ELEVEN FINISHES DRAWING A CRUDLEY SCAPED PHOTO IN THE DIRT, one that shows her plan. Max, a poorly drawn stick figure with wavy hair stands. A line leads from Max's head to a circle. Inside the circle shows a single figure; that itches at you, shouldn't you both be going in? "That's how we protect her." Eleven states.

"So mind war?" Argyle questions, staring at El with his hazy red eyes. She nods and Argyle smiles. "Cool."

"No, not cool." Y/N responds sending a side eyed look at him.

Mike leans against the car on his back lazily, his elbows resting on the hood. "Are you sure this'll work?" He questions, black hair blowing in the wind.

Gentle winds blow around you, making you feel a certain nostalgia for Hawkins. "Probably." You shrug, face neutral, sitting on the ground, back leaned against the wheel. "Don't think she'd give us a plan if she didn't think it'd work."

The black haired boy glances at you, an eyebrow raised at your tone.

"I still need a bathtub." She adds, glancing at you.

Argyle nods, his eyes a bright red, "Yeah, gotta be clean to enter the mind." Hes obviously still blowed.

"I?" You ask, already beginning to stand up. She isn't going in alone, you won't allow it.

You glance around, you don't want to embarass her in front of everyone so you'll talk to her later.

Mike stares at Argyle, "No, it's a sensory deprivation tank!" Mike scoffs, as if it's common knowledge shaking his head angrily.

Will's eyes meet Elevens, "We just passed a motel.." He says, foot tapping nervously.

You smile lightly and nod, "Yeah, but we need a ton of salt, remember?" You ask rhetorically, he sighs at your comment and nods solemnly.

"Yeah," He murmurs.

Argyle twists to look over at you, his entire body slowing as if it takes all of his energy to barely move. "How much salt are we talking about here?"

"A lot. Enough to fill up the bathtub and some more." Mike answers simply.

"Is 600 pounds enough?" Argyle inquires, glancing over at Mike.

Mike raises a large, right eyebrow in surprise. "You know a place that has 600 pounds of salt?"

Argyle doesn't answer, his mischievous smirk the only answer they all need. He steps forward, hands outstretched— similar to a camera as he boxes Eleven figure with his hands.

You raise an eyebrow, "What are you doing?" You question, assuming he's taking a picture with his finger; you stare intently with a raised eyebrow, glancing between the two.

You feel slightly jealous.

"Hurry up brochachos, we gotta go!" He says after seconds of staring, sliding around the front of the car and to the drivers door.

Your eyes widen in surprise, quickly you run around to the other side of the van, sliding open the door you hop in, allowing everyone inside as well.

You laugh under your breath at how stupid the situation is, halfway across California, piggybacking into Max's mind to fight Henry.

Argyle starts the Van up and it skirts out of the parking lot and down the poorly lit road.

Minutes later Argyle pulls into an empty surfer boy pizza lot. The van is the only car other than a small gray one resting in the back.

Slowly, you exit out of the van, glancing at the surfer boy Pizza sign.

"You gotta be shitting me!" Mike exclaims, watching as Argyle places the surfer boy pizza cap on his head.

Argyle laughs and begins walking towards the entrance. "Trust me on this one my friends."

You sigh and lean next to Eleven "Trust him? I don't even think he should drive."

She laughs quietly, her hand lacing in yours as you both follow the four.

Argyle enters first, a smile never leaving his face. You find it funny, how high he must be. "Hey brochacho!" He calls, waving.

The man at the counter smiles, his eyes wandering off into the wall. "Hey, listen." His eyes drop back to Argyle. "As much as I'd like to feed a fellow surfer boy brother. The kitchen just closed like five minutes ago." He says slowly.

Argyle nods, "We're not here for your tasty pies," He glances back at you and Eleven. "You see these two weird looking people behind me? They have psychic powers and need the salt for a super duper power up bath."

Your mouth practically drops at Argyle, your mind says to argue but your heart says it'll fix itself out. Your gut never lied before.

