ℕ𝕆𝕀𝕊𝔼

•032•

• 𝚆𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎 - 𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙹𝚘𝚎𝚕 •

Below the firework crew, Billy sacrificed himself for Eleven. He fought against the Mind Flayer both physically and mentally. The creature's tentacle-like arms stabbed him at every angle. The last one went straight into his chest.

Life felt like it was in slow motion.

Both Max and Bea cried out Billy's name. Only, Beatrice held it for longer and was in the comfort of her boyfriend's arms.

The monster thrashed around the first floor of the mall and made more destruction of the place before it fell to the ground; dead. They closed the gate. Hopefully it'll be for the last time.

Beatrice crawled out of Will's lap with tears streaming down her face to see the Mind Flayer actually dead. It's over. And Billy had to pay with his life. All she could do was sob into Will's arms again when he brought her back to him. If she saw the crushed look on Max's face, she would've never recovered.

That didn't help when she heard Max cry for Billy to wake up. Was he a douchebag step-brother? Yes, but not in a million years would anyone wish this upon him.

Max sobbed to Eleven and Mike, while Bea was sobbing to Will and everyone else who was on the second floor. Steve and Robin placed her in between them as they tried to soothe someone who's like a little sister to them.

American soldiers barged in around every corner. Hopper's recruitment finally came. After a bunch of kids did all the work. The fire department was then spotted due to the fire that the fireworks caused by being lit inside a building.

The kids were outside in the rain with blankets wrapped around them as they sat in the back of multiple fire trucks. Beatrice was sitting with Max and Eleven. The latter abruptly got up from where she was sitting and looked around for Hopper. When she made eye contact with Joyce, that's when she knew.

Hopper didn't make it back.

"Did you know?" Bea jumped at how hoarse Max's voice was. She looked at her best friend with her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Know what? "Did you know Billy was going to..."

Beatrice copied Max and stared in front of her as she thought about it. "I guess I always knew, in a way. I drew about him, about what his car looked like tonight. About other things that happened. Even that." She nudged her shoulders to Starcourt Mall that was currently on fire.

"Did I know that Billy was going to..." She took a sharp intake. "No. I didn't. I heard an explosion of noise when it happened and I just thought that it was the fireworks behind me. Then I collapsed, screaming Billy's name into Will's arms." She looked back at the ginger. "I am so sorry Max. He didn't deserve this. No one deserves this."

Max choked back a sob as she found herself fit perfectly in her best friend's arms. She couldn't hold her tears back anymore as she thought about everything. She just wished that her and Billy had actually gotten along. Maybe she would have better memories with him.

•••••

THREE MONTHS LATER

At the Byers residence, Max and Lucas were singing Suzie and Dustin's song to annoy the latter as they helped pack moving boxes. Joyce decided that it was time for a change and made the executive decision to move. She has also taken custody over Eleven and will be bringing her with them to California.