Extinct Love (Max Mayfield x OC)

Season 4, Chapter 4: Dear Billy

Season 4, Chapter 4: Dear Billy

Max's POV

I snap back to reality and I'm sitting back in the chair in Ms. Kelley's office. Steve and Dustin are shaking me. Almost immediately after I snap out of my trance, Nancy and Robin join us. I lead them all back down the hallway to where I saw the clock. However, there's nothing there. Not even a hint that something was embedded into the wall.

"It was here." I say, the four flashlights projecting my shadow over where the clock was. "Right here."

"A grandfather clock?" Nancy asks, to which I nod.

"It was so real." I say, remembering what just transpired. "And then, when I got closer, suddenly I just... I woke up."

"It was like she was in a trance or something." Dustin says. "Exactly what Eddie said happened to Chrissy."

This can't be real. After everything I went through, I don't want to die. Not like this. There is so much I want to do with my life. Should I tell them? Should I just let it happen?

No. They have to know. It would be selfish and stupid of me to keep this to myself.

I turn back to the others. "That's not even the bad part."

I bring everyone back to Ms. Kelley's office. I gather all the necessary information, before I start explaining. "Fred and Chrissy, they both came to Ms. Kelley for help. Uh, they were both having headaches. Bad headaches that wouldn't go away. And then... then the nightmares. Trouble sleeping. They'd wake up in a cold sweat. And then they started seeing things. Bad things. From their pasts. And these visions, they just-they kept on getting worse and worse, until eventually... everything ended."

"Vecna's curse." Robin says.

"Chrissy's headaches started a week ago. Fred's six days ago." I say. I take a breath, before saying the final piece, tears clouding my vision and emotion closing my throat. "I've been having them for five days. I don't know how long I have. All I know is that, for Fred and Chrissy, they both died less than 24 hours after their first vision. And I just saw that goddamn clock, so..." I take in a shaky breath, "...looks like I'm gonna die tomorrow."

As soon as I finish, there's a distant clang. We all jump and look towards the door. Nothing bursts through.

Steve looks around at us. "Stay here."

He walks to the door, before pausing. He looks around him, before grabbing a lamp. Holding it like a baseball bat, he creeps out of the office, the rest of us following. We can hear the distant clattering get closer, before turning into rapidly approaching footsteps. Steve readies the lamp.

A creature comes running around the corner. We shine our flashlights, screaming, and Steve nearly swings the lamp into an equally terrified Lucas.

"IT'S ME!" Lucas yells, arms out in defense.

"Lucas?" Nancy asks.

"It's me," he repeats, breathlessly.

"Jesus, what's wrong with you, Sinclair!" Steve yells at the younger boy.

"I'm sorry."

"I could've taken you out with this lamp!" Steve says, brandishing the lamp.