The new owners of what once was Benny's Burgers at 4819 Randolph Lane fully remodeled the diner, and it was grand reopening day. When the group of teenagers came in, they welcomed them with smiles.
"Welcome to Benny's Junior," a large man said. "Buy two burgers and get a free Mood Ring."
"Are you Benny's Son?" Jim asked.
"That's me," he replied, "Ben Hammond, Junior." He had his build: 6'4", brown eyes, and at least 250 pounds. In the kitchen, Jim saw a woman with red hair under a chef's hat.
"I thought Benny was single," Jim said.
"No, divorced," Junior replied. "Three times."
The group occupied three tables. Jim ordered food. He got five mood rings.
"Oh, Chief…" Junior said while thrusting out a scrap of paper. "Note for you, the guy said to keep it on the low down. He tipped me 100."
Jim sneered, glanced out the windows, and took it. He read it and told the Party the food would be ready and he was going for a smoke.
He scanned the area outside the front door. He walked quietly and cautiously around the back to the loading ramp. There stood an older man with a bald spot and graying blonde hair lighting a cigarette. He offered the pack to Jim, Marlboro Reds. Jim nodded and took one, offering the pack back. When he glanced Jim saw he had pale blue bloodshot eyes.
"Keep it, I quit tomorrow," he said.
"I say that every morning," Jim replied. "The note said you are Douglas Reese." Jim lit the nicotine drug delivery system in the corner of his mouth. "And you wanted to help us."
"I worked at Hawkins Lab for a time, Chief. I got to know the subjects. Then I got fired. Best thing for me. After a trip to the hinterlands, I got suckered into the CIA until six months ago. You see, I have lung cancer."
Jim took his cigarette out and looked at it dubiously.
"Yeah. Didn't help my parents were smokers too. Anyway, I set up a trust and when I die, you will be guardian to the beneficiaries of my estate, namely: Jane Hopper and Kali Prasad."
"Why?" Jim asked and dropped the cigarette. He stepped on it.
"No family left, and the family I do have are undeserving losers."
"Sounds familiar," Hopper said. "Have you met my family?"
"Heh," Reese chortled, "Son says to his Dad, 'I'll be good if you give me 20 bucks.' Dad says, 'When I was your age, I was good for nothing.'
"How much time you got left?" Jim asked.
The man turned to him for the first time. Jim noted his fine-tailored suit, gold cufflinks, and gold watch. He seemed unarmed. His tired eyes had dark bags, and he breathed faster than he should have just standing.
"One day," he said. "Approximately."
"How do you know?" Jim asked.
"I like you, Mr. Hopper, you're always direct and to the point. I have a limited psychic ability to see the future. I know I die…um tomorrow."
"I'm sorry," Jim said.
"Don't be, I made of lot of money with that ability in the stock market. Ever heard of Apple Computers? Microsoft? Anyway. It doesn't obey me—just kicks in sometimes and gives me glimpses. I saw something that required I be here."
He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out an envelope, offering it to Jim. The envelope was linen with an embossed logo.
"Here. In there are some keys. After tomorrow you'll have more than enough money to provide for your group."
Jim looked inside. Two keys, one for a standard house door lock, one for a Delorean. Jim looked in the parking lot, and sure enough, there was one. Also, he thumbed through about ten 100 bills fresh from the bank, crisp and clean. Behind that was a bank key.
"That's not a bribe for anything, it's an advance. Pay for food. Your copy of the legal crap is in the…" he stooped over and coughed for a few moments, then spit something in a handkerchief.
"In the safe deposit box. Just one thing, Mr. Hopper," he said, looking up at him and panting, an audible wheeze on his exhalation. "Can I please…please meet your daughter?"
He panted for a few more moments, coughed again, cleared his throat, and then stood up straight.
He looked into Jim's eyes, "I knew her when she was around 8 or 9 years old. I was a security guard, so she might remember me, or might not. Just the once, for a few minutes—with you there, of course."
Jim's brow wrinkled and he bit his lip. He rubbed his eyebrow.
"I can see you care about her," Reese said. "Check me for weapons, you won't even find a pocket knife."
