Blind

Chapter 2

El's POV:
I opened my eyes and found myself seeing Max lie in Lucas' arms again. My body froze, even though I've relived this moment so many times it always frightens me to the point where I can't move.

"EL!" She screamed. Tears rolled down my cheeks, "El where are you? I saw you..." She said, now crying herself.
"Max I'm here!" Lucas said, holding Max close.
"El?" Max asks, her voice sounding almost happy even after going through that with Vecna.
"It's Lucas." He answered, "I'm here."
"Where's El... she was there with me. She fought him." Max asked, tears coming from her cloudy eyes.

I walked up to her and put my hands on her legs, "I'm here Max." I said. I knew I couldn't save her, I was just having a nightmare, a memory.
"El?" She asked again, my heart missed a beat as it did 2 months ago, she can hear me in the void? "El I can't see. I can't feel anything. Please help me..." She sobbed.
"I can't help you Max, I promise I've tried." I said, sobbing too. I've had this same nightmare almost every night for 2 months, and every time I couldn't save her. I just had to watch her die again and again.
I watched as Max took her last breath yet again, and I screamed as I have every time. "MAX!"

I couldn't let her go, so I put my hand to her chest and revived her with my powers. And then I woke up again, the bright hospital lights temporarily blinding me. I sat up quickly, hoping to see Max awake, comforting me as she did every night before I moved to California.
But she didn't. She was laying her in bed, in a coma. Because of me.

I felt guilt building up in my chest yet again, and couldn't handle it anymore. I stood up abruptly and walked out the room. I went to the bathroom and sat down in one of the stalls. I grabbed the black blindfold from my hoodie pocket and put it on.

I thought of Max and soon enough I was in the void. "MAX!" I screamed, I knew she wasn't gonna be here. She never was. "MAX WHERE ARE YOU?" I shouted again.
Suddenly, I heard a distant shout. "EL!" I heard someone shout. My eyes darted to where the sound came from, I hesitated. My mind isn't playing tricks on me is it? Whatever, maybe she is here.
My heart filled with hope as I ran in the direction of the scream, praying Max was there.
"WHERE ARE YOU EL?" I heard the voice scream again.
"IM HERE MAX!" I shouted. I heard footsteps getting louder, and I saw the girl with red hair running towards me. She jumped onto me and I held her up with my hands around her waist. She wrapped her legs around me and put her arms around my neck as she hugged me tight.

"I missed you so much Ellie." She sobbed, my heart lit up at the familiar nickname.
"I missed you too Max, I've visited you everyday." I said, holding her close.
"I know you have, I can feel you hold my hand, I can tell it's you. Please don't cry for me baby." She said, I blushed at the pet name but didn't mention it.
She stroked my short hair, it had grown pretty quickly, it wasn't a buzz cut but it was still short. You could still see my natural waves though, now that I think of it, it wasn't far off from my curly hair back when I lived with Hopper in the cabin.

(Hopper's gone missing in this story. Just like in Stranger Things normally.)

"Your hair's grown." Max chuckled, still running her hands through it softly.
I laughed sadly, "It's been a while since that day Max. When are you gonna wake up?" I asked.
"Soon Ellie, I promise. I mean I'm in the void now aren't I?" She replied.
"How can you see me and hear me here? Normally people can't do that." I said.
Max shrugged, pulling away from the long hug, "I'm not sure. It's probably because you've been in my head before. I could hear you then?" She answered.
"So you'll always be able to talk to me here?" I asked.
"I'm guessing so. I'm always here anyway Ellie. How are you by the way?" She asked.
I looked down, still holding her in my arms, "Um not great. Will says I've been having panic attacks or something. And nightmares..." I said.
She hugged me again, "I'm sorry El. I know Will can help you ok? I've got to go Ellie, my mind is still weak, it doesn't let me stay here long. I promise whenever you wanna talk I'll be here ok? And remember I can feel when you're beside me." She pulled away and smiled at me sadly. "I'm gonna try my best to wake up." She said. And a few seconds away she faded away.

I looked down at my hands, it's like she was never there. I took off my blindfold and remembered I was in the hospital bathroom. I stood up and put the blindfold in my pocket before washing my face and going back to the hospital room.