Work Text:
Everyone’s starting to regret being on the distraction team. They didn’t plan for when they’d find an unknown gate and a small swarm of demobats come flying through. For now, the plan is to run and find shelter, since they no longer have a car thanks to the bats claws in the tires. Mike leads the group of six through the town, sprinting down the main roads. Lucky for them it’s clear due to the Hawkins-wide curfew. They round a corner, heading towards the town square, the swarm of bats not far behind.
"In there!" Mike shouts, pointing into the distance.
Jonathon questions the idea, "you think that’ll hold them off?"
"It’ll buy us some time," Lucas shouts back, seconding Mike’s plan.
The party follows Mike leading them towards the church, as the demobats draw closer. They head for the familiar entrance, having used it during past crawls. "Come on!" Mike urges. They run as fast as their feet will allow, eager to escape the screeches from behind.
Will and Robin join Mike at the doors, the three of them combining their efforts to push them open but are met with resistance. Behind them, Nancy, Lucas and Jonathon hold the defence, staring down the oncoming creatures. Lucas, with his wrist-rocket and Nancy, with her gun manage to knock a few of the bats, but there’s too many. They won’t be able to take all of them, especially not out in the open.
Finally the doors swing open, dislodging the fallen beam they were struggling against. Everyone rushes into the foyer of the church, closing the door firmly behind. Jonathon and Robin are the first to start barricading the entrance using the broken furniture lying around, while Lucas and Nancy stay alert, keeping their weapons aimed to defend against potential intrusions.
Will and Mike search for other openings around the entrance and barricade them too. Will glances over to Mike who makes his way to the doors leading into the nave. He watches as Mike briefly winces, bringing a hand up to his temple. Did he hit his head back at the gate? He’s about to go over and check when the first thud slams into the doors. Everyone jumps away from the noise as more follow, slamming into the exterior walls. The chittering demobats surround the church, isolating the party inside. How much worse can it get?
"Shit…"
The party turns towards Mike’s voice, "Guys?" They see Mike standing between the broken pews looking towards the back of the church. They all move to join him and take in the sight for themselves. It got worse. In front of them where the altar should be, stands a huge gate carved into the far wall.
"Shit," Lucas exclaims, lowering his weapon.
Robin begins pacing at the back. "This was a bad idea," she mutters to herself.
"We can't stay here," Will points out.
"Well, we can't exactly go back out there," Nancy says as she waves an arm in the general direction of the doors. The group goes silent, save for the bats outside, shadows crawling over the exterior, though not breaking through. What are they waiting for?
Mike moves forward to the center of the church, scuffing at the ground with his shoe, "the tunnels run underneath here, right?"
Lucas joins him, "pretty sure."
"Pretty sure?" Jonathon says, raising his eyebrows at the exchange.
Robin stills briefly. "Even if we knew the exact location of the tunnels, what are we gonna dig with? Nancy’s gun? Your slingshot?"
"They might have something lying around in a storage closet," Lucas offers.
Frustrated with the situation, Nancy steps forward, "either way, it’ll take time we don’t have."
As the group continues to argue within their huddle, Will looks back towards the altar. "Maybe we don’t leave, but go through the gate." They all snap their heads in his direction.
"That's an even worse idea," Robin protests.
Jonathan steps towards him. "Will, we have no idea what could be waiting on the other side."
"But if we go through, we could at least find the others!"
Mike nods, contemplating the idea, "strength in numbers."
"It's a risk," Nancy points out. "A big one."
"You're not seriously considering this plan?" Robin looks at Nancy in disbelief.
"Well, our current situation's not getting any better," Nancy looks to the ceiling, "and eventually those things are going to break through."
The party is split on what to do, the noise of the argument filling up the interior of the church. Deciding not to get involved just yet, Mike steps back and stays quiet, in favor of trying to figure out a ‘safe way’ to escape. He’s pulled from his thoughts, frowning as he looks to the ceiling and the walls. He steps back into the group's huddle, silencing them, "Shh!"
"What are yo-" Nancy starts to ask.
Mike points upwards. "Listen."
The group, finally noticing the sudden silence, surveys their surroundings. On one of the far walls, silhouettes behind the windows slowly start peeling away.
"What the hell?" Lucas whispers.
The party cautiously disperses outwards hoping to figure out what’s going on outside. Nancy and Jonathon search the right wall, while Lucas goes to the left and Robin makes her way back towards the entrance. Mike and Will stay within the center aisle between the broken pews, observing the ceiling and the wider area for movement.
"Maybe we won't have to go through the gate after all," Robin says hopefully.
