"I'll do it. I'll sacrifice myself." Mike says, shivering.
"Mike, you know we can't let you do that. I- I mean- WE all care about you so much. We wouldn't be able to go on without you." Will exclaims.
The idea of life without Mike just seems like a void. Without Mike, what would he do? Who would cheer him up? Who would he admire?
"Will, we don't have any other choice." Mike says.
After Max was put into a coma, they thought that Vecna had been defeated once and for all. That was until Mike started seeing things. Bad things.
Two days ago, Mike was biking over to Dustin's house when he heard a slight ticking noise. Nothing too extravagant, but definitely out of the ordinary. It seemed to be coming from the woods.
He got off of his bike and dropped it at the edge of the street. As he walked closer, he saw a clock in the distance. A grandfather clock. The ticking noise was like a ringing in his ears. He squinted as he looked at it. He was about to take a step forward when he suddenly felt a grip on his shoulder.
"Mike! What are you doing out here?" Will said, startling the poor boy. Mike jumped and let out a gasp.
He turned around to see Will's chestnut colored eyes, instantly calming him. For the past year, Mike has felt weird around Will. It's not his fault that Will looks so extremely kissable. His broad shoulders, his chocolate eyes, his soft lips... Mike hates himself for thinking this. He doesn't like Will. He's just cute. All boys think about this. That's why they're friends. Friends. He just happens to be a really close friend that Mike wants to cuddle with and kiss for the rest of time.
He had broken up with El about a week before this because he just didn't love her. He could never figure out why. Boys are supposed to like girls. They are supposed to LOVE girls. Sure, he loves El, but he loves her like he loves playing DND. He loves her like he loves listening to Bowie. He loves her like he loves Starcourt Mall. He doesn't love her like he loves him. God, why can't he just be normal?
Okay fine, maybe the break up was because of Will. It was unfortunately a very public breakup, and El was taking some time for herself. (Aka crying to Cyndi Lauper in her room.) She will be okay though. She has felt tethered to Mike her entire life, and as much as it hurts to lose him, she is happy that she finally has a chance to figure out what her life will be like without him.
But right now, there are more important things at stake. Mike is in the middle of the woods with Will's arm on his shoulder, pretty sure he's about to die. Wait... what's Will doing in the woods?
"Will? What are YOU doing here?"
"I- I was on my way to Dustin's for the sleepover when I saw your bike on the side of the road and got worried. What are you doing in the woods?" Will was speaking so fast that he was out of breath. His eyes darted around in the slightly misty haze.
The freckled boy smiled, but then remembered the clock. Will's concern was so sweet that he almost forgot what he had just seen. His smile quickly faded as he turned around and grabbed Will's face to turn it and point out the clock, but it was nowhere to be found.
"The clock!" Mike said.
"Mike, what clock? What are you talking about?"
"There was a clock right there. Next to that tree! I heard it ticking and then I saw it! I swear it was just there!" Fortunately, Mike didn't have to be worried that Will wouldn't believe him. After all that he's been through, he was the best person that could've found him in the woods.
"Like, a grandfather clock? Like the one Max saw?" Shit. Shit shit shit.
"Yeah, just like that..." Suddenly, Mike's nose started bleeding. He felt the liquid dripping down to his lips and wiped it off with his sleeve.
