✦ ⋆ ⭑ ⋆ ✦
"A job that slowly kills you, Bruises that won't heal"

Grace Harrington

Two Days Later

People are saying that what happened here, in Hawkins. Was a natural disaster. Another painful day for the small town in Indiana.

Only we know the truth, and we know, only us can know...

My parents have already left town, leaving Steve and I behind with nothing. Our house is crushed to pieces just like everyone else on our block.

People are missing, people are dead, people are hurting.

People still blame Eddie for the deaths, and probably will for the rest of their lives.

Since the deal I made with Vecna I can feel almost everything happening. Eleven is back in town, as well as Will. But Vecna isn't gone. They didn't kill him, only angered him. I can feel that anger.

I'm trying my best to ignore it. Just as I ignore everyone else.

Besides the obvious, I gave most of my stuff to Steve so he can give it to the survivors who are staying at the school.

I won't be needing it, not where I'm going anyway.

Lucas wanted us to plan Max's funeral, that was until I showed him she was safe in the hospital. He didn't question it. Only smiled at me and hasn't left since I showed him she was there.

No one knows what really happened two days ago. Not even El, it's something I hope I will take to the grave with me.

Pulling me out of my head I feel Holly, Nancy's little sister, tap my leg. "Stevie wanted me to come get you" she says with a smile. I nod and walk out to the Wheelers garage.

"What's up?" I ask. "Wanted to know if you were coming with us to the school?" Steve asks. I shake my head, "People still think I was helping Eddie kill people, remember?" I state. Steve sighs and nods.

"Right..". He puts his hands in his pockets and we awkwardly look at each other in silence. "I'm fine Steve, really, just tired. But I'm really okay" I explain to him.

He smiles and nods. I bring him into an embrace before he leaves and I wave to everyone. I see Will and everyone else by the car and smile at them.

Will walks over to me and hugs me. "I missed you" he states. "Missed you too" I whisper. We pull away and I move towards his ear. "You talk to Mike?" I ask. Wills smile fades and he slowly shakes his head.

I pat him on the back and give him a reassuring smile. I'm not one sympathetic smiles, but if there's anything these past few weeks have taught me is that I really know how to be sympathetic with people.

"You will, don't worry" I say. He nods and we walk over to the others. I hug Mike, and Johnathan, and I introduce myself to Argyle and finally look over at El.

She smiles at me and hugs me tightly. This hug feels different from the ones I've given her before. Maybe she's just grown up, but I'm definitely not the only one feeling it. She pulls away and looks me up and down, almost as though she doesn't recognize me.

She slightly smiles and walks back to Mike to hold his hand.

"Alright, we're gonna go to the school, and they are going to go visit max, where you going?" Steve asks.

"I'll go with them to see max" I say. He nods and the rest of us go to Argyles van.

~~~~~~~

We walk in and see Max on the bed. We look to the corner of the room and see Erica and Lucas sitting close to the same bed Max is laying in.

We all smile at them and Lucas jumps up leaving the book he just had in his hand on Max's bed when he realizes we are here.

"God we called you guys so many times" he states and brings Will into a tight hug. He then turns to Mike and hugs him as well.

"We know man" Mike states. "We'll explain everything later, we promise"

"Where's everyone else?" Lucas says and turns to me. "They went to the school to help out." I state. He nods. "You ok?" Lucas asks. I nod. Mike turns to me with furrowed brows. I pull Eddie's bandana out of my pocket only slightly just so Mike can see it.

His facial expression drops. And his natural face slowly starts to sadden. I pat him on the shoulder and El holds his hand tightly.

I turn back to see Will and Lucas catching up a little, both their smiles are brighter then I've seen in awhile.

Seeing them all smile and hug each other makes me feel extremely happy for them. Thoughts of this happiness lasting forever floods my mind, only to be washed away with the sight of Max.

I walk past Lucas and stand next to her. She's so beautiful. I miss her so much.

"Have you guys talked to her mom?" Mike asks. I shake my head. "We haven't been able to find her. She wasn't at Max's trailer when we looked, so she must be somewhere in town." I explain.

"I just hope she knows Max is still alive" Will states.

~~~~~~~

I set my things down next to me and take a seat in the open grass. I look out before me at the empty field filled with flowers. It has a view on the entire town.
The town that's now destroyed.

I reach for my bag and grab Eddie's bandana. I tightly grip it in my hands and bring it to my chest.
I lay back and close my eyes for a moment. I sigh and think of everything these past few weeks have brought me.

As I lay here with just my thoughts I feel a cold gush a wind blow past me.

I furrow my brows and look up. The sky is getting darker and darker, Almost as if it was about to storm.

I sit up and look forward, the grass ahead of me has started to turn into a grey color. I jump up and see all the flowers near me have started to die as well as turning the same grey color.

I reach for one of the grey flowers but right as I touch it, it turns into ash.

As I look closer to the sky I see something start to fall...snow? In march...theres no way...

The hairs on the back of my neck start to stick up as I reach my hand up for the falling snow.

Once it touches my hand I realize it's particles...from the upside down. The same ones that Steve and I have choked on a million times while down there.

I slightly sigh and look forward. I see what looks like smoke slowly start to come out of where the four gates meet in the middle of town.

The red lightning starts to erupt as the dark cloud gets larger.

I grab my things and place my bag over my shoulder.
I hear a twig behind me snap. I lower my head and smile.

I straighten my arm out beside me and feel a cold hand reach for it tightly gripping it.

"Miss me?" I hear whispered into my ear.
I turn with a small grin and look up into his dark brown eyes.

I tightly hold onto his hand and we begin walking towards the gate.

I've set our fate, I made my decision and now he's with me again...now it's everyone else's turn. I can only do so much,

Let's just hope Steve doesn't get mad at me.

"I'll take a quiet life, this is my final fit"