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You must resist it, resist it!
The man's voice from the memory echoed loudly in Will's mind. Henry struggled to walk through the cave, stumbling over and over again between the walls of the cave. The pain that shot through Henry affected Will as well, he let out a scream of agony and fell to his knees. Worries were plastered all over everyone's faces, not knowing what was happening and scared that they knew whatever happened, they probably couldn't do anything about it. It's all between Will and Henry.
"Will! Will, what's wrong?" Mike asked, panic struck him.
Will let out a groan, "It's Henry. He's made it into the cave."
"He's found them. He found Holly and the kids," he continued.
"Where's El? Is she okay? Did you see her? Or Kali, or Max?" Mike questioned.
"They're alone. The kids—they're all alone," Will breathed out. "You need to go."
"Will—" Mike started but cut off by Will's shouting, "Just go—Now!"
Nancy was the first to move, followed by the rest. Mike hesitated, he couldn't leave his best friend behind. He won't but he had no choice when Joyce urged him to follow the others. Even if he's there, he couldn't do much on what's happening between Will and Henry. Mike let out a devastated sigh, he squeezed Will's shoulder and ran towards the others. He glanced back, hoping Will would be okay.
The kids are now down the hole where Max escaped (and Holly, almost). The voice are now getting louder, reverberating throughout his head.
How did you find me?
Please, mister. Don't shoot.
Who are you?
Henry. Henry Creel. I live near here.
Who sent you?!
Nobody sent me! I was in the caves. I heard a scream.
They sent you...They sent you!
You're just confused! You need a doctor.
The gun the man was holding went off, hitting Henry's palm. Will felt it too, his hands flew back as if he was the one in the memory.
"What's happening?" Joyce asked, her heart jumped seeing his son's sudden move.
"He's in a memory now. And he's scared. He's so scared." Will groaned, struggling to control his own body.
The young Henry picked the nearby rock, slamming it hard on the man's face. Blood splattered on his Boy Scout's uniform and face. When the man on the ground went silent, Henry dropped the bloodied rock, breathing heavily. It had to be done. The older Henry watched the whole scene, his memory that he wish he could forget forever. The younger Henry sobbed as he took the case from the unconscious man. White smoke was released when he unlocked the case, revealing a dark stone with red cracks on it. He held it on the palm of his hand that was shot—An immediate vision engulfed him.
"Find me." A deep, unsettling voice whispered in the midst of an unknown place. The sky was painted yellowish-red, almost like a sunset but there's a massive, tangled thicket suspended and moving around in the air. The inside looked like it was storming.
The stone then dispersed into young Henry's wound, an excruciating pain struck him—And Will.
"You...must resist it. It will...consume you, It will consume...all—"
The younger Henry didn't waste any time before holding out his hand, exploding both of the man's eyeballs. Shocked by his own doings, Henry backed away until his back hits the wooden pole. When he felt a liquid trickling down his nose, he touched to see what it was; it was blood. He hyperventilated and ran out of the place, now leaving the older Henry alone with the aftermath of his memory.
The memory made Will realised something.
"It wasn't you," Will spoke. "It was never you,"
"Leave me alone." Henry replied, his voice was sorrowful.
"That's why the Mind Flayer didn't want you in the cave. It didn't want you to remember."
Henry sobbed, "I said, leave me alone."
"You were just a kid, a kid like me. And it used you. It used you to bring it here. You're just like me, Henry; A vessel. But you can resist it. Help us fight it. Don't let it win, Henry, please. Don't let it win." Will couldn't help but felt bad. He knew what it felt like.
There was a moment of silence before Henry spoke up, "No, it showed me the truth. It showed me that this world is broken. That man is broken."
"Don't listen to it, Henry. It is controlling you right now!" Will pleaded, hoping Henry would do the right thing.
"It has never controlled me. And I never controlled it. Don't you see, William? I could have resisted it but I chose to join it. It needs...me. And I need it. We are one."
The once settled dark 'branches' unfolded itself into a massive creature. It resembled the monster that they fought in the Starcourt Mall few years back, The Mind Flayer is here. The group retreated as the Mind Flayer let out a terrifying screech. The ground shook as the creature moved, the group struggled to run, stumbling all over.
"What do we do?!" Robin shouted, her legs were weak from the fear of knowing that they were being chased by a massive interdimensional creature but she managed to hold on.
"We need to spread out!" Nancy shouted.