Eleven stifles a laugh, glancing from your face to Argyles in disbelief and fear; not sure of what to do.

The man nods, "That's cool but I was supposed to meet Chaz at taco-bell in like-- ten."

Argyle nods grimly, face indented with a grim neutral look. Jonathan reaches into Argyle's shirt pocket quickly, holding up in front of the man a self-rolled joint.

"We're not asking you to help for free, ever partake in purple palm tree delight?" Jonathan questions, shaking the joint with a wired smile.

The man's eyes never leave the joint, soon after he leaves, holding the weed in his hands as if it was a sacred relic.

Argyle leads your group to the dough freezer, sliding it open he grabs a dough ball frozen together. "First mind fight ever held in a dough freezer."

For the first time you can feel your breath hitch halfway up your throat, finally realizing just how stupid and risky this idea is.

The four begin throwing the dough into the sink, leaving you and Eleven to speak to each other.

"Eleven."

Argyle throws another piece of dough into the sink, making a clattering sound.

She nods, looking up at you.

"Yes?" She questions.

You gulp, breath hitched in your throat. "We can't do this-- You can't do this."

"Why?" She raises an eyebrow, searching your face with her doe eyes for anything to reveal why you feel this way.

You can feel your anxiety drag itself from your mind to your mouth. "This is dangerous, way more dangerous than the demogorgon or the mind flayer. You-- all of us can die."

She shakes her head, "I won't die. I promise." She swears, her hand reaches out for yours but instinctively you pull back, not realizing how you felt.

"Eleven, don't make promises you're not sure you can keep." You say, the words sound harsh coming out of your mouth. It pains you, more than the injury to the leg, more than any injury you experienced before.

Her eyes water, a familiar warmth in them. You want to try to make it better but it's impossible. You have to tell her, this feeling in your gut. You can't rid yourself of it, you won't be able to protect her if she's alone in Max's mind.

"Y/N." She says sternly. "I can promise one thing." She adds choppily. "I won't let you do this. Look at yourself."

You hadn't looked at yourself, in fear of seeing something you didn't like. The metal counter behind Eleven shines an unholy reflection you hadn't seen before.

The blood is mostly gone from your face but red tints still remain around your cheeks and eyes, your clothes are still bloodied but reach around, covering each cut on your arm and wrist.

The bandage wrapped around your leg is still blood soaked and it isn't getting any lighter. You turn back to her, "Eleven, please, let me go instead!" You plead, grabbing onto her wrist.

She pulls your hand off and holds your hand deep within hers, the warmth never leaving her eyes. "Y/N, nothing will happen." She assures, you open your mouth in protest but she speaks before you do so. "I love you so--" She stammers, "So please, let me try to protect you for once."

The words shock you and it feels as if your entire body is numb, is that what she thinks of herself as.

You step closer, feeling your heartbeat quicken with hers. "You don't need to protect me." You say, leaning down.

"Maybe." She quips, leaning her lips into yours.

You feel like one within her. Hands still laced together, this is love, it has to be, there's no better feeling. The way your heart is captured by her eyes when she looks into yours.

You release and nod, eyes hazy and dulled.

The feeling, it's still there.

You turn around, watching as Mike fills up the dough freezer with water while Will talks with Jonathan quietly.

Argyle pushes down on a piece of dough in the middle on a table, making a pizza it'd seem.

With that, you exit the kitchen and take a seat in front of one of the tables for two people. Heart beating out of your chest.

What can you do? You want to smack yourself for the stupidity of your actions; could you have said something different for her to give up. You let your heart cloud your mind.

You doubt it. You lay your head down on the cool side of the table, breathing deep, mind thinking.

You're not sure how long you napped for but you awake to a pizza being slammed onto the table in front of you. Eleven slides into the seat in front, a smile raised, wearing a surfer boy pizza box shaped into some glasses.

"Do I look dumb?" She adds, smiling brightly. A piece of pizza hanging out of her mouth.

You awake groggy, rubbing your eyes a small grin forms on your face. "Yes-- but in a good way."

"I can't see through these." She adds, taking a bite out of her pizza.

