In The Stars / Steve Harrington 3

Chapter 14

I walk up the hill through the cemetery until I come to my brother's grave. I sigh as I feel tears form in my eyes. I sit down in front of the tombstone, and I take out the letter I wrote for Billy.

"Dear Billy, I don't know if you can even hear this. Two years ago, I would have said that's ridiculous, impossible, but that was before I found out about alternate dimensions and monsters, so I'm just going to stop assuming that I know anything. So much has happened since you left. Our dad was a total mess. He and Susan started getting into fights, bad fights. I don't think he could stand being here without you, so he left. I know we both wanted that for years, I just wish you could have been here to see it. When dad left, he didn't leave Susan much. She's taken an extra job and moved to that lovely trailer park off Curley. Basically, ever since you left, everything's been a total disaster. And the worst part is I can't tell anyone why you're gone. I can't tell them that you saved El's life. That you saved my life. I play that moment back in my head all the time. And sometimes I imagine myself running to you, pulling you away. I imagine that if I had that, you would still be here, and everything would be - everything would be right again. I imagine that you and Max could have become friends, good friends like me and you, like a real brother and sister. And I imagine that you and Steve could have become friends, I imagine you'll be happy to hear that we broke up. You hated him, and he hated you. The old king of Hawkins High versus the new king of Hawkins High. I thought that maybe things could change, but that's not what happened. I just I stood there and I watched. For a while, I tried to be happy, normal, but I think that a part of me died that day too. I know it's cliche when people say that twins are connected, but I'm starting to think it's real. And I haven't told anyone this. I- I just can't, but I had to tell you before it's too late. If you can even hear this, I really hope that you can. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Billy. Love your shitty little sister, Bella." I read aloud my letter to Billy as tears stream down my face.

I fold the letter back up and put it back in the envelope. I look around as the wind starts to blow, and the sky becomes black. I hear a familiar laugh, and I look over as an all to familiar voice says my name. "Bella." I hear Billy say, and my eyes widen in shock and horror. "I've been waiting to hear those words, Bella." Billy says as he emerges from the fog, and I gasp in shock. "Waiting so very long." Billy says as he walks towards me.

Steve's pov

I impatiently tap my finger on the door of my car as I watch Bella. I look at my watch, and I shake my head. "Alright, it's been long enough." I say as I quickly open my car door. "Steve, just give her some time." Max says to me. "I have alright, Mayfield. I'm calling it. She wants to get a lawyer she can." I say as I run up the hill towards Bella.

"Bells!" I yell as I run up to her. "Time to giddyup, yeah?" I ask her, but she doesn't respond. "Bells?" I ask as I kneel down in front of her. My eyes widen in horror as I see her in a trance like before at the high school. "Bells, Bella, BELLA!" I yell as I put my hand on her shoulder and lightly shake her.

"Wake up! Hey, hey, hey!" I yell as I clap my hands in front of her face in hopes of waking her up. "Bells, wake up!" I say urgently as tears start to form in my eyes. "BELLA WAKE UP! BELLA!" I scream as tears start to stream down my cheeks. "GUYS!" I yell out to Dustin, Max, and Lucas. They quickly run up the hill and join me in trying to wake Bella up.

Bella's pov

"But it wasn't the full truth, was it Bella?" Billy asks me as he stands right in front of me as tears stream down my face. Billy puts his hand on my cheek and wipes away my tears. "You know I think that there's a part of you buried somewhere deep that wanted me to die that day that was maybe even relieved, happy." He says. "Billy, no, that's not true." I deny with a shake of my head.

"That's why you stood there, isn't it Bella?" Billy questions. "It's okay. You can admit it now. No more lies, no more hiding." He says. "Billy, that's not true, I swear, I swear, I swear." I say as tears continue to stream down my cheeks. "That is why you feel such guilt." He says. "No." I protest as I back away. "Why you hide from your friends." He says,"No." I deny again as I continue to back away from him. "Why you hide from the world." He says as he continues to walk closer to me. "No." I deny again as I start to sob. "And why, late at night, you have sometimes wished to follow me into death. That is why I am here, Bella, to end your suffering once and for all." Billy says as a tear falls down his face, and I continue to back away. I step back again, and I fall to the ground. I quickly look up to see Vecna standing in Billy spot, and I gasp.

"It is time, Bella." Vecna says, and my eyes widen in horror. "Time for you to join me." He says, and I quickly get up and run away. I sprint through the graveyard in hopes of getting away from Vecna as I try to control my breathing.

Steve's pov

"Bella, Bella, Bells, wake up!" I yell as I shake her shoulders. "Come on, gorgeous wake up, please. I can't lose you!" I yell as I put my hands on her cheeks. "CALL COREY, NANCY, AND ROBIN! GO GET THEM! CALL COREY AND ROBIN! GO!" I yell at Dustin. He quickly gets up and runs back to my car while Max, Lucas, and I continue to try and wake Bella up.

"Bella, please, I already lost Billy. I can't lose you too." Max sobs next to me. I wrap her into a hug as I grab Bella's hand. "Wake up, Bells, please wake up." I wisper as tears stream down my face.