Chapter 86: The Heather Problem - Part 1
Steve
I positioned myself at the community pool daily. Bought a season pass, occupied a lounge chair near the lifeguard stations, watched everyone like surveillance operation.
Billy worked his shifts, flirted with the mothers, maintained his golden god persona. But now he checked his pocket periodically, confirming my number was still there.
Good. He's aware. Cautious. Ready to call if needed.
The Supernatural Detector pulsed faintly around 3 PM each day. The Mind Flayer testing, probing, searching for vulnerable hosts.
But it wasn't focusing on Billy anymore.
Max
"Why is Steve always here?" I asked Lucas.
"Surveillance. Protecting Billy from possession." He passed me sunscreen. "Same as he does with everyone—obsessive preparation, constant vigilance, paranoid protection."
"Billy knows?"
"Steve warned him. Whether Billy believes him..." Lucas shrugged. "But Steve's here anyway. Just in case."
I watched Steve watch the pool staff. His Fight Master tactical assessment working overtime, evaluating threats, identifying vulnerabilities.
He's going to give himself an ulcer, I thought. All this protecting, all this preparation. When does he rest?
Steve
Fight Master Phase 3 analyzed the pool staff automatically:
Billy Hargrove - warned, cautious, primary protection target. Vulnerability: 7/10, but aware of threat.
Heather Holloway - cheerful lifeguard, early twenties, popular with patrons. Hidden family issues (alcoholic father, controlling mother, financial stress). Vulnerability: 8/10, unaware.
Three other guards - various vulnerabilities, but less severe. Not prime targets.
The Detector pulsed strongest near Heather during her 4 PM shift. Consistent pattern, three days running.
The Mind Flayer's adapting. I warned Billy, so it's shifting targets. Finding different entry point.
I had to warn her. But how do you tell someone they're about to be possessed by interdimensional entity without sounding insane?
Heather
The guy in the lounge chair was getting creepy. Always there, always watching, never swimming. Just... observing.
"Billy, who's that?" I asked during break.
Billy glanced over. "Steve Harrington. He's... complicated."
"Friend of yours?"
"No. Maybe. I don't know." Billy's discomfort was visible. "He's helping with something. Don't worry about him."
But I did worry. Because Steve's attention wasn't casual. It was focused, intense, like he expected danger at any moment.
Probably overprotective boyfriend watching for threats, I decided. Not my problem.
Steve
End of Heather's shift, 4:45 PM. She headed toward the parking lot. The Detector screamed—loudest I'd ever heard it.
Now or never. Warn her before it's too late.
I intercepted her at her car. "Heather, I need to talk to you—"
"If you're asking me out, I'm flattered but I have a boyfriend." Her smile was practiced, professional, the kind service workers use on persistent customers.
"No, it's not—I need to warn you about something dangerous—"
"Look, you seem nice, but I really have to go." She opened her car door. "Maybe another time?"
The Detector's scream intensified. I grabbed her arm without thinking.
"Don't go home. Not tonight. Something's wrong, something's targeting you—"
She yanked free. "Let go of me. I don't know what your problem is, but this is harassment."
Heather
The guy was crazy. Grabbing me, spouting nonsense about danger and targeting. I got in my car, locked the doors, started the engine.
His face through the window looked desperate. "Please. Just call someone. Don't be alone tonight—"
I drove away. Let him stand there in the parking lot looking lost.
Creep. Absolute creep.
Except... as I drove, something felt wrong. The route home wasn't what I'd intended. My hands turned the wheel without conscious choice.
Toward the old steel works. Toward abandoned industrial area.
Why am I going this way?
I tried to correct course. My hands wouldn't obey. Feet stayed on the gas pedal, driving toward darkness.
Something's wrong. Something's very wrong.
Steve
I ran to the parking lot. Heather's car was already gone, taillights disappearing toward downtown.
Toward the steel works. Toward the Mind Flayer's nest.
Too late. I warned Billy, created blind spot, and the Mind Flayer adapted. Targeted someone I wasn't protecting closely enough.
My phone buzzed. Billy: "Something feels wrong. Heather left weird. Should I be worried?"
I texted back: "YES. Meet me at steel works. Bring weapons. This is what I warned you about."
The Mind Flayer laughed through our connection: "YOU CANNOT SAVE THEM ALL, TRAVELER. DIVIDE YOUR ATTENTION, I FIND THE GAPS. THE GIRL IS MINE."
"Not if I get there first," I snarled.
Grabbed my gear—bat, flashlight, first aid, Phone That Never Dies, Supernatural Detector screaming warnings.
Robin appeared. "What's happening?"
"Heather's being possessed. Mind Flayer got past my defenses by targeting someone I wasn't watching closely enough." I threw equipment into my car. "Call Hopper. Tell him steel works, possible hostage situation. Don't mention possession unless necessary."
"Steve—"
"I know. I fucked up. Focused too much on Billy, not enough on everyone else." My corruption scars burned. "But I'm fixing it. Now."
I drove toward the steel works, following the Detector's pull. Behind me, Hawkins looked peaceful in early evening light.
But at the industrial ruins, the Mind Flayer was claiming its first human host.
And I was racing against time to stop it.
One apocalypse at a time. Right now, that's saving Heather Holloway before she's lost completely.
The silver scars on my hands glowed faint red in the dying light.
War had begun.
Note:
Please give good reviews and power stones itrings more people and more people means more chapters?
My Patreon is all about exploring 'What If' timelines, and you can get instant access to chapters far ahead of the public release.
Choose your journey:
Timeline Viewer ($6): Get 10 chapters of early access + 5 new chapters weekly.
Timeline Explorer ($9): Jump 15-20 chapters ahead of everyone.
Timeline Keeper ($15): Get Instant Access to chapters the moment I finish writing them. No more waiting.
Read the raw, unfiltered story as it unfolds. Your support makes this possible!
👉 Find it all at patreon.com/Whatif0