Cammie stared at her converse on Mike Wheeler's basement couch, using her powers to tie and untie the laces to distract herself. Dustin and Lucas were on either side of her, with Steve sat on the arm of the couch. The three boys were staring at Max, who was still writing at the desk.

"I know you guys are staring at me," Max said.

"What, sorry?" Dustin said, looking at Cammie's shoes instead of Max.

"You said you needed something?" Lucas said, looking at Dustin.

"Just hanging out," Steve said, looking up at the ceiling.

"How you think your eyes boring into the back of my head is protecting me from Vecna, I don't know," Max muttered.

Cammie looked up at Max, watching as she shoved her papers into several envelopes and then stood up. She walked over to the four others, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You can look at me now," Max said.

"Thank you," Dustin looked at Max with a frown.

"Sorry," Lucas mumbled.

"Sorry," Steve agreed.

"Sorry," Dustin said.

"I'm not," Cammie shrugged. Max sighed and held out a letter to Dustin.

"For you," she said. He took it. She held the next one out to Steve. "For you," he said.

Steve offered her a weak smile as he took the letter.

"And, um, you. Oh, and, um, give these to Mike, El, and Will. If you can ever get a hold of them again," Max said, handing four letters to Lucas.

"Wait, don't I get a letter?" Cammie looked between the boys and Max.

"What are you doing?" Max snapped at Dustin, who was trying to open his letter. "No, don't. That's not for now. Don't open it now. Don't," she said.

"Okay," Dustin mumbled, putting his letter on the table.

"I'm sorry. What is this?" Lucas asked.

"It's, um... It's a fail-safe. For after. If things don't work out," Max said.

Cammie's jaw clenched as she looked at the letters on the table. Everybody got one but her? Even Mike? He and Max were barely friends as it was, but Cammie was Max's girlfriend and she didn't get a letter for if Max died?

"Wait, whoa. Max, things are gonna work out," Lucas said quickly.

"No! No, I don't need you to reassure me and tell me it's all gonna work out. People have been telling me that my entire life and it's almost never true. It's never true. I mean, of course this asshоlе curses me. Should've seen that one coming," Max scoffed.

She turned around, spotting Dustin's walkie on the table. She grabbed it, looking back at the others.

"If we go to East Hawkins, will this reach Pennhurst?" she asked.

"Of course," Dustin said.

"Yeah," Lucas said.

"Why are we talking about East Hawkins?" Steve asked.

Cammie sighed and rubbed her face, getting off the couch and climbing over the table.

"She wants to see Billy," she said.

"Cammie, wait!" Dustin yelped, jumping to his feet and falling over the table. "You can't go anywhere alone in case Vecna gets you!"

"Didn't we want Vecna to try and get her so she can kill him?" Lucas said.

Cammie stomped up the stairs, ignoring Steve telling Max no and Dustin yelling for her to stop. She grabbed her jacket off the coat rack, waving goodbye to Holly and Mrs Wheeler sat at the kitchen table and walking outside to Steve's car.

She lowered the window with her mind, reaching her arm in and opening the passenger door. She pulled it open and sat down, slamming the door shut and putting her hand on the radio. It turned on and she turned the music up, crossing her arms over her chest and closing her eyes as she listened to Queen playing.

"Max, Max. Seriously. Seriously, I'm not joking. I'm not driving you anywhere," Steve yelled as he ran after Max, currently beelining towards the locked car Cammie was sat inside of.

Lucas and Dustin brought up the rear with their bags on their backs.

"If you think I'm going to spend what is likely the last day of my life in the armpit that is Mike Wheeler's basement, you're out of your mind. Either take me where I need to go or tie me down, which is technically kidnapping of a minor. And if I live to see another day, Steve, I swear to God, I will prosecute," Max snapped at Steve, stopping at the back door.

She tried to open it, but Steve hadn't unlocked the car.

"Cammie, open my door," Max said.

Cammie ignored her, staring straight ahead. Max huffed, turning to look at Steve.

"Open the door," Max said.

"Uh, no," Steve said.

"I know a good lawyer," Max glared at him.

Steve scoffed and unlocked the car, moving to get in the driver's side.

"Henderson, that super walkie of yours better reach Pennhurst," Steve warned Dustin as he got in the back with Lucas and Max.

