Max was tired – and no wonder, after climbing out of an otherworldy hole in the ground and lighting a monster hub on fire – and wanted nothing more than to go home, and go to sleep.
But when they finally got back to the Byers’ house, they were just in time to see an ambulance leave; the emergency vehicle lighting disappearing into the night. Mrs Byers, looking harried and exhausted, stood on the porch and stared after it with dark bags under her eyes.
“Was that … Will?!” Mike said, and got out of the car before it had even stopped in order to run up to the house. “Is Will okay??”
“Oh, honey,” Mrs Byers said and put her hands on his shoulders, “yes, he’s inside, resting. He’s okay, thank you.”
“Then who was that in the ambulance?” Dustin asked, having also gotten out of the car. They were all out of it, now, even Steve – although he was still a little unsteady on his feet.
Mrs Byers’ eyes found Max’s, and her face crumbled. “Oh, Max – I’m so sorry, honey.”
Max felt something cold wash over her, and it must have been written all over her face, because Mrs Byers gave her a look full of compassion and regret.
“Your brother,” she said, and Max started shaking. “I don’t know what happened, but we found him on the floor when we got back. We did CPR and called the ambulance and they showed up fast and started working on him right away, but honey,” – and she took a deep breath, as if to prepare herself to deliver bad news – “he still wasn’t breathing when they left.”
