... in a different way," he muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Mike stepped up to the door and knocked, the sound barely having time to echo before it swung open. The door creaked as a small boy appeared, his face half-hidden under a handmade Native American headdress. His expression was intense, scrutinizing the group like they were intruders.

Before anyone could react, Harvey, startled by the sudden appearance of the child, let out a sharp squeal. In his panic, he grabbed a rubber arrow from a nearby toy set and hurled it at the kid's head. The arrow smacked him right between the eyes with a soft thud. The boy blinked in shock, and so did Harvey, who groaned, realizing what he'd just done.

"Ow!" Harvey rubbed his own head out of sheer embarrassment, as if she'd been the one hit. "What the heck, kid?" he grumbled, yanking the rubber arrow off her forehead while everyone else looked at her in bewilderment.

As they entered the house, Harvey drifted ahead of the group, wandering upstairs in search of Suzie's room. He found himself standing in a quaint, nerdy-looking space filled with eclectic knickknacks and books. Dustin's cap lay casually on the bed, a familiar sight that confirmed this was, in fact, Suzie's room. Harvey sat on the edge of the bed, tapping his fingers nervously on her lap, waiting for the others to catch up.

Moments later, Jonathan, Mike, Will, and Argyle barged into the room, looking frazzled.

"Hey guys-" Harvey began, but Jonathan cut her off, clearly agitated.

"Well, great, she's not here," Jonathan huffed, pacing the room in frustration.

Then, they heard it-a soft creaking sound coming from the window. All eyes turned toward the slightly open window. Mike and Harvey rushed over, leaning out to see Suzie perched on the roof, fiddling with some kind of contraption.

"Suzie!" they both shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the air.

Startled, Suzie turned her head, her brows furrowing as she saw the group leaning out of her window. Her gaze darted from one person to the next, her confusion evident.

"Yeah?" she called back, her tone cautious and guarded. Suzie's eyes narrowed as she assessed the strangers in her room. Her hands still clutched whatever invention she had been working on, but now her attention was fully on them. "Who the heck are you?" she asked, suspicion evident in her voice. "And why are you in my room?"

Mike, realizing how weird the situation must look, stepped back, raising his hands in apology. "Sorry, that's... that's fair," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

Harvey, however, quickly shook her head, cutting through the tension. "No, listen! We're Dustin's friends," she explained, her voice urgent. "We need your help!"

Mike nodded. "It's really important."

Suzie blinked at them, her face softening slightly but still cautious. "Help with what?" she asked, clearly trying to wrap her head around what was happening, her confusion only deepening as she looked between them.

Scarlett's eyes fluttered open, her body feeling weightless as she floated in the water. But instead of the cold, sterile confines of the tank, she found herself standing in the middle of her void-a vast, empty expanse of endless black, broken only by the faint echo of distant memories that flickered like dying stars. The cold silence of the place wrapped around her, a sharp contrast to the simulation of the lab she had expected.

Her breath hitched, her heart racing. She'd been here before-this was her mind's deepest sanctuary. A place where truths often surfaced, raw and undeniable. She spun around, searching for something, anything familiar.

Then, out of the shadows, a figure appeared. Scarlett blinked, her throat tightening as the form of an elderly woman took shape before her. The familiar face brought a rush of emotions-comfort, sadness, and confusion.

"Grandma?" Scarlett whispered, her voice trembling as her gaze locked onto the soft, warm features of her grandmother, Elaine.

Elaine's expression was gentle but resolute. She reached out a hand, though the distance between them remained. "Michelle," she began, calling Scarlett by her birth name, "it's time for you to know the truth."

Scarlett froze, her pulse pounding in her ears. Elaine's tone was grave, as if she carried a burden too heavy to hold any longer. Without saying another word, Elaine held out her hand, and images began to form in the void-pictures floating in the air like memories pulled from time itself.

The first image was of a hospital room-small, sterile, with bright fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. Scarlett recognized it immediately, though she had never consciously thought of it before: the day she was born. The room was chaotic, doctors rushing around, and then, suddenly, everything went dark, a power surge knocking out the electricity.

Elaine's voice cut through Scarlett's daze. "When I died, I became a ghost. I watched over you, Michelle. The day you were born, I was there in the hospital, unseen, as a shadow lingering between worlds. And then... something happened."

Scarlett's eyes widened as the image shifted. Lightning struck outside the hospital, surging through the building. In the chaos, she saw Elaine as a spectral figure, her ghostly form drawn to the flash of electricity.

"I was transformed," Elaine explained, her voice soft but steady. "Turned into lightning. That power flowed through me, and I became part of you. The electricity... it's me, Michelle. I am the source of your abilities."