The dust from the ground were all over the air, the unstable ground makes it hard for the group to move around. The Mind Flayer stomped one of its limbs near Dustin, making him tripped and dropped to the ground. He swore he saw his life flashed before his eyes before Lucas saved him.
"Henry, You need to stop!" Will demanded, it was unbearable. He couldn't watch his friends, brother and Mike fighting a battle against the Mind Flayer. They don't even know its weakness or if it can even be defeated in its own dimension.
"Get out, William." Henry's voice was calm like he'd been in this situation countless of times.
Will refused, he needs to do something. There has to be something that can stop the Mind Flayer and Henry. He tried to tapped deeper into the hive mind, he's trying to control Henry again. A splitting headache hits him, he let out a painful moan. Henry is resisting harder now that he knows Will was able to control him, like a sorcerer.
"Will, what's happening?" Joyce grabbed his shoulders. "Will, talk to me!"
Will let out another painful moan, pushing himself to take the wheel away from Henry.
"William." Henry warned.
Will couldn't care less, he needs to save his friends. Even if it'll take everything in him he'll do it. He took a deep breath before tapping harder into the hive mind—And he did. Henry was suspended in the air, a red haze clouded his vision through Vecna's eyes.
On the outside, it was pure chaos. The Mind Flayer was unrelenting, getting more feral by the second.
"It's not working," Jonathan said.
Nancy's still shooting it, every bullet was futile. It didn't hurt the Mind Flayer at all. The gasoline balloons and the flare gun didn't work either. It's like the Mind Flayer is invincible.
"Hey—It's not working!" Jonathan repeated.
Nancy glanced at him, her face revealed her panic state of mind.
"Now what?!" Mike shouted.
"Run!"
If the systems are overloaded, it will crash.
Will hoped his theory is right. If Henry's body absorbs too much of the particles, it would cause damage to its body. All the vines that had been pumping the particles into the kids are being reversed by him, pumping itself into Henry's body. Will almost forgot whatever happens to Henry, he would feel it too. He felt the familiar coldness moving through his veins. It feels like he's trying to breathe in a mountain of sand.
"Get out!" Henry tries to take his autonomy back.
Will let out a blood-curdling scream, blood was leaking out of his ears now. He's been tapping into the hive mind for too long, forcing his way in. He felt that violent, rhythmic thrumming against his skull. It was unbearable, but the thought of losing everyone he loves was worse, so he held on. The vessel is the heart of the Mind Flayer. If Will managed to weakened the heart, there's a chance for them to win against the Mind Flayer.
The outside's chaos was still ongoing. Nothing could penetrate the Mind Flayer; it was an endless battle. A boulder flew through the air and hit the creature, causing it to stumble. The creature turned toward the direction of the boulder and shrieked as it charged toward Eleven. She charged forward as well, launching herself into the air. Ripped open the creature, and landed inside.
Henry was still attached to the vines but something is wrong. Something is wrong for him. Eleven frowned, but she didn't want to waste any time and pulled him away from the vines. He dropped flat on the ground, he seemed weakened. Just when he tried to pull himself together, Eleven threw Henry hard against the inside cavity of the Mind Flayer, earning a groan from him. His limbs were jerking and twitching as if someone is holding him back. Then it hits Eleven, Will is in this fight too.
Eleven didn't give him any chance to strike, she raised her hand again but was interrupted by a wave of invisible force slamming her against the wall. He was fighting two battles, one in his mind against Will and the other with Eleven.
Henry's body has been weakened by the particles overload Will was forcing on him, but he used his anger to stay standing. He raised his hand, stretching it out toward Eleven. She avoided it with ease and slammed him again, on the ground this time. Henry groaned and lunged forward, grabbing Eleven's throat and lifted her off the ground. He tried to squeeze it, he tried to end her life but his arm was severed by Will. Henry didn't expect this to happen and he was in shock, this gave Eleven a chance to strike.
She let out a scream and blasted him back, impaling him on a sharp tusk-like thing on the ground.
But it didn't just hurt Henry—it hurted Will as well. Will let out a scream and slipped out of the hive mind, collapsing on the dusty ground. He could feel his entire chest hurting as he passed out.
"No—Will, honey!" Joyce wailed.
The Mind Flayer let out another shriek, it seemed hurt. Nancy starts shooting it again, this time it was hurting. Lucas and Mike glanced at each other before throwing the gasoline balloons and shooting flare guns again.