"It does," Dustin said.

Steve turned the engine on and pulled away from the Wheeler house, looking at Cammie as he drove.

"Hey, you okay?" he said quietly.

Cammie scoffed.

"Great. Never been better," she said.

"I know you're being sarcastic," Steve said.

"Wouldn't you be? We're doing this shit, yet again, and we don't have Eleven here to save our asses this time. We are fucked," Cammie said.

"We have you," Steve said.

Cammie turned to look out of the window, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

"Yeah, well, I'm not strong enough to beat him," Cammie muttered.

"You don't know that," Steve looked at her.

Cammie shook her head, deciding to stay silent. Steve sighed, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

"I'm going to protect you, Cam. You and Max. I promise," Steve whispered.

Cammie exhaled quietly.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Stevie. It won't end well," Cammie said.

Steve sighed as he pulled up outside Max's trailer so Max could drop off letters for her mom, turning the car engine off. Max opened her door to get out.

"This better be fast, Mayfield," Steve warned her.

"Twenty seconds," Max said, slamming the car door and jogging up to the trailer.

"That thing's got batteries in it, right?" Steve looked back at the walkie that Dustin was holding in his hands.

"I'm not even answering that question," Dustin scowled. Steve rolled his eyes. "Yes, it has batteries," he snapped.

"Yeah, I got it," Steve huffed.

Cammie sighed and looked out of the window, seeing Max move around the house through the window. She ran her hand through her hair, flicking it to one side.

"I didn't get a letter," Cammie said.

"We, uh, noticed, yeah," Dustin mumbled quietly.

"Why would she not give me a letter?" Cammie said, turning to look at them.

"Well, maybe she thought that she didn't have to. I mean... If things go... bad, you can still talk to her. In your void," Lucas said weakly, avoiding Cammie's eyes.

Cammie scoffed, looking back out of the window.

A small ticking sound filled her ears and she frowned, looking up at the sky. It was getting darker and the ticking was getting louder.

"Oh, for fuck sake!" Cammie hissed. "Wait here."

She kicked the car door open and ran up to the trailer, kicking the door open.

"Max?! Max?!" she yelled, looking around desperately.

She saw the back door was slightly open and she ran through it, seeing Max on the floor, staring up at the now clear blue sky again with a frown. Cammie ran over and knelt down beside her, grabbing Max's cheeks.

"Max? What did he do?" Cammie asked.

"He... He said my time was coming. I thought it was my mom and then it changed to him and he was hugging me and he told me my time was coming and then I heard you shouting for me and he disappeared," Max whispered, looking around with a frown.

Cammie looked around herself, seeing they were completely alone. She shook her head, pulling Max to her feet and wrapping her arm around her waist.

"You're okay. It's just me and you, remember?" Cammie said softly.

"You and me," Max nodded, resting her head against Cammie's shoulder.

Cammie led her back to the car, seeing Steve, Dustin and Lucas were leaning against the bonnet with frowns.

"That was longer than twenty seconds," Steve said.

"Steve," Cammie shook her head at him. "Dustin, in the front," she said.

Dustin climbed through the gap in the seats to get into the passenger seat, Lucas holding the door open for Cammie so she could get Max in the backseat. She closed the door when she was inside, too, putting Max's seatbelt on.

"Did something happen?" Steve looked between the two of them.

"Steve, just drive. Please. I'll fill you in later," Cammie said.

"Okay," Steve nodded, starting to drive towards the graveyard.

Max rested her head against Cammie's shoulder with a frown, rubbing her face tiredly. Cammie looked out of the window, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

She knew she couldn't ask Max, but all she wanted to know was why she didn't get a letter, too. Did Max not think it was important? Did Max think Cammie wouldn't need one because she'd see Max as a ghost?

Cammie couldn't help but think that Max knew better than that. Max knew that Cammie wasn't going to be around much longer if Max died. If Max was so set on them being like Romeo and Juliet, she should know exactly what would happen if she died.

After all, Juliet had only killed herself because Romeo died. Juliet couldn't live in a world without her true love, and neither could Cammie. Romeo and Juliet's story was a teenage tragedy. Cammie was starting to think that she and Max were a teenage tragedy, too.

"Turn here," Max's voice snapped Cammie out of her thoughts on the car ride.

