20
Mrs Richie Wheeler, thank you for following me!
25th December, 1985
Still collapsed in the snow. Still unable to feel anything. Damp seeped through into Eleven's skin, biting at her viciously.
She barely felt it.
And even if it was hurting, she deserved it.
Because she'd killed him- she'd- she'd killed him-
And Eleven could only think of Mike, like that might bring him back.
Mike is gone.
The thought rang through Eleven's head, sharp and clear as a bell. It hit her- no one would ever know what Mike Wheeler was truly like, not even her. No one could know what thoughts he had when he smelt something or tasted something, or what memories came back when he saw a cat, or-
Eleven let out a fresh sob at the thought, and curled up into the foetal position. Suddenly, pressure on her shoulders.
`It's okay, El. It wasn't your fault.' Will's voice. He pulled her up, so she was sat in the snow. Eleven saw Dustin and Lucas and Max and Holly, all gathered at the base of the tree. `Try and take a breath.'
`I killed him,' Eleven whispered hoarsely.
`Don't think about that right now. Come on, breathe in and out. With me.'
There was movement behind Will as Dustin knelt down. `Mom said we should cross people's arms across their chest,' he said solemnly, before carefully doing so.
And then he halted, a weird look on his face.
`Dustin, you okay?' Max asked, looking concerned.
`I- hang on.' Dustin pulled up Mike's eyelid. Eleven wanted to scream at him, scream at him to leave Mike alone.
`Stop it, Dustin. He's gone.' Max's voice was hard but sympathetic. Eleven suddenly realised Max was as sad as the others.
`Shut up! I think- let me check.' He pressed two fingers into Mike's wrist. Checked again, and Dustin let out a gasp, light suddenly sparking in his eyes.
`I can feel his pulse! Will! El! I can feel his pulse!'
`What?' Gasped Lucas, dropping to his own knees and checking. `Oh my God! Oh my God! Max, quick, phone an ambulance!'
`On it,' she barked. Max sprinted away through the Barrens.
Eleven scrambled to her feet, and pushed Dustin out of the way, and lay her head on Mike's chest.
She let out a noise, halfway between a cry and a laugh of joy.
It was there.
She wasn't imagining it.
Mike's heart was beating.
He was alive.
0
26th December, 1985
Local Youngsters Overpower Criminal in Clown Mask
A would-be burglar attempted to rob the Tozier house after placing a phone call informing Margaret and Wentworth Tozier a close relative had died. However, upon going to break in, the criminal discovered Richard Tozier and several of his friends on a sleepover. After chasing him through the Barrens Tozier and his friends found the missing Hawkins children in the woods. An eventful evening, to say the least. The two groups teamed up and managed to chase off the thief.
Sadly, the evening was not without tragedy.
Michael Wheeler is currently in critical condition at Derry hospital, due to suspected head trauma. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
0
23rd January, 1986
After a month, the nurses in Derry Hospital were all familiar with the strange, silent girl, who visited Michael Wheeler in Room 353. Of course, they thought her name was Elliot, but that was irrelevant.
Eleven walked quietly through the sterile, gleaming corridors; she hadn't seen a place this clean since Hawkins Lab. The resemblance to the lab made it difficult for Eleven to visit Mike and not feel scared.
Still she climbed the stairs up to Mike's room. Eleven noticed her hand, with it's grubby skin and dirty fingernails, on the polished silver banister. It looked like it didn't belong, just like her. The flight of stairs ended, and Eleven followed the painted yellow line on the floor. A woman in a white uniform wheeled a sleeping patient along the corridor.
`Hi, Elliot!' Nurse Mackintosh greeted her, stopping for a moment.
`Morning,' Eleven replied, smiling politely. It was nine a.m. White, winter light shone through the windows, reflecting on the floor.
`Off to see Mr Wheeler again?' There was a sympathetic note in the nurse's voice. Eleven nodded, holding up the tinfoil wrapped plate.