"I don't know… this is weird." Jonathan responds.
Will looks back down from the deserted ceiling, catching Mike’s gaze across from him, as he does the same.
A sudden cold spreads through him. Hoping it's just his imagination, Will brings his hand to the back of his neck, discovering a blanket of goosebumps there. He focuses back on Mike, only to find him no longer making eye contact. Instead, he looks past Will frowning. His eyes suddenly widen, "Will?" Mike says, taking a step toward him. Will turns around in time to see a shadow coming through the gate.
"Back to the door! Now!" Mike shouts to the room.
The rest of the group, grasping the situation, start running back to the entrance. They don’t make it far before the foyer doors slam shut in Robin’s face. She tries to open them but to no avail, struggling to move them even slightly.
The others turn back to see Vecna, now fully through the gate with a hand outstretched in the direction of the doors. No one speaks or moves, fear overtaking them.
Vecna approaches. "You did well to make it here… I've been waiting." The party instinctively takes a step back from him.
"Waiting?" Lucas asks before he even realizes the words have come out.
An air of smugness surrounds the monster standing before them. "You couldn't have known we'd come here," Nancy challenges.
"I know much more than you realize..." He turns to Nancy, "your feeble plan to cause a distraction, while Eleven and your friends on the other side explore a dead end." Vecna looks around to the rest of the group, "they've recently become a little preoccupied."
"No..." Will shakes his head in disbelief, "how?"
"How?… How could I have known?" Vecna takes another step forward, "these past months have been very insightful since enlisting someone to watch over you, to spy for me."
"Spy?" Robin whispers, confused.
To the right, Jonathan steps forward, "Will?" he asks hesitantly.
Will turns toward his brother. "No." He responds firmly, "no, I would've known." He looks to Mike who gazes back with concern and then back to the others around the room. "He's lying!" Will looks back to the front, "you're lying!"
Vecna continues forward, "you couldn't be more wrong." He explains, "the perfect spy is the one unknown to himself, with no knowledge of his own betrayal." Now standing adjacent to Will, Vecna looks down upon him as he speaks, "someone central within your group, a leader and yet, in the end… the cause of your downfall."
"You did a remarkable job, and I thank you for that..." He turns his head away from Will, "Michael."
Will follows Vecna's gaze towards Mike, whose eyes, once focused on Will, are now turned to stare in confusion at Vecna. He stands still, speechless, his only movement being a slight unbelieving shake of his head.
Nancy speaks up, "Mike?" He turns to her, looking as though he wants to say something but can't find the words.
Before he can, Vecna continues, causing Mike's head to whip back to his direction. "Mike the Brave, the heart... the seemingly strong-minded. All a mask to suppress what lies beneath."
Lucas tries to come forward and challenge Vecna’s words. "That's bullshit! Mike’s not a sp-" He suddenly stops, becoming immobilized.
Mike looks around to the rest of his friends, discovering that he’s the only one who hasn’t frozen in place. Sounds of weapons and flashlights echo through the building as they fall out of hands.
He turns back to Vecna, "leave them alo-" Mike goes still, silenced under Vecna’s power. He lifts an arm, reaching out, making Mike fall to his knees.
Shouts erupt from the surrounding group, Will and Nancy the most distressed among them.
Vecna closes the distance between him and Mike. "Your friends... Your family... They have no idea how truly broken you are." He brings up a hand, grazing Mike’s face, "you haven't told them of the nightmares or the headaches... the grief and the guilt, always feeling like you're standing at the edge of a cliff."
The party quiets at these revelations, turning contemplative. The dark circles and coffee cups, the reservedness. We should’ve noticed something was wrong.
"You've hidden pieces of yourself for so long now. I knew a fractured mind like yours would be the perfect vessel." Mike stiffens, under the pressure of Vecna’s hold on him.
"Mike!" Will shouts, accompanied by the others from around the room. "Don’t listen to him Mike!"
"Infiltrating your mind proved useful, essential knowledge held amongst the deepest parts of your consciousness." Vecna pulls his hand away from Mike, leaning in, "I've learnt much about you." Mike’s eyes dart to Will's, holding him in a gaze.
"You’ve played your part, however you can do no more." Vecna brings his hand in front of Mike’s face. Mike’s eyes break away from Will at the sign of movement, looking back to Vecna. "Consider this your last act of service."
Fallen flashlights begin to flicker, creating bursts of patterns across the floor. The lights from outside join, flashing through the boarded up windows. Will looks back to Mike. His eyes are squeezed tightly shut, his whole body straining to resist Vecna’s influence.
