An ailing Max opens up to Susan — with disturbing results. While Hopper digs for the truth, Eleven unearths a surprising discovery.
Susan was definitely used to seeing people drive fast, but she's never felt it.
Joyce was swerving around every turn, crossing the yellow line more times than Susan would've been comfortable with. She exclaimed a couple of times whenever Joyce made a risky driving decision, even holding on for dear life when her new friend decided there was no such thing as speed limits.
Thankfully, much to Susan's relief, they arrived at the school in no time. Joyce parked on the grass next to the bike rack, much to Susan's discomfort.
The women dashed inside the building and headed straight for the Mr. Clarke's room, only to find no one there.
"Joyce, are you sure they're in trouble? What's going on here?" Susan asked, still a little confused as to why Joyce was so worried. While she was worried about her daughter herself, her brain was still rattling with questions.
"My son and his friends usually have AV Club after school, but the teacher who runs it isn't here, so they must be—"
"Max?!!"
"MAX!!!!"
The two women turned at the sound of two young boys calling Max's name. They ran out into the hall following it until they came across two young boys: one with a headset and the other with a walkie. They were screaming out for Susan's daughter in a manner that worried them both.
"Max, where are you?!!"
"MAX!!"
Joyce recognized the boys instantly. "Dustin! Mike!"
Dustin and Mike flinched at Joyce's loud call, but they proceeded to head towards her as she and Susan jogged in their direction.
"Mrs. Byers?" Dustin exclaimed, confused to see Joyce and a random woman at the middle school.
"What's going on? Where's Will?" Joyce asked.
"He's out looking for— wait, who is this?" Mike asked, gesturing to Susan.
"Boys, this is Miss Susan, she's Max's mother," Joyce quickly introduced the anxious woman to her son's friends. "Susan, this is Dustin and Mike."
"Miss Susan, thank God you're here," Dustin exclaimed, shaking Susan's hand really quickly.
"Dustin, what do you mean 'thank God?' Where's Maxine?" Susan asked in a panic.
The back doors suddenly swung open and everyone whirled to see Will stumbling over in an absolute hurry with his walkie in hand, catching the rest of the gang's attention.
"The field!" he breathed out, waiting for everyone to follow him before he made his way back outside.
Out in the field, like Will had said, Max was standing in the dead center with her eyelids closed and fluttering. Lucas was next to her, her skateboard tucked under his arm while the same hand held his walkie. The other hand was shaking Max's shoulder while he called her name in an attempt to snap her out of it, but to no avail.
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Stranger Things: MADMAX
FanfictionIt wasn't supposed to happen like this. She was the new kid. She knew nothing about the dangers lurking with the small town of Hawkins. And yet she was the perfect target.