Jim patted him down.
"Okay, but just a few minutes unless she says different."
"Oh thank you, Mr. Hopper."
————
Mike and Max sat on either side of El, enjoying hamburgers and chocolate shakes. Jim and Douglas Reese stood opposite. The others ate nearby.
"I'm having trouble remembering you, Mr. Reese," Jane said.
The man sat down. He folded his hands on the table. His eyes looked red and glassy. He sighed.
"I was a security guard on the night shift. You were about eight years old when they locked you in the closet the first time."
El looked up and her eyes drifted. Slowly, her mouth opened slightly as she looked at the ceiling.
"Dougie," She said. "We called you Dougie. I remember. You brought me some cookies and milk."
"Ah, that's what I gave you. In my mind it was donuts—isn't that odd how you can…?"
El interrupted. "You were the best security guard. We liked you. Kali and I…" She sighed, "…and then you were gone."
Doug crossed his arms over his middle-aged pudgy belly.
"I'm sorry. Papa fired me," he said. "Dammit, I wanted to get you all out of there. But they sent me to Greenland."
Dustin listened intently beside Jim, fascinated. He ate french fries dipped in mayonnaise.
Reese looked over at Dustin, asking "Have ever been to Greenland? Don't."
Kali silently stepped in close to Dustin.
"Kali!" Doug exclaimed. "Great to see you again."
"Hi Doug," she said.
"I'm here to help," Doug said.
"I know you are…" she whispered as her eyes grew moist. "Excuse me…I must go to the restroom."
Kali sped off to the ladies' room, wiping her eyes. Max and El watched her leave. Robin followed.
Dustin almost dropped his french fries, then commented "I thought she hated all the Hawkins Lab dipsh*ts."
"Speaking of Psychics. Every psychic I visit is either depressed or agitated, you know why?"
"No."
"It's hard to find a happy medium."
Lucas laughed, whereas Dustin chortled, and Max snickered.
Steve came over with his shake, asking "What's wrong with Kali?"
El shrugged.
"I asked your father if I could see you," Reese said, "I'm here to help your group because I saw the future. That's the real reason Brenner hired me, to predict when you would try to escape. When Kali got out, he suspected I helped her by withholding information."
"Did you?" El asked.
Doug nodded. "Yep, Sure did. But now…Truth is I'm dying. I'm leaving everything to you and Kali."
"Is it a lot?" Dustin asked.
"Millions," he replied. "Your Dad knows the details."
El blinked, and Dustin froze. Jonathon and Will had listened in from nearby, and got up, walking over.
"Did I hear that right?" Asked Lucas.
"Yup," said Max. "Doug is dying and that sucks majorly."
"No, about the money…"
Max shot Lucas a glance.
"Ohhh…I am so sorry," El started. "We don't need your money, Douglas. We forgive you."
Then she stood up, leaned over, and kissed his cheek. She sat back down, saying "Thank you."
Douglas's eyes lit up and he smiled, saying "See…not all of us were bad." He looked down again, then up at El.
Doug stood up. "We will all be gone for a long time," he said to the group, "Hold on to your dreams."
"Sure, Mr. Reese," Dustin said. "Are you quoting ELO?"
"Exactly, my friend," he replied and stepped to the front door, where he turned to take a parting glance, but she walked to the door to see him out.
"Uh," Dustin said, "I got a message on the radio…" he sang. "And I heard these voices calling all over the world."
"You did?" Steve asked.
Suddenly Kali flew past Dustin and out the door.
"No, it's a song," Dustin said. "ELO? Electric Light Orchestra?"
"Is that classical?" Asked Steve.
——-
"Mr. Reese," Kali called to the man walking to his shiny car.
He stopped and turned as she approached in the middle of the parking lot. No traffic these days.
"I'm sorry about what I did to those other Hawkins employees," Kali said, her head down.
El paused behind her to observe, amazed Kali could see the errors in her past. Changing point of view, perhaps. Maybe feeling guilt?
"Oh Kali," he said, "We already talked about this in Chicago. What they did was criminal."