Scarlett stared at the image, her mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what she was hearing. Her grandmother-Elaine, the woman she loved-was the very force that surged through her veins every time her powers activated.

"I don't-" Scarlett began, her voice hoarse, but Elaine wasn't finished.

"Michelle," Elaine said gently, her eyes softening with an emotion Scarlett couldn't quite place. "There's one more thing you need to know."

Scarlett's heart lurched in her chest. She wasn't sure how much more she could take. But Elaine continued, her voice steady.

"Carrie," Elaine said, her tone shifting as she spoke Scarlett's adoptive mother's name. "She is not who you think she is. She's not just your adoptive mother... she's Cynthia Fletcher."

Scarlett's mind raced. "What do you mean?" she asked, shaking her head in disbelief. "You showed me my biological mom was dead. You showed me her death."

"I did," Elaine nodded. "But that's only part of the truth. Carrie is Cynthia Fletcher... your biological mother."

Scarlett's world spun as another memory flickered to life in front of her-only this time, it was a memory she had seen before, though distorted. She watched the haunting scene of her biological mother being shot by a security guard at Hawkins Lab. The memory had always ended there, with her mother's death. But now, Elaine extended the memory beyond that point.

Scarlett's breath caught in her throat as she watched a woman-her biological mother-dragged into a van. A mysterious figure worked frantically to bring her back to life. The image grew clearer, and Scarlett's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the face of the woman who had been blurred before.

Carrie.

Her adoptive mother.

Scarlett gasped, tears welling in her eyes as realization struck her like a hammer to the chest. "That's... that's Carrie," she whispered, disbelief thick in her voice. "But why-why didn't I realize?"

"You didn't see it before because you weren't ready," Elaine explained softly. "Your mind blurred the memory to protect you. Carrie was forced to change her name, to hide away. She became someone else to keep you safe."

Scarlett's knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why didn't she tell me?" she sobbed, her voice cracking under the weight of this revelation.

Elaine's eyes filled with sorrow. "She couldn't, Michelle. After she was brought back, she was told that to protect you and herself, she needed to disappear. It was the only way to keep you safe from those who would have hunted you both."

Scarlett's chest tightened painfully as she struggled to process everything. "So... Neil, Billy... they're my real family?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Elaine nodded. "Yes, they are."

Scarlett wiped at her tears, her mind swirling. "But... how is Henry my cousin? I still don't understand."

Elaine's expression darkened. "That, Michelle, is something I can't explain. You must live it out in the simulation again. Only then will you find the truth."

Scarlett shook her head, frustration building inside her. "And my mother... how did she find me after I escaped? How did she know where I was?"

Elaine's gaze softened, and she stepped closer. "That, too, you will soon find out. But not yet, my dear. Not yet."

Scarlett stared into the void, her heart aching, her mind spinning, her entire world shattered and rebuilt in a way she had never imagined.

Harvey lay on his back on the floor, arms splayed out, as his friends crowded around Suzie, attempting to explain the convoluted situation they'd found themselves in. The ceiling above seemed to spin in circles as his mind reeled from the madness of their mission.

Suzie, holding a small slip of paper with the number on it, frowned and tried to piece everything together. "Okay, that is a lot to process. I mean, that might be seriously the craziest thing I've ever heard," she said, her brows knitting together.

"I know, it's hard to believe," Mike nodded, his tone almost pleading.

"But it's true. All true," Jonathan added, crossing his arms, clearly trying to be convincing despite how absurd it all sounded.

Suzie glanced down at the paper again, then up at the group. "So, I dial into this computer and find a location, and at this location is the Nina Project?" she asked skeptically.

"Exactly," Harvey answered from his spot on the floor, propping himself up on his elbows.

"And the Nina Project is... what? A code game for a video game?" Suzie's eyes narrowed as she questioned further.

"No, it's not just a video game," Mike jumped in. "It's a video game console."

"It's basically America's answer to Nintendo," he added, looking at her seriously.

"Americantendo," Argyle chimed in with a grin, clearly proud of his attempt at a joke.

Suzie shot Argyle a dubious look, her face scrunching up. "That's a stupid name," she said bluntly, wrinkling her nose.

Argyle gave a sheepish shrug. "You're right. It's a stupid name, but, Suzie, it's 16-bit," Harvey piped up, trying to salvage the conversation as he stood beside Will, hoping the technical details would spark her interest.

"16-bit?" Suzie repeated, looking at him in disbelief. "Why have I never heard of it?"

"Because it's top secret!" Mike blurted, his voice tinged with urgency.

"That's why we're doing this," Will agreed, leaning into the lie, his voice steady.

