Chapter 1 - Dear Billy
Do you know what would be good right about now? A goddamn beer. Instead, I was trudging through the Hawkins-not-so-Hawkins cemetery with a body that still felt stiff as a board. I must have been laying for the longest damn time to feel like some corpse...or maybe I was a corpse? Nah, I sure as fuck didn't want to think about that.
I couldn't have really been that dead; I mean, look at me! Besides the soil that covered me from head to toe and my fucked up hands, I don't even look like I went a few rounds with that mind fucker, not to mention the car accident before that. Ugh, my baby...I felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of my car being destroyed, and I couldn't even blame anyone for it. Besides myself...
More memories sifted through my head, the sounds of my own screams as I was dragged into that old steel mill. The way my nails scraped bloody on the floor on my way down. The fucking thing infecting me, making me do whatever it damn well pleased. Taking Heather..her parents..all those people..kids even.
Red-hot anger coursed through my veins at the very thought. Someone will fucking pay for this. No one tells me what to do and lives except maybe Neil. I wonder what that bastard is doing without me, with his fucking little bitch puppet gone. Was Max to suffer through it now? I really hope not..id have to kill him finally.
You really couldn't tell if it was night or day here; it all looked the same besides the thunderous red clouds, and the air quality felt like you were inhaling water from a wet, dirty mop.
I was almost out of the cemetery when my stomach fiercely twisted. I had to find supplies soon before I died of thirst and hunger, and something tells me this place didn't have just little ol' me in it. That thing was from here; there's no telling what other ugly fucking critters came out of here.
As if on cue, loud screeching interrupted my thoughts; thousands of creatures could be seen flying up in the dark skies above the cemetery. I stopped dead in my tracks and watched them swarm the entrance I was walking to.
Well not going that way... I turned back the way I came from at a fast walk now, wanting to avoid catching their attention when I had no weapon.
There was a weird charged energy in the air. I could feel it buzzing in my bones, nearly electrifying. Something was close, something big and powerful. It made my fingers twitch with how much charge it gave me. Almost felt like the adrenaline you get right before a fight but much more tangible.
That's when I heard it. Not it, Maxine.
"Dear Billy, I don't even know if you can hear this."
I stopped moving. I spun in a circle, trying to pinpoint where her voice was coming from.
"Two years ago, I would've said, "that's ridiculous, impossible." But that was before I found out about alternate dimensions and monsters, so I'm just going to stop assuming that I know anything."
"MAX! MAX, I CAN HEAR YOU! WHERE ARE YOU?" I shouted, breaking out in a run.
I returned to my grave; that's where she sounded the loudest. Was she on the other side? She's not here..why can I hear her?
"Shitbird! I'm here. I can hear you!" I tried again, my voice booming out into the vast area.
"So much has happened since you left. Your dad was a total mess. He and my mom started getting into fights. Bad fights. I don't think he could stand being here without you. So he left. And he didn't leave mom much. She's taken an extra job, and we moved to that lovely trailer park off Kerley."
I sucked in a breath. Of course, that fucking monster wouldn't stick around. Just leave them to fend for themselves, coward.
"He didn't care about me, Max. He didn't care about anyone. He lost control over me; that's all he cared about..." Sighing, I sat on a tombstone nearby. She can't hear me...
"Basically, ever since you left, everything's been a total disaster. And the worst part is, I can't tell anyone why you're gone. I can't tell them that you saved El's life. That you saved my life. I play that moment back in my head all the time. And sometimes, I imagine myself running to you, pulling you away. I imagine that if I had, that you would still be here. And everything would be right again. I imagine that we could've become friends—good friends, like a real brother and sister. And I know that's stupid. You hated me. I hated you. But I thought that maybe we could try again. But that's not what happened. I just stood there, and I watched."
No, no.."No Max! This wasn't your fault! It had to be done; It just had to! After everything I did, I had to.." My heart ached. Her words twisted my insides. Was this guilt? I hated it.
"I didn't hate you, Max! I hated myself! I hated my dad... I hated what it turned me into...no. I could never hate you!"
My eyes gravitated to my bloody hands. Friends. She wanted to be my sister...
"For a while, I tried to be happy. Normal. But I think that maybe a part of me died that day too. And I haven't told anyone this. I just can't. But I had to tell you. Before it's too late. If you can even hear this, and I really hope that you can. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Billy."
