Mike was on his way home from Will's when it happened.
It was already pretty late so everything was dark, his parents were out of town and Nancy couldn't care less about his curfew so he decided staying another hour wouldn't hurt.
He just didn't realise that meant walking back through that creepy forest all alone in the dark.
"Hello? Is anyone out there?"
He felt stupid but he kept hearing sounds coming from behind him… was someone following him?
He started to walk faster almost running, trying his best to not let his bike bump into anything.
"Mike!"
He turned his head back just for a second
Was that Will?
Nothing was there.
huh
But when he turned back around everything went black.
Nancy was having the best night of her life.
Her parents were out of town so she had the house all to herself, well herself and Steve
"Stop it Steve! Mike can come home any minute! What time is it anyway?"
They were on her bed "studying" and totally lost track of time
"Do you honestly think the first thing your brother is going to do is to barge into your room at 10 pm?"
"Did you just say 10?! Oh he is so dead!"
Nancy reached for the phone by her bed, she was furious
"Guess we're not studying anymore…"
That comment got Steve a VERY annoyed glare from Nancy
"Hello?"
"Hi, Jonathan? This is Nancy, Sorry for calling this late can you please get Mike on the phone? He was supposed to be back by 8"
"Mike? He left an hour ago… are you sure he's not home?"
Nancy felt her heart drop
"Hey Nance what's going on? You look like you saw a ghost"
Mike was starting to come to, his head was pounding and he could barely breath he started coughing
what happened? Did I pass out?
It looked like he was still in the same spot he was when he blacked out only his bike wasn't there and everything was covered in something sticky and disgusting
how long was I out?
He heard someone crying a girl maybe? and followed the voice
"Hey are you okay?"
It was a girl (or a very small boy) her head was shaved and she was wearing what looked like a hospital gown
She was sitting with her knees up and her head between them, she was sobbing
"Hey"
Mike reached out and touched her shoulder not realizing he might totally freak her out
She jumped and he saw two puffy brown eyes staring at him in shock. She looked like a deer in headlights.
"Are you lost? Do you need help?"
That seemed to make things worse, tears filled her eyes again and that was the first time Mike noticed that she was bleeding from her nose
hospital gown, shaved head, bloody nose, this can't be good
"I'm Mike short for Michael, what's your name?"
The girl took a second but eventually reached her hand out and showed him a tattoo ' 11'
"Wow is that real?"
Mike tried to touch it but the girl quickly pulled her hand back
"Sorry, I just never saw a kid with a tattoo before… Eleven? That's your name?"
Eleven nodded
"Maybe we can call you El? Short for Eleven?"
She nodded again but now she had a little smile on her face, that smile quickly disappeared
her eyes rolled back into her head and she passed out
"EL?"
Mike tried to shake her but she was totally out
Suddenly he heard something that sounded like a growl coming from the trees
And then he saw it.
It looked like a person but, it didn't have a face.
He was afraid to move, that creature hasn't seen them yet but one wrong move and they're that monster's next meal.
The monster didn't seem to be going anywhere but Mike knew they couldn't stay here; they have to get to his house Nancy will know what to do
He started dragging El trying to make as little noise as possible
*crack*
oh shit shit shit
The monster looked right at him but didn't move.
Mike didn't stop to see if it followed them or not he just ran as fast as he could dragging El with him.
Something wasn't right, wherever he looked things look different, he still couldn't catch his breath like the air was dirty and everything was covered in sticky goo.
He could finally see his house in the distance
I really need to work out more
His arms were tired from carrying El the whole way and he felt like his body isn't going to make it a lot further.
Finally they got to his house, opened the door and laid El on the floor for now
"Nancy?!"
Eeverything was dark, he ran up to her room but she wasn't there
He was alone.
"Nance calm down, he's probably at one of his other friends"
Nancy has already called Dustin and Lucas and they both said the last time they saw Mike was at Will's when he decided to stay longer, Jonathan was on his way looking for Mike on the way.
"You did not just tell me to calm down! My brother is missing do you get that? If he's not dead I swear I'll kill him for this"
Nancy knew something was just wrong, she could feel it.
"Ummm Nance?"
She wasn't paying attention trying to decide whether to call her parents or not when suddenly the lights flickered
"Was the front door open this whole time?"
Will couldn't tell anyone what he saw; they'll think he's crazy.
What was he supposed to say 'yeah I saw my best friend being grabbed by a monster and disappear into nothing , one second he was there next second he wasn't'
So when he and Jonathan found Mike's bike he had to act surprised, Jonathan wouldn't understand he needs to talk to his friends.
"Hey, you ok?"
Jonathan noticed right away his brother was acting weird, Will never lied why would he start now?
"Umm yeah, just tired… I guess"
"Don't worry. We'll find him"
And for a second Will truly believed that, until he saw that thing again.
And this time, it was headed to the Wheeler's house.