"Mike!" The others, still frozen in place, plead and shout. "Get away from him!" They try their hardest to break free, being made to watch as Mike struggles alone.
Mike's eyes snap open. They're white and completely rolled back. Vecna’s curse.
"No!" Nancy screams, the final part of her vision coming true.
Still looking down at Mike, Vecna addresses the group, "his mind is already too far gone, death will soon follow." He starts to back away, "all he needed was a push and he’ll see to the rest."
Terror fills Will’s mind, unable to take his eyes away. He doesn’t notice Vecna’s movement until he’s speaking directly next to him, "we are not finished here William, now that I have what I needed from your... friend." He steps away from Will, heading for the gate. "Say your goodbyes."
Vecna strides towards the gate, beginning to close behind as he passes through. Once fully sealed, the others are released from his powers. They stagger forward, regaining control of their bodies.
Once upright, they run to the center of the church, where Mike kneels unmoving. Will is the first to reach him, skidding to a stop. "Mike? Mike, can you hear me?" his voice pitched with concern.
Nancy drops to her knees next to Will, "Mike!" She grabs him by the shoulders trying to wake him, lines of despair creeping onto her face.
Lucas arrives on Will’s left. "Shit!" He turns pacing in a single loop, his hands holding either side of his head.
Jonathon and Robin arrive last and begin to take a different approach. "O-okay, uh… music! We just need to find some. Where do you find music in a church? I mean, do they even have music besides hymns and stuff?" Robin rambles on.
"Robin!" Jonathan shouts, interrupting her stream of words. "I'll check over here, you go look over the back there." Jonathon directs before moving towards a small door embedded into the wall of the church.
The other three stay with Mike, trying to get through to him. "Come on, Mike! You're stronger than that slimy bastard." Lucas encourages but fear slips through his words.
Tears begin welling up in Mike’s eyes, spilling over his cheeks.
"Mike? Mike!" Will panics taking Mike’s left hand in his and his right reaching for his upper arm.
"What's happening?" Lucas asks, shocked, having barely ever seen Mike cry and definitely not to this extent.
"I don't know," Nancy responds, taken aback.
"Well, what do we do?" Lucas asks, becoming more distressed by the second.
"I don't know!" Nancy sobs out with her head bowed, both of her hands clinging to Mike’s free one "Please Mike, not you too..."
Will, determined to stay strong, continues speaking in hopes of Mike hearing him. "Mike, don't give in! That's what he wants. Please, you need to come back."
Lucas pulls away slightly, pacing in a small circle behind Will and Nancy. Anxiety rolls through him, having gone through this situation once before.
Frantic footsteps and shouts from Robin and Jonathon fill the surrounding space. Will too focused on Mike only catches snippets, they haven’t found any music yet. Even if they did, it probably won’t be specific enough to get through to him. Will can practically feel the hope beginning to drain from his friends.
"Mike, please!" Will begs through tears. "You can't- Please... You can't go. Not like this..."
Mike stands alone under the fluorescent lights of the hospital wing, unable to remember how he got there.
Heightened voices approach from behind, "multiple blunt impacts. Weak abdominal..." Mike turns as a medical team wheel two gurneys past him. On them lay his parents, unconscious and barely breathing.
"Pulse is thready and weak," the staff continue recounting his parents' vitals. "Lacerations to the right anterior chest and penetrating neck trauma."
Mike follows, picking up the pace, while ahead of him they disappear through to another room. Not wanting to leave them, he pushes through the door, ignoring the nurse's orders.
However, he’s not met with the sight of doctors crowded around his parents but a kids bedroom. Colorful flowers cover the walls and a soft glow emanates from a lamp on the bedside table.
Holly’s room.
Except not exactly, it’s trashed. The shelves are broken, toys and books that were once on it now scattered across the floor. A black scar scorched into the ceiling and below it lies one of Holly’s boots. Mike crouches down, reaching out for the shoe.
A scream reverberates from the door behind him, "Mike!" Holly’s voice.
He leaps to his feet, "Holly!" he shouts after her, opening the door and running through.
Mike stops short, finding himself at the edge of Sattler Quarry, catching himself before he loses balance. Below him, a crowd of emergency service vehicles and personnel wait by the shoreline. He watches as two state troopers carry a small body out of the water.
Will.
His vision blurs at the edges, it all rushes back, the memories, the grief. His best friend died, Will died… A part of him died in that moment.
Rain begins to fall disturbing the surface of the water below. Mike lifts his head to look up at the sky. It didn’t rain that night, and it’s too warm for November. He takes a step away from the edge. "This isn’t real," he says as if trying to convince himself.
