Art by  genesisw!

* * *

Ivan sat there, his body rigid with tension. There, between the two dumpsters, he wondered if he should dare to sneak out from his hiding spot and run for it. He was in excellent shape, but he was no runner. Jogging was effortless, but could he outrun the monster that was once Iggy? When she was small, he would have harbored no doubts whatsoever, but what if she'd grown in the last few minutes he had spotted her?

He felt his heart thudding against his ribcage. It was as powerful as a heavyweight boxer's blows. Just the thought of being caught by the monstrous Iggy was enough to frizz out his fur. How long had he waited between the dumpsters? A few minutes? An hour? He didn't have a watch. The flow of time seemed to stretch out into infinity.

Something had to be done; if he remained in his hiding place, he would be found. If not by Iggy, then perhaps by the Once Hopper. Neither fate was desirable. He would have to make his way carefully and quietly. His grey fur would betray him, as it stood out in the darkness. Why could he not be in the snowfall of Siberia? At least then the cold would slow down the Once Iggy. Or maybe not--perhaps the power which granted her the ability to walk upright and the increase in size also gave her a resistance to the cold.

Something still needed to be done. Inaction would only lead him to his doom. Ivan slipped away from his hidey hole, looking left and right for any signs of the Once Iggy. He saw no signs of her, nor did he hear any telltale sounds which could give away her location. This did not make him feel any safer. Around every corner could have her laying in wait. Every shadow could be concealing her from sight.

He ran towards the Bullseye store, wincing with every click of toeclaws against the concrete sidewalk. His eyes darting at every movement both real and imagined. And there were so many of the latter. A leaf drifting by startled him. The wind which blew against his fur chilled him on a spiritual level, as if it were the breath of Death itself.

Ivan had wanted to fight his father's killer, but instead he chose the path of escape. He felt cowardly, afraid to sacrifice his own life to avenge his father's.

But there was Hopper to think about. Was he gone? Was his life snuffed out when the thing possessed his body? Could Ivan save his friend as well as avenge his father, or would he be avenging two lives?

Ivan's thoughts suddenly focused on Darryl. Where was he? Was he all right? What would happen if he came home and the Once Hopper was still--

A shriek from above the Bullseye store interrupted his thoughts. Crouched on the roof like some demonic gargoyle was the Once Iggy.

It had been waiting for him.

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