Tears welled up in my eyes. What did she have to be sorry for? I was the shitty brother..."I'm sorry, Max..I'm so sorry. I'm still here; it's not too late. I want to do better." I need to do better.
"Love, your shitty little sister, Max."
"Don't go, Max, I'm here! Im fucking her-the wind was knocked out of me as I was thrown several yards from my grave, hitting and destroying different tombstones as I flew.
"Hmpf-" Pain erupted through my body as I collided with a large tree. What the fuck was that? I slumped to the floor, struggling to stand as a force pushed me down. The taste of copper spread on my tongue—blood from a cut on my lip.
Ah, now, doesn't that feel familiar? Rolling my eyes, I warily sat up again, shaking away the vertigo. Well, whatever it is wants me to stay over here. Too bad for it; I don't fucking listen very well.
I stumbled to my feet, holding on to the tree as I stood. Glancing over to the place I was launched from stood two figures. People?
"Max." The voice echoed throughout the graveyard.
"I've been waiting to hear those words, Max."
What the hell? Thats me. That sounds like me, looks like me, actually.
Max, he's talking to Max. With a sharp intake of breath, I realized shes here too. How?
***FLASHBACK***
"I said, What do you want?!" I yelled; The other me..just staring. I don't understand. How is there another me? Fear struck my heart, taking refuge in my aching body.
"I want you to build." It says, eyes unyielding.
"Build what?"
"What you see." It responds. The thing was eerily still. That's not me. Not real.
"I don't understand.."
"Waiting so very long." Said the distorted Billy.
She looks scared, tears running down her cheeks. That's not me... I have to get to her. He can't have her too.
"MAX! MAX, THAT'S NOT ME! IM HERE!" I yelled, pushing off the tree to take off at a full sprint toward her.
Her gaze met mine, and her eyes widened, glancing from me to the fake Billy.
"But it wasn't the full truth, was it, Max?" It states, reaching for her, Stroking her cheek.
"NO, leave her the fuck alone! You can't have her!" Im shouting, trying to get both of their attention. Almost there. I picked up the pace, weaving through the piles of broken tombstones.
Max's face scrunches up in confusion; she looks from me to this imposter. A monster, it's that fucking mind monster.
I fling my entire body at it. With a grunt, I tackled it to the ground. I sat up to pound my fists into it, but it was suddenly gone—just the floor.
"What the hell..." I mumbled, eyes darting around, bewildered and pissed all to hell. Can't even throw a fucking punch at it; what a pussy. If it was gonna show up looking like me and talk the talk, it should walk the walk too, Jesus.
"Billy...?" Max timidly asked, her actions unsure as she stepped back.
I picked myself off the ground and slowly shifted to face her, warily smiling. Her stare pleading as she looked at me, for what? I don't know; for this to be real, maybe. God, did I want this to be real too.
"Uhh...Hey, shitbird." I stepped forward cautiously, not wanting to alarm her additionally after that fuck face tried being me. I outstretched my arms with my palms up and waited patiently. (I know what a notion for me. Maybe dying put shit into perspective, okay?)
She took a lengthy pause, her eyes welling up with tears again. "Is it really you?" She questions.
Sighing, I nod, " Yeah, it's really me... I don't know how or why I'm here, but I am. I heard what you said, Max..."
She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around me and burying her face into my chest. She was taller, not so small anymore. Fuck, how long have I been gone? I hesitantly draped myself around her, hugging her to me.
"It doesn't matter now. You're here—you're alive." Max murmurs, her face still pressed into my shirt, leaving wet spots from the tears escaping her eyes.
I shook my head and pulled her away to look at me. "Of course, it matters. None of this is your fault. Do you understand?"
"What a happy reunion for you both." A couple of feet away now, Fake Billy appears, observing us; he is covered in veins and black goo-like blood.
"But you weren't telling the full truth, were you, Max? Tell him the truth." It declares, taking a step toward us.
"You know, I think there's a part of you, Max, buried somewhere deep, that wanted him to die that day...That was maybe even relieved. Happy."
Max was taken aback; she gaped at the monster. She whipped back around. "Billy, no, that's true, please."
"I know, Max, don't listen to it. He's talking out of his ass. Besides, I was an asshole. I wouldn't blame you." I reasoned with her as I glared at the fake me.
It took another threatening step toward us, Its gaze never departing from Max. Uh, fuck that. I pushed her behind me and squared my shoulders so she wasn't visible. It had to get through me before it even dared to take her.
