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THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK CHIMED AGAIN, ITS DEEP, RESONANT SOUND FILLING THE EERIE SILENCE OF THE CREEL HOUSE.

Billy's breath quickened, his pulse pounding in his ears as the group rushed into the room, drawn toward the towering grandfather clock as its echoes grew louder. The fourth chime rang, vibrating through the floor. Kendra stood frozen, swallowing hard as the realisation struck her.

"Four chimes... Isadora," Kendra whispered, her voice trembling, barely able to speak the words aloud.

Billy whipped around, his eyes wild with fear and denial. "What? N-No, you can't mean—" His voice cracked, an edge of panic creeping in.

But before Kendra could answer, the ground beneath them lurched violently. The house shook as if the Upside Down itself was tearing apart, and the group was thrown back against the walls, struggling to stay upright. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling as the quake rattled the old Creel House to its core. Then, just as suddenly, the shaking stopped. Silence fell, broken only by their ragged breaths.

Steve, still catching his breath, glanced up and saw it—a jagged tear ripped through the old house, a gate leading back to their dimension. He nudged Nancy beside him. "Looks like that's our way out."

Billy, still reeling, ignored them, his mind racing. He couldn't think about escape. "A gate only opens where Vecna's... killed someone," he muttered, dread settling in his gut.

Nancy took a deep breath, stepping into leader mode. "Robin and I will find Dustin and Eddie. You three need to get back to our dimension. Find the others, figure out what happened."

The group nodded, but as Nancy and Robin turned to leave, Billy's eyes snapped back to Kendra, and his expression shifted. The panic melted into something colder, darker.

"Four chimes. You're saying... Isadora..." His voice was low, threatening, but there was an undercurrent of disbelief, of hope that what he feared wasn't true.

Kendra looked at him, guilt flooding her face. "She was the fourth kill, Billy," she whispered, barely able to meet his eyes. "I should've stopped her. I should've never let her go through with this—she was adamant, though. She knew she was cursed but insisted on distracting Vecna. She thought she'd be fine." Her voice cracked, the weight of her regret pulling her down.

Billy stared at her, his body rigid with tension. "She was cursed? You knew she was cursed?" His voice started low, dangerous, the disbelief mingling with the first flicker of fury.

"She told me while we were at The War Zone," Kendra confessed, her eyes filling with tears. "We argued about it. I told her it was too risky, that she shouldn't face Vecna alone, but... I thought the plan would work. I thought she'd be okay. I didn't—"

"You thought? You fucking thought?" Billy's voice exploded with rage, cutting her off. His hands clenched into tight fists as he took a menacing step toward her. "You fucking knew she was cursed, and you let her go anyway? You stood there and watched her walk into her own death!" His eyes were blazing now, fury overtaking his entire being.

Kendra's breath hitched, and she shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I tried to stop her, Billy! I told her it was dangerous, that it was a stupid plan—"

"You didn't fucking try hard enough!" Billy roared, his voice echoing off the walls. "If I'd known, I would've stopped her! But you... you knew, and you let her do it anyway! You fucking let her!" He advanced on her, fists trembling with barely contained rage. "She's dead because of you, Kendra!"

Steve stepped forward quickly, putting himself between Billy and Kendra. "Billy, stop! This isn't helping. We need to focus on getting out of here—"

Billy shoved Steve out of the way with a snarl. "Don't tell me to fucking stop! She let Isadora go through with that stupid fucking plan, Steve! She knew Issi was cursed! She let her die!" His voice was ragged, filled with an unbearable amount of pain and anger, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

"Billy—" Kendra began, her voice cracking as she tried to defend herself, but he cut her off with a harsh laugh.

"Don't even fucking try, Kendra. You think you can just say sorry and make it better? Sorry doesn't bring her back! Sorry doesn't change the fact that you stood by and let Vecna kill her!" His voice was venomous, his words like sharp daggers aimed straight at her. "You knew! You knew she was cursed, and you said nothing to me! How could you—how could you fucking do that to her?"

Kendra shook her head, sobbing now. "She didn't want you to know, Billy! She didn't want anyone to know. She thought if you knew, you'd stop her, and she was right. That's why she asked you to come with us—to keep you from finding out. She was trying to protect you."

"Protect me? Protect me?" Billy's voice was nearly a growl. "She's fucking dead because of you, and you want to talk about protecting me?" He stepped even closer, his fury nearly suffocating. "If I'd known she was cursed, I would've fucking stopped her. You think I wouldn't have done everything—everything—to save her?" He was shaking now, rage and grief swirling together, making his voice tremble. "You let her get killed. You fucking let her."

