The painting ~ byler

VI

- EL'S POV -
11:20 am

"Mike, can we... talk?" I look over to Will and Mike who seem to be sat down however not speaking to one another.

I slammed the door shut with my mind once he had walked in.

"You love me again now?" I start.

"El I... I didn't know what to say. I do love you. I really really do. I just- You were right. I'm not in love with you, and I'm sorry." Mike looked down to the floor. I smile.

"Thank you, Mike." I begin to walk up to him.

"For what?" His head lifts back up.

"For helping me realise that I'm also not inlove with you." And with that I hug him. He is hesitant to hug back at first, but after a few seconds he does. "Is there anything else you want to tell me? About will?"

"What? What do you mean about Will? Nothing happened with Will?" He says angrily.

"You like him?"

"He's my friend, El."

"I don't think he thinks that." I lead Mike out of the door, then slam it again.

11:52

'Because we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl, you know that we are livi-'

"Huh?" I whisper to myself. The music had stopped. And it's not like the song had finished. It just ended. I walked up to the CD player and checked it. Completely normal.

I hear footsteps from behind me. I turn around-

"Max!?" I couldn't believe it. The beautiful red head was standing in front of me smiling. Just like nothing ever happened. I run up to her and hug her, she hugs back immediately. "How did you-." I suddenly let go and take a few steps back.

"001." I quietly shout.

"You've gotten smarter."

"What do you want."

"Just saying hi." He approaches me now fully in his monster form.

"How do I get Max back!" I needed to know how to get her back. Whatever it took.

"You wouldn't want to know." His deep laugh hits my ears.

"How." I firmly shout.

"If you really want to know... to save Max. You must die."

"What?" My voice softens. I look down at the floor for a second, and when I look up he's gone. "What!?" I say a bit louder. Where did he go so suddenly?

12:04

"El!? El this is Will pick up!" I hear from the walkie-talkie.

"What." I say sharply.

"It's... it's Mike! We were just talking in the woods and... I don't know what's happening but he's not moving! I think maybe Vecna got him!"

"Stay there. I'm coming." I got my shoes on and got on my bike.

12:10

"How long has he been like this?" I shout while running up to a frozen Mike and a panicked Will.

"Since just before I called you!"

"Mike. Mike! Can you hear me?" I shouted. "Mike I need you to wake up."

"El your going to have to save him. Just like how he saved you when you were in a trance!"

"No, Will. You have to save him."

"But you're his-."

"Will! Listen to me. You have to save him." He begins to tear up and turns to Mike.