Chapter Text
They all sat round like Will was a campfire roasting marshmallows. Dustin looked over the circle before squeezing in next to Scott Clarke and Nancy Wheeler.
He stared at Will now too, his eyes back and forth behind the lids. Like he was wandering someplace unfamiliar
Though it wasn’t too far from the truth
Joyce's fingers curled around wills abnormally cold hands while slightly whispering promises of hope under her shivering breath.
Mike broke the silence “ I know he's going to be alright “ he repeated himself hesitantly while blinking his eyes rapidly at the unconscious looking boy. “ He's going to be alright “ his face was awkward and tight, unable to say another word.
Though he thought what he said was anything but the truth, he just wanted him to be alright, he just wanted to live a normal life with him - and others.
Joyce nodded quickly as a few tears rolled down her eyes and Jonathan placed his arm over her shoulder, it was his turn to whisper.
“ he's strong “ Joyce chuckled before she answered back in her shaky voice “ i know he is, “
“ and god damn you are too “ he rasped staring thoughtfully at her, then looking back down. “ i try “ She shrugged but immediately went back to staring at her son.
“ artists usually are ! It’s scientifically proven, “ Dustin joined in but shrunk back into his chair even though he could tell Joyce appreciated his two cents like helpful pocket change.
Robin ghost patted his shoulder mouthing out ‘good one’
Nancy whispered to Robin now glancing at her face “ where do you think he is ? “
Robin grinned and spoke back louder than a whisper
“ Hopefully somewhere not like us. “
She messed with her sleeve and pointed her head at the board with pictures and indent marks from Dustin. “ The End of The World Club, “ Nancy smiled at that “ Maybe a crew ? “
Robin thought about it
“ better than any other, “ she continued to mess her clothing.
Lucas had his head in his palm, zoned out to the right side of the room - instead of Will. His jacket squished by the side of the chair he was sitting quietly on. His sister, Erica, a few chairs away from him cutting out pieces of confetti near the sleeping boy.
Dustin walked over to him and touched his shoulder.
“ Alright, bud? “ Sinclair startledly stared up at the long haired boy, looking concerned as if he were looking at someone dying.
“ I'm good “ he pulled his jacket sleeve up “ cool as a cucumber “ Dustin looked away and breathed in the cold sad air around him.
“ yeah, I don't believe that, “ he muttered, pulling up a chair next to him. “ Is it Will ? Someone else ? “ they seemed to have forgotten about the love of his life.
“ it is will “ his eyes looked glossy “ its not just will “ he corrected.
“ I just had a feeling she was close, y'know “ he let his head rest on the back of the chair.
“ I'm glad we aren’t fighting anymore, “ He left something out “ About the plan , Anything between me and her .. “ he trailed off. Dustin sat unspoken next to him with that oh look on his face.
“ Grief is hard, it's like you just have them then you don't , “ Lucas glared at him but then softened his eyes from the obvious projection, and just nodded.
They both looked back at the laid down boy on the couch.
“ I wish we knew what he was thinking “ Dustin spoke “ I hope its cool “ Lucas grinned “ Maybe hes on a spaceship “
“ nah , cooler “ Lucas decided “ School, “ and imitated throwing a hoop. Dustin smiled at him intently.
“ School is cool, too “
They both looked at the boy as his pupils wondered around the lids.
MEANWHILE, WILL?
Will felt like he was floating in space, he imagined this is what it looked like.
all of his muscles seemed to not move on their own.
It wasn’t exactly unpleasant, he could hear speaking and breathing around him —the occasional touch of his hand.
Every few seconds he could hear a jolt of static and then silence again it started to not bug him too much anymore.
The reflection of light through the stars or balls of otherworldly light around him created a pleasant rainbow, if he were quick enough to spot it.
He felt himself floating faster to a point he couldn’t see, possibly another rainbow. he reached out his hand and it shocked him, pulling his hand back now just to look at it.
If he closed his eyes long enough— it got too bright and he had to open them back up.
Till he kept them shut; words, laughter , people he couldn't recognize at all appeared before his eyes like a movie projector.
The words he could hear were vague but still in his circumstance, they made a small amount of sense;
connection,
normality,
love,
They jumbled up in his head and it started to paint a picture, the people clearer than before in front of him a jump into heart felt like he was being shaken.
till he was dropped into the scene of a brightly lit stage with costumes and purple light and —
“ Who are you ? “ The voice came from the bottom right of the stage. An excited brown haired girl with bright striped clothing and tacky orange -ish pants seemed to almost tower over a tiny boy.
“ Henry “ the girl across the stage answered “ His name is Henry Creel, “ she tilted her body over to smile at him. Her bright lipstick complimented her grin.
“ I think,” she chittered, " we’ve gotour lead! “ she whipped her head around to the others watching her, nodding their heads or absentmindedly cuddling their lover. Her smile was wide, almost manic.
The stage lights flickered and sparks fell from them, like snowflakes — and faded into the air. No matter, they're just old.
“ thank ya’ Newby “ Joyce tipped her imaginary hat at the girl who was supposedly a newby, her face flushed looking away with a little smirk.
Will inspected the tiny brown haired boy with his eyes widened, he blinked a multitude of times — a tactic to try to pull him out to see the burning blinding light that hurt him to glance .
He refused to look at him again, but curiously, Henry didn't look back — he couldn’t see him , no one could see him. This was just a memory.
Will just watched him struggle with flannel sliding down his arms while switching arms to hold his crackling radio, struggling out a song which he frantically tried to stop it from doing so.
