The shattered glass still sparkled on the lab floor, catching the faint light of the storm outside. Moon stood frozen in the center of the chamber, trembling, violet eyes blazing like twin storms. Her chest heaved, and every muscle in her body screamed for control she didn't feel she had.
"Moon! Snap out of it!" Hopper's voice thundered over the alarms, echoing against the metal walls. He barreled forward, trying to grab her before the room shook again.
"I… I can't!" Moon gasped. Sparks of electricity crackled off her fingers, scattering across the floor. The ceiling lights flickered, some exploding in short bursts of fire.
Owens' voice rang through the PA system. "She's responding to something! Cut the generators—now!"
But before anyone could move, the voice came again — smooth, cold, commanding:
"Come to me, my Moonlight."
The words hit her like a physical force. Her eyes widened in recognition. Papa.
"I… I can't… control it," Moon whispered, stepping backward as violet energy surged around her. The air pulsed and twisted, the wind circling violently, making the lab's debris hover like a storm had invaded the room.
Mike dashed forward, sliding to her side. "Listen to me! You're not alone! We're here!"
Moon's hand shot out — lightning crackling around her fingers — and the air between them shimmered violently. For a second, Mike thought he'd be struck. But she froze, seeing his eyes, feeling his hand grip hers, steady.
El appeared behind him, hands glowing faint blue. "We won't let him get you," she said softly.
Max stepped up beside her. "We've got you, Moon. You're not alone."
Moon's chest heaved. Violet energy pulsed faster — stronger, uncontrollable. The storm outside rattled the windows. The lights of Hawkins flickered, power surges rolling through the town as if the city itself were trembling.
Hopper grabbed her shoulders gently. "Breathe. Focus on us. Not him. Not Papa."
But Papa's voice echoed again in her mind, whispering directly into her thoughts.
"You belong to me. The moon calls you. Your power is mine."
Moon screamed, throwing her hands up. A torrent of wind, fire, and ice erupted from her, smashing windows, knocking tables over. Sparks rained from the ceiling. Owens ducked behind a console, yelling for guards to contain the energy — but no one could. Moon had become the storm itself.
Outside – Hawkins in Chaos
Miles away, the kids on bikes — Lucas, Dustin, Will, Mike, and Max — felt the tremor through the streets. Streetlights flickered, and the sky glowed faint violet above Starcourt Mall.
Dustin gasped. "She's losing it. That's her storm. Oh no."
El floated above the ground slightly, reaching out to sense Moon's location. "She's at the lab. It's… worse than before."
Mike's hands tightened on his handlebars. "We have to get there. We can't let her fight him alone."
Scoops Ahoy – Steve & Robin
Steve dropped the ice cream scoop with a clatter, eyes widening as the ceiling lights flickered. Robin grabbed a nearby tray.
"What the hell now?" Robin asked.
Steve stared out the front window. The storm above Hawkins shimmered violet. "That's not just a storm… that's her."
Robin's eyes narrowed. "Great. Our type of dangerous girl just went full apocalyptic."
Steve didn't answer. He ran toward the exit. "I'm going to help. You coming?"
Robin rolled her eyes but followed, grabbing a flashlight. "Wouldn't miss it."
Back in the Lab – Mind vs Power
Moon trembled, her energy spiraling violently. Owens held his breath, muttering calculations and warnings to the observing guards.
Hopper, Mike, and the kids crashed into the room just as Moon began floating slightly, violet energy flaring from every inch of her body.
"Moon!" Mike shouted again, trying to reach her.
Papa's voice thundered in her mind:
"Use your power. Destroy them. They can't stop you."
Tears streamed down Moon's face. "No! I'm not yours!"
She slammed her hands down. A shockwave of violet energy exploded outward. Mike was thrown against the wall, sliding along the floor. Hopper dived to shield the kids from shards of debris. El raised her hands, meeting Moon's energy with blue waves of psychic force, stabilizing her briefly.
Owens yelled from the glass observation area: "She's responding to mental commands! He's manipulating her through the mind! Keep her calm, or she'll tear the building apart!"
The Turning Point
Mike crawled to Moon, bleeding slightly from a gash on his arm. "Moon, it's me. Not him! You're stronger than his words. You're you! Do you hear me?"
Moon's violet eyes flickered, then softened. Her voice cracked. "I… I don't want to hurt anyone…"
"Then don't," Mike whispered. "Focus on us. You can do this. You're in control."
El and Max joined him, creating a human circle around Moon. Slowly, the violet energy dimmed, replaced by the faint shimmer of controlled power. The lab trembled, but the storm began to die down — temporarily.
Moon fell to her knees, trembling, as the group gathered around her. Mike held her close, whispering reassurances.
"You're safe," he murmured. "We're not leaving you."
But from the shadows of the shattered observation window, a familiar figure watched silently: Papa.
His lips curved into a faint, sinister smile."She's learning control," he whispered. "Good. That will make her obedience all the sweeter."
Outside, the purple moon rose again, brighter, hungering. Hawkins quivered beneath its glow.
Moon's violet eyes flickered once more — and somewhere deep inside, she felt the pull, stronger than before.
This was far from over.