"I didn't want this to happen—" Kendra choked out, but Billy's glare silenced her.

"Shut up! Just... just shut the fuck up! Your words mean nothing!" Billy spat, storming past her. "I don't care what your reasons were. You didn't stop her. You let her walk into her death, and now she's gone because of you."

Steve shot Kendra a sympathetic look as Billy turned away, his whole body tense with barely restrained anger. Kendra, her face crumpling under the weight of her guilt, reached out, but Billy yanked his arm away, stalking off towards the gate.

As the group followed in stunned silence, they climbed back through the gate into their own dimension. Outside, Billy wasted no time, his feet moving of their own accord, driven by one thing—finding Isadora. His heart pounded as he pushed through the wreckage of the house, scanning for any sign of her.

Then he saw it—an ambulance, pulling away. His heart dropped, and without thinking, Billy sprinted after it.

"Billy, wait!" Max called, rushing to catch up to him.

When Billy saw her, he stopped, his face hard. "Where is she? Where's Isadora?"

Max exchanged a glance with Lucas, who looked away, unable to meet Billy's eyes. Beatrix stepped forward, her face pale. "Billy, she—" She faltered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Tell me what happened!" Billy's voice was frantic, a mix of anger and desperation.

Beatrix took a shaky breath. "She... Vecna lifted her into the air. We saw her arms and legs break. We thought she was dead, Billy. We all watched her die." Her voice wavered as she relived the horrific memory. "But... somehow, she started breathing again. She's alive, barely, but... she's alive."

Billy's knees nearly gave way. "Alive? How?" His voice was a whisper, confusion etched into his features. "Why didn't you use the music? How did this happen?"

Lucas spoke up, his voice full of regret. "Jason found us. He smashed the Walkman. We couldn't save her."

Billy turned, his eyes darkening once again. "I'm going to the hospital. Alone." His voice was cold, final.

Kendra stepped forward. "Billy, wait—"

He spun around so fast, she stumbled back, fear flashing in her eyes. "Don't you dare come near her. You've done enough. You let her die." His words were a knife in the air, cutting her down with every syllable.

"Billy, that's not fair—" Steve started, but Billy's gaze snapped to him, silencing him.

"She let Isadora die," Billy repeated, his voice thick with rage. "I trusted her. I trusted her to protect Isadora. And now..." He shook his head, his voice breaking for a moment. "Now she's barely holding on."

Without another word, Billy turned and stormed off into the night, leaving the group standing in stunned, heavy silence. Kendra stared at her hands, her tears falling freely now. "He hates me," she whispered, broken. "He's right. I could've stopped her. I didn't do enough."

Steve rested a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Kendra. Isadora wasn't going to let anyone stop her. Not you. Not Billy. She was always going to do this."

But Kendra couldn't shake the crushing weight of guilt. She had known. And knowing was something she would have to live with.

Billy's footsteps echoed faintly on the quiet street as he walked, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug painfully into his palms. The pain was a distant sensation, lost beneath the storm of emotions raging inside him. Every step felt heavy, like he was wading through quicksand, his mind drowning in memories he couldn't escape. He tried to think of Isadora the way she used to be—the way she smiled at him, the way she laughed when they teased each other, the way her hand fit perfectly in his when they walked together. Those moments, those memories were his only lifeline, but every time he tried to grab hold of them, they slipped away, replaced by the horrific image of her broken, lifeless body, floating in the air as Vecna's curse claimed her.

He wasn't there. He hadn't been there to stop it, to save her. He hadn't been there to hold her hand or tell her he loved her in her final moments. The realisation twisted his insides, leaving a hollow ache in his chest. The thought that she had died alone, scared, and without him beside her—that was the part that would haunt him forever. It was a wound deeper than any physical pain, one that wouldn't heal.

His breaths came in short, ragged gasps as he reached the hospital, the harsh fluorescent lights making the building seem cold, sterile—unforgiving. He didn't even remember walking through the front doors; his body was moving on autopilot. His mind was a blur, racing with desperate thoughts of seeing her, of holding her, of making sure she was still alive.

The nurse at the reception desk was just another obstacle between him and Isadora.

"I'm here for Isadora Jones," Billy said, his voice thick with barely restrained desperation.

The nurse glanced up, her eyes calm, indifferent. "I'm sorry—"

"Please, I need to see her!" Billy's voice broke, his composure crumbling as he leaned forward, his fists bracing against the desk.

