Steve's windshield wipers could barely keep up with the rain by the time they rounded the hillside and arrived at Benny's. The clouds grew darker, almost green even, and distant rolls of thunder could be heard mixing in with the wind. Even from the small parking lot, the alluring, savory scent of double-decker sandwiches and freshly grilled burgers made all of their stomachs growl and their mouths water. The same waitress from earlier sighed with a sad yet amused smile as the group of kids (and Steve) entered in, sopping wet from the unforgiving rain.

"I don't suppose you'll be reclaiming those bikes right now," she quipped.

They were seated in the same booth as earlier. The nameless girl, however, did not seem to want to sit and appeared confused.

"It's okay, hun," the waitress began, stopping short when she noticed the girl's hospital gown underneath Steve's heavy jacket. "What is-"

Steve halted the waitress and pulled her aside, gently taking her arm in his hand as he ushered her closer to the door, out of earshot of the group.

"None of us can answer whatever question you were about to ask," he admitted, quietly yet somewhat frantically.

"Okay?" she drawled.

"They found her in the woods wearing nothing but the hospital gown," he said.

She gasped, raising her fingertips to her mouth.

"The poor thing!" she exclaimed in a whisper.

"I know," Steve replied with a sigh. "We're going to get her some food and then take her to the police station."

"Why don't you sit with your group and I'll sit down with the girl?" she suggested. "She probably doesn't need a dozen eyes staring her down while she eats."

"Good thinking."

The waitress seemed to have a way with the girl. In a gentle, enthusiastic, but non-condescending tone, she beckoned her to sit at a booth on her own, which she did rather comfortably. She then went to the kitchen and asked Benny to make a burger, fries, and chicken tenders before bringing a piping hot pot of water, cups, and a variety of tea bags to the group.

"Coffee?" she asked Steve specifically.

"Yes, please."

They warmed themselves up with the delicious tea and coffee. Once they were feeling content, the preteens started competing to see who could build the best structure with creamer cups and sugar bags. Steve's tried to stay engaged, but his attention kept drawing back to the girl, now seated with the waitress and Benny, who had been alerted to the situation. She crammed mouthfuls of burger, chicken, and fries as quickly as she could muster, every bite seeming to satisfy her more than the last. Steve's heart sank at the sight of it as he wondered just how long the girl had been out alone starving in the woods. After a short while, Benny came over to the table.

"You planning to take her to the police station?" he asked, his voice tough yet caring.

"Yeah," Steve replied.

Benny's lips pursed upward, and he gave a little hum.

"You don't think I should?" Steve questioned.

"If she wandered off from the hospital," Benny began with a sigh, thinking through what he was saying, "whose to say she won't wander off from the station too? I just worry there won't be enough attention paid to a quiet little kid, or that she'll be put in a cell or something 'til they can find her parents. I imagine she's traumatized enough as is, is all."

All the preteens stopped and listened intently. One-by-one they exchanged glances, clearly frightened by the thought of the girl being left alone in a cell, or neglected enough to wander off once again.

"How about this," Benny continued, pressing his big hands against the table and leaning forward, "we'll put in a call to social services, and I'll call Hopper personally to let him know the situation. We'll keep her safe and fed here 'til someone from the services, or Hopper himself, comes out to get her."

Everyone agreed, though their faces showed their hearts were sinking. In the short time they had been with her, they had grown invested in the girl's wellbeing. They all silently came to terms with the reality that they may never know what would become of her, or see her be with her caretakers with their own eyes. Sensing the heaviness coming over the group, and seeing that the rain was now nothing more than a drizzle, Steve tapped a hand against the table.

"It's about time for you all to be getting home yourselves, I think." he said, his own sense of sadness apparent in his tone. He stood up and gave a stretch, perhaps a bit exaggerated, to lighten the mood. "I'm tired enough for a nap, anyway."

"You just had coffee," Dustin argued.

As they got all of their cups in a pile and cleaned up their creamers and sugars, Steve wandered closer to the other booth, though not close enough to distract the girl from her ravenous eating.

"Let her keep the jacket," he mouthed to the waitress.

She squinted her eyes and wrinkled her nose to let him know she heard him without alerting the girl in front of her. With that, Steve and the group of preteens left, and the diner was empty for most of the afternoon and evening.

The sun began its descent, but the ongoing dark and heavy clouds made it look far later than it really was. After the girl had eaten her fill, she sat at the booth with the waitress, who was clearly delighted to be with her.

"What's your name?" she asked with a hint of a smile.

The girl looked into her dark eyes. Her features showed she wanted to say something, yet she remained silent.

