S1-𝗲𝗽. 𝟰 ━ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆
Key information-
E/C -eye color
H/C Hair color
S/c Skin tone
H/l Hair length

|𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||
Sometime after school
El had returned to Mike's side. The two shared looks and enjoyed each other's company. It made me happy to see Mike this way. Yet, it left a somber ache in my chest and my eyes fixated on my feet as I walked my bike as my mind began to wonder.
My mind wandered to earlier today, for what felt like the hundredth time today. Only, this time, I recalled what happened before Troy showed up. A heat dusted my cheeks at the mere thought of it.
'Will couldn't possibly... Could he?'

I shook away the thought. Now really isn't the time. When we find Will. That's when I'll get my feelings sorted out. Right now, I need to focus on finding him. He needs me. He needs all of us.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
We were still walking, my feet grew sore and darkness had already set in.
El was at the front, taking confident strides, the boys and I following eagerly behind. That's when it hit me.
I know this road. This is Will's house.
'What are we doing here?'
She stopped and turned around, facing all of us.
"Here."
"Yeah, this is where Will lives." Luke said confused
"Hiding." She said.
I blinked a few times, unsure.
"But... I-I don't understand." My heart fell.
"No, no, this is where he lives. He's missing from here. Understand?" Mike asked
Lucas and Dustin had finally caught up, the two of them dropped their bikes in frustration. Something in Lucas snapped, and he spoke up, clearly frustrated.
"What are we doing here?"
"She said he's hiding here." Kayden replied
"Um... no!"
Anxiety began to take over my body as the boys began to argue. I wanted to defend El but, truthfully I was having a hard time with it myself.
"I swear, if we walked all the way out here for nothing-" Dustin began, but he was quickly cut off by Lucas shouting.
"That's exactly what we did. I told you she didn't know what the hell she was talking about!"
Mike, who was looking less and less patient, turned to El.
"Why did you bring us here?"
El seemed to lose the ability to speak properly. She stuttered, clearly nervous.
"Mike, don't waste your time with her." Muttered Lucas
As the boys continued fighting, I brought my hand up to my chin. Nervously scratching my wound, just so my hand could be occupied. A nervous habit of mine.
"What do you want to do then?"  Kayden spoke up
'Wait a minute.'
"Call the cops, like we should have done yesterday." Said Lucas in response
'That's not possible.'
"We are not calling the cops!" Luke yells
'My wound. It's... It's gone. Completely gone.'
My face contorted out of confusion and bewilderment. But before I could register what was happening, Dustin began shouting to get out attention. I looked at him, waiting.
"Hey, guys?"
"What other choice do we have?"
"Guys!"
We all turned and watched as Dustin stepped forward. His eyes on the nearby road. We all fell silent.
And that's when I heard it.
'No. No, no, no.'
The daunting sound of sirens grew louder with every second. A few police cars zoomed by.
'That could be anything. Right?'
An ambulance was in close pursuit.
My stomach plunged.
"Will..." the words left my mouth without me realizing. I ran for my bike and the boys followed.
We sped off into the night, my bike tires sprayed mud all over me, soaking my socks as we zipped through puddles and over hills, but I didn't care.
"Y/N!" My two brothers shouted after me . I continued to ignore the voices of my friends and my brothers

I have to get to him.'
He has to be okay.
He has to be.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
The chase felt like it lasted for hours. Normally I would be exhausted by now, but I was too worried about Will. I was much farther ahead of everybody but not enough that we couldn't communicate.
Time seemed to stretch on forever as we rode through the fog. It was harder to recognize the area at night, but I was fairly certain we were near to the quarry.
'Oh, no. Please, no.'
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
"Oh, God no," I whined.
We made it down to the quarry and there were at least three police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance. A bunch of firemen and paramedics were standing just knee deep in the water.
We came to a grinding halt behind the firetruck and I abandoned my bike as soon as my feet touched the ground.
I ran to the end of the firetruck, peeking out from the side. I knew that if I made myself known they would shoo me away.
I watched in horror as they pulled a lifeless body from the water, and placed it on a water rescue stretcher.
Tears were brimming in my eyes, making it harder to tell who it was. I don't want to believe it, I really truly don't, but somewhere deep down I knew.
"It's not Will. It can't be." Mike said, disbelieving.

My heart was in my throat as I fought back the tears which were now stinging my eyes.
But then I saw it. The small, lifeless body. He was wearing the same red vest he wore on that night. I was speechless. Tears streaked down my cheeks as I lost my breath. It made me shrink into Luke , I buried my face in his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around me.
"It's Will. It's really Will." Luke whispered I felt tears fall on my head, telling me that Luke had started crying as well.
The noise I made was incoherent. I let out a wail and tore myself away from Luke 's embrace.
"Will? Will!" I called. Lucas, Kayden  and Dustin pulled me back. I fought and screamed my throat raw. I suddenly didn't care if anyone heard me. I wanted to get to him. To see if it was really true. But I was too weak. Defeat set in and I went limp, collapsing onto the ground and I hugged my knees. I buried my face in my knees and hid from the cruel world that took such a loving soul from us. I rocked back and forth trying desperately to convince myself that this was a nightmare. My brothers in shock comforting me, wrapping their arms around me.

"Mike..." El choked out. She reached a hand out to Mike's shoulder in comfort and slapped her away.
"'Mike'? 'Mike,' what? You were supposed to help us find him alive! You said he was alive!" Lucas said angrily.

I couldn't stop my tears. I feel confused, angry, frightened. I feel heartbreak.
"You said he was alive! Why did you lie to us? What's wrong with you? What is wrong with you?"
"Mike..."
"What?"
She stared at Mike, at a loss for words. She turned to me, but all I could do was look up at her. I hugged my knees and cried more. Panic consumed her as she looked at me and then back at Mike.
"Will..." I whimpered.
"Mike, come on. Don't do this man. Mike." Lucas' voice broke.
I didn't care he was leaving. It didn't even completely register. I just sat there, mourning my friend.
"Mike, where are you going? Mike!"  Kayden called out
I sat there, numb as I watched them pull Will out of the water. I watched as Will's lifeless, pale body was carried off by strangers.
'Why? Why him?'
Another sob shook my body, watching completely helpless as my best friend was carried away in a body bag.