•••

ALL HE COULD SEE WAS BLACK. A never-ending darkness that was haunting yet...peaceful.

Everything was calm, tamed. Nothing was on his mind, it was blank, it was frightening but he liked it. Not having the haunting thoughts roaming his brain like usual to the point it feels like his head would explode.

There was nothing, but suddenly he felt unbearable pain clawing at his throat and the burning in his lungs and it reminded him of when he ended up on that beach.

He tried to reach for his throat but he was being held down by hands, so many running over his body making the boy panic.

He could hear frantic beeping and shouts, but it was very faint.

Then all his thoughts and memories came back and he wanted to scream. He wanted to go back to the darkness where everything felt fine. His head started to pound at the amount of information running around.

Then he remembered. The Mind Flayer, Five's body, blood, so much blood.

Twelve gasped, his eyes snapping open, looking around frantically at all the people in his room all wearing white coats. He wiggled around under their grasp, crying out in fright.

Suddenly the hands vanished and all the white coats left, the boy just stared into space, feeling nothing anymore.

Just empty.

And for a split second, it felt like he was back in the dark place, but it didn't feel as peaceful.

"You okay?" A voice asked.

Twelve turned, no emotion in his normally bright blue eyes as he looked at Hopper, "He's gone."

He could tell Hopper had been crying by the red and puffy eyes, and the way the man grasped Levi's hand tightly as if at any second Twelve would die too. The young boy wanted to hug the man and comfort him but he didn't have the amount of energy, not even to ask the man what had happened after Five.

Hopper was going to reply when the door opened and everyone came in, ignoring the two visitor rules.

Eleven hesitantly took a seat next to Hopper by Levi's bed, watching the boy for his reaction, frowning when she didn't even get one, she expected a flinch or a glare, something! But she didn't get anything.

"Lev, you okay?" Dustin asked with wide eyes, taking a seat on the bed next to Levi, grasping his hand in his gently as if the boy would break at any moment.

Twelve looked at the boy, his heart speeding up but he pushed it down. "I'm fine."

Everyone glanced at one another wearily, knowing the boy wasn't 'fine' or anything close to it after the loss.

"We brought you something to eat if you're hungry," Nancy stated, handing the big bag of food to Hopper who handed out the food to El and Levi and himself.

Nancy made eye contact with the boy, smiling nervously as he blankly stared.

Max cleared her throat, jumping to sit on the bed by Levi's feet, legs criss-cross and eyes on the boys figure. "Hey, Lee,"

Twelve looked down, avoiding the girl's eyes before grabbing one of the fries from the tray and chewing on it as everyone glanced at each other.

"Can I talk to him alone?" Max asked, gazing at the others in question.

Hopper nodded, gathering his and El's food, gesturing for everyone to leave the room, having to nudge Dustin who didn't want to leave.

Max sighed, fiddling with the itchy blanket covering the bed. "I'm sorry,"

Twelve furrowed his brows glancing up at the girl, "For what?"

"Five," Max stated as if it were obvious.

Levi knew she shouldn't be apologizing, there was no reason for her too. "It's okay."

An awkward silence filled the room, the two just sharing glances. Neither of them knew how to fill the silence, they've never had anything like this happen when it was just the two of them.

Levi just started staring at the redhead until she grew slightly uncomfortable and when they connected eyes Max chuckled making Twelve fight the urge to as well.

•••

It was a few days later, Twelve was finally discharged from the hospital, everyone was weary because Levi slowly stopped talking over his stay at the hospital.

Everyone tried to cheer him up but they were unsuccessful and all they got was either a blank face or glare, it made them sad to see the sunshine of the group so angry and sad all the time.

Right now, Hopper and Levi were with Dustin and Steve, walking up the dirt road to the cabin. They were going to the cabin to pick up some of Twelve's things since he and Hopper will be staying at the Byer's house for a little while El stayed a Max's. Just until Hopper gets the cabin fixed.

"Should we be worried?" Dustin asked as he watched Levi stomp in front of them, saying it quietly so the boy won't hear, not that it would matter since Dustin could tell Levi was in his own little world.

Hopper glanced at the boy and the older teen at his sides before looking to his son who hasn't shone any emotion other than sadness and anger. "I want to say we don't have to be. But you know the kid, he's sensitive and he's dealing with it in his own way."

Dustin swallowed, his hands stuffed into his pockets watching the boy run into the cabin once they made it.

Twelve stood in the middle of his room, looking around. It looked so normal like half the room didn't belong to a dead person.

