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THREE DAYS LATER

Cassidy lay in a hospital bed, connected to machines, with a poignant painting by Theodore adorning the nearby wall. Theodore and Lucas, hand in hand, observed as Lucas read to his twin sister. Beside Cassidy, Max remained unconscious, once again ensnared by Vecna's grasp.

Despite Theodore and Eleven's efforts to thwart Vecna, both were captured and trapped in Vecna's mindscape. Will and Mike, however, managed to establish communication with Theodore and El.

Will expressed gratitude for Theodore's support during his time in the Upside Down, and it became evident that they were better suited as friends. In their attempt to rescue Max, Theodore employed his mind control powers to reveal Vecna's deepest fears.

Amidst the chaos, they discovered Mildred, betrayed by Vecna. A day later, Mildred awoke in a hospital bed, restrained by dampening cuffs crafted by El and Theodore to prevent her from wielding her powers after the Christmas tumult.

Mildred experienced a profound nervous breakdown, grappling with guilt and repeatedly questioning Theodore, Dustin, Max, and Lucas about Cassidy's well-being. Choosing not to disclose Cassidy's fate, they decided to admit Mildred to Pennhurst for her deteriorating mental state and her involvement in harmful actions. Regarding Eddie, despite his heroic sacrifice, they aimed to clear his name. Unable to directly implicate Vecna, One, Peter, or Henry Creel, they strategically used Mildred as a scapegoat in their pursuit of justice.

In a heart-wrenching conversation, Dustin confronted Mildred, expressing his disbelief, "My sister would never do this. You're a monster," reflecting the pain of losing his best friend. Since Mildred's release to Pennhurst the day before, no one had visited her. The hurt caused by her actions had left a rift, and the others distanced themselves, unwilling to have anything to do with her.

Lucas' face all beated up and Theodore's head was in pain from the fight between him and Vecna.

Lucas read aloud, "He opened his eyes, and further words died in his throat. He forgot about the need to sick up that horrible parody of wine. He forgot about his mother, and Uncle Morgan, and his father, and almost everything else. Speedy was gone. The graceful arcs of the Rollercoaster against the sky were gone. He could feel the hair stirring on the nape of his neck, could feel a goofed-up grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. Speedy! I'm here, my God! I'm here in the territories!" He glanced at the peacefully sleeping Cassidy and Max, grateful that they managed to persuade the doctors to provide them with a shared room.

Cassidy lay in a coma, adorned with a neck brace, casts on both broken arms, and casts on both broken legs. Max mirrored Cassidy's injuries. Theodore, despite his efforts, couldn't get any response from Cassidy. They held onto hope that El, upon her arrival, might have the ability to reach Cassidy in ways others couldn't.

The door opens, unveiling Will, Mike, and El. "O— Oh my god," Will mutters in shock, and Mike's eyes widen. Lucas, embracing them, says, "We've been calling you guys like crazy." Theodore assists Max as he adds, "I know. We came as soon as we heard."

Through the haze of his headache, Theodore glimpses El, recognizing her blurry figure. He smiles both with joy and sadness. "El!" he yelps, enveloping her in a tight hug. "I missed you so much, sis," Theodore whispers, his voice cracking with emotion. El hugs her twin brother back. "I missed you too, and I'm sorry," she frowns as they reluctantly pull apart.

"I was so scared, Jane," Theodore sobs, and El frowns, comforting him with a gentle rub on his back. Glancing over his shoulder, El sees Cassidy and Max in their hospital beds. Pulling away, she walks over and sits on Cassidy's bed, pulling her hood down.

Tears stream down Theodore's cheeks. "I — I tried to read them, b— but I couldn't get anything. A— Are you able to read them?" he stammers, moving to stand behind El. El takes a shaky breath, turning to Lucas. She nods, parting her lips. "Do you know.. when they will wake?" El asks as Theodore looks down sadly. "No. They say they might not," Lucas tells them, wrapping Theodore into a side hug.

Lucas goes on, recounting the harrowing details, "Both their hearts stopped for over a minute. It was like they were gone. Theodore was there when Cassidy's happened, and Max called 911 for her. Clinically, they died, but then, miraculously, they came back. Theodore believes it's because they clung to one last memory, helping them pull through. The doctors are baffled; they say it's a miracle." As Lucas speaks, a heavy silence settles among Mike, Theo, and Will, absorbing the weight of the situation.

Theodore's revelation hangs heavy in the air. "Cassidy had one memory left, but it was slipping away in a matter of minutes, I can feel it... but Max... I think she let go of her memory." he explains, his voice strained. Desperation marks his attempts to reach that elusive memory, a moment when they were hooking her up to the machines at the hospital, and she flat-lined until miraculously pulling through again.

