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"Hey, can I ask you something?" Ethan mutters, turning to Will as Steve, Joyce, Dustin, Nancy, and Lucas take initiative on the rift in the sky aligning or whatever the fuck. Ethan is just rolling with this at this point. He's honestly lost now. "It's sorta important."
Will slowly nods, fearing it may be about the L-word thing. Ethan wouldn't do that in front of other people, right?
"Earlier... you said something about Melvald's and milkshakes?" he retracts, "They've never sold food, at least while we've been alive..."
Will blinks for a moment, pulling his jacket closer to his chest. "Oh..."
Ethan waits for a proper answer with tense shoulders. He fears this isn't Will, that through the hivemind, Vecna has possessed him (again), and was using him to spy on them. He fears that if so, Vecna knows they're on their way to dig his grave, that he knows everything. They may as well just turn back and enjoy their final tight together if so.
"Why did you say that?" Ethan questions.
Will turns around, leaning against the railing, facing down. He feels his stomach and mind whirling. He feels like he could throw up at any moment.
"Will." Ethan mutters, repeating himself, "Why did you say that?"
Will softly groans and whimpers, shutting his eyes tight. His head hurts. Worse than a migraine, more like a shock of electricity shocking his skull.
"Will?" he presses.
Will looks out onto the horizon, eyes glazed over. Ethan takes immediate notice once grabbing his cheek to make him face him. He feels his heart drop to his stomach.
This isn't a Will memory. It's a Henry memory. Will doesn't try out for school plays. Will doesn't sing on stages.
He's in Henry's body. Across from him, across the stage, really, stands a mixed girl, holding the same packet of script papers he is. They're both reading lines off the script, then they stop. There's a group in chairs between them, dead silent, waiting for the both of them to approach.
Henry barely moves.
She takes one step.
Then the (assumed) director cuts the scene with positivity.
Will can't hear anything, only inaudible mumbles that start to distort over time. Like how Vecna's voice is all... yucky sounding.
And then he sees El, Max, Kali, and Jaeden, off to the side. Once they step onto the stage, it changes. Purple and blue flashing lights begin to strobe, actors wearing masks flood the stage.
"We have to strike." El presses to Max. "We have to go."
"This is the only way, just trust me." she responds.
