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The inevitability of death on the edge of this cliff brought Mike a sense of peace he’d never had before. He chugged the rest of the whiskey, regretting it after and yelling into the night. He laughed, falling back against the cliff. The ground was cold and it sent a shiver down his spine as he breathed in an air of freedom, nothing mattered anymore, and all burdens had fallen from his shoulders because, by the end of the night, he’d be long dead.
His friends and family continued to plead with him through his walkie. He wasn’t entirely sure why he’d brought it, but he listened to their care and love like it was his favourite song. Every plea broke his heart, but it made him feel less alone. Like, when he finally managed to fall, he wouldn’t be dying alone.
Mike hummed, the thrill of whiskey stirring under his skin. The burning warmth filled his stomach and he flicked the cigarette away, staring up at the stars. He’d be gone, but for the rest of his life, Will would look up at the same stars Mike had, the same ones he died under.
Mike could die happy, knowing Will would never die alone, and by his own hand beneath the stars like him. If he didn’t betray what Mike had asked of him in his letter.
He continued to hum as if singing along to a song. His hooded eyes shone with tears. They rolled down his cheeks and felt like finality, he bathed in the bliss of it.
Mike was nearly free.
***
When Jonathan got to the Wheeler house, he found Karen panicking, calling the police in the kitchen and ran upstairs to find Mike’s room torn apart and Nancy on the bed, holding envelopes to her chest. His pillows had been separated from their cases and his duvet was in the hall, his mattress hung off one side of the bed and his desk had been turned inside out, but Nancy sat on the bed sobbing.
“Nancy?” Jonathan whispered, sitting beside her as Will trembled in the doorway, shocked by the damage done to his friend’s room.
“I-I had a terrible feeling, Jonathan,” Nancy sniffled, “I-In the pit of my s-stomach…”
She handed him the letter she’d been holding, and immediately, it was all too clear what the stack was. A wretched sob tore from Will’s chest as he grabbed the envelope with his name, tearing it open, “Oh god Mike!” He whimpered, reading it. His tears grew louder and harder until; his face suddenly lit up with hope, “H-H-He’s at the quarry!!”
Nancy snapped her head up, hope also glistening in her eyes, “Come on!” She yelled and raced downstairs, grabbing her car keys, she rushed out of the house as her mother cried after her.
She and Jonathan leapt into the front seats of her car, Will following them into the back. Together, they sped to the quarry just praying they weren’t too late. Nancy was so frantic, she parked clumsily, almost swerving them off the cliff.
When they got there, their loud footsteps smacking against the floor, they stopped a few metres away from Mike.
He was on his back, hands on his chest and eyes dazed and full of twinkling stars, “Mike?” Will whispered, feeling relief seep into the tenseness of his shoulders. His eyes flickered over the burnt-out cigarette and empty liquor bottle. He watched as Mike jumped, head spinning on the floor to look up at him even as gravel embedded itself in his tangled curls.
“Will!” He cheered, his pupils dilated and cheeks flushed. His swinging legs grew more enthusiastic and every time he kicked the cliff wall, he pulled himself further off the edge. He was already dangerously dangling off it, to begin with.
Nancy rushed forward and yanked Mike into her arms, gasping as she pushed her head to his chest, combing through his hair, “Mike, oh god…” She sobbed, hugging him tightly.
Will fell to the floor, barreling into Mike’s chest and Jonathan sat with them, holding the three tightly, “What the hell!” Nancy cried.
Mike just groaned, making fists full of her t-shirt, “If you don’t stop spinning the world I’m gonna hurl!” He whined.
Nancy cursed, “He’s drunk.” She scoffed, tears dripping into his hair, “He’s fucking drunk.”
Mike nodded, pouting, “Mhm drunk.” He pointed to himself, “Very dru- hey I have six fingers!”
Will laughed, feeling deranged with relief and pain. Mike had written him a letter saying goodbye. He was going to throw himself off the cliff. He was going to leave.
Mike seemed to remember his existence again when he laughed because abruptly, Will felt arms around him, “Will!” Mike cheered, eyes wide, cheeks blushing against his freckles and a dopey smile on his face, “Missed you.” He licked his lips, wiggling until Nancy loosened her grip enough to let him lay his head on Will’s shoulder.
“C’mon let's go home…” Jonathan tugged on his girlfriend and brother’s arms, and as they stood with Will supporting Mike who seemed enamoured enough with him to not notice they were taking him away from the cliff, he grabbed Mike’s bag.
Will’s arm around his waist was tight, secure and comforting, and Mike hummed, clinging to him, “M’ sorry.” He slurred.
Will blinked tears away, Mike was such a mess.
“M’ sorry…” He said again and Will shook his head, his thumb rubbing Mike’s hip.
“Don’t be sorry.” He whispered. If anybody understood the desperate urge to escape despair, it was Will.
He placed Mike carefully in the backseat, bringing him back to his chest, “It’s okay…” He whispered, hugging him tight and kissing his hair.
Mike blushed, a ridiculous smile spreading across his face. If Nancy hadn’t experienced a heart attack earlier that night, she might have smiled at the light look on her brother’s face. He was relishing in the pleasant buzz in his blood, and honestly, Will’s arms felt like they could cure all, “Yeah see?” He grinned, “It’ll be okay, it’s okay if I leave! So- hang on where is the cl’ff?”
Will stroked his arms, “It’s gone.” He murmured, massaging Mike’s scalp, “Shh… just close your eyes.”
Mike frowned, contemplating it for a moment but the hand in his hair felt so relaxing he found himself doing as he was told, soon, he was asleep in Will’s arms, warm and content.
When they got back to the house, Jonathan carried him inside where the party was sitting in tears. They stood upon their entry, Eleven sobbed in relief to see Mike safe.
There’d be a long long and exhausting conversation tomorrow, but for now, Mike was safe, and that’s all that mattered.