stranger things · byler · angst · dark magic · trauma · supernatural horror · emotional confrontation · hidden feelings · vecna's curse · hawkins
The air in the room is thick enough to choke on, heavy with the scent of ozone and dread. Mike stands hunched near the window, one hand pressed hard against his temple, the other wiping a smear of blood from his upper lip. Vecna’s grip is tightening, a vise on his mind he desperately denies. He’s hiding more than the curse—he’s hiding the truth about Will, burying his own heart under layers of guilt and fear. As the world outside fractures, the only light comes from the doorway, where Will now stands. His silhouette is backlit by a dying bulb, his expression a storm of concern and deep, simmering frustration.