6

8th December, 1985

`Dustin… psst! Dustin!'

Mike tapped on his window. Then stepped back as a patter of footsteps came from inside.

`Mike, what the-' Dustin saw Holly and the bulging rucksack. `Hey, everything okay?'

`I'm going to Derry. Eleven's there. I told you, remember?'

Mike pulled the clipping out of his pocket.

`Come on. You wouldn't go to Derry unless something else happened. You found out Eleven was there a week ago.'

Dustin rubbed his eyes and opened them a little wider. A sudden feeling of regret pounded down on Mike. `I left dad. He's-' Mike realised he'd never told his friend how bad it had got at home. `Dad's drinking. A lot. I've been taking care of everything.'

`Shit, Mike! You should've told me.'

`I can't stay there. And if I go to Child Services, me and Holly might get separated.'

`Okay. I understand.' Dustin shut his window and pulled down the blind. Mike blinked. Did Dustin just abandon him? No, he'd never do that. A chilly breeze whipped through the already freezing. The stars weren't as visible as they had been; too many houses in Hawkins using up too much electricity. Pollution was on the rise, the news kept saying.

Right then, that was the least of Mike's worries. He looked down. Addmittedly, his sister had always been kind of annoying- like the time she'd swallowed his best D&D dice and rendered it unusable. And the time she'd switched off the TV whilst he was watching it, and caused him to miss the end of M*A*S*H. But the last week had turned her into the only family member he could rely on.
A second later, Dustin clambered out, fully dressed with a packed rucksack, and yawning widely.

`'Kay, let's get this shitshow going,' he said, starting to walk down the drive. `I left Mom instructions on how to feed Yertle. She'll be fine.'

A strap slipped off his shoulder, and Dustin hitched it back on again, walking out into the road.

Mike smiled after him. Then caught up.

The next house was the Sinclair's. Dustin peered through the living room window; there, lying on the couch, was Max, sleeping soundly.

`Hey. Hey, Madmax,' Dustin whispered, tapping on the glass with his knuckles. Her eyes opened slowly.

`Aaah!' She screamed, jerking her covers up to her chin. Dustin waved at her. Max kicked away her blanket, stormed over the the window, threw it open and the two boys jerked back through reflex.

`What the hell is wrong with you?'

`Maxine? You okay?' Mrs Sinclair's voice came from the stairs. The curtains swished shut again.
`Fine, Mrs Sinclair. Just had a nightmare.'

The footsteps receded. Max yanked the curtains open and planted her hands on the window sill. She took a sharp breath.

`We're going to Derry,' Mike explained hastily. Max eyeballed them. `You'll be able to get away from your stepdad.'

Her hands relaxed a little on the frame as she considered them. Then they dropped completely. `Okay, you weirdos. I'll come. Give me a minute, I'll get Lucas.'

She shut the window again, and pulled the curtains closed.

Ten minutes later, the door opened. Lucas and Max walked out.

`Why didn't you think of this before?' Lucas asked, giving Mike a slight token punch. `Erica is driving me insane.'

0

When they called on Will, however, there was no answer.

`He can't be asleep that deeply,' Max said.

`I think I know where he is.'

Mike's guess turned out ot be right. Out in the woods was a haphazard fort constructed by the Byer brothers a couple of years ago; sat in front of it was Will. He had a large coat on over his pyjamas, and was chewing on a biscuit.

`Hey,' he said without turning round. `So, are we gonna do the whole `It isn't safe for you out here, come inside' deal or what? Maybe this time I'll get grounded.'

`Uh, Will?' Asked Lucas. Will turned round.

`Oh, it's you guys. Sorry. Thought you were my mom.' He looked closer. `Why are you all dressed like that? And why do you have Holly?' It dawned on him. `Wow. You're actually running away.'

`Wanna come?' Lucas adjusted his bandana with an index finger, twirling it round his throat. Will's mouth slowly moved into his smile.

`Yeah.' He reached into Castle Byers, and pulled out a rucksack. `I've been packed and ready to run away for weeks. Just haven't worked up enough nerve. Let me get changed.'

And he dissapeared into the fort. When he emerged, Will flicked on the torch. It illuminated his features garishly, and he grinned.

`So. Where are we going?'