Tell Me Something Good

025

Mike and Eleven settled into bed relatively early that night. They had a reason too; their day was long, and not a good one. They lay back to back, sharing the same covers. Mike pondered for a moment. He wanted to ask El a question, but his words only floated in his throat; he couldn't get them out. He felt his stomach turn, not ready for the answer Eleven might have.

"El?"

"Yea Mike?" Her voice was soft.

"What uh—" he gulped. "What's that second tattoo from?" There was silence for a long time. Mike decided to turn and face Eleven, possibly making this easier for her. She turned to him as well. They locked eyes and she brushed hair out of her face, revealing a stream of tears flowing down her rosy cheeks.

"It means I was going to be killed." She said plainly. Mikes face filled with hurt and bewilderment.

"Since I started to refuse their tests," she inhaled deeply and broke eye contact with Mike. "They said I was 'useless' to them. And they couldn't just let me go." Mike didn't say a word. He wanted her to get this off her chest so he didn't interfere.

"And I knew what I was doing too," she paused to wipe her wet face. "I opened the gate on purpose to get out of dying." Mike held is breath. Eleven was now sobbing. She turned to him with glossy eyes.

"I'm so selfish Mike. I didn't care what it would do to other people, I just wanted to live." She planted her face in her pillow and sobbed hysterically. Mike inched closer to her and rubbed her back. He gently turned her so she was facing up. He hovered over her so he could see her better.

"You did what you had to do to save yourself. Those guys had it comin to them anyway." Eleven shook her head.

"I don't get how you can love me. I'm a walking mistake."

"You can't have a beautiful ending without making beautiful mistakes." They stared at each other for a long time. Eleven just gawked at him in complete admiration. Her face dried and a smile crept onto her lips again; the one Mike adored so much. Mike kissed her lips generously before laying back down next to her. Not a single word was said between them. Eleven was worried about telling the truth to Mike, but she should have known that he would have sided with her anyway. She falls into a deep sleep thinking about how grateful she is to have Mike.

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Mike woke in a cold sweat. He didn't move. He knew right away something was off. Elevens chest rose and fell at a steady pace; she was still asleep. He couldn't help but think that someone was watching him. He turned his body slowly toward the window, and before he could even completely turn, he saw a figure standing at the side of his bed. He tried to get up but he was held down. As soon as the figure had a grip on him, several men now appeared, seemingly from no where. They placed a rag over Elevens face and picked her up briskly. Before Mike had time to yell, a rag was being placed over his own face. He instantly felt faint and everything turned grey. That's the last thing he remembered before blacking out completely.

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Don't hurt me.