As Dove and Steve walked along the fiery edge of the rift, the eerie silence pressed down on them. The usual sounds of the Upside Down—the screeches, the distant roars, the unsettling hum of creatures lurking in the shadows—were completely absent. The world around them was quiet, unnervingly so.
They exchanged a tense look, both feeling the weight of the silence pressing down on them. The path stretched forward, the rift casting shadows across the twisted trees and barren landscape of the Upside Down. They kept walking, their steps cautious, every sound they made seemingly amplified in the stillness.
Despite the unease gnawing at her, Dove kept her gaze fixed ahead, determined. "We're almost there," she said, more to reassure herself than anything.
Steve gave her a quick nod, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "Let's just get Eddie and Dustin, and get the hell out of here."
The trailer park finally came into view, the familiar shapes of the trailers, though distorted in the Upside Down's eerie way, filled them both with a sense of urgency.
As they neared the remains of Eddie's trailer, Dove's pulse quickened, a sinking feeling settling over her as she took in the sight. Then, in the distance, she heard a voice, faint but frantic, filled with a desperation that struck her heart like a blade.
"Dustin?" she whispered, exchanging a tense look with Steve. Neither needed to say a word. They took off running, the fear building with each step, the dread gnawing at her as the scene unfolded before them.
Dove's breath hitched as she saw him—Dustin, crouched over a motionless figure sprawled on the ground. Eddie. Dead demobats lay strewn across the ground, their twisted, grotesque forms littering the asphalt around them like remnants of a nightmare. But Dove's focus remained fixed on the stillness of Eddie's body, the eerie quiet that had overtaken him.
Dustin looked up as they approached, his face a mask of agony and defeat, his eyes red and swollen from tears. Slowly, he stood, limping toward them, one hand pressed to his side as though holding himself together only by sheer willpower. Steve reached him first, wrapping his arms around Dustin in a protective embrace. Dustin collapsed into him, his shoulders shaking as Steve held him tightly, his own expression unreadable, a mix of grief and shock.
Everything seemed to slow down, each second stretching endlessly as Dove's mind struggled to process what lay before her. Her breath caught, then shattered, leaving her gasping as she broke into a sprint toward Eddie's body, her voice rising in a desperate, choked scream that tore through the silence.
She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands reaching out, trembling as she touched his shoulder, his face, hoping—praying—for any sign of life. His bandana was askew, his face pale, streaked with dirt and blood. His skin felt cold beneath her fingertips, a chill that seeped into her bones as she realized just how still he really was. She shook him, her voice a broken whisper, "Eddie.. please. Come on, you promised.."
But there was no response. His face was peaceful, the tension gone, replaced with a stillness that struck her to her core. She cradled his head in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks, her fingers tangling in his hair as she tried to cling to him, to keep him here with her, even as the cold finality settled over his body.
The world around her felt distant, muffled, as though she were submerged underwater, caught in a surreal haze. The reality of it hit her in waves—Eddie, the friend she'd laughed with, fought beside, the one who had faced down horrors for them, was gone. The weight of the loss pressed down on her, suffocating, as she continued to hold him, the sound of her sobs mingling with the faint rustle of the desolate landscape around them.
For a moment, there was nothing but grief—a hollow, consuming ache that left her feeling as shattered as the world around them.
Dustin limped up behind Dove, his face streaked with tears, and slowly dropped to his knees beside her. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around Dove, pulling her close as they clung to each other, finding what little comfort they could in their shared grief. They cradled each other in silence, the weight of loss settling over them, pressing down like an unbearable force.
Dove held Dustin tightly, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt as she buried her face in his shoulder. She could feel Dustin's own shuddering breaths, his quiet, heartbroken sobs mixing with her own.
Gradually, their sobs softened, giving way to the quiet sorrow that lingered in the air. Dove lifted her head, wiping at her tear-streaked face as she looked up, her gaze meeting Steve's. He stood a short distance away, his eyes filled with sadness, his expression one of helplessness, as if he were unsure how to bridge the distance between them. He looked at her, his jaw clenched, his eyes silently sharing in their grief.
