MIKE POV -

"Why are you showing me this?"

Mike stood in the void, eyes bloodshot, an infinite expanse of darkness all around. His lids opened softly, his spirit singing a melody he couldn't recognise. The ground had the forever puddle he was used to,

His heart ached at the memories of the beach, the water, the cold – dissolving into the ether.

When he slowly looked up, he saw the face of his friend from the real world... if that's what they were,

"Are you ready to talk?" he asked, not providing an answer to the question.

"Why are you showing me this?" Mike repeated, "And why am I here?"

"I think you already know the answer to both,"

"But why am I here? I should have just-" he couldn't even finish the sentence; the weight was too much to shoulder.

The friend was silent for a moment, tone eerily calm, "The void is where every path meet. You came here because you chose it."

"So that's why you put me through this game? So I would regret my actions? Or was it to show me how my life's a mess? Or that I can't love someone? Or maybe so that I finally realise I ruin everything I touch? I already knew all of that! You should have just let me end!" His voice echoed in the void, rippling the puddle beneath him.

"You did regret it though. Then and now," the friend corrected, "I'm just giving you a chance. I was hoping if you saw yourself from someone else's perspective, you would learn to love yourself –" he paused for a mere second analysing his face, "And, if you learned to love someone, you would be a little happier,"

"Learn to love, and then what? It's all over!" Mike's retaliated, frustration melting to sorrows, "My life in both worlds... it's over."

"And yet, here you are," he posed a counter argument.

Anger faltered -

"... I want to live," Mike whispered, voice cracking, "I want to live here with Will," that was what he really wanted – something he was the most sure of in life.

In the unending void, a message appeared, one he was surprised to see, providing the only light – a lifeline. It hovered, covering his friend's face, its luminance cutting through the shadows;

[The Mission Has Been Changed]

"Why is it-?" Mike blinked, words blurring in his vision – what now? How did it change? When did it change? What did it change to?

"Mike." the friend's voice spoke from behind the glowing screen seeing it fade away, "You don't have to go through life alone this time –" and for the first time ever, the friend expressed emotions, passing a gentle smile, "This time around... you must be happy,"

Pausing for a second, Mike met his gaze, the man's face no longer fogged but his features still distant, he was older, wiser... but just who was he? Who was this enigmatic 'friend' that had been his guide through perpetual limbo?

"Sir?" Mike hesitated only for a moment before asking, "Who are you exactly?"

No response from his friend – perhaps that should have been expected.

[Mission: Make Will Byers Happy]

His ultimate mission for the world hovered briefly before blurring, as though rewritten by an invisible hand.

[̶M̶i̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶:̶ ̶M̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶W̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶B̶y̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶H̶a̶p̶p̶y̶]̶

[Mission: Make Mike Wheeler Happy]

What? Him?

The glowing text pulsated like a breathing ribcage – flickering one last time before everything around him started to dissolve. Light shone, brighter and stronger, consuming him. He felt himself growing light, like he was being pulled upward –

Being rebirthed.

---- Thursday 1:43 PM ----

Eyes snapped open.

Mike bolted upright in his bed, gasping for air, like he was pushed through the murky depths of the ocean. His chest tightened as he coughed, expelling water he shouldn't have swallowed in the first place – a final reminder of his actions. 

He looked down at his body -

He was still wearing the suit from the beach, though it was inexplicitly dry.

Everything was normal as he scanned the room. Posters hung proudly on the walls, his desk cluttered with schoolbooks he refused to throw away, and figurines of his favourite movie characters.

The clock read the correct time – at least everything was in order.

His phone buzzed, fumbling it out his pocket, he unlocked the screen to reveal a single message waiting for him,

'I wish your second chance shines bright – Your friend,'

The sender's name was blank, but the ravenette didn't need to even guess who this 'friend' was - it was clear.

[ERROR RESOLVED]

[Loading...]

[World Loading Complete!]

Mike's breath hitched, the words hanging in the air, smiling bright at the message as they dissolved into a lingering mist.

Then it hit him.

"Will!"

WILL POV -

Outside, at the riverbank, the brunette sat down, staring out into the rippling water as the city hummed faintly around him. He brought his knees up to his chest, fingers tapping absentmindedly as his thoughts churned like the current before him.

It had been hours, he had walked up and down the streets, retracing every step he could remember from that day – the day Mike broke up with him. The ache in his chest shifted, originally it was the unbearable pain of the break up, but now it was the gnawing unreachable.

Where was Mike?