"Yeah, right," Harvey nodded, continuing the ruse. "It's for the promotion. The first people to find the secret location receive a-"

"Americantendo?" Suzie interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

Harvey hesitated, then nodded again. "Uh, an Americantendo."

Suzie leaned back slightly, her expression one of pure disbelief. "So... you drove 3,000 miles over your spring break so I can help you get a new video game console no one has ever heard of?" she summed up, her voice dripping with skepticism.

"Yes," they all said in unison, the word hanging in the air.

Suzie scoffed lightly, shaking her head. "But it's not for us," Will added quickly. "It's for Dustin."

"Right, exactly. It's for Dustin. For Dustin's birthday, which is..." Harvey started, trailing off as he tried to remember.

"In two months, three days, five hours," Suzie corrected immediately, her eyes flashing with precision as Harvey's eyebrows raised slightly in surprise.

Just then, the door burst open, and a loud voice filled the room. "Suzie! I don't know what you're doing, but I am not spending my entire day babysitting! Pull your damn weight!" Eden, Suzie's older sister, stormed in, her tone sharp.

"Language!" Suzie snapped, clearly exasperated with her sister's brash behavior.

"Oh no, am I gonna burn in hell now?" Eden mocked, placing a hand over her chest dramatically as Argyle stared at her, clearly smitten.

"You tell her, Eden," Argyle gushed, his eyes practically twinkling.

"Out of my room!" Suzie exclaimed, rushing over and shoving Eden back through the door.

"Don't touch me, you little shit!" Eden yelled as she stumbled backward, her voice filled with mock outrage.

Suzie slammed the door shut behind her, running a hand through her hair before turning back to the group, clearly flustered. "Okay, so can you help?" Mike asked, breaking the brief silence.

"I would do anything for Dustybun," Suzie said softly, the affection in her voice unmistakable. "But I'm afraid there's been an unfortunate development."

Everyone leaned in, their interest piqued.

"After changing Dusty's grade, I was whacked with the most awful guilt. Father could see my soul was tortured, and he wrenched a confession out of me. Not only was I breaking the law, I was dating an agnostic. An agnostic! I've never seen Father so... so angry! Naturally, after learning the terrible truth, he confiscated my computer." Suzie explained with increasing distress.

"Where is it?" Jonathan asked.

"His study. He uses it for work now. And he's always working, and his door is, like, permanently locked," Suzie explained with a sigh.

Will let out a soft scoff of disbelief. "I'm really sorry. Truly," Suzie said sincerely, her shoulders slumping.

"But it looks like you came all the way here for nothing," she added sadly, her voice filled with regret.

As the lights flickered off around them, plunging the room into a dim gloom, Harvey's eyes widened. Suddenly, an idea struck him like a lightning bolt. He sat up quickly, glancing around at the group.

"I have an idea," he said aloud, a spark of determination in his voice.

Scarlett blinked her eyes open, the bright lights of the rainbow room flooding her senses. She was back in the simulation, the familiar colors swirling around her, each hue vibrant and surreal. The faint smell of antiseptic lingered, mixed with the sweetness of artificial flowers scattered around the room. It felt both nostalgic and unsettling, a reminder of her past.

She was seated at a chessboard, the pieces neatly arranged in their starting positions. Her small fingers traced the edge of the table as she focused on the game, unaware of the footsteps approaching until she felt a familiar presence beside her.

"Mind if I join?" Henry's voice was smooth, a sly smile playing on his lips as he settled into the seat across from her. He looked the same as she remembered-tall, confident, with an air of authority that made her heart race, even if she was aware of his manipulative ways.

Scarlett forced a smile, feeling the instinctual pull of her eight-year-old self, eager for approval. "Sure, I was just about to make my move."

Henry leaned forward, his gaze penetrating as he studied the board. "You know, Scarlett, you have such potential. But you're not using it wisely." His tone dripped with false concern, the kind that set alarm bells ringing in her mind, yet she felt drawn in.

"What do you mean?" she asked, feigning innocence, her younger self's vulnerability bubbling to the surface.

"You're different from the others. You can control electricity, which is powerful in its own right. But you need to embrace that, not shy away from it." He gestured to the chess pieces. "Think of them as your opponents. In this place, you'll have to fight, and you can't let them see your weakness."

Scarlett bit her lip, doubt creeping in. "But I can't move things with my mind like everyone else. I'm not like them," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Henry leaned back, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "That's where you're wrong. Your power is unique, and it can be just as strong. You need to harness it, Scarlett. When they put you up against the others to practice your abilities, you can shock them, literally." He paused, letting his words sink in. "You just need to believe in yourself."