Dove took a shaky breath, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. "We.. we can't just leave him here."
Steve's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, hesitation flickered across his face. But then he gave a small nod, his expression resolute as he walked over, reaching down to place a gentle hand on Dustin's shoulder.
Together, they shared a moment of silent understanding—a vow, unspoken but powerful, that they would carry Eddie home, that his sacrifice would not be left forgotten in the darkness of the Upside Down.
Steve glanced around, his face grim with determination. "Stay with him," he muttered to Dove and Dustin, and before they could ask where he was going, he strode off toward a nearby trailer. He returned a moment later with a yellowed sheet, his expression unreadable as he spread it beside Eddie's body.
They moved quietly, each gesture gentle and reverent as they maneuvered Eddie onto the makeshift stretcher. Steve and Dustin tied knots at the corners, forming crude handles to carry him by. With a silent nod, they gripped the sheet and lifted, testing its strength as they prepared for the long trek ahead.
The three of them carried Eddie's body carefully, their arms and shoulders straining with the weight, both physical and emotional. Each step was slow and deliberate as they made their way through the Upside Down, moving away from the ruined trailer park and toward the woods that mirrored the ones near where Steve had parked the RV in the real world.
The walk was agonizing, every inch of the journey filled with sorrow and exhaustion. The sheet stretched taut under Eddie's weight, the fabric biting into their hands, but none of them loosened their grip. They continued, their footsteps crunching over brittle leaves and snapping twigs, the eerie red glow of the rift casting their shadows long and distorted.
Steve, Dove, and Dustin paused, sharing a glance as they gathered their strength for the last part of the journey. One by one, they stepped through, emerging from the oppressive atmosphere of the Upside Down into the cool, crisp night of Hawkins.
The familiar outline of the RV came into view, parked just a short distance away in the clearing. Seeing it felt like a small mercy, a brief respite after the agonizing journey through the Upside Down.
Without a word, they adjusted their grip on the sheet, each of them exhausted but determined, their hands aching from the strain. They moved toward the RV, the weight of Eddie's body pressing down on them, a physical reminder of the sacrifice he'd made.
When they reached the RV, Steve opened the door and led the way inside, guiding Dove and Dustin as they carefully maneuvered Eddie up the steps and into the cramped space. They laid Eddie down on the built-in sofa, settling him gently, making sure he was comfortable, even though they knew he'd never feel discomfort again.
Dove brushed a lock of hair from Eddie's face, her fingers lingering for a moment as she looked at him, her heart aching. Dustin leaned forward, resting his hand on Eddie's shoulder, his body shaking with quiet sobs. Steve stood beside them, his face shadowed, his hand resting on the back of the sofa as he stared down at Eddie, the sadness in his eyes tempered by a fierce, protective resolve.
For a long moment, they simply stood there, taking in the stillness, the weight of their grief filling the small space of the RV. This wasn't the way Eddie was supposed to come back. This wasn't the way things were supposed to end.
The quiet was interrupted by a crackle over the walkie, followed by Robin's strained voice. "Hey, uh.. I don't know of you can hear me, but.. We're at the hospital. Max is in surgery.. they don't know if she's gonna make it."
Dustin reached into his bag, his hand shaking as he pulled out the walkie. He looked like he wanted to say something, his mouth opening as if he'd found the words, but then he faltered, his face crumpling as he lowered his gaze. Silent tears began to spill down his cheeks as he held the walkie, unable to speak, the weight of the news choking him.
Dove gently placed her hand over Dustin's, giving him a reassuring squeeze. He looked up at her, his eyes searching hers, pleading for strength she wasn't even sure she had. Taking a steadying breath, she carefully took the walkie from him, her heart heavy as she steeled herself.
Steve stepped forward, his hand resting on her shoulder. "Do you want me to..?" His voice was soft, offering to bear the burden for her, to take on the pain of the words she was struggling to say.
But Dove shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "No, I can do it."