Steve and Dustin decided to attack it from below, stabbing the Mind Flayer relentlessly. A thick, clear ooze began to leak from the wounds, smelling like rotting meat and old chemicals.
After some more fighting, the Mind Flayer dropped dead. Nancy was the first to enter the inside of the creature.
"El! Are you alright?" Nancy asked, pulling Eleven into a hug.
"I'm fine."
Nancy glanced behind Eleven, Henry was impaled and unmoving. Her attention soon turned to Holly, "Holly!"
Mike ran inside, "El! You okay?"
Eleven nodded.
Just like Nancy, Mike ran towards his sisters.
When all the kids were pulled off the vines, Dustin spoke up. "Uh, guys—I think something’s wrong."
"What?" Steve asked.
Everyone turned to Dustin, who was staring outside. Mike followed his gaze, and yes—something was terribly wrong.
Joyce sounded frantic. They could hear her cries echo across the vast space.
"Will," Mike breathed, and he sprinted toward them. Jonathan followed close behind.
"Will, Will—sweetheart, wake up!" Joyce cried.
"Will!" Mike shouted, breath heavy from running. "Will, can you hear me? Will, come back to us!"
Mike pressed his head to Will’s chest. "His pulse is weak," he said quietly.
"W-what?" Joyce stammered.
Jonathan pushed Mike aside and placed his hands on Will’s chest, one over the other. "One… two… three… four—come on, Will."
Mike watched as Jonathan did CPR on his best friend, tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t lose him again. He stared at Will’s face—blood trickling from his nose, eyes, and ears.
Will had to survive. There were so many things Mike hadn’t figured out yet, and he needed Will. But seeing Will lying there, unconscious, made him realize something.
He loved Will. Not just as a friend. Not even just a best friend. More than that.
"It’s not working," Mike said, panic rising. "It’s not working—Jonathan, let me!" He shoved him aside.
"Will, come on. Come back to me, please. I need you. I—I love you. Please," Mike sobbed as he breathed into Will’s mouth and pressed down on his chest again and again.
Joyce sobbed, holding Will’s head. Jonathan wrapped his arms around her.
"W-Will," Mike’s voice broke. "Please come back. I love you. I love you so much. I—I can’t lose you again. Please, Will. Come back to me."
Will suddenly gasped, sitting up.
"Will!" Joyce cried, pulling him into a hug.
"Thank God," Jonathan said softly as he joined them. "I thought we lost you, bud." He kissed Will’s forehead.
Will choked on his sobs, clinging tightly to his mother and brother.
When they finally pulled away, Mike grabbed Will and pulled him into a hug. "Will!"
"Mike," Will whispered weakly.
They pulled away from the hug and looked at each other for a moment. Will gave a small, weak smile. Mike just stared back, eyes full of tears. He swallowed hard before leaning in and pressing his lips against Will’s.
Will froze. He couldn’t tell if it was real. His mind went blank.
Mike pulled back. "I love you. Please don’t ever do that again." He let out a shaky laugh and pulled Will into another hug.
Jonathan and Joyce stood quietly to the side, watching the two boys in front of them.
"M-Mike, what—"
Mike looked at Will, confused. "What’s wrong?"
Will’s breath caught in his throat. "Y-You kissed me."
Mike’s eyes widened. "Fuck—oh, I—I didn’t mean that. I was just scared, okay? Really scared, and I—"
Will let out a soft laugh. "I don’t mind it."
"Cool. Yeah. Yeah—cool," Mike nodded, trying to cover up his panic.
"Cool," Will echoed.
Mike realized he was being stupid. He chuckled and closed his eyes, embarrassed. "I’m sorry."
"I only accept kisses as an apology," Will said shyly.
Mike looked up and smiled. He rested one hand on Will’s cheek, the other on the back of his neck. "I…" He couldn’t say it. He was too shy.
"I love you too," Will said softly. "I heard everything when I was unconscious."
Mike blushed, recalling everything he had said.
They looked at each other for a moment before leaning in for another kiss.
Mike leaned in slowly this time, giving Will a moment to pull away, but he didn’t. Their lips met softly, hesitant at first, then surer. Will’s hand curled into Mike’s shirt, grounding himself, while Mike stayed close like he was afraid to let go. The kiss was gentle and quiet, full of everything they hadn’t said, and when they pulled back, their foreheads stayed pressed together, both breathing a little harder than before.