You laugh at her, it's funny how random she is.

"Here," You respond, grabbing the glasses gently. "Lemme' try." You say, placing them on your face.

You really can't see anything, cardboard scrapes against your face. It's uncomfortable but it'd work for the sensory deprivation tank.

"I look cool right now, I'm positive." You say.

A giggle comes from Eleven at your words, "Don't I?" You question, a fake frown forming onto your face.

You're just trying to release some of the tension, and it seems to be working.

"You do!" She says, laughing loudly.

You laugh as well. The smile beginning to hurt your cheeks.

You reach for a piece of pizza, hand gripping the crust you pull it apart from the others. You slowly take a bite, almost puking in your surprise.

"Pineapple?!" You exclaim, taking the glasses off before placing them on the table.

Eleven smirks, taking another bite of her pizza without another word. "It's good huh?"

"Yeah," You answer, taking another bite. "Just was surprised, that's all." She grins at your words.

You glance into the kitchen, the four men talk to each other quietly while watching you and Eleven. They turn away as soon as they catch a glint from your eyes.

You smile and turn your attention back to Eleven.

In the Kitchen.

"Pineapple on pizza is blasphemous, can't believe you put it on something as precious as pizza." Mike says, glancing at Argyle, his right elbow on the counter as he leans on it.

"Don't knock it till you try it young one." Argyle responds, smirking at nothing in particular.

Dining Area.

"It's ready!" Mike calls after minutes of you and Eleven talking idly while eating Pizza.

The two of you enter the kitchen, with you more hesitantly following behind. Eleven takes off her shoes and socks and steps into the dough freezer.

"I'll be alright." She assures everyone, but her eyes meet yours for a moment before she flips the glasses down. Slowly, you help ease her down into the freezer.

The lights begin to flicker, evidence that she's started. Your eyes widen, you had almost hoped it wouldn't work.

"I found them." She states "They're carrying a light, a blue one." She adds, her words are slow, as if she's trying to focus.

She's quiet for a while, a little fear snaps into your system and your anxiety worsens. "El, what's happening?" You question.

She's quiet again, you sigh in relief as she begins to speak. "It's not working." She tells.

Mike leans over the freezer. "What isn't working?!"

She speaks slowly. "Max's plan."

She's quiet for a minute, "E-" You begin to say before you're shoved by Mike. Yeah, she has to focus.

"He has her." She says quietly, a shiver runs down your spine and through your arms as you all trade sideway glances.

The lights begin to intensify and Jonathan opens his mouth to speak. "What's happening now?" He questions.

She speaks slowly and cautiously, "I think.." She's quiet again, "I am in a memory."

"Do you see Max?" Will questions, looking down at Eleven's figure.

Eleven's face twists slightly, almost as if she's in confusion. "I found her, she's young and she can't see me."

You don't want it to work, you care about Max you do, but this is risky, without you there to help can a win even be possible?

Are you just going to let her die since she wanted to protect Max and Everyone?

Why are you even thinking like that, she won't die, she can't.

"There's something that doesn't fit.." Eleven murmurs, she's distracted by something, you can tell by her voice. "It's another memory." She adds.

Argyle looks down at her, eyes watery. "A memory within a memory."

She's quiet, and you wait to hear her voice but it doesn't come soon enough. Something is happening, it's started and you can feel it deeply.

Deep inside Max's mind.

Eleven twists Vecna around to face her with a small movement of her hand. His distorted body from the upside down hanging in the air.

A guttural growl coming deep from within his neck, "You.." He growls, his eyes narrowing at Eleven.

"Hi." She greets, throwing her hand to the right, she watches as Vecna flies through the air, slamming into the bleachers and cascading through it.

Immediately after Eleven runs to help Max, she helps her up, a smile on her face.

"Are you okay?" Eleven questions, her eyes searching Max's body for injuries.

"Y-yeah, d-did I make you?"

She shakes her head, laughing awkwardly. "N-no."

"How? Where's Ten?" She asks, gazing up at Eleven.