She raised the walkie to her mouth, her fingers trembling as she pressed down the button, each second stretching painfully as she forced herself to speak. "We're back at the RV." Her voice broke, but she continued, determined to see it through. "Eddie didn't make it."
A long silence followed, so profound that it seemed to swallow the small, dim space around them. Dove held her breath, the emptiness of the quiet amplifying her own grief, making her wonder if maybe they hadn't heard her at all. But just as doubt began to creep in, Robin's voice crackled through the static again, heavy with sorrow.
"We'll be right there," she said softly, the weight of her words lingering in the air.
Dove lowered the walkie, her hand falling limply to her side as she leaned back, her eyes drifting over to Eddie's still form on the sofa. She felt the full, crushing weight of the night settle over her, knowing that nothing would ever truly be the same again.
Dove didn't move, didn't blink, barely even breathed. She just sat there, her eyes fixed on Eddie's still form, trying to wrap her mind around the emptiness left in his wake. Dustin crouched beside him, silent and broken, his head bowed as he rested a hand on Eddie's arm. Steve lingered awkwardly by the doorway, his eyes flicking between Dove and Dustin, at a loss, as if he were desperately searching for a way to make this bearable but finding none.
Time lost all meaning. The silence in the RV grew thick and suffocating, pressing down on them, the weight of grief leaving them in suspended animation.
Finally, the sound of a car pulling up broke the silence. Dove didn't flinch, still rooted to her spot. Doors slammed shut, footsteps approached, and the RV door opened. Nancy and Robin stepped inside, stopping dead in their tracks when they saw Eddie. They took in the scene—the way his body lay motionless, the anguish etched into Dustin's face, the hollow emptiness in Dove's eyes. Grief filled the small space, each of them absorbing the reality of Eddie's sacrifice.
Nancy approached Steve, leaning in to whisper something in his ear. He nodded solemnly, casting a lingering look at Dove and Dustin before quietly following Nancy and Robin outside. Moments later, Dove heard the sound of the trunk slamming shut. She blinked, the noise pulling her from her daze, and slowly rose to her feet, her movements mechanical as she stepped out of the RV.
Outside, Nancy, Robin, and Steve stood by the RV, shovels in hand, their faces a mixture of resolve and sorrow. Dove swallowed, her eyes lingering on the shovels, understanding, even if every fiber of her being wished she didn't.
Dove stepped forward, her gaze steady as she reached for Steve's shovel, her fingers wrapping around the worn handle with a determination that left no room for argument. Steve hesitated, tightening his grip on the shovel, as if reluctant to let go, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at her.
"Dove, let us handle this part," he said softly, his voice pleading.
But Dove shook her head, her resolve unshaken. "No," she replied firmly, her voice steady but laced with sorrow. She glanced at the RV, before looking back up at Steve. "Go inside, Steve. Be with Dustin. He needs you. He needs someone to tell him it's going to be okay.. because I can't. He'll know I'm lying."
Steve's eyes searched hers, a desperate look flashing across his face as he struggled to find something, anything, to convince her to let him stay, to let him comfort her. But he could see the resolve in her gaze, the quiet strength that wouldn't bend, and he knew, deep down, that she was right.
After a long moment, he finally nodded, his shoulders slumping in quiet defeat. "Alright," he murmured, the pain clear in his voice. He lingered for just a moment longer, giving her one last look, a silent promise that he would be there for Dustin, even if it tore him apart.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked back inside the RV, his figure heavy with the weight of what he was leaving behind. Dove watched him go, taking a deep breath as the door closed behind him. She glanced at Nancy and Robin, each of them holding their own shovels, their faces drawn with the same sorrow she felt.
Without a word, the three of them stepped forward, moving in quiet, unspoken unity. They found a spot beneath a cluster of trees, the ground soft from the dampness of the night air. And then they began to dig, each movement deliberate, their breaths coming in labored, quiet gasps as they worked, the physical effort grounding them in the task, giving them a way to process the impossible loss they'd endured.
