𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧 | Max Mayfield

EIGHT

''Eleven,'' Mike breathed out.

El threw her arms around him, pulling him in for a tight embrace.

''Is that...'' Max asked in awe.

Lucas and Dustin nodded.

''I never gave up on you. I called you every night for--'' Mike told her with a smile.

''353 days.'' El replied. ''I heard.''

''Why didn't you tell me you were there?'' Mike asked her. ''That you were okay?''

''Because I wouldn't let her.'' Hopper replied as he approached them.

''What the hell is this? Where've you been?'' Hopper asked as he hugged El.

Mike's eyes widened in anger.

''You've been hiding her. You've been hiding her this whole time!'' He angrily shoved Hopper. ''Would you've done this to Tara as well?! You-''

''Hey!'' Hopper grabbed Mike's arm. ''Let's talk. Alone.''

Hopper pulled Mike over to a separate room to talk.

El inhaled deeply.

''Hi.'' Tara said as her eyes welled with tears.

They embraced one another, hugging tightly.

A tear rolled down Tara's cheek. This whole time, all she needed was her sister.

When they finally pulled apart, El hugged Lucas and Dustin.

Then, Max approached her.

''Hey, I'm Max.'' Max said as she extended her hand out. ''I've heard a lot about you.''

El glared at her before brushing past her hand.

''You and Tara opened this gate before, right?'' Joyce asked El. 

El nodded.

''Do you think, if we got you both back there, that you could close it?'' Joyce asked El as Tara walked over.

''Yes.'' Tara immediately replied.

''It's not like it was before. It's grown; a lot. And that's considering we can even get in there. That place is crawling with those dogs.'' Hopper explained.

Tara's hand was in Max's.

''Demo Dogs.'' Dustin corrected.

''I'm sorry, what?'' Hopper asked.

''I said, Demo Dogs. Like Demogorgon and dogs. You put them together, it sounds pretty badass-''Dustin explained.

''How is this important right now?'' Hopper asked.

''It's not, I'm sorry.'' Dustin apologized.

''I can do it.'' El said confidently.

''You're not hearing me-'' Hopper tried to tell her.

''I'm hearing you.'' El repeated.

''We can do it.'' Tara added.

''Even if they can, there's still another problem.'' Mike said. ''If the brain dies the body dies.''

''I thought that was the whole point.'' Max said.

''It is, but if we're really right about this, I mean, if El and Tara close the gate and kill the mind flayer's army...'' Mike trailed off.

''Will's a part of that army.'' Lucas mumbled.

''Closing the gate would kill him.'' Mike said.

''He likes it cold.'' Joyce mumbled before rushing to close the windows. ''We keep giving it what it wants!''