This is my take on what happened in the three months between the Battle of Starcourt and the Byers moving away. It's mileven centric but all characters will have their moments and will be involved, so all of your favourite characters are part of the...
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This chapter takes place when the scene cuts with Max sobbing into El's arms in season 3 episode 8. WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS MAJOR STRANGER THINGS SEASON 3 SPOILERS.
A shrill cry echoed in the mist of flames. Everything was so still, almost as if time was frozen. Everything was so slow. Were they alive? Were they dead? Was this it? God they hoped so. Angrily, the fire roared as its flame spread around the mall - yet only a few people actually took the time to notice. Incidentally, what most people were focused on was the huge, horrific, morbid, gruesome, fleshy, split in half, surrounded in fire, dead monster from another dimension lying in the middle of the mall.
Time was passing, but minds were still; though, the deafening silence was broken by the sound of cries, of hugs, of, "Are you okay?" of sobs. It took everybody a minute or two to fully comprehend where they were, what they were doing, what the hell just happened. A few dead glances around the now burning and half-standing mall brought them to reality. Crap. They needed to get out.
Absentmindedly, Max had fallen to the floor, uncontrollably sobbing into El's arms. Even though Mike couldn't see her face, he could still feel the stress, the frustration, the sorrow, the guilt, the regret, and most of all the worry that was flickering through Max's broken mind, as her heart shattered into pieces, like a wine glass on a wooden floor. Her brother had just died in front of her eyes, in her arms. Though, but he didn't just die. Nor did he die a normal death. He died because of something Max got caught up in.
Maybe if she listened to him last year and stayed away from the party, they would all be asleep right now, warm and cozy at home waiting for the next day. Maybe if Billy wasn't so stupid and stayed home that night they wouldn't be in this situation. Maybe if they stayed in California, life would be good. Maybe if-
The flame bellowed through the mall in anger, "GUYS! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE IF WE DON'T GET THE HELL OUT." Mike could briefly a distant scream that was somehow too loud. There was no way the party could get down to help him, Max, or El due to the huge eight-legged, dead monster lying in the middle of the mall, so, they needed to figure out a way themselves.
Okay. Get out. Just get the girls and run. But..El can't walk..she can just use her powers..wait...no...uhhh...okay maybe if we can get Max to stop crying. Okay no that's a bit selfish her brother has just died and is lying right there. Uhhhh. Okay quick thinking. Think. Think. Think. Okay, maybe if I- Mike's thinking was interrupted by the sound of Steve, who had somehow managed to get around the dead monster, and had told the others to go, but only just; he had a few burns on his legs and the fire had now spread splitting the mall in half. "Hey Baby Wheeler, I'll carry El, you help Max, and just run...like....right now."
Mike had no time to question, because if they stayed there a second longer, they would've died themselves.
As the realisation of reality hit El like a punch in the face, she quickly let go of her grieving best friend and stood up, limping and wincing in pain. Gently, yet abruptly, Steve took her in his arms and allowed his fatigued legs to go faster than he had ever before. Without hesitation, Mike grabbed Max into an embrace as they ran gripping onto each other tightly, gripping so hard out of fear. Her mind was preoccupied. The sorrowful teenage girl tried to push herself away, reaching out to her murdered brother.