"Ah, but it's why you stood there, isn't it, Max? It's okay; He's here; you can admit it now."
"Stop fucking talking, your boring me to death...again. You're not taking her." I interrupted, crossing my arms over my chest, though it continued like I wasn't even there.
"No more lies. No more hiding."
With a twist of its hand, I flew to the side into a crypt, smashing my head forcefully against the cement. Ugh, It's really got to stop doing that.
Max jumped back, startled by the sudden attack. "Billy!" She called. The thing on Max again, advancing on her as she took several steps away.
"That is why you feel such guilt."
"No!" She sobs, reeling out.
"Why you hide from your friends—"No, No"—Why you hide from the world. And why, late at night, you have sometimes wished to follow me. Follow HIM into death."
The sound of a clock chimed in the air, reverberating all around.
I stumbled to my feet and ran toward them. The thing was spouting bullshit, trying to get to Max. But why?
"That is why I'm here, Max." Max jerked her head, "No." She repeated over and over.
"To end your suffering, once and for all." It took one giant step, causing Max to drop off the edge of a plot, falling back onto the ground.
The thing no longer took the shape of me. It was a fugly-looking monster. Its figure remained primarily human, but the rest looked deeply intertwined with the roots and vines of this shitty place. It had no nose, and its left hand had talons for fingers.
"It is time, Max: Time for you to join me."
I bashed into it, slamming it to the floor again. "Run, Max!" I shouted as I drove my fists into its face, each punch satisfyingly snapping through the vines that make its face.
I watched to make sure Max ran, distracted; the thing slashed its talons across my shoulder. I yelled as it used unforeseen force to propel me off, thrusting me back onto another tombstone.
Hissing, I watched as the blood oozed out of the wound on my shoulder. What a bitch, that fucking hurts. I looked back up; it was gone. Fuck, another disappearing stunt. I trudged back up to my feet and ran in the direction Max went.
She couldn't have gone far- "Billy! Lucas! Dustin!" I could hear her screaming in the distance.
"MAX!" I picked up speed. She has to be here somewhere.
It's barely fighting back, hardly even acknowledging me. What the fuck does it want with Max? Something about guilt...I have plenty of that, so why is it going after her?
A wave of red fog encircled me; "Huh, creepy enough." I'm going to take a big guess and say she went this way.
"Max!" I called out. Nothing.
This place was different, even more chaotic if possible. The skies and floors were a crimson red, much like the fog. There were pointy black structures littered about, segments of rock and material floating in the air.
This place had a charged energy; I could feel it humming through my veins again. Scarily enough, just like in the sauna...
I eyed my arms; no veins. Good, that can't happen again; I'm me. There's nothing in possession of me; I had to remind myself. Dont panic.
As I ran, the floor made a gross squishing sound. I made a face; Ick- that's horrendous.
"Shit!...Shit!" I could hear Max from a distance. I whipped around to where it was coming from.
I was breathing heavily from all this goddamn running, "God damn it, Max! Where the hell are you?" I hollered, eyes going to the weirdly hovering clock chiming in the air. There, I sprinted off in that direction.
I came to an abrupt stop to the sound of...music? Not just any music, shit music. Ugh, if there was going to be a battle, it couldn't at least have been Metallica or Motley Crue, Jesus.
Rolling my eyes, I trekked up into what I'm guessing is a fucked version of a house. There was a staircase to nowhere on my right, and the creature and Max were just beyond that, straight ahead.
It had her pinned up against one of the sharp black structures, vines wrapped around her body and neck, strangling her.
Voices suddenly could be heard from behind me. There, some portal was taking shape far out ways.
"Max, wake up!" Said one voice.
"Max, Wake up!" Said another; wait, that voice sounded all too familiar. I squinted, looking into the portal. My eyes grew wide.
"Harrington?.." I murmured. Of fucking course, he's involved again. As much as I wanted to be mad, he looked after Max long before I died...
I turned back, thinking quickly; I smashed off a piece of the railing from the staircase—finally, a weapon.
"They can't help you, Max." It proclaims, making a vine constrict tighter around her neck; she was gasping for air now.
"Nah, But I can!" I growled out as I jerked forward, swinging the railing at it, aiming for its abdomen.
With a noisy "Thwack," the wood shattered into a million pieces as it collided with the monster's midsection. Blindsided, it screamed out as the force of the hit had it zooming through the air, busting through rocks.
