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Screams and flashing lights overwhelm Mike’s senses as he’s dragged out of the truck.
Everyone is panicking as they’re running from or getting dragged by the military in all different directions. He loses sight of Nancy first and then Holly. Even though Mike has no idea where his older sister is, he can still hear her shouts of protest towards the military.
Pain spreads through his injured arm as he’s slammed up against a truck besides Dustin.
Turning his head towards the boy next to him, he asks
“El, do you see El?”
As he soon recognised the machines as her kryptonite, realising the real reason they were there.
They were here for El.
“She must have escaped.” The curly-haired boy replied.
Mike felt a wave of relief wash over him, knowing his friend was safe and out of danger.
But, the relief was short lived. Short lived and replaced by his stomach dropping in dread and horror.
Dustin turned his head in confusion to see what caused this reaction.
“Oh god.”
They had turned towards to gate.
And in the middle of the passage ?
Will.
His will.
Who was attempting to end his own life.
Tears washed over his face instantly.
He needed to get to him.
He couldn’t lose him.
Not the person he loved the most.
Mike started to run towards the gate as fast as he could.
He got to halfway before he was intercepted by the soldiers.
He struggled and fought against the two people restricting him, desperately trying to get to his best friend.
“GET OFF ME!” he screams through the waterfall of tears upon his face
“GET OFF!”
— — — — — — — — — — — -
He was midway though screaming ‘ get off ‘ again when , all of a sudden , he fell forwards and his knees and hands met a shallow level of water.
The space around him was pitch black
Almost like a void
He looked up to see Will, standing a few feet in front of him.
He immediately stumbled up and ran towards him, shouting as he did.
“No, Will! You have to get out of there! You have to get out!”
As soon as he reached him, he held onto his arms as tightly as he was able to.
“None of this will end, not if I’m still here, Mike.” The shorter boy replied solemnly.
“No, no, no, we’ll figure something out.”
Emotion clouded Mike’s voice as he spoke.
“We’ll figure something out, we’ll fight back, we always do.”
“I need you to talk to the others.”
“No. No!”
“I need you to thank them for me. For always being so kind, so caring, so loving. And for being my best friends, for being my family. For everything. For all of it.”
“No! Please don’t do this! Please don’t do this!”
He was desperately pleading now, for Will to come to his senses, to come home.
“Mike..”
“I need you to help them understand my decision.”
“But I don’t- I don’t understand!”
“I know. I know you don’t,” Will agreed sympathetically, interlocking their hands.
“But someday you will. I promise.”
“You know me, better than anyone. You always have.”
“From the very first day, on those swings. You saw me.”
“Really saw me.”
“Please don’t leave me, Will.” His voice cracked as he spoke.
Mike was hugging him now, clinging onto him like a lifeline.
“Please don’t do this.” One final attempt to save him.
They pulled apart, Mike’s hand making its way up to cup his face.
“Please, Will- I love you, I love you. Please, please stay.”
Tears were now falling from Will’s eyes too.
They were inches away from each other now, their breath mingling.
“Mike..”
Suddenly, Mike surged forward, pressing their lips together. Will instantly kissed him back.
The kiss was messy, it was desperate, it was final.
Once they finally pulled back, Will cupped Mike’s cheek.
“I love you too, Mike. More than anything.”
— — — — — — — — — — — -
And then, all of a sudden, Mike fell forwards once more.
Only this time to be met with concrete and dread.
He immediately snapped his head up to look at the gate.
“Will!-“
Will was stood still in the gate again, only this time, there was chaos ensuing around him.
There was debris and stone flying through the air behind him.
His face looked peaceful, with tears streaming down his face.
Despite everything, Mike thought he looked beautiful in that moment.
“Will! Will!”
“Get off me!-“
“WILL!”
Then, in a blink,
He was gone.
And so was the upside down.
All that remained, was the library wall.
Mike felt broken.
Like a piece of him was just gone.
All of a sudden, Mike felt something in his pocket.
He reached into it.
And he pulled out, Will’s watch from their matching ones.
Will never took it off, ever, not even when they fought.
He felt tears form in his eyes once more.
Because, this meant, he was actually gone
For real this time.