ʰᵉˡˡᶠⁱʳᵉ ᶜˡᵘᵇ

𝟏𝟎

Max handed us letters, I knew why she wrote us letters, but i didn't really want to assume how Max felt so i said nothing. "For you, She spoke. "For you. And um, you. Oh and um, give these to Mike, El, and Will. If you ever get a hold of them again."

As they were about to open it, Max added, "What are you doing? No, don't. That's not for now, Don't open it now. Don't... okay." "I'm sorry, what is this? Steve asks. "It's um... Max began. "It's a fail-safe, for after. If things don't work out."

"Wait whoa, Lucas piped in."Max, things are gonna work out." "No! Max replied. "No, I don't need you to reassure me and tell me it's all gonna work out.  People have been telling me that and it's almost never true. It's never true. I mean, of course this asshole curses me. Should've seen that one coming."

We headed outside and Max asked, "If we go to East Hawkins, will this reach Pennhurst?" "Of course, yeah, Steve responded. "Why are we talking about East Hawkins? No! No! No! Max, Max. Seriously, I'm not joking. I'm not driving you anywhere."

Max sighed."if you think I'm going to spend what is likely the last day of my life in the armpit that is Mike Wheeler's basement, you're out of your mind. Either take me where I need to go or tie me down, which is technically kidnapping, And if I live to see another day, Steve, I swear to god I will prosecute."

"Open the door."

"uh, no."

"I know a good lawyer."

Steve scoffed. "Henderson, that super walkie of yours better reach Pennhurst." I giggle, as soon as we arrive, Steve tells Max,"This better be fast, Mayfield. Twenty seconds, the thing's got batteries in it, right?"

"I'm not even answering that question."

"Yes, it has batteries."

I sighed, I knew Max would live, she was so strong, and could get through anything, besides Billy's Death, but how could anyone move on from that? Max had every right to do what she did honestly. 

A while later, Max came out and Steve spoke,"Hey, That was more than 20 seconds. Hey whoa, whoa, you all right?" She replied, "I'm fine. Just drive." "Did something happen? Dustin asked. 

"Can we please just go?"

___________________________________________________________

"Turn here."

"Here?"

Lucas sighed."Max?" She groaned. "Lucas, please, just wait in the car."

"Max just wait. Max, please-"

"Lucas just wait... Max started. "Just listen to me, Lucas pleaded. "Just, please. I know something happened there with your mother. Was it Vecna?" She replied, "I told you, I'm fine, okay? I mean, as fine as someone who's hurtling towards a gruesome death can be."

Lucas spoke,"Max... You know you can talk to me, right?" Max replied,"yeah, I know that." Lucas adds," Okay then why do you keep pushing me away? Okay Look, I don't need a letter, I don't want a letter. Just talk to me, to your friends, We're right here. I'm right here, Okay? I'm here."

"Wait in the car, This won't be long."

Lucas stood by the car, we all were. "What do you think She came here for? Dustin asked. I reply, "To visit Billy. He was such an asshole, but did the right thing in the end." They nodded. Poor Max, I felt awful for her.

She still was grieving, and I got that. I sighed, seeing her at what i assumed was his grave. Sometimes, I wonder if things had been different if Billy survived. Probably, but would've we been able to end the Mind Flayer?

We sat there for a while, I had patience, considering the circumstances and everything. Steve blurted, "All Right, It's been long enough." "Steve, just give her some time, I told him. "I have, all right? He replied. "I'm calling it. She wants to get a lawyer, she can."

We all walk up to the grave, Steve telling her, "Max, time to giddy up, yeah? Max? Max. Max!" Her eyes were kind of in the back of her head, like the victims of Vecna. It finally got to her. She couldn't die, not now! She had so much to live for!

Steve kept shaking to wake her out of the curse, but no use. We both were freaking out, what if it might be too late? 

"Wake up! Hey! Max, wake up! Max wake up!"

"Oh, something's wrong. Max!"

"Come on, wake up!"

"Max, you gotta get out of there! Can You hear me? Max!"

"You gotta get out of there!"

"Call Nancy and Robin! Steve instructed. "Go get 'em! Call Nancy and Robin! Go!" "Please, Max, Lucas pleaded. "Shit! Shit, Shit Shit! Shit, Shit Shit!" Dustin managed to turn on the walkie talkie.

"Nancy? Robin? Do you copy? Dustin spoke. "This is a code red, do you copy? Shit, Robin!" Neither of them were responding, which meant something went wrong, I concluded. Dustin added, "Robin, where the hell are you? This is code red. I repeat, code red."

"Dustin, It's Robin, We copy."

"Holy shit, Finally! Please, Please tell me you guys have this figured out." 

After Robin told us some stuff, Dustin asked, "What is her favorite song?" "Why? Lucas asked. "Robin said if she listens... Dustin started. "It's too much to explain now, what is her favorite song?"

Finally, we found her favorite song, the song was "Running up that Hill", and put the headphones on her, She began floating in the air, meaning the worst was about to happen if nothing was done. 

We kept shouting her name, but nothing seemed to help. Please Max, I thought. Please be okay. As we kept yelling her name, It seemed to work, Music did have some sort of impact, specifically your favorite song.

She floated down slowly, her eyes seemed to come back to normal, it gave me some hope, no, a lot of hope, and quickly got back to reality. Everyone hugged her, but Lucas hugged her the tightest.

"It's okay, He told her. "It's okay." "We thought we lost you, I told her, with relief in my voice. Max smiled, She looked okay but tired.

I was so relieved. We almost lost her.