That was surprising; holy shit didn't know I was that strong.
I turned my attention to Max, The vines had eased around her neck, but she was still firmly entangled.
"Billy!" She gasped, trying to catch her breath.
"It's alright; I'll get you out," I tell her, grabbing the vines and yanking them as hard as possible. They ripped apart effortlessly in my hands, dropping to our feet.
After the last vine, she collapsed into my arms. Hauling her up to stand, I took her face in my hands. "You good? are you hurt?" I frantically skimmed over her body, making sure there were no injuries.
"I'm okay, Billy. I'm okay." She replied, her breath shaky as she removed her head from my grasp.
I glanced to the portal where her friends and Steve still yelled for her to wake up, and the shitty song still played in the background.
"What's with the song?" I asked. Max shrugged, "It's my favorite, Kate Bush." she replied defensively.
I squinted, disdain apparent on my face. "Kate..who?"
She rolled her eyes, a small smile gracing her lips; she went to speak again when the ground shook.
"MAX," the thing roared; we looked at each other wide-eyed momentarily, panic forming in her eyes.
"Go, Max. You need to go!" I pushed her in the direction of the others.
"No, not without you! Come on, come with me, please I can't do this without you. please." She begged, reaching out for me to follow.
I took a shallow breath; she wanted me to go with her. Hope sparked in my chest, warming me from the inside out. She still wants me around even after all I did to her and her friends...
As I reached to take her hand, I was blasted back through a rotting wall. Groaning, I was fed up. God fucking damn it! What is with this fucking thing and throwing me around like a ragdoll!
"Alright, now I'm fucking pissed! Stop being a pussy and hit me like a man!-er whatever the fuck you are!" I hollered, dusting myself off and stomping back.
"Max-go! I'll hold it off, but you need to move your ass! Now!" I watched as she wavered.
"Max, You belong here with me, Max." Its voice boomed.
"No, the fuck she doesn't!-Maxine GO! It'll be okay; we'll find another way. I need you to be safe. Go!" I yelled again.
With a long look, she nodded. "Fine," she pointed at me, "But don't die in the meantime, or else I'm gonna have to bring you back just to kill you again!"
I snorted, I wanted to tell her how dumb she sounded, but the earth shook again. I glanced back at her, eyebrow raised; she took the hint. With a final nod, she rushed off toward the portal.
The gross viney monster reappeared before me like some huge ugly wizard.
"Could you at least take the shape of some hot babe or something? I'm getting real tired of looking at your face." I retorted, dodging as it swung at me with its giant talon.
I popped up, "You're shaped like a huge veiny dick, you know?" I cocked back, flinging my fist into its big ugly dick face.
"You know, actually, what I'd love? If ya turned into Harrington over there. It would be a whole lot more fun to punch you!" I express, laughing as my fist connects with its face again.
Objects started crashing down around Max as she ran; huge boulders and house bits fell around her.
Dodging another swing, I shouted, "You got it, Max!" She was almost there, almost out; gotta distract him a little longer.
Its talon grazed my neck before flinching back; I didn't move quick enough; I could feel the warm liquid dripping down my back.
"You know I've watched this movie before, Freddy Krueger; ever heard of him? Do you even get tv here in monster hell? Not very original if you ask me." I stated.
It went for my throat again, but I sidestepped in time.
"I'll be honest; I didn't really watch the movie either. I was too busy knuckles deep in this one girl to really be paying attention." I smirked; all I could really remember from that night was that she was a screamer. The whole movie theater could attest to that.
"Why do you fight? Isn't it tiring? You know this isn't you. Fighting for the innocent," It questions, "Join me, Billy."
I watched Max vault through the portal, closing it up behind her. I hung my head in relief; at least she was safer there with...dare I say it... Harrington. Gross, now I'm relying on that big dumb head of hair to do my job.
"Hmmm," I tapped my chin, pretending to think. "Me? Tired of fighting? Never." I snickered, throwing a punch to its side. "And id rather be back in that coffin than join some dickhead looking asshole."
The thing grunts, "Then I have no need for you."
With a raise of its hand, It forced me out, flying back into the Upside Down and landing on tombstone debris. I heaved myself up, ready to dive in again, but it was gone where there was once fog, now more cemetery.
I sighed, looking up to the crackling red and grey skies. "Well shit, now what?"