Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 20

Max and Lucas got back to Murray's way before dark. Max was arguing with Lucas as they walked into the house. "I told you we didn't have to leave so soon!" Max said. "Well, I didn't want to give Joyce a heart attack!" Lucas replied. "Well look at her she is just-" Max stopped herself when she looked at Joyce.

Joyce was a ghostly white and Murray looked green. They were both zoned out, entirely unaware of the fact that Max and Lucas had walked in. "Guys? What's wrong?" Lucas asked hesitantly. Joyce and Murray were brought back to reality by Lucas's question. They looked at each other and then, in the most serious tone they had ever heard Murray speak in, he said, "We have to go. To Hawkins, I mean."

Max turned pale. Lucas felt nauseas all of a sudden. He pinched himself over and over again trying to wake himself from this bad dream. But he wasn't dreaming. It almost made it that much more horrific.

Max felt her ribcage begin to tighten around her lungs, signaling a panic attack. She felt her tears stinging her eyes. She tried to blink them away, but they kept coming back as quickly as they had gone. Max tried to speak but nothing came out.

Joyce and Murray could see the shock and fear on their faces. "I know this is scary but-" Joyce stopped. She didn't know how to explain their newest discovery. "But what?" Lucas asked. He was now seated on the couch with Max trying to keep her panic attack from reaching its worst stage.

"The truth is, they have been putting off calling us. They have known Vecna's next victim since the day we left Hawkins." Joyce said. "What? That was like a month ago!" Lucas said, shocked. "They have been having El check in on you guys and they saw how much you two were enjoying yourselves and they didn't want to ruin it." Joyce continued.

Max didn't know whether or not to be mad at El. I mean it was sweet of them not wanting to ruin the great time her and Lucas were having. But a whole month? "Who is the newest victim?" Max finally spoke up. Murray and Joyce looked at each other. "Karen Wheeler." Joyce said.

Max and Lucas whipped their heads around and said, "WHAT?!" Karen Wheeler? Mike's mom? Ok this is officially insane. I mean it was insane before, but this tops everything off. "We called just to check in. Robin answered and she couldn't resist telling us the truth." Joyce said. Sounds like Robin. 

Max silently got up and went to the bedroom. Lucas followed. "Max what are you doing?" Lucas asked her. "Packing up my things. You heard Joyce. We have to get back to Hawkins." she said. "Not immediately Max. Just- Lets process all-" Max cut him off. "No Lucas! We do have to go immediately! Our friends have been in danger for a month, and they didn't inform us because they wanted to spare our happiness! The least we can do is get back ASAP! I don't want to go any more than you do but we don't have any other option." she snapped.

For the first time in a long time, Lucas cried. He sobbed in fact. Max immediately felt awful for snapping at him like she had. "Lucas I'm so sorry." she said as she went to hug him. "I can't lose you Max. You are my constant. If I lose you, I don't know what I would do with myself. I need you. I need you and I can't lose you ever." Lucas said.

Now they were both crying. "Lucas it's gonna be ok. But we have to go. I don't want to go. Like I really don't want to. But our friends pushed this ff so we could enjoy ourselves. Now the best thing we can do is go back and help. We can do this. We did it once. We can do it again." Max said encouragingly. Lucas nodded. 

Max and Lucas packed their bags in silence. Then they sat on the bed and held each other for a little while. They hadn't said a single word to each other in over an hour. Joyce walked into their room. "Hey guys. Time to start getting ready. Come out and eat something before we go." Max and Lucas nodded.

They walked out of their room and they both ate some cereal. Well tried to eat. They weren't very able to because of their nerves. "Hey guys, everything is gonna be ok." Murray told them. The air in the house felt stuffy and it was laced with anxiousness. Max and Lucas gave a weak smile in agreement.

"Murray is gonna come back with us. We are gonna take my car back though so it might be a little bit tighter than last time." Joyce said. Max and Lucas eventually stood up and put their bowls in the sink. They went back to their room and resumed comforting each other. 

"Lucas I'm scared." Max finally said. "I know Max. Me too. But we are gonna do this and we are gonna win, ok?" Lucas replied. Max nodded into his chest. That feeling of dread clung to them. It wouldn't go away no matter how hard they tried to force it to.

"Joyce are you sure about this?" Murray asked. "I'm not sure about anything at this point. But I have enough of dealing with stuff from the Upside Down. We have all been dealing with it for the past four years and it's been four years too long. It's time we end this once and for all." Joyce said. "Come on. Let's pack up the car." she said as she brushed past Murray.

Joyce told Max and Lucas to grab their stuff and get it in the car. They got up and brought all of their stuff and threw it into Joyce's trunk. Then, everyone went inside to go to the bathroom and make sure they had everything.

Once they were sure, they all piled into the car. "You guys ready?" Murray asked. "Vecna has had his way for way too long." Lucas said. "Let's go kill that son of a bitch." Max said.