"I said forget it, Mike, okay?"
He turns toward the voice coming from the forest, deciding to follow. Eventually, he emerges from the tree line to see his house before him. Looking closer, he watches as his younger self follows after Will into the garage.
"Will, come on. You can’t leave. It’s raining." Mike walks a little closer, he can barely hear the argument through the downpour. I was such an idiot.He doesn’t want to relive this memory, not after what he said–
"It’s not my fault you don’t like girls."
It’s like a punch to the gut, he heard that part loud and clear. A moment that’s forever haunted him since he first uttered those words. That might just be the worst thing I’ve ever done.
"I mean, what did you think, really?" Mike watches on as overwhelming guilt swirls deep within him. "That we were just gonna sit in my basement all day and play games for the rest of our lives?" He scoffs at his past words, sounds pretty great given the way the world’s going.
Young Mike calls after Will as he turns to leave, "Will, come on!" But he doesn’t look back as he cycles away, leaving Mike behind in the garage. Do something! Don’t just stand there!
Realizing the past isn’t going to change, Mike steps out into the middle road, "Will, wait!" The rain eases up letting the sun peek through the clouds. He’s about to start running, when all of a sudden the Byers’ car drives past, barely missing him. He catches a glimpse of Will in the passenger seat, they’re leaving for California, it’ll be months before I see him again. A feeling of numbness sneaks its way back inside his heart.
Mike doesn’t want to lose him again, and so he takes off running down the road, solely focused on the car in front of him. "Will!" he yells as the car gets further away. Despite the growing distance Mike continues on, determined.
A snarl resounds from behind him, he looks back just in time as a demogorgon leaps forward. Its claws narrowly miss as Mike dives to the side, landing awkwardly, pain exploding in his right shoulder. He braces himself, ready to run from the oncoming demo, but looks up and finds himself back at the MAC-Z.
Chaos and death fill the area. Military personnel attempt to fight off the monsters, the sound of gunfire saturating the air.
"Mike!" Small voices call out to him on his left. "Help us!" He sees the three kids he’s meant to be protecting getting dragged towards the gate. They’re conscious and full of fear. "Please! Help!"
He tries to push himself up to stand but his leg won't move. Turning onto his back, he looks down as tendrils from the Upside Down snake their way around him. Mike sits up to try and pry them off, but they begin to tighten, he’s not strong enough, "Goddammit!"
A screech rings out before him. He looks up to find the interior of the church, where a couple of the demobats have broken through their barricades. In front of him, Will, Nancy, Lucas, Robin and Jonathon stand back to back in a circle fighting them off. The five of them already wounded with scratches and bite marks.
Mike tries to shout out to them but a tendril silences him, wrapping around his throat and pulling him back against the lectern. He searches around him for something that could free him, to his left his eyes land on an abandoned lighter. He reaches out for it but the tendrils binding him cut the movement short. Mike checks back on the group, they're struggling. Nancy cries out as she gets scratched along her arm, causing her to falter and losing grip on her gun.
He needs to get over to them, to help. Mike focuses back on the lighter, fingers grazing it and making it shift slightly. He pushes harder against the binds, closing in on the lighter. Mike grabs it and turns the flame against the tendrils. They writhe away from the heat, loosening just enough for him to move against them.
He’s gotten out of about half the binds when movement above the upper balcony catches his eye. A glowing crevice widens across the ceiling and a long grey hand reaches through. The demogorgon drops to the floor and looks to the group huddled below. They haven’t noticed, too distracted by the bats. Mike now tears away at the tendrils with even more urgency.
Finally freeing himself, he stands just as the demogorgon makes its move. "Look out!" Mike runs towards his friends, at the same time the creature leaps off the balcony.
It’s too far, I won’t make it.
The demo extends its claws targeting Jonathon, slashing him to the floor. The group splits away from the danger. "Jonathon!" Nancy and Will scream in unison, running to help him. He’s still alive, crawling away, as the demogorgon continues to stalk towards him. Mike runs in Jonathon’s direction, only a short distance behind Will and Nancy. The demo raises its hand towards Jonathon, Nancy mirroring it with her own weapon. She fires off a single shot before a second demogorgon appears from the right, colliding with Nancy.
"Nancy!" Mike calls out, changing direction. She slams into the wall, disorientated. Mike races forward trying to get to her first. At the sight of the approaching demo, she lifts her weapon once more to shoot. The mechanism jams. Too late. The demo arrives first blocking Mike’s view of Nancy. "No!" he yells, the demo sprints away showing Mike what it left behind.