Cammie looked around, seeing they were approaching the graveyard.

"Here?" Dustin looked back at Max.

Max nodded and Steve sighed, pulling into the graveyard. He parked as close as he could to Billy's grave without being in the actual graveyard, turning the engine off.

"One of us is going with you. And don't argue with me," Steve said, turning back to look at Max.

"Cammie. Obviously," Max muttered.

Cammie opened the door and got out of the car, walking ahead towards Billy's grave. She stopped at the small platform before, crossing her arms over her chest as she waited for Max to catch up.

"Will you stay a little bit away?" Max said quietly to Cammie.

Cammie walked away from the grave until she couldn't really hear Max anymore, sitting down on the grass and starting to pick daisies from the grass. Max stared at her for a few seconds before moving to sit in front of Billy's grave, her back to Cammie.

Max pulled a letter out of her pocket and opened it, starting to read it to Billy quietly. Cammie couldn't hear her words, but she could tell that Max started crying within seconds. She wanted to go and comfort her, but she knew Max had asked her to stay away so she couldn't have Cammie comfort her.

So, Cammie would respect her wishes and stay at the grave.

She saw Max put the letter away a few minutes later, staring at Billy's grave.

A soft ticking sound filled Cammie's ears and she jumped to her feet, hurrying over to Max.

"Max? Max?" she said.

She knelt down beside Max, the ticking getting louder in her ears. She looked at Max's face, seeing her eyes had rolled back in her head to show the whites of her bloodshot eyes.

"Fuck. Fuck!" Cammie said.

She turned to look at the car, putting her hands around her mouth.

"He's got her!" she yelled.

"Shit!" Steve yelled, pushing off the car.

"Max, look at me, darling," Cammie begged, shaking Max desperately.

The three boys raced over, skidding to a stop on their knees around Max as Cammie tried to shake her awake. The ticking clock was getting slowly louder in Cammie's ears, starting to drown out the voices of the boys.

"Max, you gotta get outta there! Can you hear me?" Lucas yelled, shaking Max.

"Max! You gotta get outta there!" Dustin cried.

"Call Nancy and Robin! Go get 'em! Call Nancy and Robin! Go!" Steve grabbed Dustin, shoving him to his feet and towards the car.

Dustin took off, racing to the car and jumping over the bonnet to grab his walkie from his bag in the passenger seat.

"Max! Max!" Cammie yelled, grabbing Max's cheeks. "Max, wake up! I don't like this!" Cammie yelled.

"Can you get in her head?!" Lucas cried.

"When have I ever been able to do that?!" Cammie yelled at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry! I'm scared right now!" Lucas yelled back.

"Me, too!" Cammie yelled.

"Stop fighting!" Steve yelled, shaking Max's shoulders. "Wake up!" he yelled.

Dustin raced back over to them, his arms laden with Max's walkman and her tapes out of her bag.

"Guys!" Dustin yelled, dumping them all on the grass.

"What is this?" Cammie asked.

"What's her favorite song?" Dustin shouted.

"Why?" Lucas cried.

"Robin said if she listens... It's too much to explain now. What's her favorite song?" Dustin yelled.

"Kate Bush!" Cammie said, starting to rummage around the tapes on the grass.

She winced as her head panged from the loud ticking noise, grabbing the Kate Bush tape with shaky hands.

"Go, go, go!" Steve yelled, holding the walkman open.

Cammie dropped the tape inside it, Steve slapping it shut.

"Okay, headphones! Now!" she yelled, holding her hand out.

Steve handed her the headphones and she jammed them on Max's head, Dustin pressing play on the tape. Kate Bush Runnin' Up That Hill started playing loud enough for them to hear, but her voice was quickly being drowned out by the clock noise in Cammie's head.

"Max! Max, wake up!" Steve yelled, though his voice was getting quieter and quieter like he was moving away from Cammie, or like Cammie was being dragged underwater slowly.

Cammie winced as she let go of Max, leaning backwards on her knees and covering her ears. The ticking sped up, a ragged sob falling from Cammie's lips as the pain just got worse and worse.

"Cammie?! Cammie?!" Lucas grabbed Cammie's arm. "Cammie, what is it?!" he yelled.