"Then…" she said, offering a small smile, "I'm sorry to be losing you so soon after I met you. Are you sure about it?"
"100%"
Kali opened her arms to hug him, and he accepted. "Thanks for… you know…helping us find Jane."
"You are most welcome, and deserving, and my favorite angel of death. Now I have a few things left to do. Time keeps on tickin'. Goodbye, both of you."
He walked to his DMC silvery car, climbed down in it, and turned the engine over. As Dustin stepped out, his stereo blasted too loudly "…all over the woooorld, everybody got the wooooord…"
——————*
"I don't mean to speak ill of your girl, Jane Hopper," Karen said. "…but my son deserves the best. It's not personal. You know what I mean?"
"Jane Hopper," said Joyce Byers, "Is a good-hearted girl." She set down her Tab and her smile faded as she looked over at the Mall across the street. She wore her Bradley's Big Buys vest and an old top with sleeves that ran too long for her.
Karen put down her newspaper. It read Sunday, March 30th, 1986. An ad said Easter bunny candies were on sale.
"I don't mean it like she's a bad influence, Joyce," Karen said. "I just want Mike to be safe."
"I got it," Joyce replied. Joyce pulled her hair back and scooped some bangs out of her eyes. A hard smile returned to her face, and her voice carried an edge. "Karen," Joyce spoke softly, "I don't think you'll find a nicer, more caring person for Mike. And I don't know why you think he's unsafe with her."
Karen fluffed her feathered blonde hair. Her blouse matched the one in the clothing store behind her, *not* on sale, across from the Hawkins Pool.
Joyce looked over at Johnny Appleseed Park next to the pool, spattered with picnic tables and umbrellas of bold colors, now replacing much of the social gathering space that had been the Starcourt Mall's shopping crowd. She watched Children hunt for Easter eggs, with families giggling and smiling. 35mm cameras appeared in parents' hands like car keys at an auto dealership.
Karen pressed on.
"There are other ways he could be hurt. Do you remember when Mike came home and cried in my arms about Will's death? Thank God it wasn't true. But he was wrecked, I've never seen him so sad. Well…I guess when Jane disappeared."
Joyce tapped her foot. "Some things in life you got to experience, Karen. I hated the thought my son Will was dead, and I knew he wasn't, but how many nights did I not sleep? Crying all the time…and sitting by the phone, but it turned out all right. It taught me something."
"What's that?"
"Life has to be lived, and he is growing up. There's a point where we lose control. There just is."
Max Mayfield strode by in her light blue and yellow track jacket carrying a large bag from Herbergers and a skateboard. She waved at Mike and Holly. Mike was wearing a preppy green sweater and brown corduroy slacks that were already out of style.
"Max! Join us, honey?" Joyce called, and Max stopped.
"Hi Joyce. Mrs. Wheeler," she said. "Why do all the young women's clothes have to be so girly?"
Max sat down at the table, continuing her rant. "I mean, pink puffball skirts! God!" Max looked at Karen. "It's not like I have a lot of shopping choices."
"You know Jane Hopper, right?" Karen asked directly.
"Best friends," she said.
"I'm worried she might be a magnet for trouble, You know, bad things just seem to follow her?"
Max narrowed her gaze. "I think trouble just happens. I would know. I've had bad luck my whole life. If anything, I'm bringing *her* the trouble."
Joyce smiled and asked, "Did Mike get in less trouble when Jane went with me to California?"
"Well, no," Karen admitted, glancing over to see Mike across the park playing with Holly, tossing eggs to each other. "He seemed moody."
"Mrs. Wheeler," Max said, "…do you know how much Mike cares about her? He's totally in love with her. Sometimes I think he would…"
"What, Maxine?" Karen asked.
Max pinched her lips together and glanced at Joyce. "I'm probably late meeting my Mom, probably. And it's just *Max*." She stood up, hitting Karen with a slight lingering stare before moving off quickly.
"Did I go too far?" Karen said after she left. "What was she going to say?"