So much blood. Mike stumbles the last few steps towards his sister. A deep gash is embedded in her torso. She sees him then, barely conscious, lifting her hand with the little energy she has left. Mike grasps it as his visions blurs, trying to hold back tears, trying to be strong.
"Nance-" he chokes back the words, struggling to hold it together.
"Mike..." Her words come out in a whisper, "Mi-"
Nancy’s hand goes limp, "no…" her head falls back, eyes glazing over. "No no no no no... Nancy!" Mike’s panicked words pour from him.
Above, a demobat breaks away from the cluster, swooping down towards an unknowing Mike. It rakes its claws across his shoulder blades. Mike swats it away, dropping Nancy’s hand in the process. Not able to deter it, the demobat swoops back in, this time heading for Nancy’s body.
"No!" Mike grabs a makeshift stake from the ground, once part of a pew, swinging frantically at the creature. "Leave her alone!" He manages to pin it to the ground as it lets out a final, weak screech.
He looks up, Jonathon’s no longer moving and Robin and Lucas are each backed into a corner on opposite sides of the church. Lucas holds his slingshot up to the demogorgon before him, taking aim. Robin, now weaponless, sinks into the wall, eyes closed, bracing for impact.
Mike stumbles forward, awkwardly standing, only to see he’s too late. He had no chance of getting to either of them in time. They’re gone.
There’s more movement to his right and a glimmer of hope ignites inside him. Will. He’s on the floor disorientated. But soon guilt joins that glimmer–Will’s hurt, he wasn’t there, he didn’t even see what happened. It doesn’t matter, he’s still alive. Mike glances back to Nancy, lifeless and still. He can’t focus on what that means right now, he just needs to get Will out of here.
With the demos distracted by his fallen friends, Mike takes this chance to run across to Will. Halfway, he trips over a broken piece of wood causing the monster's heads to snap in his direction, "shit!" He carries on, reaching Will and hauling him up by his hands.
"Mike?" Will questions his presence, now a little more alert.
The church doors are too far and they’d have to get past the demos. Maybe the back door. He turns to find that the swarm of demobats have cut off that option too.
The two of them are isolated, both exits blocked. There has to be something else. Mike surveys the area, the demogorgons stalking towards them doesn’t go unnoticed, nor does what’s left of their friends. Focus. His eyes land on a small gate carved into the wall on their right, that must be where the second one came from. They won’t be able to fight all these monsters, they also don’t know what’s through the gate, but their future’s certain if they stay. Still holding Will’s hand Mike drags him towards the gate, the demos also launching into a run. Ahead of them, only a few feet away, the gate begins to close, but not fast enough.
Mike pushes Will through first, never letting go of his hand. They have to squeeze through sideways as it closes in around them. It's close but they make it through, watching as it seals the demos behind it.
Mike turns to Will, moving his hands either side of his shoulders, "are you okay? Are you hurt?" His eyes check over Will for signs of injury.
"I’m fine. Really." Will assures, "might’ve hit my head a little, but I’m okay."
"You’re sure?" Mike looks panicked, eyes wide, panting.
"Yes. I’m sur-" A scream rises into the air, they turn finally taking in their surroundings. They’re standing outside Hawkins Lab, the gate attached to one of the back exterior walls. More shouts come from afar, those were human. They take off in the direction of the commotion, heading for the front of the building. They round the corner running up to the lobby and through the gaps where glass panes used to be.
A sharp intake of breath comes from Will upon seeing the scene before them, "We’re too late."
Panic rises in Mike, finding it hard to breathe as he takes a faltering step forwards. It’s a massacre. Spread around the lobby are more of his friends, the team they sent to investigate the lead. El, Dustin, Steve and Hopper lay unmoving in pools of their own blood. Bile rises in the back of his throat, this should never have happened.
Mike stands at the center of the carnage, he can hardly bear to look at them. He did this, he came up with the plan, he’s the reason they’re all dead. Mike doubles over, hyperventilating as tears fall from his face. He looks down, watching them mix into the smears of blood at his feet.
Suddenly Will grabs his arm, pulling him out of his spiral. "Mike, we need to leave." He glances up to find Will staring off to one of the corridors leading away from the lobby, "they’re coming back."
Mike follows his gaze, he can’t see anything there but hears what Will must’ve–low, clicking noises accompanied by footsteps, growing louder by the second. He looks back to his friends, he knows it’s ridiculous given the situation but he doesn’t want to leave them. Focus. Deal with your emotions later, focus on Will and getting out of here.
