Chapter Text
1986.
Creel House.
After they found Eleven they managed to arrive to Hawkins before the others plan started. So now they were helping; Jonathan and Argyle went back to Hopper's cabin with Eleven, preparing the bath to make her enter Max's mind.
Meanwhile Mike and Will were entering the Creel house with Max, Lucas and Erica. As soon as they entered Hawkins, Will felt chills on his neck, but they were about to fight something from another universe, so the presence of the upside down obviously had to be there.
After the plan finally started, Lucas and Max went to the attic, while Mike and Will stayed the floor under; Will was visible shaking, "hey" Mike said, whispering, "you ok?" Will nodded, "it's just... Max is putting her life at risk" Will responded
"she's gonna be fine"
The silence was defening, the tension palpable, "Will" Mike suddenly said, "I'm sorry; about the fight at rink o' mania and literally everything"
"Mike"
"no seriously Will, I'm sorry"
"We already did that in California"
"I know, it's just I'm really sorry" Mike emphatized, Will smiled softly, "it's ok, I'm sorry too" Mike seemed offended, "why are you sorry? It was my fault, I got mad at you for something that wasn't your fault" their moment was cutted by the sound of Max screaming
"Come on Vecna!" she screamed, "you want me or not!?"
Suddenly Will had a sudden pain in the neck, he looked up and saw that the whole room started glitching and turning black, like empty.
Back in the attic, Max was very confused, the light that she was holding was shining brightly, but after she screamed for Vecna to take her, it turned off, like completely shattered, "what the hell!" Lucas screamed, "that's not supposed to happen"
Then Max's body went still, "shit" she said, "what?" Lucas asked, genuely confused, "he's not after me Lucas" Lucas' body went still, "then who..." Lucas eyes widened, "Lucas? Are you okay? Lucas! What's happening!?" Max screamed at him
"Max..." he whispered, "who does Vecna goes after?"
"people with trauma...? Lucas we already knew this" she said, confused, trying to understand where Lucas was getting at, "and who is the motherfucking magnet of trauma?"
Max body went still as she realized, "shit!" she screamed, they both rushed down the stairs, when they arrived, they saw a panicked Mike trying to wake up Will, who's eyes were rolled back, "shit, shit, shit!" Max screamed getting to him
"Lucas, what's happening!?" Mike asked, "It's Vecna" Lucas said, panicking, staring at Will, "what's his favorite song?" Max asked, Mike was breathing heavily, "should I... Should I stay or should I go!" Mike said, "not anymore!" Lucas screamed, taking his eyes off him
"he said it in his letter, it's BOYS DON'T CRY by THE CURE!" Lucas Screamed, Mike stopped, how did he not knew his best friend favorite song, he was an asshole, but before he could blame himself even more, Max's voice cut through his mind, "we don't have it!" Max chocked out, "no" Mike whispered.
Mike was losing it, *he couldn't loose Will; not again*
Will didn't know where he was, one moment he was in the Creel house, the next he was in the void. He got up and looked around, not knowing if he was scared or confused, or both, "Mike!" he screamed, "Lucas! Max! Is anybody there!?" no response came, Will could pratically feel his heartbeat
"William" Will turned around, his widening, he backed away, "we meet again" the monster said, "Vecna" Will whispered, "it is time" Vecna said, Will shook his head and backed away even more, but Vecna just stepped foward, so Will started running.
He didn't know where he was running, he just ran, in the dark, in the complete empty place.
Back in the Creel house, Mike was pacing around, with Lucas coming back with tons of cassetes, seeing if they have Will's favorite song, while Max was trying to shook him awake, even if she knew it wouldn't work.
Then from the door arrived Jason, Lucas swore under his breath, "what the hell is going on here!" Jason screamed, "get out!" Mike screamed back, "is that Will Byers!? Isn't he in California!?"
"they came back for a visit"
"and you decides to kill him!?"
