Mike and Eleven played together in the living room, exploring the space like it was a museum of strange artifacts. Mike eagerly explained everything—what the TV did, what a La-Z-Boy was, and the function of just about every object that caught El's eye.
Once he'd run out of things to describe, Mike grinned and asked, "Want to come see my room? It's super cool."
El nodded slowly, curiosity still glowing behind her eyes.
Mike led her up the stairs and down the hallway. He opened the door with flair and said, "Welcome to my room!"
El stepped inside, looking around blankly. Mike scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
Trying to impress her, he picked up his Yoda action figure. "This is Yoda. He can move stuff with his mind, like this." Mike wiggled his fingers, then swept all the toys on his desk onto the floor. "Woosh!"
El didn't react. Her gaze had wandered to Mike's shelf, where framed pictures and dusty trophies stood like monuments.
Undeterred, Mike grabbed another toy. "This is Rory. He's a dinosaur with a speaker in his mouth. Watch." He pushed a button and Rory roared. Still, El was transfixed by the photos.
Mike walked over to join her. "These are my science fair trophies. We got first place every year, except last year when we got third. Mr. Clarke said it was political."
El wasn't listening. Her eyes had locked onto a photo of Mike and his friends. Her breathing quickened. Her hand slowly reached out and pointed directly at one face.
Will.
Mike's voice lowered. "Do you know Will?"
El didn't answer. She was in a daze.
"Did you see him? Last night? On the road?"
Still nothing. Then—a squealing sound. Tires.
They rushed to the window. Mike's heart sank. His mom was pulling into the driveway. He hadn't expected her home so soon.
Mike grabbed El by the wrist. "We gotta go."
He dragged her back through the hall and down the stairs—but as they reached the landing, the front door opened. Karen stepped in, holding Holly's hand.
"Are you hungry, Holly?" she asked gently.
Holly nodded.
"I bought pizza and macaroni."
"Okay," Holly chirped.
Karen closed and locked the door. Mike froze.
No time.
He yanked El back upstairs. Their footsteps thundered on the stairs.
"Ted?" Karen called. "Is that you?"
Mike yelled, "It's just me, Mom!"
"What are you doing home?"
"One second!"
He rushed El into his room and closed the door. Then he turned to her and opened the closet.
"In here. I'll be right back, okay?"
El looked into the dark closet, fear rising in her throat.
"Please. You have to. If she finds you... do you understand? I won't tell her about you. I promise."
"Promise?" El asked quietly.
"It means something you can't break. Ever."
"Michael?" Karen called again.
Mike looked her in the eyes. "Please."
El sighed. She stepped inside the closet. Mike closed the door.
Darkness.
As soon as the door shut, El's breathing became shallow. The darkness wrapped around her like a memory. Her mind flashed to another place—white walls, cold floors, screaming.
"Papa!" she had cried out as two men dragged her down a sterile corridor.
She reached toward Dr. Brenner, who stood silently, watching. "Papa! No!"
They didn't stop. The hallway twisted. At the end was a single door. They threw her in and slammed it shut.
Blackness.
No light. No space. Four feet by four feet of total isolation.
"Papa! Papa! Papa!" she had screamed, banging on the walls, voice cracking with each echo. No one came.
Now, back in Mike's closet, El curled up against the wall, silent tears streaming down her face.
---
Mike sat next to his mom on the couch. She patted the seat, inviting him to sit.
"What are you doing here, Mike?" she asked gently.
Mike hesitated, then stammered, "I just... I didn't feel good. My head really hurt, and my throat was scratchy, and I wanted to tell you, but the last time I said I was sick—"
Karen cut him off. "Michael."
"Yeah?"
"I'm not mad at you."
"You're not?"
"Of course not." She scooted closer. "With everything going on with Will... I just want you to know you can talk to me. You never have to hide anything. I'm here for you, okay?"
Mike nodded. Then—a thud upstairs.
Karen looked up. "Is someone else here?"
Mike stayed calm. "No."
He hugged her quickly and stood up. "I'm gonna go lie down."
Upstairs, he closed and locked his bedroom door. "El?" he called out softly.
He opened the closet.
Light spilled in.
El was curled on the floor. Her face was wet with tears.
"Mike," she whispered.
"Are you okay?" he asked, crouching beside her.
El sniffled and nodded. "Promise."
---
In the school cafeteria, John and April sat down at Nancy and Barb's table.
John unpacked a fruit salad, granola, yogurt, and a meat-and-cheese platter. April took out some chicken and broccoli alfredo John had made for her, along with a small Caesar salad. They started eating without delay.