Joyce shrugged. She looked around at the people and saw Max waiting for her mother Susan. Life in Hawkins struggled and people still needed groceries. Somewhere a radio played a song by Madonna about "True Blue."
"You're right Karen, of course. Mothers want their kiddos safe. But I think the danger is anywhere you go. Taking him to Carter, Indiana might be safer…but if he's miserable and depressed is it worth it? Trying to keep them apart before just didn't work."
Karen nodded, "I suppose."
"I'm off to work," Joyce said. "We're having a sale on frozen breakfast foods. It's a madhouse." She walked toward her Pinto. "See you next week."
Karen watched families hide eggs and let their children find them. One father stood still for a long time, pressing on some grass with his foot and shaking his head. "Keep back! He said to others, "There's something wrong with this ground." He watched the area and sent a woman to call the police. Karen blinked and raised her eyebrows, rising to get closer to the ground patch he pointed at. Several children were redirected or stopped from walking over it. A dark spot.
A police car arrived, and Officer Daniels stepped out eating a sandwich. He set it down and approached the man. The man turned to meet him and two young children sprinted for the dark patch.
"Lisa! Jacob!" A mother called. "Git yourself back here rot now!"
"Holly? Mike?" Karen called.
The children stopped a threw eggs at the dark spot. Holly joined them, but Mike ran over to her and pulled her away. Karen casually strolled over to see what the fuss was about.
…
Max looked around for her mother's car in the diagonal parking spaces. All she saw was Steve's BMW pulling in with Jonathon, Will, Jane, and Steve hopped out.
"It's an Easter Egg Hunt," Johnathon said "and I forgot my camera, Nancy's writing an article."
"Your mom wants me to pick you up, random girl," Steve said to Max. The other teens got out, except Will and Jane.
"Stuck at work?" Max asked, setting down her skateboard.
"Her car won't start," he said, adjusting his Wayfarer sunglasses. "Hopper's getting Bud from the garage to check it out."
"Hopper is great."
"Small town," Steve said.
In the car, Will touched his neck while searching around for something.
"Will?"
"Something's wrong," he said.
…
Screams of children in the park jabbed their ears, as a hole fell away in the ground and the crowd fell back. The sinkhole collapsed a section of the park. Picnic tables, umbrellas, and picnic supplies vanished. A small mushroom-shaped dust cloud arose from the pit.
"Lisa!! Jacob!!" An overweight mother sprinted for the hole. Children's high-pitched screams carried far, and Holly's louder screams pierced the air. Karen's eyes bulged, and she sprinted out of her dress shoes with heels, running in nylons.
"Holly!" She shouted.
The hole widened, catching Mike off guard but he clung to Holly's hand, unbalanced. She screamed, sliding into the hole.
Karen grabbed Mike's hand just as he fell backward. Then Mike slid down.
Officer Daniels shouted into his radio and ran up to the edge. He saw the kids—half buried—and jumped in after them.
"Grab Holly!" Mike shouted.
Karen's hand slipped, but he slung Holly up to a root. Holly hung on and Karen grabbed her as Mike tumbled backwards.
"Mike!"
Steve and Jonathon, Jane and Will, and Max bringing up the rear, looked down into the sinkhole. At one end was a tunnel.
"It's a vine network tunnel," Jonathon said. El saw Mike tumble backward into the pit—and jumped instantly over the drop-off. Landing hard knocked some wind out of her lungs.
Steve, Jonathon, and Will worked with Officer Daniels. The boys made a sort of chain to lift the five-year-olds out, as the soft sand tried to grasp their legs, and passed the children up. Karen held Holly close and called to Mike.
Mike rose covered in dirt, shook off, turned, and looked up into the maw of a Demogorgon, which hissed just inches from his face.
"No!" El shouted. Mike yelped as he was lifted up into the air and over El's head, landing roughly next to Steve on the edge of the hole. Daniels stood with his mouth open looking at Mike, then turned to see Jane in the pit. In a blur of motion, she slid away into the tunnel with vines attached to her legs, Demogorgon following, El struggled to free herself.
"El!" Mike shouted. "No!"
Jonathon, Steve, and Max held onto a struggling Mike as he tried to follow Eleven.