Scarlett felt a flicker of hope mixed with fear. "But how? I don't know how to fight. I'm scared."

"Fear is a weakness," he said, his voice low and steady. "You have to channel that fear into strength. When you're up against them, remember what you can do. You have the power of lightning coursing through you. It's all about strategy-like chess. You don't have to be like them; you can outsmart them."

His words wrapped around her like a warm blanket, soothing yet suffocating. She wanted to resist, to remind herself that this was manipulation, but the young girl inside her craved his validation. "What if they don't see me as strong?" she asked, vulnerability spilling out.

Henry leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Then show them. You have the power to shock them into submission. Don't let them dismiss you. Use your differences to your advantage. Fight back when they come at you. Show them who you really are."

Scarlett nodded slowly, his words igniting a flicker of determination within her. "I'll try," she said, the resolve solidifying in her chest as she shifted the chess piece forward, her mind racing with the possibilities.

Scarlett was led into a sterile, brightly lit room, the hum of fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. The walls were painted a clinical white, devoid of any decoration, creating a stark contrast to the colorful chaos of the rainbow room. A single metal table stood in the center, with a few strange devices scattered across it, all designed to test her electricity powers.

She approached the table, her heart racing. The memory of Henry's words echoed in her mind, urging her to embrace her uniqueness. As she examined the devices, a spark of determination ignited within her. She took a deep breath and focused on the first gadget-a small metal sphere that seemed to pulse with energy.

"Okay, let's see what I can do," she whispered to herself. She reached out, fingers hovering just above the surface, feeling the faint electric charge radiating from it. Summoning her power, she concentrated, envisioning the flow of electricity as it coursed through her. With a flick of her wrist, she directed a small jolt of energy into the sphere.

The device hummed to life, lights flashing in response. Scarlett's heart soared. She could feel the power thrumming beneath her skin, the electricity responding to her command. Encouraged, she increased the intensity, sending more energy into the sphere until it glowed a bright blue.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and 002 entered the room, a confident swagger in his step. Scarlett's heart dropped. She had seen him in the training sessions, an imposing figure with telekinetic abilities that left everyone else in awe.

"Looks like you're practicing alone again," he said with a smirk, his eyes scanning the room before settling on her. "Do you really think you can take me on?"

Scarlett straightened, reminding herself of Henry's advice. "I'm not afraid of you," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt.

"Good," he said, stepping closer. "Because I hope you're ready to fight."

With a wave of his hand, 002 sent a nearby chair flying toward her. Scarlett reacted instinctively, channeling her energy into her fingertips. As the chair hurtled toward her, she released a bolt of electricity, colliding with the wooden object mid-air. The resulting explosion of sparks illuminated the room, and the chair splintered into pieces, falling harmlessly to the ground.

"Not bad," 002 said, genuine surprise flickering across his face. "But you'll need more than that."

Scarlett squared her shoulders, adrenaline surging through her veins. "I'm just getting started."

He lunged at her, his telekinetic powers lifting him off the ground as he thrust his hands forward, sending a wave of force her way. Scarlett felt the impact before she saw it, the air crackling with energy. She dove to the side, rolling across the floor to avoid the blast.

Pushing herself back up, she focused on the metal sphere again, now buzzing with her leftover energy. She directed the current toward 002, sending a streak of electricity arcing through the air. He blocked it with a flick of his wrist, deflecting the energy but losing his footing slightly.

"Impressive!" he shouted, amusement dancing in his eyes. "But you'll have to do better than that!"

Scarlett took a moment to gather her breath and consider her options. She had to be smarter than him, just as Henry had said. She started to weave her energy into the air around her, creating a barrier of crackling electricity that formed a protective shield.

With renewed determination, she pushed forward, channeling all her focus into a powerful surge aimed at 002. The room lit up as she unleashed her energy, a brilliant flash of blue light exploding from her hands.

002 tried to counter with a wave of his telekinesis, but Scarlett's energy surged over his, and for a moment, she felt invincible. She could see the surprise etched on his face as the electricity wrapped around him, immobilizing him in a cocoon of light.

"See?" she said, panting but triumphant. "I told you I'm not afraid."

The energy flickered, and Scarlett released it, panting as she took a step back. 002 staggered, visibly shaken but recovering quickly, a newfound respect glimmering in his eyes.

"Okay, you've got my attention," he admitted, his tone shifting. "But this isn't over yet."

Scarlett couldn't help but smile. She had faced her fears and won a battle-no matter how small. She was ready to embrace whatever came next.

ASH SPEAKS!

i am missing scarlett and mike :(((

you guys should check out my completed cobra kai fics (until season 6 part 2) matching scars and cinnamon girl!

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)