|𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||
It was now the end of class. The boys and I were quick to pack up our belongings before making a beeline to Mr. Clarke's desk, eager to see if the Heathkit came. All the while Mr. Clarke was reminding the already fleeting class of our homework assignment.

"Remember, finish chapter 12 and answer 12.3 on the difference between an experiment and other forms of science investigation. This will be on the test, which will cover chapters 10 through 12. It will be multiple choice with an essay section." His voice faltered towards the end of his sentence as he realized no one had been paying attention.

His head turned to us and he didn't seem too surprised to see us so eager. Mike couldn't take the wait any longer and spoke up on the behalf of all of us.
"So, did it come?"
Mr. Clarke looked solemn. "Sorry, guys," Our heads began to hang in disappointment at his words. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but... It came!" My face lit up with relief. We followed Mr. Clarke down the halls in anticipation. Mike got to the door first and eagerly threw it open, the rest of us close on his tail.
"Yes!"
Since Mike was the first through the door, naturally he dove for the desk chair as the rest of us scuttled over each other, each of trying to get a close look at it. Lucas and I seemed to have the same idea as we fiddled with the knobs on the Heathkit as Mr. Clarke addressed the new device we were all so eager to see.
"The Heathkit ham shack," The boys and I were in awe. "Ain't she a beaut?" Mr. Clarke sighed. Dustin then spoke up. "I bet you could talk to New York on this thing."
"Think bigger." Said Mr. Clarke. I rose my eyebrow and looked to my teacher as I questioned, "California?"
"Bigger." 'No way.'
"Australia?" Mike pressed. We all turned out heads hopefully to Mr. Clarke as he responded with a smile and the shake of his head. We all exclaimed.
"Oh man," Lucas chuckled in excitement. "When Will sees this, he's totally gonna blow his shit." My smile faltered at the mention of Will, as Mr. Clarke scolds Lucas for his foul language. Lucas apologized turning back to the Heathkit, and I shake my head slightly trying to get my mind off of Will.
Lucas seems have found the right settings on the dials based on the high pitch frequencies coming out of the Heathkit. Mike has the headphones on and begins to speak into the mic in an Australian accent.

"'Ello, this is Mike Wheela', president of Hawkins Middle AV Club."
Dustin then practically ripped the headphones off of Mike's head, a big goofy grin on his face as he placed them on his head. Mike was in a fit of giggles as he spoke. "What are you doing?" Dustin proceeded to do the exact same thing as Mike just moments ago.
"'Ello, this is Dustin, and this is the secretary and treasurer of Hawkins Middle AV Club. Do you eat kangaroos for breakfast?" I giggle, shaking my head thinking about the poor confused soul who is stuck listening to the boys ramble on. As Lucas grabs for the headphones, I turn around so I'm facing Mr. Clarke, and I give a polite, yet warm smile. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome Ms. L/N." He returned the smile, seeming appreciative of the fact that at least one of us said 'Thank you'. He has always been a great teacher, and I don't think anybody ever really appreciates or even thanks him very much. I can't imagine how frustrating it can be as a teacher. I laugh to myself at the sight of my friends playfully fighting over who gets to use it next, when our fun gets cut short at the sound of a knock on the door. We all turn our heads to see the Principle walk in, a couple of men behind him.
"Sorry to interrupt, but, uh, may I borrow Y/N, Michael, Lucas, and Dustin?" To say my stomach dropped would be an understatement as I got a better look at the men out in the hallway and realized it was the Chief and one of his officers.
My mouth ran dry.
'Will.'

The four of us were seated on the couch in the Principal's office, Chief Hopper, and officer Callahan - I believe his name was - seated in chairs opposite us. I was seated between Mike and Dustin, I kept my mouth shut unless told otherwise, and my hands have woven together in my lap, much to afraid to do otherwise. The boys, on the other hand, were freaking out and all trying to speak at once. I tried nudging them warningly with my elbows but they just ignored me. It seemed I had made the right choice in being quite, as Hopper seemed to have gotten impatient almost immediately.
"Okay, okay, okay. One at a time all right? You." He points Mike. Mike shakes his head. "You said he takes what?"
"Mirkwood."
"Mirkwood." His face scrunched up in confusion.
"Yes," I croaked, wanting to explain to him that it is just our name for road.
"Have you ever heard of Mirkwood?" He turned to the officer.

I have not. That sounds made up to me." The officer replied. This timid, awkward man gave me the impression he was more of a 'Yes-man'.
"No, it's from Lord of the Rings." Mike said
'Oh, here we go.' I think to myself, sighing.
"Well, The Hobbit."
Mike and I look at each other, knowing what's happening.
"It doesn't matter." Lucas retorted.
"Knock it off!" I warn, trying my best to throw my whisper across the couch without drawing attention to myself.
"He asked!" Dustin nearly shouted
"Guys!" I hissed.
"'He asked'" Lucas mimicking Dustin.
I looked over at Mike for help but he is already checked out.
They continue talking over each other in a childish manner and the chief leans forward trying to silence them.
"Hey, hey, hey!" They quieted down finally. "What'd I just say? One at a damn time. You." He nodded to me. He seemed to tolerate just Mike and me.
"Mirkwood, as Mike was saying. It is a real road. It's just the name that's made up. It's where Cornwallis and Kerley meet." I finish.
He seems satisfied finally having a straightforward answer. He leans back in his chair, talking now to Callahan.
"Yeah, all right, I think I know that --"
"We can show you, if you want." Mike offered hopefully, cutting the chief off mid-sentence.
"I said that I know it!"
"We can help look."
"Yeah" I added hopefully.
"No."
And just like that, the boys begin to talk over each other once again. Knowing better than to waste my breath trying to shut them up, I sit back once again, hands in my lap waiting for the Chief to continue.
"No," He says loud enough to quiet the boys. "After school, you are to all go home. Immediately. That means no biking around looking for your friend, no investigating, no nonsense. This isn't some Lord of the Rings book."
"The Hobbit."
"Shut up!" Lucas gave Dustin a swat on the arm.
Dustin reached over and hit Lucas back, knocking me and Mike back in the process. I roll my eyes in annoyance.
"Hey!"