"I piggybacked from a pizza dough freezer. Y/N's-" She begins to speak but is cut off by a growl and wood being thrown.

Slowly, the two step closer towards where Vecna was. A viney arm slides up, a deep shade of brownish red, it doesn't shake with his weight or anything as he pulls himself from the hole.

"Stay back.." Eleven warns, closing in on Vecna.

The two powered beings circle each other slowly, eyes never leaving each other; a never ending dance of hate.

Eleven stops walking and makes eye contact with Vecna, a challenge. "If you touch her again, I will kill you again." She states slowly, watching Vecna with her eyebrows furrowed.

"Kill me, is that what you did? Hmm..." He snaps out quickly, eyes never leaving Eleven. His voice, everything about him is hateful.

"I am so glad you're here Eleven, this will be.. so much fun." He states, a bright flash of red from outside illuminating his dark, horribly deformed face.

He raises both of his hands, wood from the wall and bleachers fly quickly and rest in the air behind him. "So beautiful." He adds.

They all fly towards her at once, throwing her hand to the right, she deflects them towards the wall. But Vecna doesn't give her a chance to respond before throwing her backwards with a twist of his head.

In California

"We have to get her out!" You yell, reaching towards Eleven. Her face shakes, blood dripping from her nose. Hands grip you, pulling you away from her.

"Calm down!" Jonathan orders, his hands wrapped around your right arm. Mike holds your left and they slowly drag you away from her.

You try to shake his hands free, "No!"

"Y/N stop, please!" Will pleads.

In Max's mind.

Vecna unfurls his right hand and watches as Eleven flies toward him. Using his left, he flings the rushing Max back, her body sliding against the gym floor.

The distraction works and Eleven uses it to her advantage, stretching her hand out towards Vecna, both fighting for superiority.

Vecna having used two fingers previously raises all five, slowly, Eleven begins to float and glide toward him as he closes in on her, watching the pain in her face.

She floats directly in front of him and he leans forward, his voice quiet and threatening. "Before I kill you, I want you to watch.." He states, a portal, or a gate opens behind Eleven and he throws her into it with his mind.

The bright blinding red light knocks her sight out for a moment. The ground is slimy and allows her to slide for a moment before stopping. Vines crawl across the ground, reaching her hands. She tries to fight but they drag her and prop her up against the creel house door.

Out in the distance is nothing, an endless red, flashing and never ending.

Vecna walks past her, placing Max onto the ground. The vines reach down and prop her up along a slimy pillar.

"Papa is dead." She calls, drawing his attention.

Back in California.

Twisting your neck, Mike and Jonathan both fall to the floor, unconscious. Will drops to the floor, holding Jonathan's head while Argyle watches.

"Y/N!" Will yells but you don't answer, grabbing Eleven's hand, you close your eyes and focus. You know how it works, in theory at least.

It's over Ten. a voice rings through your head. You don't recognize it as yours.

You've lost. There's nothing you can do. Hawkins will fall, as will the rest of this senseless world.

You focus again, pushing those thoughts away. You have to get there, there's no other option.

In Max's mind.

"I will be there to pick up the pieces.." He adds a long, deformed finger reaching Eleven's cheek. "And I'll remake it into something beautiful."

He steps back, eyes never leaving Elevens. "Now, I'll let you watch." He turns away from her and towards Max.

His left hand stretches over her head and he stares into the endless abyss of red called a sky. Tentacles constrict Eleven's breathing, her hearing dulls and brain begins to slow, not quick enough to register her thoughts.

Her breathing slows to a halt, the air being croaked out from her lungs as she gasps for oxygen, only inhaling more of the other dimensions air.

She wishes she wouldn't have gone in alone, what will he do without her.

Was it really worth never seeing him again?

She cries at the thought, tears dropping from her eyes as the tentacles tighten more, making her finally close her eyes from the pain.

A loud cough draws her attention to her left, a lone figure of black beginning to stand in front of the red, a lone shadow against the never ending red behind him. Her breathing stops and slowly she loses her consciousness.

