𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 ; ᵂᶦˡˡ ᴮʸᵉʳˢ

iv ; Dear Billy

The group sit in Steve's car, waiting for Max as she was sitting in front of Billy's grave. She'd made keep-safe letters in case something bad had happened to her, seeing as there was still a chance, but hopefully not, that she'd end up like Chrissy and Fred. The boys didn't know how Max had the heart to go do this now and doubt herself to survive, but they wouldn't ask.

Ethan and Dustin sit quietly in the back seat, Lucas sitting on the trunk and Steve leaning against the driver's side exterior, keeping an eye on the redhead at the top of the hill. Nancy and Robin were currently at Pennhurst Asylum a few towns away to interview that Creel guy Nance was talking about, Ethan didn't really know, he was more concerned on how his friend was doing than some old grandpa killer. The girls went to search for answers, on what was happening with these strange killings and if this Creel guy had answers.

Steve calls for Max with no response, with an eyebrow raised he walks up to the girl, a horrified expression painting his face.

"Holy shit! Guys! Come here!" Steve yells to the three younger boys.

Lucas, Dustin and Ethan stumble up the hill, passing a few headstones on their way to see Max with her eyes glazed over with a blank expression, limbs heavy and limp. Steve tried shaking her awake as he dismissed Dustin to radio Nancy and Robin.

Dustin sprints back down to the car, Lucas, Ethan and Steve trying to wake Max up as she sit silent and emotionless. This couldn't be her end, she had to get out. Ethan wouldn't let her die today, or ever. She was the one to teach him what love felt like between winter and summer. She was one of the only reasons Ethan knew he really did like Will. He knew he could never repay her for being such a great friend but now maybe he could try.

"Can't you use some of that power stuff Eleven has?" Steve asks, almost yelling at Ethan.

"I can't teleport myself into the void, Steve!"

"You can't?"

"Holy shit, dude. No!"

"Can you at least try? Please" Lucas begs, his right hand rested on Max's shoulder.

Ethan sighs, glancing from Max to Lucas a few times before giving in and just trying for the hell of it. At least he didn't have to hear Dustin screaming over the walkie for the girls.

He closes his eyes tight, focusing his mind on the static he played in his head as he tried to focus. He concentrated as hard as he could but with no avail, he was bound to give up. But he tried, he tried for Max.

He focused as hard as he could but he just couldn't. He wasn't like El, he was like the X-men. Born with his own powers, not a copy of someone else. He thought he had it for a moment, but he only got a few flashes of red and Max with a terrified expression on her face before he opened his eyes, shaking his head towards Lucas.

Dustin runs back up the hill with his arms full of cassettes and Max's Walkman, setting them down and frantically asking what her favorite song was. Lucas picks out Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) as Dustin shoves it in the Walkman, placing the headphones over the girl's ears.

The boys continue to yell for Max to wake up, but eventually gravity goes against her as she's pulled up into the air. The boys call for her relentlessly, screaming for her to wake up and fall back into their arms.

And after a minute or so she does, landing right in Lucas' arms, hyperventilating and gasping for air, tears streaming down her face.

"Lucas!" She gasps, being heald by the dark skinned boy as Ethan and Dustin begin to embrace her.

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay" Ethan hugs the girl tight as she cries.

"Thank you" She chokes out

"Of course"

AN - really haven't been motivated w stranger things lately :( I'm so sorry these chapters suck and stuff but yk. I'll try to keep updating bur updates will be slow bc I really have no ideas rn :/ hope ur all good and uh yeah have a good day/night :)

published ; october 4 2022
edited ; june 27 2024