The car sped down the dark roads of Hawkins, the tension inside thick enough to cut with a knife. Daphne's knuckles were white as she gripped the steering wheel, her heart racing almost as fast as the engine beneath her.

Next to her, Mike sat in anxious silence, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, following the taillights of the car in front of them. Joyce and Bob were just ahead, trailing the ambulance that carried Will.

The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on them both, and neither dared to break the silence.

When they finally pulled up to the Hawkins Lab, Daphne barely had time to park before Mike was out of the car, running after the medics who were wheeling Will inside.

Daphne followed, her legs moving on autopilot, her mind a blur of worry and fear. They rushed through the sterile halls of the lab, the fluorescent lights above casting a harsh glare on the cold, white walls.

Will's sobs echoed in the corridor, a haunting sound that sent chills down Daphne's spine.

The medics wheeled Will into one of the rooms where they had been conducting their check-ups since he had returned from the Upside Down.

Daphne and Mike stood outside the door, the metal frame cold against their backs as they leaned against it, listening to the muffled sounds of the doctors inside. Will's screams pierced through the walls, making Mike flinch beside her.

Daphne glanced down at Mike, her heart aching for him. He was only a kid, yet he'd been through so much. Seeing his best friend suffer like this, powerless to help, must have been tearing him apart.

"Mike," Daphne said softly, breaking the heavy silence. "You okay?"

Mike shook his head, his eyes glassy as he stared at the floor. "No, I'm not. Will... he's hurting so much, and I don't know how to help him."

Daphne placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "You're here for him, Mike. That's something. Sometimes just being there is the best thing you can do."

Mike looked up at her, his expression torn between fear and frustration. "But what if it's not enough? What if they can't fix him? What if we lose him again?"

Daphne swallowed the lump in her throat, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know, Mike. I wish I had answers, but I don't. All I know is that Will is strong, and so are you. You've both been through hell and back, and you're still here. We have to believe that he can pull through this."

Mike clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "It's not fair, Daphne. He didn't deserve any of this. None of us did."

"No, we didn't." Daphne agreed, her voice gentle but firm. "But life isn't fair, and sometimes bad things happen to good people. What matters is how we face those bad things. You're not alone in this, Mike. We're all here, fighting for Will."

Mike nodded, his shoulders slumping as the weight of everything seemed to crash down on him. "I'm just so scared. I don't want to lose him."

Daphne felt her heart break for him. She remembered being his age, how the world seemed so much darker and scarier when you were still figuring out who you were.

She crouched down so she was at eye level with him, forcing him to meet her gaze.

"Mike, listen to me," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her own heart. "You are one of the bravest people I know. You've been through things that most adults couldn't handle. Will is lucky to have you as his friend. We're going to get through this, all of us. And whatever happens, we'll face it together. Okay?"

Mike sniffed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "Okay."

Daphne pulled him into a hug, feeling him tremble against her. "It's okay to be scared," she whispered. "We're all scared. But we can't give up on him, not now."

Mike clung to her, drawing strength from her presence. They stayed like that for a moment, taking solace in each other's company as Will's screams echoed in the background.

Finally, Mike pulled away, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

"Thanks, Daphne," he said, his voice small but grateful. "For being here with me."

"Of course," Daphne replied, giving him a reassuring smile. "I'm not going anywhere."

They turned back toward the door, the sounds of Will's anguish still filtering through. But now, they faced it together, ready to support Will—and each other—through whatever came next.

Later that night, Joyce insisted that Daphne go home, despite Daphne's protests. Mike refused to leave Will's side, his eyes pleading with Joyce to let him stay.

Understanding how much Will meant to him, Joyce relented, allowing Mike to remain at the lab.

Before she left, Daphne approached Will's bed, her heart heavy with worry. She bent down and pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead, feeling the heat radiating from his fevered skin. "Stay strong, Will," she whispered, her voice trembling.

She forced herself to walk away, her legs feeling like they could give out at any moment. The image of Will's pained expression lingered in her mind as she made her way home.

When she finally arrived, Daphne went straight to her room. She barely had the energy to change out of her clothes before collapsing onto her bed, still shaking from everything that had happened.

The night was long and restless, her sleep haunted by memories of Will's convulsions and the fear in Mike's eyes.

The morning came too quickly. Daphne was jolted awake by the sound of voices and the soft click of a camera. Blinking against the light streaming through her curtains, she sat up to find a few men from the lab in the living room, photographing the drawings Will had made.

These strange, sprawling images had somehow found their way into her home, taking over the walls just as they had the rest of Hawkins. The men moved efficiently, snapping pictures of each drawing before leaving without a word.

Daphne's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. She rubbed her eyes, trying to focus on what was happening around her.

A little while later, the phone rang in the kitchen. Daphne rushed to answer, hoping it was her mom.

"Mom?" Daphne asked as she picked up the receiver.

"Hey, sweetheart," Joyce's voice was on the other end, sounding tired but steady. "I wanted to check on you. How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay, I guess," Daphne replied, her voice tinged with the exhaustion she couldn't fully shake off. "Still a little shaken up from last night. But seriously, Mom—how's Will?"

"He's still sleeping," Joyce said, a slight note of relief in her tone. "The doctors gave him something to help him rest, so at least he's not in pain right now. He really needed the sleep after what he went through."

Daphne exhaled slowly, feeling a small measure of relief. "That's good. Are you meeting with the doctors soon?"

"Yeah," Joyce replied. "I'm about to go talk to Dr. Owens. They're trying to figure out the best way to help Will, but... it's complicated. I'll let you know if there's any news."

"Okay," Daphne said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Just... take care of him, Mom. And yourself, too."

"I will," Joyce promised. "You stay safe, sweetie. I'll call as soon as I know more."

"Thanks, Mom," Daphne said softly. "Love you."

"Love you too, honey." Joyce replied before hanging up.

Daphne placed the receiver back on the hook, feeling a mix of emotions swirling in her chest. She headed to the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of cereal, but she barely tasted it as she ate.

The weight of everything that had happened was still heavy on her mind.