The figure, not close enough to be noticeable, leans forward, a low cough audible as his footsteps quicken into a limping run towards Vecna.

He raises his right hand and Vecna flings backward, sliding across the slimy ground a few feet back until he hits a large flesh meat pole.

The figure quickly drops to his knees, coughing up a bright red upon the ground. The blood mixes within the slime and vines, and slowly they both arise from the ground, the figure more hesitant and scared than anything.

The attack stunned Vecna, allowing Eleven to breath and she awakes with a loud gasp. The vines still constrict her movements and her neck, she can't move, only a spectator watching the fight.

The figure, closer now is Y/N, the boy cries, tears falling down his cheeks, dragging multiple bloody trails down his face as if he was crying blood.

He struggles to stand, but he still does so, allowing Vecna to approach him.

Vecna pushes his left hand towards the ground, the boy quickly drops back down to his knees, almost no power in any of his moves, his breathing ragged and unrhythmic.

"You are idiotic.." Vecna says, leaning down to look the boy in his e/c eyes, bright red shine in his pupils as he looks at Vecna with noticeable anger.

Y/N POV

His breath is horrid, a stink so horrible it's almost impossible to not puke. His slimy mind-ground seeps into your bandage and through your clothes, touching your ankles coldly.

Maybe if the military hadn't attacked earlier you'd have enough strength. No, you were never strong enough.

You try to raise a hand to fight back but it's useless, his strength is overwhelming, never ending, non-stopping. How could El have put up a fight against this?

He opens his mouth to speak again, "You could have helped me rebuild this world.. You were like me. Quiet, a background character in his own life. Now look at you." He growls, looking at you in pure disgust, like a vile animal needed to be put down. Your eyes search his but there's nothing, no soul, nothing, only an animal with a primal instinct to murder.

"Stupid child. I should've never saved you." He adds, seething in anger. You feel another teardrop of blood flood down your face.

You smile at him, he may be right, but that's going to change starting now. You fling a sharp piece of leftover wood laying on the ground straight towards the man's leg.

Your feeling of victory is cut short by a vine rising up to catch the object. It wasn't even close to hitting him.

"You'll die than her, then the final sacrifice will be made." He glances at Max.

His left hand raises up and wraps around your skull, no pressure emits but an unfamiliar pain arises from deep within your brain.

Memories assault you, flashing through your eyes as quick as a blink. From your first kiss, to the snowball dance and to here and now. Then you realize, your life is flashing before your eyes.

In California

His body rises from the ground, floating above the dough freezer. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" Mike yells, sliding backwards against the wall in true fear, tears fall down his eyes in a flurry of activities, theres nothing they can do.

"No, no.." Jonathan murmurs, not believing his eyes.

"What do we do?!" Will screams fear in his voice, he looks over at Mike. "Mike!"

"This is bad right? This is really bad?!" Argyle questions, his voice rising in pitch, looking over at Jonathan.

The four men stare up at him in fear, blood beginning to pour from out of his eyelids. His body begins to crack slowly, twisting, it looks unnatural.

"I don't know, anything!" He yells in response to Mike.

In Max's mind

It's so black, absolutely no light at all black, you open your eyes and try to look around but can't see anything. Your heart drops to your stomach; are you dead?

"Please.." You plead to nobody. You step forward and feel the lukewarm water between your toes; Theres a void deep inside of you.

You want someone to feel you, to ease the fear within your stomach. Eleven? Somebody? You think to yourself.

Another feeling begins to erupt from below the surface. Anger, so horrible you never thought you could've held something inside.

But there's something else mixed in, exhaustion. So tired of saving everyone, so tired of being the one being constantly hurt. You want to be saved this one time, just this one time.

It doesn't happen.

You don't want to be a superhero anymore, you just want to be held and loved for the rest of your time.

You blink once more and a light finally appears, hands held in front of you. They are your own—were your own. Slimy tentacles grow from the veins in your right arm, slinking upwards and wrapping around your arm.

You look at the other, the hand is elongated and deformed, it looks as if you're a burn victim and it doesn't get any better.

