Mike and Max physically dragged Sage along to The Gap store, where herself, El and Max were less than a week ago. Sage's breathing begins to quicken as the monster throws two mannequins across the store, landing right next to them, each dressed exactly like the sisters.
"We need to move." Mike hisses.
"We are going to die, we are seriously going to die." Sage's breathes out.
Sage could feel the claw of the monster, dripping right next to her. She held her breath and she clutched El and Max's hands tightly. This was it, they were about to get eaten by a fucking disgusting monster and whoever was controlling the upside down was going to win, she couldn't fight it off anymore. She didn't have it in her, this thing nearly got her already and all it took was taking a bite of her leg.
Sage squeezed her eyes shut tightly as it grew closer and closer... until it stopped- a balloon popped in the distance and it stomped away from the Gap. They reach the exit just in time to see Nancy driving the others away from the mall... along with the monster following.
"What the fuck are they doing!" Sage exclaims, her face full of panic.
"Distracting that son of a bitch, it's you and El he wants." Mike reminds her.
Just as they feel the brisk air as they step outside, they also find Billy staring right back at them, Sage groans in pain as she runs across the hard concrete away from Max's brother.
"I can't keep going!" She shrieks.
"You have to." El orders, she was not losing her sister.
Sage runs to Max's side as she hits the floor, she has no strength left in her to fight Billy- the moment his fist hits her jaw she is out cold, sprawled along the floor next to her best-friend.
Black splotches darken Sage's eyes as she slowly wakes up, her body was numb as she lay there, all she could do was tilt her head to watch as Billy stood in front of El and took the claw of the monster into his chest, Sage's ears were deafened by the loud fireworks but nothing could fully tune out Max's screams for her brother.
None of this mattered, all Sage could think about was the moment it finished off Billy... her sister was next, and then her. Sage army crawled to Eleven and fell into her arms.
"I love you so much, I'm sorry I wasn't a good sister."
"You were the best." Eleven sobs.
The girls clung together, ready for their time... but it didn't come, instead the monster shriveled up onto the floor, Mike ran to Eleven and she fell into his arms. Sage sat there helpless as Max cried out to Billy... begging him to stay alive. Someone wrapped their arms around her from behind and she slowly relaxed back, letting her rough sobs leave her mouth.
"You're okay kid, you are okay." Steve says in a low hushed voice.
Nancy kneels next to Sage and kisses her forehead.
"This will all be over soon, Hop will bring you home." She promises.
Sage crawls over to Max who falls into her arms sobbing, the girls sit there as they cry together. Sage stroking Max's hair as their hands interlock.
Sage couldn't really remember how she ended up sitting with Robin and Max in an ambulance outside, but she didn't care- she spotted the bald patch of Murray's head and her body shook with relief. She stood up to find Joyce holding Will tightly, she craned her neck looking around when it hit her like a wave, she locked eyes with Joyce who gave her the look, the look that Sage knew meant he was gone.
Her dad was dead.
The girl dropped to the floor screaming, Eleven's reaction was much quieter. The ground shook frantically as Sage punched at the concrete, cars were tilting and it looked like the fire of the mall was growing as she screamed. The last face she saw was Dr Sam Owens, and she was not going to get him away so easily.
"You are too fucking late! He is dead, dead because you couldn't get off your asses quick enough!" She roared, her throat felt like it was ripping as she continued to yell.
He promised her they would go home together, they were meant to be a family.
--
Three Months Later,
Sage felt numb, always. El was getting better, day by day, their friends were helping them to get through this patch. But Sage didn't want to move on, she didn't want to accept her father was dead- but Joyce was making it hard for her not to. They were leaving for California today, Sage knew Joyce was taking a big challenge bringing the sisters in, and deep down she really was grateful for her- but that gratitude was buried under the hard layers of grief and anger. So when the news of their move was revealed, Sage lost the plot. But Joyce had gotten to know the girl very well, and she wasn't backing down, she knew Sage was suffocating with grief and she was accepting that she was dealing much differently then her sister.
Sage watched Mike and El's interaction from her bedroom, the door was wide open and she could see everything- including the fact El didn't have her powers back. Neither of them knew why but one thing Sage knew was, even though she had her own still with her, she was never using them again.
Joyce and Sage sat in silence as they folded Hop's uniforms, Sage stuck her hand in the pocket and pulled out a piece of paper addressed to her, she wandered out back into her empty room and lay on the floor reading.
To my beautiful Say-Say,
I know you and I share very similar feelings on Mike and El's relationship... Joyce asked me to write down my feelings because it is good to talk feelings. I hadn't felt any feelings in a long time, until I questioned you and the boys in the school after Will's disappearance and when you gave me your classic glare and cocky attitude, I knew I was in for some trouble but god, I also knew I was really going to love you and protect you.
I know right now we aren't going through any issues, but some day- you are going to find someone and I will not stop being the protective dad. So how I am acting with El, you will experience this side of me too someday. I know it hurts that she is growing up and we aren't playing board games and watching our shows like we used to.
But that's what growing up is all about, and I know it is scary... but it's just life, so we are going to put our heads up high and get through it. You are gonna make mistakes, then learn from them. When life hurts you, I want you to remember the hurt, it is good. It means you are out of that cave. Keep being that confident smart girl I have grown to love, don't ever stop skateboarding and messing with Harrington. You are such a great kid and you really deserve the world... and I will do my best to give you the life you have always deserved.
Sage lay on the floor and sobbed into the rough carpet until Joyce softly knocked on the door, nodding at her. Sage pulled herself up and walked outside to where everyone was waiting, she fell into Max's embrace and held her tightly.
"We both can't do this anymore. We go back to school and we start to move on okay? I want a letter every week, I won't be able to live with myself if I know you are swimming in grief and not doing anything with your life." Sage says sternly.
"I love you so much Say, why do you have to leave." Max sobs into her shoulder.
No-matter how much of a fight she had put up, she had to leave. Joyce was her legal guardian now, they were moving out of Hawkins and to California.
Sage had to come back, she was coming back here.
Thoughts??
I SOBBED writing this oh my god.
I've literally been dreading this chapter from the moment I started this book. Let me know if the blood sweat and tears I put into writing this was good or not!
Ellie x
1428 WORDS X
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THE LABORATORY'S CURSE | STRANGER THINGS
ParanormalPREVIOUSLY CALLED : STRANGER THINGS | SAGE Sage Levins, everyone thought she was the quiet middle-schooler with short blonde hair and a scar across her left eye. What happens when she is reunited with someone from her past and she has to drop the ac...