"This isn't happening! She's all right! She's right there! I've got to get her," Mike began repeating, "She's right there!" He fell to his knees.
Eleven screamed as she disappeared into the darkness "Stay there…let me go, Mike!"
Chief Hopper's truck arrived, and he jumped out shouting.
"The military is coming to guard this hole! Everyone clear the area!" he shouted. "Get back!"
Stopping at the top he looked over to see Daniels with his gun drawn. Mike broke free and ran to Jim. "It's El! They've got her!" Then he turned toward Steve's car, and the group ran for his trunk.
"What?" Jim asked. "Mike! Where…"
"Monsters! They stole your daughter," Daniels said. "Real monsters!"
"Jane's in there? Put your gun away," he said. "I'm going in."
"Me too," said Mike. Jim looked him over. Steve, Jonathon, Max, and Will each held a weapon from the trunk of Steve's car.
"You guys can't come with me," Jim stated.
"Watch us," Mike said.
"I can't have you getting killed, and Jane too."
Karen called to Mike, "Mike no! Are you crazy?" Mike froze, staring at his mother as if he saw a crazy person in her place. Is she serious?
Joyce appeared, her car parked nearby. "Will? Jonathon? Don't you dare go in there!"
The group looked at each other. What is happening with these parents?
A chilling scream such as no one had ever heard before came from below. It roared as if from a lion and carried a high note like a passing jet plane.
A Demogorgon's body flew from the tunnel in pieces, tumbling end over end and sickly black blood sprayed the sloped dirt, chunks of its body unidentifiable except for its head, which landed facing the group.
Then El appeared from the dark panting hard and bleeding from her nose. Her clothes were brown with dirt. Mike sprinted for her and in moments they were in each other's arms.
"I'm nowhere near ready to say goodbye," El said.
"Never say goodbye, El, promise?" Mike asked her as held back tears.
"I promise."
—————-
The rifle muzzle crept over the edge of the parapet like a snake tasting the air for a mouse. The telescopic sight distorted an eyeball as the shooter settled in, stopped moving, stopped breathing…
…
Two military transports arrived and troops cordoned the area around the sinkhole. Lt. Bud McGraw walked up to Jim with a rifle in hand, his eyes just slightly enlarging as gazed at the parts of a dead monster below.
Jim shouted to the kids. "Get up here guys, there could be more coming!"
Then, as Eleven and Mike climbed out of the hole and thirty or so soldiers looked on…Jim glanced to spot a parked DMC, a block away and mostly out of sight. Jim rubbed his cheek, squinting. Abruptly he turned to Jane and Mike shouting "Get down!"
They stood only twenty feet away but it was as good as a mile. Stepping out from behind the nearest trooper, who was stretching out caution tape between posts, Reese ran at El. His eyes wide, lurching forward awkwardly as if hypnotized, a sickening wet thump radiated from…Mike's chest.
[CRACK]
The crack of a rifle shot echoed. Mike stood between Reese and El.
Karen's face contorted with horror as Mike's chest spewed blood from a bullet. Time seemed to have slowed down.
El reached for him as he fell—throwing herself between the sniper and her lover. Reese fell, uninjured, landing at Mike's feet.
"What's going on?" Reese wheezed.
Soldiers aimed for the top of nearby buildings. "Sniper!" Several said. "Can't see him! Do you see him?"
[CRACK]
A bullet impact hit the dirt next to El, but she covered up Mike from the gunfire. She looked into his eyes, "You're going to be okay," she said.
Mike coughed up blood and yelped in pain, then grabbed El's face in his hands and said…
"Goodbye…El."
"I've got eyes on target over there!" Bud shouted. Gunfire echoed.
Mike exhaled his last breath.
Jim fired at the sniper. Several rifle shots rang out as soldiers fired at someone standing up on a rooftop with a rifle.
The figure tilted forward and fell two stories to the ground. Daniels said, "He's down!"
Jim checked Mike for a pulse, and Karen screamed for him to wake up. El lay down next to him and cried, her grief-contorted face a mask of despair.