The nurse gave him a look of sympathy but shook her head, her tone detached. "I'm sorry, sir. Only family can see her right now."

Billy's heart plummeted into his stomach. He felt a wave of helplessness surge through him, quickly overtaken by a flash of anger. "I am family!" he snapped, his voice desperate, on the verge of shouting.

The nurse raised an eyebrow, clearly used to dealing with distressed visitors. "Sir—"

"She's my fiancé!" The lie spilled out before he could stop it, and he didn't care. It didn't matter if it was true or not. Isadora was his, and he needed to see her. He needed to be by her side.

The nurse studied him for a long moment, and Billy's heart hammered in his chest. The seconds dragged on like hours until, finally, the nurse nodded. "Alright. I'll page someone to take you to her."

He let out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding, his shoulders sagging with a mix of relief and exhaustion. A nurse came to escort him, leading him through the maze of sterile hallways, each step feeling heavier than the last. His heart pounded harder, the rhythmic thud deafening in his ears.

When they finally reached Isadora's room, Billy hesitated. His hand hovered over the door handle, his breath catching in his throat. A small part of him was terrified of what he would find inside. What if she didn't look like herself anymore? What if she was already gone, and he was too late?

He pushed the door open, his heart in his throat.

And then he saw her.

Billy's legs nearly gave out beneath him. Isadora lay motionless in the hospital bed, her fragile body swathed in casts and medical equipment. A neck brace held her head in place, both her arms and legs wrapped in thick white casts. Her chest rose and fell weakly, aided by a breathing tube, and the cold, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the only sign that she was still alive.

For a moment, Billy couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. The sight of her, broken and fragile, made his chest constrict so tightly he thought he might collapse. His vision blurred with tears, his throat tightening painfully as he took a shaky step forward.

"I-Is..." Billy's voice was barely a whisper, trembling with heartbreak.

His legs gave out, and he sank into the chair beside her bed, his whole body shaking. His hand reached for hers, and he took it gently, cradling her delicate fingers in his palm. Her skin was cold, unresponsive, and the realisation that she couldn't feel him, couldn't hear him, hit him like a sledgehammer. He squeezed her hand, desperate for any kind of reaction, but there was nothing. No flicker of movement, no change in her breathing. Just the steady beep of the heart monitor, a cold reminder of how close she had come to death.

Tears streamed down Billy's face, hot and unchecked, and he pressed her hand to his lips, his entire body shaking with silent sobs. He tried to be strong, tried to keep it together, but the sight of her like this was more than he could bear. His heart was breaking, shattering into pieces he didn't know how to put back together.

"I'm sorry, Is," he choked out, his voice thick with grief. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there. I should've been there for you. I should've stopped you, but I didn't..." His voice cracked, and he buried his face in his hands, the weight of his guilt suffocating him. "I should've saved you."

As he sat there, consumed by his grief, he didn't hear the soft footsteps behind him. When Beatrix walked into the room, Billy was quick to wipe his face, trying to pull himself together, but it was too late. She had seen his tears, the raw, broken expression on his face.

"Trixie?" Billy's voice was still thick with emotion as he looked up at her, his eyes red and swollen. "How did you get in here?"

Beatrix's voice was soft, barely audible. "I told them I was her sister. They let me through."

Billy nodded, his grip tightening around Isadora's hand as he looked back at her. "How is she?" Beatrix asked, her voice trembling.

"How do you think she is?" Billy snapped, the frustration and grief spilling out before he could stop it. His voice came out harsher than he intended, and Beatrix flinched. Seeing her reaction, Billy's expression softened, regret flooding him. He let out a shaky sigh, rubbing his hand over his face. "I'm sorry, Bea. I didn't mean to— I'm just..." He broke off, his voice trailing into a whisper. "I'm scared."

Beatrix nodded, tears brimming in her own eyes as she stepped closer. "I know," she said softly. "I wish I could've done more to help her. She fought, Billy. She fought so hard. She kept asking for you, even at the end."

Billy's heart clenched painfully at her words. "I should've been there," he whispered, his voice breaking. "She needed me, and I wasn't there." He looked down at Isadora, his tears falling onto her hand. "I failed her."

Beatrix placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her voice thick with her own grief. "You didn't fail her, Billy. You couldn't have known. None of us could've known."

But Billy didn't respond. The guilt was too deep, the pain too overwhelming. Beatrix stayed for a moment longer before quietly slipping out of the room, leaving Billy alone once more with Isadora.