“ Joyce, sir ! When are practices? “ The boy in darker alternative clothing stood up and saluted in a dramatic tone,theater class —right.
He turned back the conversation and he caught his breath.
“ Any time ! Every day ! Actually.. ,Munson we will alll be in here tomorrow “ someone on the stage chairs groaned but they were shushed. and to the nonexistent crowd just Will- and no one else
though he felt present and interested. He just wanted to fade in to the light again
Wake me up, someone please — wake me up
“ All of us ! “
She put her hands up in the air and fluttered them down like wings.
She looked happier, without the fear. Not prying at her unconscious super-son.
Will got up and walked to look at her. It looked like she was smiling at him so he stood there for a second, taking it in.
He looked down and the boy was gone and everything else faded into the background, the stage darkened.
So he turned around and saw the boy staring at him with his palms in the air. Younger than before
A kid
“ Who are you?! “ Someone shouted from behind him. He turned around and faced his gun,
He had blood all over his face and clearly sweat through his shirt, a gash on the top right side of his head still trickling down over what has dried.
“ I'm Henry, Henry Creel! “ he yelped, shaking like he was being constantly electro-shocked. He was wearing a muted green and red uniform and a falling off boy scout hat, which he eventually took off.
“ I heard screaming, sir! “ Turning his head back and pointing lightly “ from outside the cave !,” he exclaimed on the verge of tears, way too much for someone so vulnerable to handle.
The gun still aimed on him while the boy stammered on. His fingers curling into his palm leaving marks onto his skin “ I won't hurt you, please don't shoot ! “ the older man didn’t listen.
“ Who the fuck sent you ?! “ the pitch in his voice peaked as he waved his gun recklessly, teasing his finger around the pointed trigger.
He couldn't walk away from that. Any movement would leave him like free-range.
The gunshot sounded like radio static once it hit, buzzing and ringing off the black barriers surrounding them. And the final motionn singeing through the boys tiny hand which he grabbed onto, and sobbed.
It sounded like someone trying to drown it out, a clicking dial back and forth against Will's ears.
They didn't want me hear it, he didn't want me to see it
It went silent again; he clawed at the walls enclosing his form. It felt like his lungs were being beat back to life, then the frequencies played above him constantly —so thick he felt he could grab them.
He covered his face and ears with his arms attempting to block it out. Tears began to boil in the corners of his eyes, the shocks of energy kept going off despite him ignoring it. Which seemed to work before but I can’t now, Sobbing as the tears fell back into his eyes.
He could see the boy's blood draining into the ceiling, his mind. He was still in Henry’s head. What was this possibly doing to him ? A wetness laid on his nose.
it was a distraction , he wants you to stop looking
Walk Through It.
So he did,
Whipping his head back— he felt a presence that felt like sun shining on his back. Dressed with a blue skirt and plaid green and yellow flannel-like dress shirt. Turning to face, not the bullet —but a shining face that felt like a breath of fresh air in a burning down home.
She was eye level or maybe he had shrunk down into himself. This was a memory —What did he care?
Her hand extended out to his
“ The name's Patty Newby ! “
“ Will..Byers ? “ he grasped her hand and she clasped her other hand over his. Breathing in silence as the radio started back up again.
She faded away as she began to speak inaudibly, like the background noise at theaters. A blaring light interrupted his thinking. Two figures ran through, one larger than the other as if it were a doorway. One pointed and laughed, the other stayed behind — shock eyed.
They just stared not directly at him but behind him. He couldn't move his head, feeling trapped in the blackness.
it felt like he was losing air. He wasn't breathing at all — so the final gasp shook up enough for his eyes to fling open. Breathing heavy as everyone stared at him in awe. His mother reached over the couch to hug him and almost completely fell on top. Jonathan held her so she wouldn't and spoke softly “ Good nap? “ Will shook his head rapidly.
Mike had a dopey grin on his face as Dustin and Lucas interjected and broke their mutual stare. Sinclair blurted out “ Was it a spaceship, a monster ? “ while Dustin stood agreeably behind him like they were two toddlers. Steve gestured to them and shrugged “ shouldn't have woken up “ he jokingly said and gave Will a tight hug with a pat on the back.
Will shook his head to the former question as he hugged Steve “ I mean I traveled — “ but then trailed off. Bob looked curiously at him. “ Are you feeling alright kid ? “ he greeted Will in that kind tone like his alleged sister. He watched Nancy and Robin sneak up behind him; they both opened their mouths and looked at each other. Which spooked Bob and caused him to jump in his seat.
Nancy let Robin ramble in first. “ You were out for like— “ checking her nonexistent watch “ for like six hours ! “ “ It was two hours, don't worry, “ Nancy corrected and looked oddly at the other. Erica looked at him “ did you teleport into that wormhole, or are you just lazy? “ she sassed and Mike mouthed to cut it out. But Will found it funny “ Neither i cant really comment right now “ he chuckled and fixed his hair. “ That's what I thought.. “ she whispered and nudged at Robin “ space travel ! “ and Robin pursed her lips with an awkward nod.
Scott Clarke joined in “ you look frazzled , lets all “ he pointed to everyone individually aside from Joyce and his brother “ — let him sit down, and speak with his momma and ..brother ? “ he looked at him for confirmation but got a laugh back instead.
Will looked at Joyce with a questionable smirk and spoke quietly “ why .. is my middle school science teacher here “ Joyce took a peek at him while waved to her and whispered back “ Really not sure honestly, “ she hugged him again
“ I'm just glad you’re up again “ proceeded to then kiss him on the cheek as the others had their own conversations in the background, spreading apart and grouping together again.