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The car is silent as they hurtle through the dark, black shadows of trees looming over the road and leaves rattling up in bone-white flashes in the headlights. A million questions scream around Nancy’s head. Beside her, she can feel the storm of panic and confusion (and probably guilt) quaking inside Jonathan, although the only sign is the white-knuckle grip he has on the wheel and the way his eyes flick between the road and Will and Joyce in the rearview mirror.
Now is not the time to ask for answers, though. Joyce is crying silently with frantic, jagged breaths. Will is limp, silent and unmoving. And Mike - Nancy can see some of his face in the mirror, white and wide-eyed and staring. He gave a jutterring nod when Jonathan asked if Will was still alive, but that’s the only response he’s given so far.
The scene they drove up to flashes behind her eyes: Will like a ragdoll in Mike’s arms, Joyce screaming in Hopper’s. The expression on her brother’s face chilled her to the bone, and it has not changed.
What happened?
What happened?
What happened?
How could something else happen? How could there be more? They were only gone for 48 hours….
They pull up in the Byers’ front yard with Hopper right behind them. Steve and the other kids spill out of his car in a frenzied clamoring mass, but no one in their vehicle moves. Then Hopper opens Joyce’s door. He talks to her low and soft, slowly pulling her from the backseat.
“Will - Will, “ Joyce’s hands grab for Will and Jonathan turns.
“I’ll get him, Mom. I’ve got him.”
Mike is still holding him. Will’s prone form is sprawled across the backseat, head and shoulders in Mike’s lap. Mike’s arms wind tight around Will’s chest, still holding on for dear life as he stairs straight ahead.
Jonathan gets out and comes around to Mike’s door. He tries to ease Will from the car, but Mike isn’t letting go.
“Hey Mike, you’ve gotta let go. I’ve gotta get him inside.”
Nancy has never seen her brother’s eyes so big. She reaches from the front seat to lay a hand on Mike’s knee.
“Mike?” She keeps her voice soft, like she talks to Holly when she’s just woken up from a nap. “Mike, it’s okay. You’re safe now. Let Jonathan take Will.”
Mike’s eyes focus on her. His grip finally relaxes and Jonathan’s able to haul his little brother into his arms and carry him toward the house. Mike still doesn’t move.
Concern balloons in Nancy’s chest.
“Are you okay? Mike?” She squeezes his knee, searching for signs of injury in the darkness.
Mike gulps, takes a shaky breath, then, without warning, bolts from the car.
“Mike!’
Nancy follows, but he only goes a few staggering strides before bending over to throw up. Nancy stops just behind him. In the glare of the headlights, she can see blood soaking into Mike’s shoes and the cuffs of his pants.
Nancy puts an arm around his shaking shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Bob’s… Bob’s dead,” Mike chokes out. He wipes his mouth on the cuff of his jacket.
“... Who?” Nancy’s brain feels sluggish.
“Mrs. Byers’ boyfriend.” Mike’s voice trembles. “He went down to the basement to open the doors for us. He didn’t come out. He’s dead like all those scientists and probably Dr. Owens.”
A strangled sob wells up in Mike’s throat and tears streak his cheeks when he looks suddenly up toward Nancy.
“We saw them on our way out… dead bodies everywhere…. Blood. Other things. The demigorgons are back and there are dozens of them, Nancy.”
There is terror in his face. Nancy feels like being sick too as it dawns on her where Mike has been. What might have happened to him. She pulls him into her arms, hugging tight with all that fear. And he hugs her back. Tight. Buries his face in her shoulder with another sob.
They stand like this for a minute, until Steve’s voice hits them from the house.
“Guys, it’s probably not safe to be out there!”
“Come on.” Nancy guides Mike toward the front door.
“How did you find us?” he asks.
“It’s… sort of a long story. What the hell happened? How did you end up there?”
Mike gives a hollow, shaky laugh.
“What?” Nancy demands.
“Last year we promised we’d tell each other everything. No more secrets.”
Nancy bites her lip. She wonders if Mike tried to find her while she and Jonathan were away. If she might have been able to help had she been here.
“I’m sorry,” she tells him as they reach the front door. “I should’ve told you where I was going and why.”
“I should’ve told you what was going on with Will and Dustin,” Mike mumbles. “I’m sorry too.”
Steve is still waiting in the doorway, nail bat over his shoulder and eyes scanning the dark. He pulls them inside and closes the door firmly behind them.
“Well, lucky for you two, it’s story time now. What the hell is going on?”