El, absorbing this, inhales deeply and takes Max's hand first. In the hushed room, a pregnant pause ensues before she opens her eyes. Turning to the others with a deep frown, she shakes her head. A profound sadness settles as Theodore, overwhelmed, buries his head into Lucas' chest. El, resolute, gently grabs Cassidy's hand, closes her eyes, and enters a silent communion with her unconscious friend.

She was pulled into the void, but something extraordinary occurred. The void transformed into the Snowball, the same memory Max used to save El before. However, this time, there were people in the scene. El's nose bled as the group in the memory displayed genuine smiles, signifying that El had indeed found the missing memory.

El tiptoed towards the hallway, curiosity guiding her gaze outside. There, she observed thirteen-year-old Max and Cassidy engaged in a tender kiss. As they shared a quiet moment, Cassidy, feeling a subtle shift in the air, turned her head slightly and locked eyes with El.

A flicker of confusion crossed Cassidy's features until, in a serendipitous instant, a small but significant memory popped into her head. The connection unfolded, and the weight of a lost moment became tangible in that shared gaze between El and the younger Cassidy.

A sudden revelation surged through Cassidy – a glimpse of who El was and the events that had shaped her. In response, Cassidy underwent a swift transformation, flashing from her thirteen-year-old self to her fourteen-year-old self. She took a shaky breath, grappling with the newfound awareness. "Uh, Max, I— I need to go to the bathroom," Cassidy tells Max. Max, picking her head up, nods and shares a peck on her lips before Cassidy makes her way to the bathroom, her thoughts and memories in a whirlwind.

meet me in the bathroom.

El's eyes widened in acknowledgment, absorbing the unfolding revelations with a silent nod.

Theodore's worry reflects in his question, "What's going on? She's been in there for a while." Mike, sensing the unease, places a supportive hand on El's shoulder, repeating the inquiry, "What's going on?" El, taking a deep breath, opens up, "She— She saw me. Snowball. The memory is Snowball. She told thirteen-year-old Max she's going to the bathroom, then conveyed to me in my head to meet her in the bathroom."

Their eyes widened in collective surprise at El's revelation. Theodore, in particular, was struck by the fact that the memory was the same one Max had mentioned using. The curiosity sparked, and he wondered aloud why Cassidy seemed stuck in a memory while Max was not. The mystery of their divergent experiences hung in the air, prompting a quest for understanding.

El entered the bathroom, facing Cassidy, who questioned, "What are you doing here?" Cassidy, arms folded, awaited an explanation. El's expression shifted, her face falling slightly as she replied, "I'm here to save you." The gravity of El's purpose lingered in the quiet bathroom.

Cassidy sighed sadly, shaking her head. "I don't want to be saved," she informed El, whose eyes widened slightly in response, grappling with the unexpected resistance.

El relays to her friends, "She says she doesn't want to be saved." Lucas and Theodore gasp in shock. "You need to save her, El, please. I miss her so much," Lucas implores, his plea carrying the weight of longing for Cassidy's return.

El gently takes Cassidy's hand, her eyes reflecting sincerity. "Cass, Theodore and your brother miss you. We all do. We want you to come back. You mean so much to us," she implores, her words carrying the collective yearning of those who care deeply for Cassidy.

Cassidy withdraws her hand with a sigh. "I want to let go, El. I love you all so much, I do. But I want to let go. This memory kept me alive for so long, but I'm ready to let go. My time on earth is done," Cassidy informs her, delivering a poignant revelation. El's eyes well up as she grapples with Cassidy's words.

El shares with a heavy heart, "She says she wants to let go and she loves us all so much. The memory kept her alive for so long, but her time on earth is done." Theodore lets out a shaky breath, Lucas's eyes water, and Erica gasps in shock, the weight of Cassidy's decision settling over them.

"But—"

Cassidy, questioning her return, faces El as she takes her hand once again. El, locking eyes with Cassidy, expresses, "We all care about you, Cassidy. We need your help to stop Henry. You... You are alive, more alive than Max right now. Max has no memories and has nothing. She is in a coma. But you have a better chance to wake up right now, and we need your help to try and stop Vecna and get Max her memories back."

El's words hang in the air, and Cassidy's eyes widen with the weight of the realization. The depth of the situation unfolds, revealing the urgency and importance of Cassidy's presence in the current struggle against Vecna.

Cassidy's nose starts to bleed in real life, and the monitor begins alarming. Theodore sobs into Lucas' arms, and El's eyes snap open. She retreats in fear, throwing her hood back on, just as doctors rush in. Cassidy's heart rate spikes, and suddenly, her eyes shoot open with a loud gasp, bringing a surge of relief and anticipation to the room.

—

ash speaks !

i wanna thank y'all for love and reads on this book. i can't wait for season 5!!! i'll see yall then<3