It feels so real, the slime oozing from the tentacles, the deep black of your fingernails. The burn down your entire left hand feels like a pain you've never felt in your life.

Something wraps around your neck, the familiar tentacle feeling choking the air from your lungs.

One more time.

That's all you need, one more time.

As your consciousness leaves, you force yourself awake, fighting against the tentacles desperately. Kicking and thrashing with your distorted arms and fading vision.

Slowly you awake, choking on your own blood, Your eyeballs feel as if they're going to explode within your skull. An insane headache cracks your skull with every beat of your heart. It's a horrible pain, but it tells you you're alive.

Cries and tears echo from someone in the distance, the voice sounds familiar but it doesn't remind you of anyone.

"No! No!" She screams. "Y/N! Please no!" That's your name.. but the voice isn't recognizable.

You flip to your side, breathing ragged, your lungs feel as if they're on fire. Your nostrils flare, taking the dirty oxygen in.

How are you alive?

You were dead, right? No, you weren't. Something stopped you; but what?

And who keeps screaming like that?

You stand up shakily, arm outstretched towards the figure now grabbing one of the girls' face.

"Y/N," She screams, her eyes turning towards the other girl. "Max!" She exclaims.

Something within your brain tells you to attack so you push with all your might, watching as the figure flies through a wooden wall and through multiple slimy pillars; cascading backwards until he's impaled onto his own pillar protruding from the ground.

It's more luck then anything, saved by the own monsters creation sticking from the floor.

That's what you wanted, all you wanted. Slowly, you fall to the floor. Blood seeping out of every pore in your body.

A final blink shows the girl running towards you, trying to reach your body. Her hands catch you and the warmth reminds you of a bed, comfortable and safe.

So you close your eyes, a nap would be nice.

A grunt from the girl is the last sound you hear before the lights combust.

Back in California.

"Y/N!" The girl shrieks, having won the fight and revived Max but at what cost. She holds the boy who's finally awake. Tears fall down her face, dropping onto the boy's face.

"We have to get to Ha-"

The boy wipes blood from his eyes, and slides out of the girl's hands, struggling to stand on his flimsy legs. "Who are you?" He questions, looking around at all of them with wide eyes. "Who are all of you?"

The girl begins to cry more. "No!" She yells, sobbing her eyeballs out, punching the tiled floor.

"Y/N, you don't remember us?" Will says, tears in his eyes because of Max and his friend forgetting. "Im Will, he's Mike; our best friend. Jonathan is my brother and Argyle is his friend. You really don't remember?"

The boy looks around, "No." The boy blinks slowly, blood staining his eyelids as the exhaustion finally creeps up on him.

"Hey. Hey, it's all right." Jonathan greets, rubbing his shoulder. "You'll remember in no time." He says, smiling but it seems fake.

"Brochacho, you don't remember us?" Argyle asks.

The boy shakes his head once more. "No.."

"How did he forget us?" Mike says, glancing over at Eleven.

"Took his memories." Eleven murmurs.

Mike shakes his head. "Can we get them back? Will he be able to remember with time? Maybe if we go to Hawkins he'l-"

Eleven sniffles, standing up with a snail's pace. "I- it doesn't hurt to try.."

"Come on Y/N." Mike says, grabbing under Y/N's arm, helping limp him to the van.

They place him into the back carefully, resting the boy's head on a spare backpack. His breathing is ragged as he begins to sleep. Eleven lays down beside him, fondling his face with her right hand.

"How does that even work?! Just take his memories, how?" Mike questions, throwing his hands into the air.

"Papa said, he doesn't kill, he absorbs. S-so he absorbed his memories. That's probably as far as he got." She says slowly, a single tear running down his face as she lays on her side.

"Absorbed, can he get them back or will they be gone forever?" Will asks nobody in particular, just speculating out-loud.

"S-so, what, we're just new people to him?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Mike answers, staring at the sleeping boy intently.

Two days Later.

"Y/N, wake up." A hand grips your shoulder, shaking you out of your deep sleep. You turn your head, rubbing your sore eyes.

