MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

58

Eddie was still shaken over the gate that was right where Chrissy died.

"So, this is how you got in," Steve notes to me.

"It is," I confirm.

"And how do we get out?" he asks.

I scratch the back of my head. "I was kind of expecting this to be a one way trip."

"Here!" someone screams.

"Oh, shit!" Robin curses.

"Henderson!" Steve shouts.

"Dustin!" I yell to help out.

Dustin spins around then looks up, or down, at us.

"Holy shit," Erica breathes.

"Max?" Billy asks, stepping forward.

Dustin and Lucas' eyes go wide at the sight of Billy.

Max lowers her headphones to wrap around her neck. "B-Billy?"

Max looks back and forth between Billy and me. Tears fill in her eyes and she kneels on the ground.

"Don't suppose you guys have a ladder or something?" Steve asks.

Dustin blinks a few times and shakes his head. "No. But, I have a theory."

"That's just as good. Hit me," Steve urges.

"Hang tight. We have to find supplies."

"In my house?" Eddie questions.

"No, in Lucas'." Dustin rolls his eyes. "Yes, in your house!"

I rub Billy's back. He and Max hadn't looked away from each other yet. I wasn't even sure if they'd blinked at all.

Lucas and Erica drag a bed to the floor. I eventually got motion sick just looking into the gate and forced my eyes away.

"Those stains are uh.." Eddie mutters, then looks to Nancy, Robin, and I. "I.. I don't know what those stains are."

"Mhm.." Robin hums, her top lip curled in disgust.

"Billy's bed looks the same," I assure him.

"So does Jonathan's," Nancy comments. "And Steve's."

"Nance!" Steve complains.

"All right, we're getting you and Billy out first," Nancy tells me, ignoring Steve.

"Nancy, I-"

"This isn't a debate," she cuts me off. "You're both in pain. You can try to hide it all you want, but I can tell. You need to get back to the other world."

A  cloth falls to the ground by us.

"Tug on it, see if it holds!" Dustin urges.

Nancy quirks an eyebrow at me and holds my bag out. "Go."

I take the bag from her and tug on the makeshift rope Dustin made. It doesn't budge or offer to fall. 

"Come on through! We've got a landing pad," Dustin calls.

I look to Billy, Nancy, Steve, Robin, then Eddie.

"Go," Nancy repeats, stern as ever.

I strap my bag around my chest and hop, grabbing onto the rope. The recent events had never felt so evident as I struggled to pull myself up the rope. I curse under my breath and strain myself up, up, up..

A gasp retches from my throat as everything suddenly flips. I try to keep a tight hold on the rope but lose my grip. I clench my eyes shut and await a brutal impact only to bounce.

My bag flops around on my front and I inhale sharply. "Holy shit."

I open my eyes to see Dustin and Erica standing over me. I was staring up at the gate- Billy, Steve, Nancy, Robin, and Eddie were looking up at me.

"Holy shit," I repeat, rolling off the mattress.

"You okay?" Lucas asks, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"Never better," I breathe, still in shock.

"All right.." Dustin hesitates. "Billy?"

I look back up at the gate as Billy climbs his way through. I cringe when he hits the mattress, a big breath blowing out of his lungs.

"B," I call. "You okay?"

Billy sits up and pats his chest a couple of times.

"B?" I question.

"The pain.. it's gone," he exhales. "I don't feel-"

Billy grunts in surprise when Max suddenly jumps into his arms, nearly sending the two to the floor from the force of her hug.

Tears well up in my eyes and I find myself smiling.

"Hey, there," Billy chuckles.

Max tries to speak, but all that escapes from her is sobs.

Billy stands up straight, carrying Max with him so that Robin could come through. Lucas helps me stand and I remove the mask from my face as Lucas and I walk over to Billy and Max.

"I'm sorry," Max cries, pulling away from Billy.

Billy smiles ever so slightly and tugs her back into his arms. Max's voice cracks and she tightens her grip around his waist again.

"How.. I.. We saw.." Max whimpers, muffled into Billy's chest.

"The Mind Flayer," I explain a little. "What we saw wasn't the real Billy. Not all the way."

Max sniffles and looks up at Billy.

"I've been stuck in that damn building for weeks," Billy scoffs lightly, trying to make light of his situation.

"Weeks?" Max repeats as Eddie hits the mattress. "You've been gone-"

"A year," Billy nods. "Yeah, I just found out about that, too."

"So.." Max grips Billy's arm. "You're.. real? Like the real, real Billy?"

"Max-"

"Because the Billy from before was doing weird shit. He hurt Rocky. He hit me. He called me-"

"I won't call you 'Maxine'," Billy swears.

Max's bottom lip trembles and she lurches back into Billy's arms for a third hug. Billy glances to Lucas and I. Lucas eases a little behind me, but I wrap my arm around his shoulder.

"You're all right," I promise Lucas in a hushed whisper. "Things are gonna be different from here on out."

Billy sends Lucas a stiff nod. Lucas returns the motion. I grin a little and lean up, kissing Lucas' temple and rubbing his back.

"Guys!" Dustin shouts in distress.

Lucas and I look over at him. He was staring at the gate.

"Nancy!" Steve shouts.

A surge of panic flows through me. I hurry to Dustin's side.

"Nancy, wake up!" Steve shouts, shaking Nancy.

Max and Billy walk over to see what the commotion was.

She was staring at nothing. Her eyes were blank.. White.

"Vecna," Max whispers.

"He has Nancy," I say.