Extinct Love (Max Mayfield x OC)

Season 4, Epilogue: Two Days Later

El's POV

As we pull into Hawkins, the first thing we notice is the steady stream of cars leaving Hawkins with luggage packed on top. We've only heard parts of the news coming out of Hawkins, but multiple smoke stacks still rise from the city.

We need to find everyone and find out what really happened. All I know is that light coming from where Max's body was, and Lucas dragged her out of the way. Since then, we've been driving as fast as possible to get here, after loading up on pizzas thanks to Argyle and Cody.

As we drive in, Jonathan turns on the radio to hear the news.

"It's been less than 48 hours since a 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the quaint town of Hawkins, 80 miles outside of Indianapolis, in an event that seismologists are calling a natural disaster of near-unprecedented scale. The death toll now stands at 22. But with hundreds more filling Roane County hospitals and many more still missing, officials expect those numbers to rise."

In the center of town, the biggest smoke stack still billows black smoke from whatever happened. Mike's school, Hawkins High, has a bunch of people crowding around. Men in army  uniforms are  directing us on detours to get to Mike's house.

"This is only the latest tragedy to befall this once-safe town. Most recently, a string of high school students were killed in a series of ritualistic murders which have been linked to a local satanic cult known as "Hellfire." Eddie Munson, the leader of this cult and prime suspect in the murders has been missing since the earthquake and is presumed dead. But this offers little comfort to the people of Hawkins, who are scared, angry, and searching for answers. Why their town? What have they done to deserve so much suffering? A growing chorus believes the two recent tragedies are linked, claiming the Munson murders opened a doorway between worlds. A doorway, they say, into hell itself. And with the monstrous bone chilling sounds coming out of the surrounding forest at night, they just might be right."

"What the fuck happened here?" asks Cody.

"That's what we're gonna find out."

*

Nancy's POV

"Hey, Nance!" Mom calls. I look over and see her coming over with a new box. "I found some more of your old stuff in the attic."

I walk over from the car to look at the stuff. Looking inside, I gasp. "Mr. Rabbit."

I pull out my old childhood toy. I used to take him everywhere with me, before all the Upside Down stuff ever happened. It feels like a million years ago since then.

"It's okay if you wanna save him, you know?" Mom suggests.

"No, he'll be more loved in a new home," I say, putting Mr. Rabbit back in the box and taking it from Mom. I put the box in the car.

"Someone order a pizza?" Mom asks.

"Pizza?" Dustin asks, turning to look at the approaching vehicle.

Its horn plays a little jingle as a roughed up SurferBoy Pizza truck pulls. There aren't many outside the west coast. I think Jonathan has a friend who works at one. It stops at the end of our driveway and the door opens. Piling out of the van is a guy in bright clothes and long black hair, Mike, Eleven, Will, some punk looking kid and Jonathan.

All the anger at not being able to contact them disappears in a flash. They're here. Holy shit, they're here. The two groups rush to meet each other. Will and El run over to Dustin, Steve and Robin. Mike rushes to Mom, and I race to Jonathan. He picks me up and we hold each other tightly. The longing washes away as he holds me in his arms. A couple of tears escape from my eyes. I was so worried, but they're all safe.