Barb raised an eyebrow. "John, how do you eat so much and still look that good?"
Nancy smirked. "Have you seen him train? He runs like ten miles. The other day, I saw him do a hundred pull-ups. No sweat."
April and Barb blinked. "Oh my."
Barb grinned. "Didn't know you paid that much attention to John."
Nancy blushed. "I was just looking out the window."
"And counted his pull-ups?"
"Yeah."
"Was his shirt on or off?"
Nancy answered without thinking, "Off—" Then caught herself and covered her face.
John chuckled. "What's the big deal?"
April smiled. "It doesn't matter."
John reached over and wiped some sauce from April's cheek, then licked his thumb. All three girls blushed.
Lunch passed in a blur of laughter.
As it ended, John stood. "I'm leaving early."
"What? Why?" April asked.
"I'm going to help search for Will. Also… I'm bored."
April pouted. "Do you really have to go?"
"Come with me."
"I couldn't…"
"Come on. We'll grab work from the teachers."
April looked conflicted, but finally nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
They packed up and said their goodbyes to Nancy and Barb. After collecting assignments, they left school and drove toward the woods.
---
Fifteen minutes later, they joined the search party. Hopper stepped forward.
"Thanks for coming out again. Let's get searching."
The group split up. John wrapped his arm around April, who was shivering. He took off his leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders. April smiled, zipped it up, and hugged his arm tightly.
Eventually, they came to a high cliff. John looked over the edge. April joined him, nervous.
They walked further along the dirt road and spotted Hopper and Callahan near the edge.
"Careful," Hopper warned. "I need you alive for at least a few more days."
Callahan grinned. "Oh, hell, I could survive that."
"You jump from here, the water's concrete. You'll break every bone in your body."
"George Burns did it. Drunk. Ten-dollar bet."
"He's a liar."
Callahan leaned out further—and slipped.
John lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him back. Callahan collapsed, kissing the ground.
Hopper looked up, having just caught the end of it.
"Good job, kid!" he called out, patting John on the back.
John nodded and returned to April.
April kissed his cheek. "That was so cool, John."
John struck a superhero pose. "All in a day's work."
April giggled and pulled him away to keep searching.
---
"Chief, respond."
Hopper finally answered his radio. "Yeah, what's up, Flo?"
"We got a call from Benny's. You need to get there right away."
"Copy."
Hopper waved down Callahan and Powell. "Let's go."
---
At the same time, Lucas and Dustin tore down the street toward Mike's house, ditched their bikes, and ran inside.
Karen shouted, "Hey, no running!"
They ignored her, storming up to Mike's room.
Mike let them in and shut the door.
They immediately spotted El.
Lucas was furious. "Are you out of your mind?!"
"Just listen—"
"You ARE out of your mind!"
"She knows about Will."
"What do you mean?"
"She pointed at him. She knew he was missing. I could tell."
Lucas rolled his eyes. "You could tell?"
"Think about it. We found her on Mirkwood. The same place Will disappeared."
Dustin muttered, "That is weird."
Mike continued, "She said bad people are after her. I think they're the same ones who took Will."
Lucas demanded, "Then why doesn't she tell us?"
He stepped in front of Eleven.
"Do you know where he is?" She stayed silent.
Lucas grabbed her arms. "Do you know where he is?"
"Stop it!" Mike shouted. "You're scaring her!"
"She SHOULD be scared!"
Lucas turned to Mike. "This is insane. We're telling your mom."
"No!" Mike blocked the door. "El said if we tell any adults, we're all in danger."
Dustin asked, "What kind of danger?"
Lucas blinked. "Her name is Eleven?"
"El for short," Mike said.
"What kind of danger?" Dustin repeated.
Mike made a gun with his hand and pointed it at Dustin, then Lucas.
Lucas slapped his hand away. "No. No. We're going back to plan A."
He grabbed the doorknob.
SLAM.
The door closed by itself.
Lucas tried again—SLAM. Then the lock clicked shut.
All three boys turned slowly.
El stood with her nose bleeding.
She said, "No."
---
Hopper arrived at Benny's Diner. Ambulance lights flashed outside.
Inside, Benny sat slumped over a table, revolver in hand. Flies buzzed around his lifeless body.
"Jesus," Callahan muttered.
Powell asked, "Suicide?"
Hopper nodded slowly. "Mmm-hmm."
"Missing kid, suicide... You must feel like a big-city cop again, huh, Chief?"
"I mostly dealt with strangers," Hopper said. "Benny was my friend."
He looked around the diner one last time, eyes dark, before turning and walking out.