Chapter Text
November 6, 1983.
Who would have imagined that a simple date would become so significant?
Well, Will don't. For him, it was just another day, another day he spent with his friends in Mike's basement playing D&D for hours. Another day when he would bike home to meet the others at school the next morning, right?
He already had his bicycle beside him, having just finished confessing to Mike about the dice roll and that they had rolled a seven. Then, for just a second, his eyes darted behind Mike, toward the darkness in the middle of the bushes. He felt watched.
"Will?"
He blinks, turning his attention back to the curious and slightly worried face of the boy in front of him. "You okay?"
"Ah– Yeah! I just–" When he looks again, there's nothing there anymore. Not that there was anything there before, he just thought he saw... A person behind a tree? Probably nothing.
As he's about to get into the bike's seat, Mike grabs his shoulder. "Will."
"Hm?" He looks at him, receiving a sideways glance, the small palm that had grasped him quickly pulling away, albeit hesitantly.
"I just... I had this weird feeling and, you know—I was going to ask you if you wanted to stay a little longer." He murmurs, almost sounding shy, before smiling at the boy with a shrug. "But I don't think your mom would like it."
Will blinked in surprise before smiling to himself, feeling his cheeks heat up as he nodded. "Yeah... Maybe tomorrow?" He replies, wishing he could stay a little longer.
His heart always longed to spend more time with Mike, perhaps even a little more than the others... Of course, they're best friends, aren't they?
"Will, come on! We're leaving you behind!" Lucas' voice echoed, a little further ahead.
Will shook his head, pulling himself from his thoughts and giving Mike one last nod before getting on his bike and starting to pedal to catch up with Dustin and Lucas.
"Guys, wait for me!"
Mike watched as the three slowly moved out of his sight, lingering a little longer in Will's direction before finally turning his face away. As he turns to go inside, his hearing perks up at a distant sound, like a crackling sound from a branch further away. He frowns, staring into the darkness outside, tilting his head as if that would help him see something that might not even be there.
"Mike, Mom told you to come inside!" His sister's voice reached his ears, distracting him from his surveying the vast darkness of the forest.
He finally gives in and turns off the lights before going inside., even with an unsettling feeling in his chest.
[ . . . ]
The moment Will distanced himself from his friends, it was as if a strange feeling formed in his chest, as if he felt he shouldn't be alone.
That feeling of being watched persisted, stronger now than ever, even though he saw nothing when he looked around. But then–
His bicycle lights begin to flicker, flickering slightly and forcing him to gently tap the bulb to try and bring it back to life. His eyes were distracted by the flashing object for only a few seconds, but it was enough to startle him at the sight he saw when he looked up again at the road.
There was a... figure in the middle of the path. Its image was almost invisible in the darkness, appearing more like a shadow. It didn't look human, with long, thin limbs. The creature's head snapped open the moment Will saw it, a kind of animalistic growl emanating from it, startling the poor boy, causing him to lose his balance on the bike and sending him into the bushes before he crashed to the ground.
Will falls with an audible thud, his expression contorted in pain as he turns his head in fright toward whatever was there. He doesn't think twice before stumbling to his feet and running as fast as he can, abandoning his fallen bicycle, still with one wheel spinning continuously.
His heart pounded in his chest, rhythmic with his steps as he walked through the trees. He felt like he was being chased, like a deer running from a predator.
The terror coursing through his veins didn't stop his curiosity from forcing him to look back as he ran, before bumping into something.
Please don't let it be that thing. Please...
"Will."
Hands. Human hands, surprisingly gentle, cupped his shoulders and gave a slight shake to get his attention.
Will lifted his head, eyes wide, straining his gaze against the darkness to try and make out the face in front of him. A face... strangely familiar to–
"Will, I need you to follow me, okay?" That person said in a sly whisper, almost gently, though with a desperate look on his face. "I'll take you to a safe place."
"But–" Will stammered in a trembling voice, still shaken by what had just happened, glancing quickly around before refocusing on the stranger holding him. "Who are–"
"We don't have time for that." Shaking his head, the stranger glances quickly over Will's shoulder as if expecting, or knowing, that something was coming. "Please trust me. We need to go before that thing gets you."