Beatrix made her way back to the waiting room, her mind still swirling with worry for Isadora. As she entered, the muted hum of hospital activity surrounded her. Her gaze was drawn to an older couple standing at the nurse's desk, their anxious expressions catching her attention. She briefly wondered who they were before brushing off the thought and heading toward her friends, who were seated a short distance away from the desk.

Ellie looked up as Beatrix approached, her eyes filled with concern. "How is Isadora?" she asked quietly.

Beatrix sank into the chair beside her, her shoulders sagging. "She's alive... but she's in a coma," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. The words felt strange coming out of her mouth, as if she didn't quite believe them herself. "It just doesn't make sense. We all saw her die. How can she be alive right now?"

Ellie exchanged a puzzled glance with Kendra, but before either could respond, the woman at the nurse's desk spoke up. "We're here to see Isadora Jones," she said, her voice calm but resolute.

Beatrix's head whipped around at the mention of Isadora's name. She watched as the nurse shook her head politely. "I'm sorry, family only," the nurse replied.

The woman didn't falter. "We're her grandparents," she insisted.

Beatrix blinked in surprise, her stomach knotting with unease. Grandparents? Before she could process the claim, Kendra was already on her feet, her protective instincts kicking in. She marched over to the couple, her expression fierce.

"Excuse me," Kendra said, her tone sharp as she addressed the woman. "What do you mean you're Isadora's grandparents?"

The woman turned, her expression softening slightly. "This should explain everything," she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out an envelope. She handed it to Kendra with a trembling hand.

Kendra hesitated for a moment before tearing open the envelope. She unfolded the letter inside and quickly scanned its contents. Her brows knitted together in confusion and anger. "This letter is dated October 23, 1967. That's the day Isadora was born," she said, holding it up for emphasis. "Why has it taken you over eighteen years to show up?" Her voice was filled with disbelief as she turned the letter over to Beatrix.

Beatrix took the letter and read it, her heart sinking as the words came into focus. It was from Isadora's mother, Mary Jacobs, and it revealed little beyond the fact that Mary had given birth to a daughter. There was no explanation for why these supposed grandparents had stayed away for so long.

"We tried to find our daughter and her family," the woman said, her voice quivering with emotion. "But Mary made it impossibly hard to locate them. She didn't want to be found. All we had was this letter, and it wasn't enough."

Kendra's eyes narrowed. "Then how did you find her now?" she asked pointedly.

The man stepped forward, his expression grim. "A Chief Powell contacted us," he explained. "He came to our house and told us that our granddaughter had been in an accident and was in the hospital."

"And now you're here to do what, exactly?" Kendra pressed, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

"We're here to look after our granddaughter," the woman replied firmly. "And to make sure that the medical decisions being made for her are the right ones."

Kendra scoffed, shaking her head. "No. Absolutely not. You haven't been a part of her life for eighteen years. You don't get to just waltz in now and start making decisions for her."

The man's eyes hardened, his voice rising. "Excuse me, young lady, but you don't get to dictate what we can and can't do. Isadora is our granddaughter. It's within our rights to step in and make decisions on her behalf."

"No, it's not!" Kendra shot back, her voice growing louder. "You have no idea what's best for her! You weren't there for her when it mattered. You don't even know her!"

The older woman's face reddened with frustration. "We didn't have a choice! If we could have found her sooner, we would have, but now that we're here, we won't stand by and let strangers decide what happens to her."

"We're not strangers!" Kendra shouted, her fists clenching at her sides. "We've been by her side through everything! You can't just show up after all these years and pretend to care."

The argument was quickly drawing attention from others in the waiting room, but neither side seemed willing to back down. Amid the escalating tension, Max leaned closer to Beatrix and nudged her gently. Beatrix turned, her expression still etched with disbelief.

"I'm going to let Billy know what's going on," Max whispered, her voice low.

Beatrix nodded, watching as her stepsister slipped away from the group. Max walked briskly down the hallway, her figure disappearing into the direction of Isadora's room. Left behind, Beatrix turned back to the confrontation, her mind racing. Whatever the truth about Isadora's grandparents was, it felt like they had only scratched the surface of a much deeper mystery.

~*~

Billy didn't move after Beatrix left the room. He couldn't. His entire world had narrowed down to the sound of her heartbeat on the monitor and the feel of her cold, lifeless hand in his. He sat there, unmoving, his mind swirling with grief and regret. He had no idea how long he sat there, staring at her, silently begging her to wake up, to come back to him.