Mike stands upright, logic taking over and turns to Will. "Run."
They sprint out of the lobby and down the steps, heading for the forest. They’ve got more of a chance cutting through there, than down a flat road that would just end up a runaway for their inevitable deaths.
Neither of them look back, all they can do is hope they’ve put some distance between them and the demodogs. They run for what feels like forever, finally reaching the edge of town. They continue on towards the center, not wanting to stay put for too long and risking their safety.
They turn down alleys for shortcuts, no actual plan on where they’re heading to, just somewhere far from the lab. "This way!" Will leads them down another alleyway that opens onto the shopping district. Slightly ahead of Mike, Will exits the alleyway onto the road, but abruptly stops his head whipping to the left.
A long grey limb comes into view, swiping at Will and propelling him through the air.
"Will!" Mike screams, terror lining his voice, as he runs after him down the main road. Will’s body lay in a crumpled heap on the ground. Once Mike arrives, he turns Will over, gathering him up in his arms. "Please, no." His hand cradling the back of his head, "Will!" he calls, looking for a sign of consciousness.
Will’s eyelids flutter open and relief rushes through Mike, he’s alive. His head dips with eyes closed, slightly soothing the panic. It doesn’t last long, Will coughs, instantly causing Mike to look back up, "Will?" He has blood on his lips and his breathing has grown weak. Mike looks into his eyes but they’ve become vacant.
"Please, I can’t lose you. Will…" Mike sobs out.
Will brings his hand up to rest on Mike's cheek, "Mike..." his voice trailing off.
"I'm here. I've got you." Mike covers Will’s hand in his, speaking through tears "It’s gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay."
Will’s mouth moves to speak again, but nothing comes out. His hand starts to slip from under Mike’s, eyes going unfocused, "Will. No, Will! Please… don't leave me."
He doesn’t answer. Instead, Will’s eyes roll shut, his chest stops rising, "Will? Will!" Mike shakes the boy in his arms, trying to bring him back. "No…" This isn’t happening, it can’t. Tears overflow, pouring down his face, sobs wracking his whole body, "Will!"
Mike brings his head down to Will’s, foreheads together. He can’t contain the tears or the despair, after failing to save the one who matters most. He wants to scream but can't. He feels empty, lost, a piece of soul once again ripped out.
Thunder crashes above. He doesn't care. Nothing else matters anymore. All he can do is hold Will in his arms, wishing it could be different, that he could’ve done something to stop it.
Thunder crashes again, louder. It startles Mike, making him look up as a dark cloud spreads across the sky, fractured by red lightning. Mike then realizes he’s standing, weight missing from within his arms. Will. He looks down only to find the ground with his hands and clothes covered in the blood of his loved ones.
Slowly, he raises his head, he’s still in Hawkins but rightside up. He made it back… somehow. Not that it matters anymore. Around him, the town is full of people, trying to escape different variations of demos hunting them. Mike looks closer, the ground and walls of buildings are littered with small gates leading to the Upside Down, letting things of nightmares seep through. So much death. Why did we ever think we had a chance to stop this? Mike stares upon this new world at a loss, defeated. This is the end, everyone’s dead. There’s nothing left for me here.
He turns away from the chaos before him and starts walking. The screams dulling as he gets further away. His mind spirals, thinking of his friends and family. Always too late. He glances down at his left hand, still warm from where it held Will. "Mike?" a whisper of his voice, the last thing he said before he died in his arms. "Mike, please." He doesn't want to remember it, to feel it, he wants it to all go away.
Everything used to be simpler. Back on that swingset, D&D in his basement, even bickering with his family. Now they're gone. All of them. He won’t see them recover in a hospital bed. Not this time.
Mike doesn’t know how long he’s been walking, he now faces the gravel road, leading towards the quarry. "Please... You can't go." It's all in his head. It's not real, Will's gone.
He continues forward, refusing to listen to the voices. Eventually, he makes it to the edge and takes in the familiar view. One that appears in his nightmares, or when he would feel lost and needed to get out of the house, away from everyone. He would give anything to see them one last time.
He wraps his arms around his torso, hugging himself, once again glancing at his left hand. It’s still warm, remnants of a faint pressure lingers. He tilts his head up to look over the edge, the water looks welcoming. "Not like this..."
"Get out of my head!" Mike shouts, dropping to his knees. His head is bowed, sobbing as renewed tears fill his eyes.
"Please Mike, not you too..." Another whisper from his broken mind. Nancy’s death also haunting him.