He checked everywhere, the Chicago train station, the donut shop that Mike had introduced him to, and now here, the river Mike called his safe haven... he was even here at the same time - past midnight.

The spot where things ended.

He let out a shaky breath, the sound of water rippling against the banks, almost hypnotic, taking over him.

Despite never wanting to relive those memories, he would go through them millions of times over, if It meant Mike would return.

He couldn't just wait; he was worried he might forget again.

Thinking back, Mike had always been the weird type, doing whatever he wanted and saying he would explain everything later.

This place was unpleasant, it was here where he was begging to be loved. He could still see Mike's face, the way his jaw tightened as he said the words Will never thought he'd hear. The way the ravenette looked everywhere but at him, as if meeting his eyes was an eternal sin.

'I still like you,'

Words carried by the wind, rushing past like the leaves above – it was one of the last things Mike had said to him... he still liked Will. That hope kept him alive, pushing him to continue.

Wrapping his arms around himself, trying to hold himself together, Will held the pieces that constantly came unravelled,

"I'll find you, Mike," he whispered, the words swimming cross the river, "I swear I'll find you like how you always found me," remembering the times when the ravenette would be there for him, somehow knowing exactly where he was, helping him even before he knew he needed it – he wanted to be that person for Mike.

It was his turn.

As if hearing his pleas, the universe answered.

RING – RING

Will's ears pricked as he fumbled with his phone, barely stopping it from falling into the river. His heart raced seeing the name on screen—Mike. He answered the phone with haste, unable to distinguish between dream and reality.

"Will, where are you?" the ravenette's voice layered urgency from the other side,

"Mike?" Will asked breathless as he mixed shock, relief and disbelief, "Mike... is this really you?"

Will would have given his bank details if Mike had asked in that moment. He understood how people got scammed just by hearing a mere mumble of words from a familiar voice. If this was a trick, he would have already fallen for it.

"Yes! Where are you?"

"I should be asking you that! Do you know how worried I've been?" Will stumbled over his own words, tripping on his tongue, emotions bubbling to the surface, threatening to spill, "Where have you been? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's a long story. Just tell me where you are, quickly," his voice fast as if in danger.

Despite wanting to spill his feelings, to explain how much he missed him, how much he needed him right now, it all congealed into one. He couldn't speak his mind even if he wanted to – instead, he answered the question, "I'm in Chicago,"

"Chicago? Why are you there?"

"There was nowhere else to go, you said you used to live here," he rambled on, wanting to ask if he would leave again, if he could hear the desperation, "I checked Hawkins and you weren't anywhere,"

Mike processed the information, it wasn't ideal, but he had a location, "Take the train back and we'll meet halfway,"

"Halfway?" the brunette jumped to his feet, glancing at the riverbank as if expecting Mike to appear at any moment, "Where?"

"Orson," Mike said firm. With the number of times he took that train when he was younger, he knew the stops like the back of his hand – the sound of shuffling emitting from the other side.

"Mike, are you sure?" Hesitation was clear in Will's voice; he wanted to see Mike but what if something went wrong? What if he missed the stop? What if he took the wrong train? What if –

Noticing the anxiety, Mike soothed him, "Trust me on this. I will see you there,"

"Okay," Will muttered, more to himself than Mike. his chest was tight, but for the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of hope.

Mike was alive.

Without wasting another second, Will hurried back to the train station, his phone pressed against his ear, worried if he disconnected, he would lose Mike – the last time the phone cut, he lost him.

Like a cat, his steps were nimble, side-stepping and dodging out the way to the ticket counter. He had a destination now, and nothing was going to stop him from getting there.

The call lasted hours, both boys' silently cursing the trains' slow pace, was it one hour, or two? Neither could tell, anxiety made it last a lifetime. Will tightened his grip on his phone, barely talking, but listening to the ravenette breathing on the other side – proof of his existence.

"Next Stop: Orson, Indiana," that was the stop; The train slowed to a snail's place...

Will didn't even wait, pushing himself off the seat, rushing out the moment the doors opened, almost kicking an old lady out the way, "I've reached," he announced,

The station was busy, busier than he would have preferred; how was he supposed to meet Mike in a place like this? He looked all around, waiting by a tall, noticeable monument just by the entrance.

"I've reached too, I'm just waiting to get out," Mike's voice rang through,

"I'm right in front of the big clock at the entrance," Will explained breathless, scanning the area, eyes darting left and right, desperate to spot Mike.

