Reaper | Will Byers

CHAPTER EIGHTY: WORLDS APART

Chapter Eighty: Worlds Apart

(Papa, Pt. 7)

***

The mood was grim inside the RV.

Not a single word was spoken, as if they knew the time for jokes and talking was over—that this was the time for action, the time that they would either save the world or it would be destroyed. It was palpable in the air, hanging over them like a shroud, something they could feel like the bony hand of the reaper himself, mixing with the emotions shared between them—determination to end this, to save the world one last time, and fear. Fear that no matter how good the plan, no matter if it went smoothly, they might not make it out, that unlike the first two times in fighting the Upside Down and just like in Starcourt, this was a fight where they may lose some of their own, that maybe not all of them would make it out alive. And yet, they were still doing this, still going into the battle, still going to save the world because they were the only chance—the only hope—of stopping Vecna and saving the world, of finally ending this. And if this was their last battle, their last stand, then every single person in this RV would fight, and fight like hell.

Rowan sat in the front, beside Steve as he drove the RV. In the back window seat was Robin, the bag full of Molotov cocktails in her hands, and Eddie and Dustin, gripping their spears as they gave each a look before facing forward again. At their feet was Alistair, his own spear clutched tightly, jean pockets and bandolier pouches full of bone shards, headphones slung around his neck and ready to go on his head to protect him from Vecna, his face set in grim resolution of what they were doing, to be prepared about descending into the Upside Down for the first time. Hugin sat on his shoulder, the raven unusually quiet, sensing both the mood and knowing the plan that Alistair had made with him, what he had given to Hugin earlier. Beside him was Cami, her face just as stoic as she held a lantern, her usual optimism darkened by the coming fight, that despite the promise they made to each other it could be likely they might not see each other after this, that they might not all make it out.

Leaning against the wall were Nancy and Valerie, wearing matching grim looks and yet holding the steel that was only unique to them, while Erica sat in a chair next to them, her face solemn. And in the booth was Leo, Lucas and Max, the redhead sitting across from them, resignation clear in her face of what she was about to do, of what she was risking to ensure the group could land the killing blow on Vecna, but it held determination and defiance, the kind that only Max Mayfield had.

In the front, Steve glanced over to Rowan as she looked away, and while Alistair couldn't see his sister's face, he could guess a cold glare had formed, full of anger and vengeance that had been honed into something frozen and sharp, that vengeful lightning was flashing in her eyes. That tonight, she was avenging Chrissy as much as she was saving the world and saving him and Max.

When they arrived at the Creel house, Max, Lucas, Cami, Erica and Leo got up to head inside, grabbing lanterns, flashlights, notepads and markers. As they did, Rowan got up and headed to Max as Alistair did the same, stopping Cami as he murmured, "Cami, wait."

Cami turned, frowning. "What is it?"

Alistair bit his lip, swallowing a knob down in his throat as it suddenly felt difficult to talk, to know that this may be the last time he could see his best friend, his platonic soulmate. That what he was about to do was maybe the last thing he could do to protect her and Max, Lucas, Erica and Leo.

"Hugin... he's gonna be with you. He's going to protect you and Max, Lucas, Leo and Erica," he confided, Cami's eyes growing wide. "And if... if Vecna gets me, I made sure he can stick around a bit longer before he joins me."

"How?" Cami whispered.

"I gave him a piece of my soul. It won't stop him from dying with me when I do, but... it will take a bit longer than the first time I died," Alistair confessed. Tears prickled at his eyes as he whispered, "I'm not going to be reckless, but this is the only way I can think of to protect you guys while I'm not here. Hugin loves you and he's protective of you as much as he is of me, and if he does die, then at least that... at least that tells you that he got me, and—"

Cami pulled him into a hug, so tight it almost hurt, as she whispered, "You're not going to die, Al. We're gonna kill him, okay? We'll see each other at the end."

Alistair swallowed, not believing that, before he hugged Cami back and whispered, "We'll see each other at the end."

They both knew it was a lie, but chose to deny that it was.

When they broke apart, Hugin hopped onto Cami's shoulder, turning to Alistair to caw, Be careful, Alistair.

I'll try, Hugin, Alistair returned, heart cracking that he and Hugin would be separated when he more than anything wanted his raven to be with him, but this was the only way he could think of to protect his friends in case something happened, that the raven would throw himself into danger and risk being seen to make sure he could protect them.

It was the only way.

Alistair looked away, looking at Max, the cursed looking at each other, brother and sister in all but blood and about to be separated by dimensions, a million things said in that look—good luck, be safe, survive, kick Vecna's ass, and a hopeful, tentative, see you later—before Max got out of the trailer after Cami, slamming the door closed behind her.

When she did, Alistair sat back down as Rowan returned to her seat as the RV drove away, this time heading to the trailer park, where they would make their descent into the Upside Down, where the fate of the world would be decided by them just as much as it would be decided by the people in that house, that they would either succeed or Vecna would, the world saved or destroyed.

Alistair hoped they'd be the ones to succeed, that he and Max wouldn't die tonight. That no one else would die.

That despite all his dread that they might not all survive this, he hoped they would.

***

HERE WE GO!!!!

Short, yeah, but this was a short scene despite how impactful it was and how INCREDIBLE it was, and I loved writing it! And yes, the title is from Separate Ways!! (will now confirm all chapters of this scene all have a lyric from this song as the title)

And yeah, Alistair told Hugin to go with the Creel house group to protect them and gave a piece of his soul to Hugin to make sure he'd live longer to be able to protect them longer, just in case he died. And he and Cami shared  a last hug before parting ways (will this be their last hug, though?)

Also... can we take a moment to appreciate how AMAZING this scene was? The cinematography, the feeling of dread and fear that they're not gonna make it out of this one alive and yet they're still fighting, still doing this because this ragtag group is the only chance the world has to survive, the freaking SONG CHOICE?? This scene and the song are so freaking underrated and deserves so much hype like the hype the Running Up That Hill scenes and Master of Puppets scene and songs got (not like they don't deserve the hype because those scenes were INCREDIBLE and the song choices was immaculate) but spare some of that hype for this scene and Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), ESPECIALLY the remix because that elevated an already epic scene even further (which is why I had to give it some love and have it at the top of the chapter)

But yeah, the calm is now officially over—we're in the storm that is s4e9. Who's ready? Who's scared? If you are... maybe you should be >:)

Please read, comment and vote!

GhostWriterGirl out!