Work Text:
Dear Mike,
I don't know if you can hear this. I always wanted to believe there was something beyond here. I wanted to believe someone looked out for me while I was in the lab. However, I don't have all the answers.
So much has changed since you died. Dad also died that night in an explosion while stopping the Russians. I did a personal hero project on you two. I also moved to California with Joyce, Will, and Jonathan. I wish I could say my life there was better than my one here. There's this mean girl in my class named Angela, and she and her friends destroyed my hero project. I don't know if you already knew this.
Everyone thinks you died in a mall fire. I can't tell them how you got killed to save me. I often think about how I could have saved you. My powers haven't worked since that night. Who knows what we could have been if the mind flayer never got you?
I tried to move on like you would have wanted. However, I can't. I feel like I'm going to be frozen at that moment forever.
I'm sorry, Mike. I'm so very sorry.
Love, your girlfriend,
El
"El, are you done?" Max called. "El?"
Eleven's eyes rolled into the back of her head. She levitated off the ground.
Eleven was no longer in the regular Hawkin's cemetery. She was in the copy of it in the Upside-Down. Her heart stopped as she heard a clock, the same clock Chrissy and Fred heard. Vecna has me, and this is the end. Who's going to protect my friends? I can't even do that properly.
"Join me," a voice said. Eleven turned around, spotting Mike Wheeler. He looked just like he did when he died. "If you join me, you and I will be unstoppable. I know you want to join me."
Eleven stared at him. She knew this wasn't Mike. It was Vecna. However, she couldn't move. He had put her in a chance.
Just a little more time is all we're asking for
That song. It was Eleven's favorite song. Mike sang it to her before he became flayed.
'Cause just a little more time could open closing doors
Eleven snapped out of her trance. She ran away as the song continued. The world around her began to fall apart. Eleven didn't realize a giant pillar was about to fall on her.
Eleven's eyes shot open. She was back in her world.