The two of them move their heads toward the next noise, a shadow creeping through the bushes. A hand reaches out into Will's view, the same stranger, almost pleading with his gaze.
And swallowing hard, Will grabs his palm, internally apologizing to his mother for disobeying the rule of not trusting strangers.
The two run through the woods, Will following the stranger as closely as he can, feeling their fingers intertwined tightly like a rope as he pulls him along. In a way, he seemed to know where he was going, or at least he had a place in mind as he guided the boy.
He captures the exact moment when they deviates from the path that would lead to his house, being able to see the silhouette receding into the distance. "My house is right over there!"
His words are ignored, without knowing if it was because of the imminent danger of the moment, or because that person already had an idea of where to go next. This last option was becoming increasingly convenient.
"Hold on!" Will sighed tremulously, his breathing becoming uneven and his steps faltering as he stumbled slightly over the stones and roots in his path. "I– I can't run as fast as you!"
Will is pulled up just as he finishes his sentence, letting out a surprised gasp as he's held in the other's arms, instinctively shrinking back and clutching the soft fabric of the coat he's wearing.
The stranger's steps seemed to slow as he finally appeared to be arriving where he wanted to be.
The... Byers Castle? How did he know where it was?
Still being held, Will feels the other crouch down, crawling and dragging them both through the rag and cloth gate until they were completely inside.
He sits down, but doesn't let go of Will. Before the little boy could even open his mouth, a palm quickly covered it. He doesn't squeeze, but leaves it there, serving as a silent plea for him to be quiet.
They can hear the noise from outside. Slow, cautious footsteps, a sound like a distorted growl. Whatever it was, it was luLooking around the wooden building, searching.
Will's small limbs trembled in terror, his chest rising and falling in rhythm with the air entering and leaving his lungs, combined with the movement of the person holding him. He seemed to share the fear. The other arm wrapped around the boy, holding him tightly like a protective shield, as if to prevent the thing from noticing him. They could see its shadow through the sheets. Like a humanoid animal, staring at them, the shadow taking the shape of what looked like a large flower while another of those terrifying sounds echoed through the leaves.
Will pressed himself against the chest behind him, almost as he did with his mother when he was frightened by thunder, his eyes beginning to tear up, a sob threatening to escape his throat before he forces himself to interrupt it.
Then, a crackling sound echoes. Elsewhere. And the creature lets out an exasperated sound before quickly running in that direction.
What just happened?
It took a few seconds for his brain to realize he could breathe again, and his chest seemed to empty with the amount of air he exhaled against the pale hand that still hovered over his mouth.
He needs to raise a hand and gently tap his arm for the taller one to finally move and release him from his grip.
"Sorry, sorry! Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?"
The little one stepped back, leaning against the pile of makeshift pillows and turning his body towards the older boy as he caught his breath, his mind still spinning as if he'd hit his head. He didn't know what to ask first.
"Oh, shit, it's so dark in here. Wait, I know you have a flashlight somewhere."
He... Knows?
Oh no, what if that person was a stalker? Oh, he should have listened to his mother, what would she say now? "Will Byers, how many times have I warned you not to talk to strangers?"
A stranger who helped him escape a monster, but was still a stranger.
"Aha, there it is."
Will's eyes squeeze shut as a flash of light comes on without warning, his hands automatically covering his face and rubbing his eyes. "Hmn..."
"Sorry Will, are you alright?"
That voice... Why did it sound so familiar? Not exactly the voice itself, but the way he spoke, that soft, gentle tone, as if he were holding something fragile on his hands and didn't want to break it.
Will's eyes blinked, adjusting to the sudden brightness before he looked up at the person sitting opposite him, gazing at him with nothing but concern and affection.
He could see his appearance more clearly now. It was a boy much older than him, wearing a brown coat and trousers, with black hair tousled from running around, dark eyes, and... And...
Wait... What?
Will's lips tightened into a straight line and his brow furrowed, all he could think was that he was dreaming, because this couldn't be right...
"... Mike?"