The ring on her finger caught his eye—the ring he had given her. He turned it gently, his thumb brushing over the smooth metal. It felt like a promise now, one that he wasn't sure he would ever be able to keep. His voice trembled as he spoke, barely a whisper.

"I don't know if you can hear me, Is, but please... please wake up," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I need you. I need you here with me. I can't— I can't do this without you." He squeezed her hand tighter, his chest aching with the weight of his words. "I promise, when this is all over, we'll get married. We'll have a family. I just... I need you to come back to me. Please, Princess. Please come back."

The room was silent except for the soft beeping of the heart monitor. Billy closed his eyes, resting his forehead against their joined hands, his tears falling freely now. He didn't even notice when Max quietly entered the room, standing silently by the door as she watched her brother fall apart, unsure of how to comfort him.

Billy remained still, clinging to Isadora's hand as if it was the only thing keeping him from drowning. His heart was breaking, and for the first time in his life, he didn't know how to fix it. All he could do was sit there, waiting, hoping, praying for a miracle that might never come.

"We're gonna find a way to bring her back, Billy," Max said softly, her voice breaking the heavy silence that had settled in the hospital room. Billy jerked, hastily wiping his tear-streaked face with the back of his hand before turning to look at his step-sister. Max had taken a hesitant step forward, her face full of sympathy and guilt, her smile strained.

"I know you hate it when people see you cry," she continued, her voice gentle. "I'm sorry. I just... I wanted to check on you and see how Issi's doing. You know, it should've been me lying in that bed. I should be the one in there, not her. Isadora sacrificed herself to save me. She gave herself up to save all of us."

Billy's face contorted with a mix of anger and disbelief, his chest tightening painfully. He shot a sharp glance at Max, the emotions boiling inside him threatening to spill over. His voice, when it finally emerged, was cold, laced with bitterness. "And I would sacrifice the world to save her." His words hung in the air, thick with anguish. His eyes, red and raw from crying, flickered between Isadora's still form and Max's face before he sighed, the weight of it all crushing him.

"Max, it's not your fault," he added, his voice softer but still strained. "No one should be in that bed—not you, and definitely not Isadora. She didn't deserve this." His voice cracked at the end, and he turned his head away, unable to bear looking at either of them in that moment.

Max stood there, shifting on her feet, her hands trembling slightly as she fidgeted. "Uh, Billy... there's something else you need to know."

He turned his gaze back to her, his expression tightening, the hint of dread creeping into his features. "What now, Max?"

She hesitated, looking down at her hands as if gathering her words. "Isadora's grandparents... they're here."

Billy's face hardened instantly, his jaw clenching. "What?"

"They're here at the hospital. They said they've come to make sure the medical decisions being made for Isadora are the right ones," Max explained carefully, her tone cautious, like she was afraid of setting him off.

"Wait—what?" Billy barked, his voice rising. His heart was pounding in his chest now, anger bubbling up fast and hot. "I thought Isadora didn't have any family left! Aside from her cousins and her aunt and uncle, she told me there was no one else. What the hell are they talking about?"

Max swallowed nervously. "Apparently, these people are her biological grandparents, and they're saying they have a right to make decisions for her."

"They can't," Billy snapped, the rage in his voice unmistakable. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles white with the force of it. "I have a copy of the paperwork she signed when she turned eighteen. I'm the one who makes the medical decisions if anything happens to her. Me!" His voice was growing louder, the frustration building with every word.

Max flinched slightly but nodded. "I know, Billy. I believe you, but they're here, and they're insisting on seeing her."

Billy's eyes blazed with fury. "Stay with Isadora!" he barked, the sharpness of his tone making Max instinctively step back. She nodded quickly, watching as Billy stormed out of the room, his movements rigid and purposeful. His body trembled with the force of his emotions—rage, fear, heartbreak all swirling inside him, threatening to break free.

As he made his way down the hallway, each step felt like it was fueled by a burning fire inside him, a desperate need to protect Isadora even when she couldn't protect herself. He spotted Kendra standing near the entrance of the waiting area, talking to an older couple—Isadora's so-called grandparents. The sight of them made Billy's blood boil, and he marched over, his face twisted with anger.

"B-Billy," Kendra stammered, seeing him approach, but he didn't acknowledge her. His eyes were locked on the couple, every step bringing him closer to an explosion.