"Jason I promise you that's not what's going on" Lucas pleaded, stepping foward, hands raise, "stay back!" Jason screamed, "now. Wake him up"
"we can't" Max said, Jason pointed the gun at her, Lucas stepped in front of her, "Jason, trust us, if we could, we would"
But Jason just pulled the trigger, the bullet not hitting Lucas by a few millimiters, Lucas lounged, he tackled down Jason on the ground.
Then he heard Mike scream, when he turned around he saw Will starting to float, "SHIT!" Max screamed, trying to grab his legs to pull him down, "WILL!" Mike screamed, "PLEASE WILL YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!" he cried.
Will didn't knew how much he ran, he just fell on the ground and suddenly he was in the red realm, he got up, looked around confused, *where the hell was he?* but his thoughts were pulled back when he heard the familiar voice
"William" Vecna said, stepping into the frame, Will swore under his breath, "you cannot escape" suddenly two vines rushed to Will, taking him by the arms and keep him glued to a pannel of the dismantled Creel House.
Will felt himself chocking as another vine wrapped around his neck.
He felt tears burning in his eyes as Vecna rushed foward, "William, your suffering, comes to an end" just as Vecna raised his claw, he was suddenly pushed away by another force, Will fell on the ground, holding his neck and breathing heavily.
When he looked up he was reliefied to see that it was Eleven, who rushed to him, "Will!" she said, "El! You're here"
Eleven turned around and walked towards Vecna, hand raised, holding him up by telekinesis, "you touch him again, and I'll kill you... again" Vecna chuckled, "kill me?" he said mockingly, "is that what you think you did?" El didn't answer, she just stared at her
Vecna managed to release himself and threw her on the other side of the room, but Eleven dind't budge, she wouldn't let him take her brother, again. Vecna raised his hand and threw Will across his world, he hit a wall and everything went black.
The fight between Vecna and Eleven started, but Vecna, unfortunately had the best of her, vines wrapped around her and Vecna calmly walked towards Will limp body, he grabbed him like it was nothing, then he placed Will in a wall and the vines wrapped around his entire body.
Vecna took a last glance at Eleven, just as Will woke up, panicking, clearly, "now Eleven, watch as I kill your brother" he said, chuckle in his voice, he turned to Will and raised his claw, as soon as the claw reached Will's face, he screamed.
Back in the real world, Lucas was still fighting Jason and Max was trying to keep Mike calm, a mission really impossible, then...
CRACK
Will's arm snapped, Max screamed, Lucas punched Jason and dragged him on the ground, and Mike stood still, petrified
Then the other arm, then the legs and lastly Will's eyes were fully white and blood streaking out of them.
Lucas waited for Will's Jaw to break, for his eyes to burst out of his head, but Will just fell on the ground, still breathing... for now.
Mike immidiately rushed to him, "Will!" he screamed, clear sadness in his voice, Lucas and Max quickly followed. "Will, Will wake up" Mike pleaded, then a small sound came fron Will's mouth, "Mike..." he whispered, "yeah I'm here"
"I can't see Mike" he cried out, Max's heart seemed to have stopped, "I can't feel my arms or my legs"
"I know Will, I know, it's gonna be ok" Mike said trying to not sound as heartbroken as he was, Max turned to Lucas, tears in her eyes, "Lucas..." she whispered, "call an ambulance, we need an ambulance" Lucas immidiately got up and ran out of the house, taking Erica with him.
"no no no, Will stay with me!" Mike screamed as he noticed Will's breathing slowing, "I...I'm sorry" Will said, before going completely limp.
Then the floor opened in half, opening also in half Jason; the upside down, Vecna did it. Max screamed. Then she holded Mike as he cried over Will's death.
Just as they they cried, a sudden gasp filled the room, Mike turned to Will, he was breathing, but his eyes... still closed; Mike didn't know it that made it better or worse.
*goodbye Will Byers, you were too kind for this world*