It had been several months since El's disappearance and Mike was struggling to accept it. He felt guilty, like he had somehow caused her to go, like he could have saved her. But with the snow ball in a week's time, all his memories and sadness was returning to him and everyone knew it.

"Is everything okay Mike?" his mom asked him every time he walked through the door, to which Mike would turn and give a single nod, before disappearing into his room.

Often times he could be found clutching his radio under the table where she slept.

"Mike!" Dustin shouted as him and Lucas charged down the stairs to the basement. "My mom is taking us to the Movie Theater to watch Ghostbusters!" He announced "Will was busy so we wondered if you wanted to come."

"It's alright man" Mike stammered. "You guys go on ahead, I'm a little tired."

"You're missing El, aren't you?" Lucas murmured, "We miss her too you know, but she's gone now" he explained, sitting on the floor next to Mike, "We can't change that".

"What if we can?" Mike stated "What if she's out there alone like before?" He questioned, looking from Dustin to Lucas, looking for some sign of consolidation.

"Mike" Dustin said putting his hand on Mike's shoulder "We saw her disappear with the demogorgon" he pointed out, looking towards his feet, "She's not coming back"

"Come with us Mike" Lucas Insisted. "It will help you feel better."

"Alright you two just let me get my jacket" Mike conceded. "But don't spoil this one!" he complained begrudgingly.

"Oh come on, you must have guessed he was Luke's dad!" Dustin complained. "We'll be outside" Dustin noted as him and Lucas stampeded up to the kitchen. "Don't take too long!" he shouted behind him at the top of the stairs.

As Mike got up from El's den he shook his head, hoping to get rid of the constant sound of her final words. He trembled over to his jacket where he removed his jacket from under a packet of Eggos.

"Eggos..." He muttered to himself, "Why does it have to be Eggos?" Mike complained, his mind filled with memories of El once again.

Composing himself, he climbed out of the basement heading straight to the door.

"No turning back!" He told himself, "This is how it is!"

He continued onward, leaving all his memories behind. He stepped out into the open air and felt freedom he hadn't felt in a long time.

"You coming or what?" Dustin shouted over from the car, gesturing to his watch.

"I'm right here Dustin! Chill!" Mike shouted back, he just couldn't shake the feeling of guilt.

As Mike looked back at the house one more time, he took in a deep breath and prepared for the worst.

Time passed by and Mike could feel his head crying in pain from the emotions he felt. He missed her more than anything, her voice (quite a lot for how little he heard of it), her smile and even her powerful superhuman side, which honestly terrified Mike, but he would never tell her or anyone else that.

He spent hours contemplating, misunderstanding where he went wrong. Why did it have to happen to him?

Arriving home, he heard his friends call behind him from the car as it pulled away.

"See you tomorrow Mike!"

Mike just had time to turn and nod before they sped off down the moonlit road.

As Mike walked into his hall, everything was so quiet. His parents had gone to bed and he felt even more alone than before. His breath felt heavy as he tiptoed up the staircase. He collapsed onto his bed and his eyes shut instantly sending him in for a long sleep.

"Mike..." a unknown voice calls softly, "Mike are you there?"

Mikes eyes suddenly flutter open, but something wasn't right, this wasn't his room, this wasn't anywhere. There was just darkness as far as the eye could see.

"Please Mike..." The voice called again and Mike snapped to attention.

"Who are you?" Mike queried outwardly, "Who am I speaking to?"

"Mike..." the voice calls once again from far away, to which Mike turned to see a similar sized silhouette to his own looking lost.

"Please help me..." the voice says, "Please Mike..."

Mike's eyes widened all of a sudden as the figure turns and makes eye contact with him. Could it be? How is it possible? So many questions floating around his head.

He stutters as he tries to speak, trying to say one word and one word only.

He looks into the figures eyes, almost forgetting to blink and trying not to break into tears as he says...

"El..."

She stepped forward revealing her face to him, beaten and bruised. Mike stared at her horrified as his heart rate spiked so high he sprung up out of bed and El was gone, he was alone again.