Footsteps could be heard from the other side, quick clicks, "Where? I don't see you,"

"I told you, I'm right here," Will said with a confused expression as he raised an arm, hoping to be spotted, ignoring the strange glances from passersby,

"This place has only one entrance," that Mike was sure about, "Are you sure you're in Orson?"

According to Mike, they were both in front of the train station, waving their hands around and shouting like crazy – he was right - there was only one exit, and the station wasn't big by any means, so a shout would echo above heads... why couldn't they hear each other?

"I'm looking at the sign and clock right now! Are you sure you're in the right spot?" Will twisted the question, adding emphasis.

Something was wrong, Will could already feel it – the twisting sensation in his gut returned... but exactly what was the problem this time? People exited the station, but none were the faces he wanted to see.

"Well I'm looking at the clock too" Mike exclaimed, growing suspicious – sensing the same strange feeling, "It's almost 4 PM,"

Will paused... seeing something completely different when he looked up at the time, his voice quiet, "Mike... its 3:15 AM,"

A heavy silence fell between them, both of them staring at the same landmark yet somehow unable to see each other,

Mike's trembling breath was obvious as he stopped pacing, asking almost hesitantly, "Will... what day is it?"

The sudden question puzzled Will, but he answered dutifully, "August 9th," he said slowly, not understanding anything.

The line went silent for a beat, before the topic abruptly changed, "Will, listen to me carefully, we have graduation on the 14th, where is that?"

"How's that important right now?"

"Just where is it?" Mike seemed urgent, quick to dismiss, something was clearly wrong.

"It's by the ocean, near 'Upside-Down Land' on the beach we went to – Sattler's Venue," Will rambled, "But why?"

"Whatever you do, you must go to graduation – you must be there that day. Don't skip it, don't look for me in other places... just be there,"

"Why?" An inkling of an idea had already formed in Will's mind, something strange was afoot, but he trusted the ravenette's orders... maybe he just asked just to hear his voice a little longer.

"Because I'm heading there right now," Mike replied, his voice was determined, pausing, neither saying anything...

"Will..." Mike turned around, the spot he imagined the brunette to be, imagining his bowlcut, his moles, his green eyes and the smile on his lips, "I miss you," Mike softened, mustering all the adoration he could – it was hard for him to say how he felt.

Will's heart pounded in his chest... wanting to reply, but too slow as the call abruptly ended.

"Mike?" he whispered into the silent screen, his eyes widening, repeating his name even louder, seeming like a crazy person. The 'Call Ended' notification burned his vision,

"No!" he yelled, appearing like he was just shot. In a way, he was, his heart beating in overdrive, adrenaline pumping his veins –

Why?

He gripped the phone tight till his knuckles whitened, regaining composure, heeding Mike's words... what was going to happen?

And what was wrong with the time? Why did it show two different times? Was Mike at the wrong station? Perhaps he took the wrong train... was this another separation tactic by whatever force was in play in this universe.

One thing was for sure -

He needed to be at graduation.

MIKE POV –

Phone's dead.

Mike sighed, why now? It wasn't fair –

The call with Will ended. Glancing at the time on the clock above him, and rechecking the cut off ticket in his hands, he confirmed the date. Will said it was August 9th.

But the date on the display board screamed August 14th.

Graduation day.

[Time Remaining – 3:43:15]

His mind raced as he processed the glowing message that flashed before his eyes – one he had to deal with constantly. He hoped that being brought back in this world meant he didn't need to deal with this anymore – he didn't have to deal with any missions, goals, or penalties... he never thought the time would be his enemy.

[Synchronisation in Progress...]

Yet, he had an inkling of a reason why. All this time travelling, skipping forward, going missing, being pulled to and from the universe like a ping-pong ball, caught up to him. The sky above was clear, no mishaps, no cracks or splits – no tendrils forming in the concrete below searching to swallow him whole.

The world had returned to normal.

[Mission: Make Mike Wheeler Happy]

This was why,

Mike was no longer an error because Will had made it so. Yet the game continued – it was reaching the climax - its ending. Every game had an ending, and right now, Mike was the one who needed to complete this final mission. Why was he sent him back to game and given a second chance?

...He didn't understand what his friend's intentions were with any of this.

But the best he could do was run with what he got, not asking any questions in this current moment – those can be saved for a later date.

He needed to hurry. He needed to find Will before his time was up.

"Sattler's Venue on Sattler's Beach..."

What an interesting twist of fate...

Fate had a terrible sense of humour.

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2663 Words

Stay Safe <3