`Yeah.' His room was only three doors along; Eleven knocked on the door, even though she knew there was no need, and then pushed it open. The beeping and whirring reached her ears. Mike lay on the clean bed, his dark hair spread out behind him on the pillow, freckles still. The plate she brought yesterday was untouched on the locker next to his bed. Eleven replaced it with the plate she carried- two Eggos, with whipped cream and maple syrup. She took a deep breath, swallowed, and smiled down at him, hoping she sounded cheerful.
`Today was fun,' she told him, settling down in the chair. `Holly did you a drawing.' It was folded carefully in her pocket. Eleven took it out and added it to the collection already pinned on the wall. `And Max gave me The Colour Purple. It's harder to read than the stuff Bill gave me, but I still like it.'
Eleven told Mike all about her day, as usual. Passed on any drawings Holly did, who was fast developing a love for art, or any messages from the others. The rest of the Party sometimes visited with her, but not today. And his parents never came. Eleven talked at Mike until her voice was hoarse.
`Can't think of anything else to say,'she said finally. Mike's face didn't move. Eleven bit her lip. `Could you squeeze my hand? Or something?' She moved forward in her chair and held Mike's hand, squeezed it as if to show him how it was done.
No response.
Eleven leaned back. She'd really thought doing that might wake him up.
`I'll come back tomorrow. I promise. Dustin says he'll bring comics for when you're awake.'
Steam had stopped rising off the Eggos. Eleven stood up, feeling, as always, like that might be the last time she saw Mike. With some difficulty, she walked out of the door, not wanting to be caught in there after visiting hours were over.
In the month since that horrible day, Will had offered her a home and Eleven had accepted. Now her legal guardian was Joyce Byers. Will seemed a lot happier. Since Joyce had relaxed a little their relationship had certainly improved itself, and the temporary move to Derry appeared to be repairing her nerves.
Eleven left the hospital, deliberately refusing to look at the Barrens. She made her way to a slightly pricier hotel than where Kali's friends had stayed, where Holly, the Byers, and her were staying.
The hotel rooms were mainly paid for out of Joyce chasing up Lonny on several years worth of alimony.
Smiling at the memory of that phone call, Eleven took her key out of her pocket, and let herself into the room she shared with Holly and Joyce. Jonathon and Will were in the neighbouring one.
The scent of coffee greeted her, warm and comforting. Clothes, books, drawings and crayons were spilled out around the room, like an explosion of homeliness.
Mike hadn't woken up.
But he would. Soon.
El Byers settled herself down in front of the TV, and began to watch Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak.
0
Midnight.
The hospital was silent, aside from the squeaking of nurse's shoes. Mike Wheeler, with several tubes in his arm, breathed steadily and evenly.
Eleven PennyRiddle NononoMikehowdoIstopthebleeding WILL! EL! Would you like to see your friend aloneTicklesiloveyou TASTESLIKECHICKENthe Demogorgon. It got me
Through the rush of thoughts, Mike picked out one- Tickles. He wondered why-
And then realized the thing in his nose tickled.
What was it…
Eleven's there. I told you, remember? Derry iHop Sorry, Holly-
Mike tried to jerk himself out of the rush of thoughts, trying desperately to latch onto something else.
There was something in his nose…
Oxygen. Cannula. That was it.
Holly drew you a picture today-
ELEVEN!
They're- American-
Elliot-
Demogorgon-
BadmenPapaLabRUNgo go go!-
Again, the rush of thoughts threatened to overtake him. Okay. Cannula. What else?
Mike felt his hand clench on something slippery. His fingers felt weak, but he managed to focus on it. Bed sheets. That was it.
Cannula. Bed sheets. Something soft under his head- pillow.
Beeping.
And a sweet smell, the smell of Eggos. Who would have brought him Eggos...
Eleven.
With a gasp, Mike Wheeler opened his eyes.
The End