The night stretched into dawn, the only sounds the dull thud of shovels breaking the earth and the occasional, quiet sniffle as they wiped away tears that fell freely. The grave took shape beneath their hands, each scoop of soil a tribute, a final act of love for the friend who had given everything for them.
Nancy and Robin exchanged glances as they took a break from the relentless digging, each of them casting worried looks at Dove, who never paused, never slowed. Every muscle in her body burned, her hands raw and blistered, her arms trembling with exhaustion, but she didn't stop. She shoveled mechanically, each movement focused, each scoop of dirt a silent mantra that echoed in her mind.She threw out the last shovelful, and with a shaky breath, she finally climbed out of the grave, wiping her sweaty, dirt-streaked hands on her jeans.
Dove's gaze fell on the RV and she walked toward it in silence, her mind numb, her body heavy. As she stepped inside, she caught Steve's eye. He crouched beside Dustin, gently rubbing comforting circles on his back, his face worn but calm. They shared a brief look, an unspoken understanding, and Steve gave Dustin's shoulder a gentle pat.
"It's time," he said softly.
Dustin nodded, his face pale, eyes red-rimmed and swollen from the tears he'd shed. He stood, his movements slow, as if every step took all the strength he had left.
Without a word, Dove, Steve, Robin, and Dustin each took a corner of the sheet, lifting Eddie's body carefully, reverently, carrying him out of the RV and toward the trees. The weight was heavy, not just physically but emotionally, each of them acutely aware of the finality of this moment.
They moved in silence, the cool air pressing in around them as they walked the short distance to the grave. With each step, the reality of their loss sank deeper, and by the time they reached the edge of the freshly dug earth, the grief felt almost unbearable. They knelt, gently lowering Eddie into the ground, their hands lingering on the sheet, each of them reluctant to let go.
As they stepped back, Dove felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, both body and soul spent, yet somehow still feeling like she hadn't done enough. But as she looked down at Eddie, now at rest beneath the sheltering trees, she felt a small sense of peace, knowing they had brought him home in the way he deserved. The small group that had gathered stood in a heavy, respectful silence, each person struggling to find meaning in the tragedy.
Dustin knelt beside the grave, his face streaked with tears, but his voice steady as he began to speak, raw and unfiltered. "Eddie.. you, uh.. you saved us, man. You saved everyone," he faltered, swallowing back a sob. "You taught me it was okay to be different, that being a freak was.. it was a superpower, y'know?" He managed a small, broken laugh, brushing his face roughly with his sleeve. "You made me feel like I could be myself, that it was worth it, no matter what people said. And.. you were so brave, Eddie. Braver than anyone I ever knew."
He paused, his hand gripping the edge of the earth, as if hoping for some final connection. "I'll carry on for you, Eddie. I promise. I'll watch over the sheep." With that, he slowly stood, stepping back to join Dove, his head bowed, shoulders shaking as the grief overtook him once again. Dove reached out, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close as they both faced the fresh mound of earth, grounding themselves in their shared sorrow.
Dove took a deep breath, her eyes lingering on the freshly turned soil before she cleared her throat, her voice soft but firm as she spoke. "Eddie.." She looked down, struggling to find words that would do him justice. "You were the best friend I've ever had. And I know you'd probably roll your eyes at that," she added with a sad smile, "but it's true. You were my best friend."
She looked around at the gathered faces, taking in the grief, the gratitude, the respect for the friend they'd lost. "I wish you were still here. You always knew exactly what to say." Her voice caught, but she pressed on, her gaze returning to the grave. "Thank you, Eddie. For everything you did for me. For all of us."
Steve placed a comforting hand on Dove's shoulder as she finished speaking, the weight of loss settling into something bittersweet. One by one, they each took the shovel, filling in the grave with a quiet reverence, each scoop of earth a promise, a way to honor Eddie, to ensure he would never be forgotten.
And as the last of the soil covered his resting place, they stood together under the trees, bound by the love and sacrifice of their fallen friend, carrying him forward in their hearts.