"No pulse," Jim said and checked Jane for wounds. "I'm sorry Karen, Jane, he's gone."
Karen fell to his side, saying "Wake up Michael! Wake up, Michael!"
"I don't understand!" Reese shouted, "I was supposed to die, I lied about it being tomorrow."
"Mike stepped in front of her," said Max. "I saw it. He saved Jane."
Steve shook his head. Dustin, Will, and everyone gathered around Mike.
"No! Noooo!" Karen cried.
El could not stop crying long enough to breathe. She held his hand in hers, saying "I'm sorry Mike" repeatedly. Her chin trembled. She began whimpering…long sad whines like lamentations from her soul.
Karen Wheeler's sobs and heartbreaking moans filled their ears as she sat next to his body.
The others stood in dumbfounded silence.
—————
"I was supposed to die," said Douglas Reese. "I've never been wrong, ever!"
"Well you are wrong this time," said Jim. Dustin sat crying with Will, inconsolable. El sat staring blankly at nothing.
"No! You don't understand. I mean my visions have never been wrong—so something changed fate. Somehow, Henry Creel changed it. But two can play that game. I can change it back."
"Now that is crazy talk," Jim said. "But I like it."
A commotion next to Mike's body drew the eye of Daniels. Karen Wheeler slapped Jane.
"You killed my son! You stupid bitch!" She screamed. Officer Daniels pulled her off El, and Joyce stepped between them. El didn't move, as if she didn't care, just sitting and crying.
"Karen!" Jim started. He went over to Jane and checked her. Red hand marks on her left cheek from the slap were visible, but she just sat staring at nothing, her eyes wet and tears running down her cheek. She didn't move or speak.
"Jane? Jane?" Jim questioned, "Talk to me…"
She sat unmoving.
"I can fix this," Douglas said.
El directed her gaze to him. "Don't lie," she said. "Don't you dare lie!" She stood up, walking quickly to Reese—through Hopper like he was made out of paper. "DON'T LIE!" She screamed. Reese cringed.
"I'm not lying, El," we just go through the Void. Take Mike's…body with us, there's a door…"
"I don't believe you!" She said, staring at him. "Don't…just don't…"
"But we have to go right now," Douglas said. "There's an opportunity. Listen, if Henry changed the timeline, it can be corrected with just a nudge. Just a little nudge…but the longer we wait, it sets like concrete. We have to go now!"
"What do you need?" Jim asked.
"I need the people most affected to sit in a group with me and Mike's body. A quiet room, near power lines, and a radio. I can do it, trust me. Please trust me. If we start within an hour, I give us 50/50 odds."
Jim licked his lips as his eyes wandered around. Power lines. Quiet. A radio. The Wheeler's house?
"We go to Karen's house," Jim said. "Daniels, start up an escort."
——————-
Karen sat with a cup of hot chocolate in the kitchen of her middle-class family house as Ted paced back and forth.
"I know people think I'm an idiot," Ted was saying, "but this?! I demand justice! No one f*cks with my family."
"Ted?" Karen said. "The sniper's dead. Some ex-military soldier-of-fortune. But I'm surprised at you, in a good way…"
"Well someone's got to pay!" Ted said and slammed his fist onto the oak island's orange countertop hard enough to shake it and the fruit bowl. He looked at his fist grimacing in pain.
"Karen we need you downstairs, now…" Joyce ordered. "Please?"
Jim brought Ted a bag of frozen peas, and said "You and I are staying up here for a few minutes, Ted."
"I have made a huge mistake, Jim. I've taken Mike for granted. My whole family! I'm an idiot."
"I understand," Jim said.
"So he will wake up?"
"We hope he does," Jim said. "Reese said it will be like never happened. He's some kind of savant."
The large group huddled around Mike's body. He lay inside a white Roane County coroner's body transport bag with just his face showing, cold and lifeless. His looked peaceful with his eyes closed.
Eleven sat next to it staring into his face, unmoving but for trembling and her chest rising and falling. "If this doesn't work, I don't know what I will do," she said. "I want to see his brown eyes again. But it's my fault."