He glances back to the water, a few more inches and no more ghosts. No more voices pleading with him. "Don't give in!" Why shouldn’t I? He thinks, trying to ignore the voices, determined not to be swayed. "You're stronger than that slimy bastard."
His brows furrow–What?
As much as he wants to, he won’t ever forget what happened. But he doesn’t remember that, he wasn’t anywhere near Lucas in the church, he didn’t get there in time. His breathing slows, confusion settling in. And Nancy, she could barely even talk, too weak and injured to speak. ‘Not you too?’ What does that even mean?
"Mike!" Will’s voice breaks through his thoughts, shouting as if right behind him. He turns around cautiously, daring to hope. In the far distance, a small cloud of red mist hangs in the air. It’s not exactly like the gates he’s previously seen but something else, not attached to the physical world. He tries to focus on it, to distinguish the blurry shapes, as whispers of voices grow louder in the back of his mind.
Slowly it becomes clearer, he sees himself back in the church, kneeling. His friends surround him speaking, though he can’t make out the words. They look worried, tears falling down their faces.
"It's not real. Just my mind playing tricks," Mike rationalizes. He looks down at his hands. "I know what I saw." He stands, resolved to not be deceived by his own mind. "I've just finally gone crazy." He turns back, looking over the edge.
"Crazy together... Right Mike?" Two voices speak at once, both Will's. One younger, one older.
"No." Mike says, shaking his head.
"The promise we made, remember?" He turns back, gaze focusing on Will. Something he didn’t notice before–Will’s holding him. His left hand in Mike’s own and his right grasping the same arm. A glimmer of hope forms as he looks to his left side, reaffirming the warmth and pressure he felt. Maybe there is something there. He wants something to be there.
But, cold reality rushes back in, dowsing the glimmer resting in his soul. "it's fake, just a trick," he repeats. However, as much as he tries to tell himself, the hope is not fully washed away. A small voice deep in his mind reminds him of his true desires, but they're alive, even if it isn't real. It gives him pause. He has nothing else to lose, he knows that for certain.
So what if it's all made up… I could at least have some more time with them before the end. He lifts his foot–hesitating–logic grounding him in place, but there's no room for logic in this world anymore.
"Screw it."
He starts walking towards the vision. Only taking a few steps away from the edge before the ground rumbles. "Just more gates opening," he reasons, continuing onwards, paying it no mind. Then comes the noise of rocks crumbling. Curiosity makes him turn back, finally seeing the source of the noise. The cliff edge has begun crumbling away, where he once stood only seconds ago, now no longer exists. Mike backs away, the edge drawing closer with no signs of slowing. Looking over his shoulder to where his friends wait, he realizes maybe he isn't ready just yet.
He begins running. Full force, pumping his limbs as hard as he can. He didn't understand before how much distance was between him and the gateway to his friends. Nevertheless, he keeps going, he has to see them one more time.
Ahead of him the voices finally become clear as he approaches, "Mike!" Nancy shouts, her voice lining up with her mouth’s movement.
He trips on the gravel, briefly losing his footing, reaching outwards to steady himself. He regains his balance, straightening back into a run and continues onwards, the edge following closely behind.
"You need to come back." Will’s words of encouragement surge through him.
Just then a screech sounds off to his right. A demogorgon stands in the distance, it’s spotted him. Dropping to all fours it begins to charge at Mike. The crumbling edge now the least of his worries.
"Come on, Mike!" Lucas shouts, joining the chorus of voices in his mind.
Another screech comes from his left, he doesn’t check this time. He’s heard that sound enough to know that there's another demogorgon coming after him. Instead he focuses on what matters–the gateway to his friends before him.
The sky darkens around him, red lightning illuminating the area. He's almost there. So close. His breath erratic and limbs aching, mind filled to the brim with fear. Fear of the monsters hurtling towards him, closing in on both sides. But most of all, the fear of never seeing his loved ones again, never seeing Will again.
Just a little further. The demo on his right appears in his peripheral vision. Ignore it. He reaches out with one last effort, just as the creature launches itself at Mike.
As he’s swallowed by darkness, he hears one final plea, "Mike, please!" Will’s words echoing through him.
Will and Nancy still kneel before a frozen, white-eyed Mike. Only a couple minutes have passed, but nothing’s changed, except for the continuous flood of tears down his face, and some small, quiet whimpers. He’s still under the curse, their words haven’t done anything.
Nancy’s no longer looking at Mike, only holding onto his right hand with both of hers. "Mike... please..." Her head is bowed, tears dropping to the floor. She’s losing hope. Everyone is. Behind them Lucas’ grown quiet, reliving the memory of Max’s curse, while Robin and Jonathon continue searching around the church. They won’t find anything, they’re all thinking it.