All the memories he had with Five in this room, the cuddling, the comforting, the late-night calls from Richie and Eddie that made the boys laugh. He could still remember the sound of Five's laugh.

His watery eyes connected onto the octopus plushie, neatly sitting against his pillow, the little smile on its face, like everything was fine and the big eyes staring right at him as if taunting the boy.

The boy felt anger in his veins as he stared at Ben, his heart was beating rapidly, finally breaking away. But his eyes locked onto the other side of the room. Five's side.

The glow in the dark stars Levi made him put up were lining the wall, the books on the side table and shelves used but still in great shape because that's how Five is...was, in neat and in great shape.

His bed was messy and it made Levi let out a sob because when he looked down he saw the imprint of Five's body in the mattress as if he just got up.

The boy couldn't handle it.

Twelve let out a heartbreaking sob, mixed with shout. Spinning around and glaring towards the octopus plush, grabbing it and throwing it out the room.

Dustin shared a glance at Hopper and Steve, picking up the plush, holding it gently as he stood at the entry of the room with the two, staring in with wide eyes.

Watching as Levi screamed, throwing off the covers of both beds and going over to Five's stack of books, ripping and burning the pages.

Levi threw one of the books, breaking the window above the bedside table.

Hopper bit his tongue, wanting to shout at the boy but stopped himself, knowing the boy had to get his anger out.

"Hey, Lev, it's okay." Dustin tried to take a step into the room but stepped back frightened when Levi glared at him, his hands glowing fiery orange.

"How can you say that?" Twelve snarled with a bitter laugh.

Dustin looked at the boy confused, tears welling in his eyes. "What?"

Twelve looked around the room, his eyes landing on the wall where a picture hung of Five smiling widely holding Levi on his back with Twelve mid' laugh holding Ben above his head, with Eleven in the background looking at them amused. "I hate him."

Levi shook his head as tears fell down his cheeks like a waterfall, his heart hurting more and more making him shout. "I hate him! He said it would be fine! BUT HE'S DEAD! AND HE'S NOT COMING BACK! WHY WOULD HE DO THAT! WHY WOULD HE DO THAT TO ME? WAS I NOTHING! I'M NOTHING!"

Twelve fell to his knees sobbing while clawing at his chest, gasping. "Why? I want him back. I need him. Please."

Dustin ran to the boy who was now on the ground lying in a fetal position. Dustin grabbed the boy, shushing him, kissing his forehead as he glanced at Hopper who looked close to a breakdown himself and to Steve who looked awkward and didn't know what to do.

"It's okay, puddin'" the curly-haired boy kept whispering as Levi sobbed into his chest, whimpering while thinking, he wished it was him who died, instead of Five.

•••

Twelve didn't talk for the next few days. Not when Will asked if he wanted to draw with him, or if Joyce asked him if he was hungry.

He didn't remember the last time he ate something, probably the one fry he ate at the hospital.

The boy just stayed in Will's room, staring out the window with a blank expression, once in a while he'd shed a tear but none of the others caught it.

The only one who caught it was Six who had been avoiding him.

"You got to teach him, please." Five stated, his voice cracking as he watched Levi break slowly.

Six glanced at the other ghost, sighing. "It's not that easy."

"Just try."

"Hey, buddy." Six greeted.

Twelve's eyes trailed over to the ghost, scoffing a bitter laugh, his voice was hoarse. "Really? Now you show up, acting like everything's okay?"

The ghost winced, staring at the boy awkwardly. "Look, I deserve all the hate, I get it. So yell at me, try to punch me even though you can't."

"You just left," Levi said, tearing up. "Just like he did."

"I know, and I'm sorry for leaving you. I didn't mean to."

Six sighed as he didn't get a response, taking a step closer to the boy with an exaggerated sigh. "I guess you don't want to hear what I have to tell you."

"...what?" Twelve asked, glancing at the ghost in the corner of his eye.

"Remember when you were able to make me visible?" Six asked, Levi thought for a second before remembering the day he was crying over wanting Dustin.

Levi blushed in embarrassment, before nodding.

"I want to teach you how to do it again and more stuff that you could do with my powers! So step one--"

Twelve perked up, a small glint of happiness peaking in his eyes, making the ghost mentally cheer.

"--shower! You smell worse then me and I'm dead." Six grinned sarcastically with a laugh.

Twelve glared but couldn't help the small quirk in his lip as he felt excitement burst in his stomach.

•••

A/N) These last two chapters weren't that good, and I'm not really proud of them but it's fine. Also, I'll probably post the official last chapter in a little bit so stay tuned *finger guns while awkwardly laughing*