The three of us

The victim

'Go on, Mike.' Max says.

'We were biking to school. Dustin, Will, Lucas and I.
When we arrived, we sat down in class.
It was a normal day. Mr. Clark was there, teaching.
Dustin acted normal the whole lesson.
At the end, he started looking around. He asked if he could go to the bathroom. I knew something was off.
He didn't come back. When the lesson was done, I walked to the bathroom.
I asked him if he was okay. No answer.
Every door was open. Dustin wasn't in the bathroom, he was gone. I don't know where.'

'Lucas, your turn.' Max says.

'I had the exact same dream as Mike.' Lucas says.
'Are you sure?' Max asks.
'I'm totally sure. We biked, we sat, we learned and we searched. That's it.' Lucas says.
'Okay. Will, your turn.' Max says.

'We were at the hospital, visiting Dustin, I think.
When we could come in, I could see Steve, sitting next to him.
Dustin was sleeping. He hand wounds everywhere, his eye was blue.
I asked Steve what happened. He wouldn't tell us.
He said it'd probably scare us.' Will says.

'Y/N. Your turn.' Max says.

'We were in the cabin. Playing DnD.
Dustin wasn't there. I asked Steve where he was.
Steve said he was in the bathroom.
I went to check up on him and knocked on the door.
No answer.
I opened the door and lurked inside, but Dustin was gone.
I called Steve over. Then we went to search for him.'

'Hm. My turn, I guess.' Max says.
'I think it was a memory, which means it can't come true anymore. Anyways.' Max sighs. 

'We were looking for Dart, on the trails.
Dustin hadn't said anything since I saw him.
I asked him what was wrong, but he just gave me this sad, maybe a little bit angry look.
I decided not to bother him anymore and left him alone. He was walking all the way back, Steve payed attention to him. We all know Steve is an idiot.
Steve lost Dustin. He ran away.'

'El. You're next.' I say.

'Mine was a memory too.' El says.

'I was young. It was two years ago.
Mike and the others found me in the woods, I lived in Mike's basement, under the table.
Dustin came in. All alone. He didn't see me.
He sat down on the couch and sighed really loudly.
He started talking to himself, told himself he was a failure.
Then he grabbed a map. He walked away. I think he wanted to leave Hawkins or something.' El says.

'Steve.' Max says. 'Your turn.'
Steve sighs.

'We were watching a movie on my couch. Dustin always falls asleep when we watch movies, we all know that.' Steve laughs. We all do the same.
'Well, we were watching a movie. Dustin always falls asleep, blah, blah, blah.
This time, he didn't fall asleep. Not even when I put on a second movie. He kept staring at the ground.
I asked him if he was alright, he just said he had to go to the bathroom.
After 10 minutes, he still didn't come back.
I knocked on the door, asked him if he was alright.
He didn't answer, so I opened the door.
He wasn't there, just like in Y/N's story.'

'Dustin. Ready?' Max asks. Dustin nods.

'Last time I tripped. I was in the same position now.
I crawled back up and looked around. I was in Steve's garden. I remembered why I ran.
Steve was inside, crying because I died.
I walked towards the pool. Steve was sitting on the edge.
"Steve?" I called his name.
Steve looked around. He heard me.
"Steve."
Steve looked in my direction. "Dustin?" He asked with tears in his eyes. "Dustin, is that you?"
I sat down next to him and looked at him.
"Yes." I said.
"But, how? You're dead."
"I don't know." I sighed and looked at the water.
"Your mom. She left the blame on me." Steve said.
"What?"
"Your mom blamed me for your death. She accused me." Steve sighs. "I miss you, Dustin."
I felt my eyes water and I hugged Steve.
I think he felt it, because he hugged me back.
I don't know how.
But then the ground started disappearing.
"Steve, I think I'm gonna go now. Forever." I said.
"What?"
"The ground is disappearing."
"I don't understand." Steve was so confused.
"Steve, what would you want to say to me, one last time?" I yelled. The end came closer.
"I love you, Dustin. I always have." Steve cried.
"I love you too, Steve. Always have."
Then I disappeared.' Dustin looks at Steve.