Will won’t give up on him though, not yet. "Mike!" he yells through tears, shaking the boy in front of him. He won’t forgive himself if Mike dies. He has to come back, "don't give in!"
Mike’s breathing becomes shallow, causing Will to grow even more concerned "Mike? Mike, please!" Nancy lifts her head at Will’s sudden pleas, Lucas also noticing the change. "Come back…" Will chokes out with a sob.
They’re drawn into silence, watching, waiting, too scared to speak or move not knowing what it could mean.
At last, Mike takes a gasping breath, eyes rolling back down to normal. Now released from the curse, he falls forward into Will.
"Oh- oh my god! Mike!" The words pour out from Nancy as she can hardly believe it, "thank god…"
Will catches Mike, holding him tightly. Relief courses through him and tears flow freely, never wanting to let go. "You're safe," Will reassures as Mike panics, his breath coming out fast. "I've got you," Will tells him. Mike’s hands hold onto him, he can feel him shaking as he clings to the back of Will's clothes.
Everyone is quiet watching as a distressed Mike catches his breath. Lucas walks up to him, placing a reassuring hand on his back while still giving him space.
Mike moves slightly backwards to look at the three surrounding him but not far enough to let go of Will. Finally seeing them again, matching tears covering their faces.
"Mike?" Nancy asks, directing his attention to her. He looks at his sister, too many emotions etched into his face.
He’s silent for a moment before he asks, "are you real?" grip tightening on Will as if needing physical confirmation. His gaze shifts to Lucas then finally landing on Will. Dread fills him, settling in his stomach, what did he see to have to ask that? Nancy and Lucas must feel similar, a defeated breath escaping their lips.
Will looks into Mike’s eyes, making sure he understands "we’re real," he says nodding. "You’re okay–Everything's okay now." Mike returns the nod, features on his face relaxing. He returns to Will’s arms, finding comfort there. Will holds him firmly, hoping to channel words through his actions, Mike could always understand him in that way.
Upon hearing the change in tone, Robin and Jonathon come running to join the group. "What's happening? Is he okay?" Jonathon asks, eyes darting over the four figures before them.
Nancy turns back to Jonathon, smiling through tears, "he’s okay. He’s back." Trusting Mike to Will she stands as Jonathon comes forward to hug her.
At the same time, Robin walks over to stand next to Lucas, wrapping an arm over his shoulders in comfort.
Will looks down at Mike’s face as his eyelids begin to droop and his body relaxes. Realizing he must be exhausted and overwhelmed from what he experienced, Will lets him drift off to sleep. "You're safe now," Will assures him, one last time before his eyes fully close. He gently lowers Mike to the floor, watching the rise and fall of his chest. Noticing one of Mike's hands still gripped onto his clothing, Will removes it and takes it in his own, bringing their hands to rest in front of him. Both of them needing to hold on to one another and Will needing the assurance that this is real just as much as Mike does.
From down the aisle, a crackle echoes through the church. "Co-... in. Ar-... -ere?" Lucas walks back towards the entrance and pulls the walkie from under a pew, tuning it to the correct frequency. The group waits holding their breath.
"Guys? Do you copy? Over." Dustin's voice projects through the small speaker.
Lucas takes a deep breath, grounding himself before speaking, "Dustin? This is Lucas, are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, we’re fine. We couldn’t find anything at the lab and then some demos showed up so we got the hell out of there." Relief floods over the group like a wave. They’re safe. "We found a random gate in town and came back through."
"How far are you guys from the church?" Lucas asks as he walks back to the center.
"The church? Why?" Hopper’s voice comes through the walkie now, obviously having taken it from Dustin.
Lucas responds, "That’s where we are, can you come meet us here?"
"Why are you at the church?" Dustin’s voice comes back through the speaker.
"We had to take shelter… among other things," Lucas looks around the group huddled together. "Just know a lot happened, we’ll explain when you get here."
"Okay, we’re on our way. Over." Dustin acknowledges.
The others begin walking back to the entrance, Robin in the lead, heading off to remove the barricades they’d made, ready for their friends' arrival.
Nancy steps up to where Will kneels on the floor. She removes her jacket, folding it up and carefully places it under Mike’s head. She looks at Will and nods, putting a hand on his shoulder. She then stands to go help the others, leaving Will to watch over Mike.
The others are okay, we’re okay–relatively. They can figure out what happens next later, right now it's enough to know that they’re all safe and alive.