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Chapter 34, Aftermath (Ep. 8: The Battle of Starcourt)
The gate was closed.
And the Mind Flayer was dead.
Gwen watched everything happen – the monster shrieking in pain, its arms flailing around the food court, a few pillars crumbling down, and the Mind Flayer's lifeless body collapsing to the ground.
Everything was over and she was safe, but she was stuck. She was trapped with the occurrences and the effects tonight had left. The past two years had been nothing compared to this, because now one of their own was fighting a battle between life and death.
"El!" Mike embraced her tightly and gently helped her up.
Slowly, Gwen walked toward a breathless Billy.
He lay on the ground, struggling to remain awake and attempting to speak. She kneeled down next to him and felt his hand reach for hers, hoping to acquire one last touch of the sun before parting. He choked out a breath of relief as she gently held his hand, "Hey... beautiful."
"You're going to be okay. Just hold on," Gwen tried to reassure him, but her lie was one he didn't believe. She felt like a fool for trying to assure him of something beyond her reach, but she couldn't say more. She couldn't accept that this was his end and nothing could be done, especially with his sister pleading him to stay.
"Billy, get up! Get up, please!" Max shook his shoulders, urging him to stand strong like he always did. She cried in desperate and heartbroken cries, "Please get up! Please!"
"I'm sorry," Billy softly said, his gaze switching between both girls before falling firmly onto Gwen's. He wanted to say more, to let her know how much she meant to him, and how there had never been a time when he didn't regret what he did. Many things were meant to be said, but it was the end of everything.
His once tight grip fell loose and it was only when his hand slipped from hers that Gwen realized Billy Hargrove was gone.
Nothing but silence became her.
She remained frozen, refusing to believe this was the end. A life had vanished right before her and deep inside, she considered herself the instigator. Instead of standing in the sidelines, she could have helped him. She could have prevented him from making this sacrifice and saved him like she did with Natalia.
But she did nothing.
Max begged him to return, pleading for another chance. She held onto his body and tried shaking him awake, but her brother being gone was an unfathomable belief. It was something she refused to accept and permit.
"Billy!" she cried, shaking him one more time.
"Max, it's okay," Gwen softly stroked her hair and held her in a deep embrace. "It's okay, I'm right here."