"No, El," said Max. "I felt something happening too…perhaps if I knew what that feeling meant I could have saved him."
Lucas spoke up.
"And put your body in place of Reese's? No way Max. You can't do that."
"Sit next to him, Karen," Joyce said. Karen did and immediately burst into racking sobs.
Then Nancy walked down the wooden treads in hard soled dress shoes with lifts, almost tripping on the last step. She sat next to Karen, stifling sobs with her hands over her mouth.
"Prepare to feel all your emotions about Mike and send love his way…" Reese said. "You need to connect to him."
"Everyone close your eyes, radio on, lights off," said Douglas ordered. "Hurry!" He coughed, and Karen quieted down, and El offered her hands. Slowly, Karen and Nancy raised her arms and they held hands.
…
Darkness like the inside of a sealed tomb. The Void, empty as the vacuum of space. Steve and Robin took in the bizarre dimension, with Dustin, Will, Lucas, Max, Nancy, Jonathon, Eleven, Karen Wheeler, Reese, and even Erica. Kali saw them in the distance, already there.
"Whoah," said Steve.
"I don' t like it here," Robin said.
Karen gasped, looking around.
"Eleven," Douglas said, "Only you and Kali will remember this…"
The radio static made a squeal that filled the Void and echoed. The squeal rose higher in pitch and loudness until it was like a scream. Reese stood up, turned, and walked just three feet, reaching out with his left hand. It touched a blue fire. A storm of images floated past. At first, it was just highways and Hawkins, then Benny's Burger's, a car wash, a house, parking, the sinkhole, then…
Space warped like a funhouse mirror being bent in all directions. Douglas reached into a wall of bright light and violet flames to grasp some *thing* like a falling star. Max covered her mouth, nauseated, and Mike opened his dead eyes. Slowly, he dissolved.
Electricity filled the air, buzzing like a saw, and a flash of bluish light and crack of thunder-like resonance drowned out what Reese started saying. Electricity flowed over their skin like touching energy in the Upside Down, just a tickle.
…
Abruptly Jim turned to Jane and Mike shouting "Get down!"
They stood only twenty feet away but it was as good as a mile. Stepping out from behind the nearest trooper, Reese ran at El full speed. His eyes wide, lurching forward awkwardly as if hypnotized, a sickening wet thump radiated from…Reese's chest.
[CRACK]
Douglas fell forward into El's arms, blood spraying her blouse, and knocking her over.
He wore a shocked expression: eyes wide open, mouth ajar, and said "…thank God…"
He exhaled and passed away before he hit the grassy ground on top of El.
I've got eyes on target, rooftop!" Bud shouted. Gunfire echoed.
Jim fired at the sniper. Several rifle shots rang out as soldiers fired at someone standing up on a rooftop with a rifle.
[CRACK] A flash from the muzzle echoed as a bullet hit the dirt next to Reese, inches from El.
The figure tilted forward and fell two stories to the ground. Daniels said, "He's down!"
Jim checked Douglas for a pulse. "He's gone. Damn fool lied to us. Said he would die tomorrow."
El said "Mike?" Mike stood over her and gave her his hand, helping her up. Alive. Her cheeks flowed with tears. Her eyes soaked him in like a sponge soaks up water.
"Well, yeah," Mike said. "I guess he did have psychic powers after all…I blanked out for a second. Weird. Why are you crying?"
Karen approached the couple with Holly in tow. She walked to Mike, also crying.
"Can I have a hug?" She asked.
"Of course, Mom. Why are you crying too?"
"I don't know. Can't a Mom cry once in a while?" She whispered in his ear as they hugged. Then she turn to El.
"El, I apologize. I guess I just feel threatened. I love my son so much."
"I understand," El said.
"El?" Mike asked.
"Yes, Mike," she said.
"Yes to what?" He asked.
"Yes to anything you want," El said, and planted a big kiss on his lips. After a long, passionate kiss, they walked toward Jim's truck.
"I mean it, Mike. As long as we're together. Let's always be together."
"What's gotten into you? Whatever it is, I like it," he commented.