Mike finally snaps. "Stop it!"
They continue hitting each other and Hopper finally leans over and says quietly, in an irritated tone. "Do I make myself clear?"
I was the only one paying attention so based on his lowered voice and his eyes on me, I could tell he was just talking to me at this point.
I shook my head, "Yes," I mutter.
He nodded his head at me in thanks. All the while, the boys were still bickering. Hopper's gaze landed on the boys, and he stood up and walked forward towards us. The way his tall frame towered over us was overwhelming, and enough to shut the boys up. In a deep, intimidating voice, he repeated his words, slowly.
"Do I make myself... clear?" The boys nod their heads in fear, their necks craning up to meet his eyes.
"Yes, sir."
"Yeah."
"Yes."

⊹ ⊹ ⊹
I've been laying in my bed, staring at the ceiling for about thirty minutes, give or take a few. I had managed to do all of my school work, including my project that wasn't due for another week and a half, read three books - granted, they were fairly short - and I was still left with nothing to do but worry about Will. The fact that I'm not allowed to help is driving me crazy, even though I keep trying to tell myself the adults are better equipped to deal with this stuff. My thoughts are interrupted by the crackling of the walkie-talkie that was sitting on my dresser.

The voice coming through sounded like Mike. Rather than getting my hopes up I just decided to stay put, staring at my ceiling, listening in.
"Lucas, do you copy? It's Mike. Lucas? Over."
"Hey, it's Lucas."
"I know it's you. And say 'over' when you're done talking so I know when you're done. Over." I roll my eyes and smile.
"I'm done. Over." I chuckle at this.
"I'm worried about Will. Over." My smile quickly falls.
I can hear Lucas sigh. "Yeah. This is crazy. Over."
"I was thinking..." Now I was really paying attention. "Will could've cast Protection last night, but he didn't. He cast fireball. Over." I sat up slowly, my eyebrows furrowed at the walkie.
"What's your point? Over."
"My point is... he could've played it safe, but he didn't. He put himself in danger to help the party. Over." A bittersweet smile flutters across my face briefly at this.
"Meet me in ten. Over and out."
'To hell with adults.' I tell myself. I leap off my bed and grab the walkie, knowing they'll still be able to hear me.
"Forgetting someone? Over."
"Y/N? Over." It was Mike.
"Don't worry, I'll let Dustin know. Over and out."

⊹ ⊹ ⊹
Once I had caught Dustin up on everything, the four of us had met up and we are now currently riding down Mirkwood. The thought of my best friend disappearing right here, exactly 24 hours ago was enough to give me chills.
"Ah, man. This is it." Lucas broke the silence as we approached the barrier closing off the path where his bike was supposedly found. We all came to a stop.
For a brief moment, the woods were lit up by lighting in the distance, as thunder bellowed across the sky. Dustin looked up at the sky, his voice shaking.
"Hey, guys. You feel that?" He was obviously referring to the rain that fell on his face. I roll my eyes. "I think maybe we should go back."
"No!" Mike and I said simultaneously.
"We're not going back. Just stay close." Mike and Lucas continued on into woods. I was eager to follow them but not without trying to reassure Dustin .
"Dustin, he's right. Look, I know you're scared right now, okay? I'm scared too, but can you even imagine how scared Will must be? We have to do this. For Will." I didn't wait for a reply and ran to catch up with Mike and Lucas. Knowing Dustin, he would rather stay in a group than split up. Sure enough, he gave in.
"Hey, guys, wait up!" He said, dropping his bike. "Wait up!" We started walking again. The rain started to really pour so I pulled my hood over my head and turned on the flashlight and set off into the night, eager to find my friend.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
The thunder rumbled, and the rain fell harder as we headed deeper into the forest.
"WILL!"
"WILL!" I cried.
"Byers!" Lucas yelled.
Dustin tried a different approach. "I've got your X-Men 134!"
Our flashlights were hardly making a difference at this point. Dustin spoke up again. "Guys, I really think we should turn back."
"Seriously, Dustin?" Lucas exclaimed. "You wanna be a baby, then go home already!"
"I'm just being realistic Lucas!"

"NO, you're just being a big sissy."
"Did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad? And we're going to the exact same spot where he was last seen? And we have no weapons or anything?"
I start to slow down once I heard something in the bushes.
"Dustin, shut up." Mike spoke up.
'Okay, Mike must have heard it too. Thank God.'
"I'm just saying, does that seem smart to you?"
"Dustin!" I snap. "Zip it!" I hiss.
Now the rustling was loud and clear.
"Did you guys hear that?" Mike asks.
"Yeah ,"
I just shake my head, looking around for the source of the noise. The rustling is louder than ever and we all turn in the direction it came from. All our flashlights pointed in that direction. Then we heard it again. It was right behind us. We whipped around to find a girl, with a buzz cut, wearing nothing but 'Benny's Burgers' T-shirt. We all stood there mouths agape, at this girl, shivering, cowering in fear.