Dustin screamed as Max's body slowly levitated into the air, arms out at her side and legs dangling limply as she got higher and higher. The ticking turned into one, long and intense ring, Cammie screaming as the noise drowned out everything going on around her.

Her entire body felt like it was on fire, but she could feel her veins freezing inside of her, heart starting to slow down as her body ached with each breath she tried to take through her lungs. She could taste copper blood on her tongue and her eyes rolled back in her head, her body finally giving in to the torture she was experiencing. 

Her body fell limp onto the grass, breathing shallow.

"Cammie!" Steve yelled, moving to her side as her body started seizing.

"Max!" Lucas yelled, standing up and trying to jump and grab Max's foot.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Dustin screamed.

Cammie's body slammed against a cold, wet floor. Her eyes shot open and she looked around, seeing that her surroundings were all black ruins with a red sky and red lightning flashing above her.

Cammie swallowed roughly as she got to her feet. This was the Upside Down.

"Oh, fuck," Cammie whispered.

Kate Bush was playing somewhere faintly in the distance and Cammie looked around, seeing a larger collection of ruins about thirty feet ahead of her. She squinted when she saw a flash of blue through the red, stepping forward unsurely.

"Max! Cammie!" Dustin's voice came from somewhere.

Cammie turned around, seeing a portal had opened in the sky to show the scene at the graveyard. Max was still floating in the air with Lucas trying to grab her leg, while Dustin and Steve were fretting over Cammie's seizing body.

"Cammie!" Max's voice yelled.

Cammie spun around again, seeing Max was running towards her in her blue jacket.

"Max!" Cammie yelled, starting to run towards her.

"Cammie! Cammie, he's here!" Max cried.

"Thirteen," the low voice from Cammie's nightmares whispered.

Cammie stopped in her tracks, looking around with her hands raised, ready to use any powers she had to to keep Max safe.

"Thirteen. Follow me. I have something to show you," the voice whispered.

A vine on the floor curled around Cammie's ankle and she looked down, breath catching in her throat when she saw exactly what it looked like; the tentacles she'd made last year at Starcourt Mall to defeat the Mind Flayer.

"Oh, shit," Cammie breathed.

"Cammie!" Max yelled.

Cammie looked up, eyes widening when she saw Max was just feet away from her. Cammie held the vine in place with her hand, stomping on it until it let go of her ankle. She grabbed Max's hand and dragged her forward, squeezing her hand tightly as they dodged collapsing structures blocking their way to the portal.

One of the structures in front of them exploded and Cammie waved her free hand at it, sending the destruction flying behind them without hitting them.

Kate Bush was getting louder the closer to the portal they got and Max squeezed Cammie's hand tightly three times. Cammie squeezed back, wincing as the bright sunlight started to burn her vision.

"Thirteen... Thirteen," the voice whispered.

Cammie refused to look back. She just held onto Max's hand tighter, pulling her forward through the portal and away from Vecna.

Cammie shot up from the grass with a gasp, barely having time to lift her arms and catch Max's falling body in the air with her powers before she broke her legs from the fall. Cammie levitated her down slowly, head ringing with the sound of the boys screaming their names.

Max started sobbing as soon as she landed on Cammie's lap, turning around to bury her face in Cammie's neck. Cammie wrapped her arms tightly around Max, staring at Steve with teary eyes.

He was a total wreck, tears streaming openly down his cheeks as he panted for breath. He put one arm out, wrapping the two girls into a side hug. He kissed each of their foreheads, sighing in relief.

"You're okay. You're both okay. I got you," Steve whispered, holding them close.

Lucas and Dustin stared at the girls from their seats on the grass, tears staining their cheeks. Cammie stared back at them, holding Max tighter as her sobs picked up.

"We thought we lost you both," Dustin whispered.

"We're still here," Max whispered, barely loud enough over her tears.

Cammie just rested her chin on Max's shoulder, closing her eyes as she tried to keep her heartbeat steady in her chest.

Max had heard the voice calling for Thirteen, and Cammie had seen the vines that looked identical to the tentacles she'd made last year, so Max had surely seen them, too.

Cammie swallowed roughly, bringing her hand up to rub her face. Maybe Callum would have answers about this. After all, it seemed to be Cammie's past in the lab that Vecna was focusing on, and Callum played a big part in that.

"Shit," Cammie breathed. "Shit, shit, shit," she whispered.