"What the hell makes you think you can just show up here and act like you have any right to make decisions for Isadora?" Billy growled, his voice trembling with fury. His fists were clenched so tight his nails were digging into his palms, but he didn't care. All he could feel was the raw, blinding anger coursing through him.

The older woman, Isadora's grandmother, lifted her chin, clearly taken aback by his hostility but trying to maintain her composure. "We're her grandparents," she said, her tone icy. "We are her family, and that gives us every right—"

"Family?" Billy cut her off with a harsh, bitter laugh. "Family? You may be her biological grandparents, but you are not her family!" His voice rose with each word, raw and furious. "You've never been there for her! You were never a part of her life! I was. I've been by her side through everything. She trusted me, not you. That's why she put me in charge of her medical decisions."

The woman bristled, her voice turning cold and indignant. "I don't know who you think you are—"

"I'm the person who loves her! That's who the hell I am!" Billy's voice exploded, echoing through the hallway. People nearby turned to watch, but he didn't care. His heart was pounding in his chest, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts. "I'm the one who's been with her, who's held her when she needed someone, who's protected her when she was in danger. I'm the one she trusted to make these decisions, not you."

The woman's husband tugged at her arm, trying to calm her down. "Come on, darling," he said quietly. "Maybe we should step back for now."

But the woman wasn't done. She glared at Billy, her voice hard as steel. "This isn't over. We'll be back. You don't get to decide what happens to her without us."

Billy scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "If Isadora wants to see you when she wakes up, then that'll be her choice, but until then, you're not welcome here. Leave."

The woman's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned and stormed out of the hospital, her husband following behind her. Billy stood there, his body still vibrating with fury, his breath heavy as if he'd just run a marathon. The group that had been watching the scene slowly turned away, giving him space, but Kendra remained, holding a letter in her trembling hands.

"She gave us this," Kendra said, her voice barely above a whisper as she handed the letter to Billy.

He snatched it from her hand without a word, not even glancing at it before turning and heading back toward Isadora's room. His mind was spinning, the confrontation with her grandparents only adding fuel to the fire of rage and heartbreak already consuming him. When he stepped back into the room, Max was waiting, her face full of concern.

"What happened?" she asked quietly.

"I told them to leave," Billy muttered, still fuming. He paced the room, his hands shaking as he tried to calm himself. But it was impossible. Every time he looked at Isadora's frail, motionless body, the anger surged back up, raw and visceral.

"Billy, did you know Isadora was cursed?" Max asked softly, her voice tentative.

Billy froze, his eyes narrowing. "What?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Max swallowed hard. "I didn't know either, not until it was too late. I should've seen the signs, but I didn't. It wasn't until she lured Vecna to her that I realised... why the plan was working. And Billy... I know you're mad at Kendra, but Isadora didn't tell anyone. Not you, not any of us. She only told Kendra."

Billy's fists clenched at his sides, the conflicting emotions tearing at him. He wanted to be angry with Isadora for keeping the curse a secret, for putting herself in danger, for making a choice that nearly cost her life. But he couldn't. He couldn't be angry with her—not when she was lying there, barely clinging to life. "I know," he said quietly, his voice cracking. "I should be mad at her, but I'm not. I can't be. I just... I just want her to wake up. I want things to go back to how they were before all of this."

Max's eyes softened, and she looked down at her hands. "Billy, there's something else. I heard what Isadora said when she lured Vecna to her. She... she thought we'd all be better off without her. She believed that the world would be safer if she wasn't around."

Billy's breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, the world felt like it was spinning out of control. "What?" he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. "Why the hell would she think that?"

"She felt guilty, Billy," Max said softly. "She blamed herself for Laura's death. For her mom, her dad, her sister... She thought that everyone she loved was better off without her. That she was a danger to us."

Billy's heart clenched painfully, the overwhelming weight of everything crushing him. He turned to look at Isadora, tears welling up in his eyes again. "What happened to her family wasn't her fault. None of it was." His voice shook with emotion as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Laura's death wasn't her fault."

But deep down, he knew those words weren't enough. They couldn't take away Isadora's pain, couldn't undo the choices she had made. And yet, despite everything, Billy made a vow to himself, standing there in the cold, sterile room with the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor echoing in his ears.

He would find a way to save her. No matter what it took, no matter what he had to do—he wouldn't let her go.

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Since we have no idea how they escaped the Upside Down, I made it up.

Also, Isadora's grandparents showing up 18 years later is gonna cause problems for Billy 😭

Enjoy! Xo

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