You had been asleep for most of the two days, only waking to eat and drink or use the restroom. "Uhm, alright." You say, smiling awkwardly as Eleven stares at you.

She shakes her head and nods nervously, "Need help?" She questions, her hand outstretched to help you out.

You nod, grabbing her hand. Her hand has a certain warmness to it, drawing you to her. Her voice is so.. reassuring? Yes, but it brings out another feeling. Something you don't know what is.

You hop out and stretch awkwardly, having woken up to this rag-tag group two days ago. You don't have any memories before, nothing.

You gaze around the parking lot, people flood into it and out, cars old and new, some even broken headlights and windshields of the sort. It makes your heart ache.

Stretchers sit outside the hospital, it's a sad sign of the things to come. None of them are loaded but placed aside incase emergency.

"Follow me." The girl says, you look up at the hospital cringing. You don't like the bleak white look and all the people walking around outside of it for some reason. It makes your heart beat and your hearing dull.

You follow her into the building anxiously, peering around every corner and into every room as you make your way to the end of a white hall, carts surround the hall. Probably for emergencies.

The girl your age slows to a stop outside of a door at the end of the hallway on the left. The dark oak, sliding open slowly to reveal Jonathan standing, his weight placed on the frame of the door as his gaze switches between you all.

"Hey man."  Jonathan's voice greets, wrapping you into a hug with El. You pat his back awkwardly and quickly step back, trading a glance with El.

"Hi." You greet in response nervously, your gaze is slow, your eyes developed enough to take in enough details at a short moments notice.

Behind the bruised and battered teen is a girl with red hair laying in the bed. Her face pale and pink around her eyes. She looks dead.

She looks like you.

You stand at the door awkwardly, "What's your name?" You inquire, looking at the boy's black eye, you touch it gingerly, analyzing the injury. "You need ice.." You murmur.

"Im-" He glances at El surprise, then at you. "I'm Lucas, and that." He turns and points at the red haired girl. "That's Max." Your hand releases the boys face and you turn towards the girl, your sad gaze taking in the sight of her body.

"Hi." You greet again nervously looking at the girl laying in the bed. "Is she asleep?" You ask, looking over the boy's shoulder.

She's not asleep, she's dead.

"She's in a coma, almost all the bones in her legs and arms were snapped." Lucas answers, his teeth crunching together angrily.

Your heart pulls and almost feels as if it's breaking apart, like a lifelong friend has been pulled from your life. It hurts you to a core deep, your friends, they were your friends.

"When will she wake?" You question as El takes a seat beside Max, her hand laced in the girls.

Lucas stares at the two. "They say she might not, she was clinically dead. Doctors say it was a miracle."

You frown, "If it helps.. I almost died a few days ago too." You say sadly, your voice lowering to a murmur at the end. The boy casts a surprised glance at you then at Mike.

"Wait.. What happened to you?" Lucas grabs your shoulders lightly, more out of worry, his eyes searching yours for any emotion.

Is there any?

"I- I almost died too that's all I know." You squeal shakily, pushing his hands off your shoulders. You retreat back towards the door frame quietly, feeling the ache of fear, the fear of the unknown in your body.

You exit the room and take a deep breath, being around that much unknown people really brings a toll out of you. You feel like you know them-- you should know them!

They were your friends, please-

"Please remember." You plead, smacking the side of your head. You slide to a stop against the wall, slinking towards your knees your gaze never leaving the floor.

The group leaves soon after, dragging Y/N to the van as he walks half-heartedly. He looks out of place, a Inbetween smile and frown always plastered on his face, his eyes betraying the fear he holds.

Slowly, they drive for another five minutes in silence before arriving at a broken down cabin in the forest. It's familiar looking upon it, reminds you of something in your brain, something homely about it, or use to be before being a home for the wilderness.

You never belonged.

"We're home." Eleven states, looking over at you before pulling open the door, she does it hesitantly like she doesn't even want to get out.

Home? This looks like an abandoned shack but you'll take her word for it. It must've been her home aswell, she must feel sad too.