"Joanna," the waitress said slowly, pointing to herself. "My name is Joanna." She directed her point over to Benny, who was scribbling down inventory numbers behind the counter in a huff. "That's Benny," she said. "He looks rough, but he really is a teddy bear."

When her gaze returned to the girl, she was surprised to see the smallest beginnings of a smile forming on her lips.

"So pretty," Joanna said, almost in a whisper.

The girl reached up to itch her shaved head when Joanna noticed a small, black mark on her wrist. She tilted her head to follow the movement of her arm, getting a better look at what it was.

"Zero... one... one?" she mumbled quietly. "Eleven?"

The girl's hand quickly lowered to the table, her eyes wide as if in wonder.

"Eleven?" Joanna repeated gently.

Slowly, the girl raised her hand once more, pointing to herself.

"Eleven..." she said, her voice hoarse and a bit deeper than Joanna imagined it would be.

"That's a nice name," Joanna grinned.

Her thin lips pursed as she thought of what to say next.

"What's your favorite color?" she inquired.

Eleven's head tilted to the side curiously.

"Yellow," Joanna said, pointing to her own dress. "Black, white," she said, continuing on to point to the thick stripes on her apron.

"Yellow..." Eleven whispered.

"Aw, that's my favorite, too," Joanna chuckled.

It was a slow night as far as the diner was concerned. Joanna agreed to stay late and help with closing as they continued to wait for someone to come for the girl. Joanna asked if she would like a tour of the kitchen. She didn't seem to fully understand the question, but obliged with a small, slow head nod. Benny gave her a strawberry milkshake in a styrofoam cup and she contently followed Joanna into the back while Benny closed up shop. As the kitchen was quite small and cramped, the tour lasted for no more than five minutes. Eleven perched herself on a stool, happily sipping on her milkshake and still dawning Steve's jacket, while Joanna put on a pair of oversized, yellow rubber gloves to finish washing the dishes.

"Do these match my eyes?" she joked, arching her hands underneath her pointed chin.

Eleven gave what was arguably a small giggle, and Joanna resumed her scrubbing. She yawned, noticing what effect the all-day work shift was having on her.

"Sleep?" Eleven questioned quietly.

"Yeah," Joanna replied, nodding in agreement. "Hopefully, we'll both sleep well tonight, once we get you situated, of course."

They heard the welcome bell chime along Benny's big voice carrying all the way back to the kitchen. They could vaguely hear two other voices join his. One seemed to say "social services" and the other said, "police" prompting a sigh of relief from Joanna.

"They're finally here," she said. "I'm sure someone is missing you terribly. I hope they get you back to them soon."

Before she finished her last syllable, both of their bodies were jolted violently by a terrible sound, so piercing that it immediately filled their ears with painful ringing. Eleven dropped her cup, and Joanna flung a wave of water onto the floor. Eleven immediately went into heaving breaths. Joanna, eyes wide and mouth agape, crept over to a small window through which she could see into the dining room. Benny was stumbling backward, clutching his stomach and writhing in pain. Joanna could see unmistakable streaks of blood running down his fingers. She could not see the other individuals fully, however, she saw one of their arms come into view, pointing a long, gray object directly at Benny's forehead. Before Joanna had time to scream, cry, or look away, another piercing bang rang out.

Eleven stepped down from her stool and was immediately met by Joanna who grabbed her by the arm. She rushed to a nearby corner and pulled open a heavy, metal door, which she then closed behind them. The freezing cold floor stung Eleven's bare feet as Joanna ushered her to a corner. Quickly, the young woman pulled several boxes in front of them before crouching down and curling her arms around Eleven's head.

"Dear Jesus in Heaven," Joanna whispered in the darkness, her voice shaking terribly, "protect us. Please protect us. Oh, dear Jesus."

Puffs of cloud came from their mouths in the frigid walk-in until the sounds of footsteps and voices approaching prompted them to hold their breath as tightly as possible. Neither could understand what was being said on the other side of the door, but the two individuals seemed to be having a passionate exchange, perhaps even a disagreement. Eleven's eyes shot forward as Joanna's hold on her tightened. The young girl's brow furrowed, and her breath became short and shallow. She began to shake, though it was not because of the subzero temperature or the fear coursing through her.

CLANK

Joanna stifled a cry as the outside door handle was pulled and released.

CLANK

CLANK

On the third pull, she glanced up, scared yet curious. The door was incapable of locking, and yet it was not opening. The increasingly aggressive attempts at opening it yielded nothing but the loud sound of the metal handle being jerked around. Whoever was on the other side became angrier and angrier, as Eleven's gaze grew fiercer and fiercer, concealed from Joanna by the overwhelming darkness around them.

CLANK