"It's perfect.." You murmur, your brain pulling against the thought something is wrong about the statement.

She grins, the smile fake and hidden, she knows it's a lie. She Denys it.

You hop out, watching as another car pulls up. A girl steps out, long shoulder length hair. "Nancy's here too." Mike says, patting your shoulder. "You were asleep when we saw her so..maybe talk to her."

You nod quietly, approaching the girl who just stepped out of the car. "Hi." You greet, waving.

She's pretty, not as pretty as the brown haired girl but still pretty.

"Hey.. they told me what happened." She responds, hands on her hips. "You don't remember anyone?"

You shake your head somberly. "No, I want to-- but I can't."

She nods, "Well maybe the house'll bring back some memories." She says smiling gently, you nod quietly, following her into the house.

I doubt it. Not much memories here anyways, besides the bad ones.

It's horrible inside; three holes, two on the walls and one on the roof. The shelves are thrown to the floor and the wooden floor is covered with dirt and appliances.

The house makes your nose hurt so you step out and sit on the step, head on your hands.

El takes a seat beside you, a reasonable distance away. "So."

"So." You respond.

She laughs nervously, "Do you want a hug?" She questions.

You narrow your eyes at her, her awkward smile. Her tired features, you don't but your insides tell you to do it. You nod awkwardly.

You don't deserve love.

Your heart aches for some reason, She reaches over and gently hugs you before pulling back, it looked like it helped her more than it did you.

Suddenly, without warning, tears begin to flood from your eyes, never stopping. El looks over at you in surprise. "I need to understand, w-why this happened! I don't want to be alone because of something I did!" The words flood from your mouth, you didn't realize that's how you felt.. it just came out.

You try to wipe the tears from your eyes but it doesn't help. El reaches around, wrapping her arms around you. "You won't, I promise. A-and friends don't lie." She says, laughing shakily. The words seeming to hurt her, though she makes it try to sound positive.

She's lying.

"Friends don't lie." You say into her shoulder, the words sounding familiar. It's an escape, a reminder of something important.

Your lying.

A car pulls around the corner, throwing up dirt and gravel. It slows to a stop in front of the cabin and two figures emerge from the car.

A large man runs up to two of you quickly wrapping you in a giant hug. "Hey.." He murmurs, tears form in the girl's eyes as he speaks.

"You're back.. Max is hurt-- Y/N is.." She says between tears, heaving into the man's shoulder.

You stand in his grasp awkwardly, patting his back idly. He releases it slowly and steps back, looking down at the two of you.

Who are you?

"Wait-- slow down, what?" He questions, looking between you and El.

"He doesn't remember.." She sniffles, wiping tears from her face.

The man kneels slightly, his eyes searching yours for any recognition. "You really don't?" He asks.

"I told everyone, I'm trying, but I can't!" You exclaim at the man, trying to find something to remember, anything! There's nothing, nothing at all.

His eyes widen in surprise, "Hey, hey, it's alright. We'll figure it out." He wraps you into a one armed hug.

"Guys!" Mike yells, his hand stretched out, palm facing the sky. Snowflakes land on his hand, yet they don't sink.

"What.. is that?" You question, a flake landing on your index finger.

It's a message.

The man releases the hug and trades a sideway glance with El. Suddenly, Will begins to walk through the trees quietly, for some odd reason, the rest of you follow close behind.

It's a danger.

You stop in a field beside Will, beautiful flowers bloom on one side and on the other they're all dead and hollowed of their color. It's a bleak look, one reminding you of a deep sadness and void within your chest.

Something's wrong.

Something draws your eyes, flashing bright red in the dark clouds flowing from the cracks deep within the earth, a coiled figure, six legs like a spider would have barely noticeable within the dark.

You're wrong, you've always been.

Spiders can't grow that large, this is another being entirely. Much more dangerous than a spider, you can feel it within the bottomless pit of your stomach.

A hand grips yours, the warmth recognizable. El's hand is coiled around yours, her grip tight as she stares into the clouds.

You won't survive.