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CHAPTER ONE —

     Wren lay in his bunk, his back pressed against the cool metal of the bed frame, his eyes fixed on the plain, gray wall in front of him. His mind drifted in a haze of anticipation, waiting for the sound that would signal his release from this dreary cell.

     The familiar jangling of keys brought him back to the present, and Wren's heart skipped a beat as he sprang to his feet, a smirk curling on his lips. Chief Hopper approached, his expression unreadable as he unlocked the cell door with a heavy sigh.

     "It's my lucky day. I don't have to see your face anymore," Hopper muttered gruffly as he swung the door open. Wren nodded in acknowledgment, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes as he glanced towards another inmate, silently acknowledging their shared relief.

     "Get outta here, Wheeler," Hopper directed, gesturing for Wren to follow him. With a smug grin, Wren complied, stepping out of the cell and into the dimly lit corridor.

      As he changed into his clothes, Wren's fingers brushed over the familiar fabric of his letterman jacket and red t-shirt, the garments serving as a reminder of the life he was eager to reclaim. He slipped his walkman and a pack of cigarettes into his pocket, the weight of freedom tangible in his grasp.

      Emerging from the Juvenile Center, Wren's gaze lifted to the sky, the expanse above offering a sense of liberation he had longed for.

      With a defiant gesture, he raised his middle finger towards the building, his voice echoing into the open air as he shouted into the heavens, a mixture of relief and exhilaration coursing through his veins.

     Wren's first stop upon leaving the Juvenile Center was Dustin's house, a familiar haven from his troubled past. While he lived with his cousins following his mother's tragic demise, Dustin had been his anchor, his confidant, his best friend. As he approached the familiar dwelling, memories of their childhood adventures flooded his mind, bringing a genuine smile to his lips.

     However, his cheerful demeanor faltered as he noticed the door slightly ajar. With a furrowed brow, Wren cautiously pushed the door open, announcing his presence to the empty house. "Dustin Henderson? It's Wren. I'm back from Juvie!" he called out, his voice echoing through the empty hallway as he ventured further inside.

     To his surprise, instead of finding Dustin alone, he stumbled upon a gathering of familiar faces in the kitchen. Mike, Lucas, and Will stood alongside two girls he didn't recognize, their expressions ranging from curiosity to amusement as they regarded him.

    "Holy shit, cuz. You're friends with girls?" Wren burst into laughter, his easygoing demeanor breaking the tension as he teased his cousin. The redhead girl shot him an unamused look, her sharp wit matching his own. "You're not wrong, he is full of himself," she remarked dryly, prompting a playful pout from Wren.

     "Aw, thanks, Red," he replied, feigning offense as the girl rolled her eyes. "What's your name?" he inquired, genuine curiosity peeking through his playful facade.

     "Max, and I know your name because I've heard stories of your ungrateful ass," Max shot back, her retort laced with a hint of sarcasm. Wren couldn't help but chuckle at her boldness, his gaze shifting to Mike with a mischievous glint in his eye.

     "No hug?" he teased, his tone mockingly wounded, eager to see how his cousin would react to his return.

      Mike's glare intensified as Wren's presence seemed to disrupt the tranquility of their gathering. "What are you doing here? I thought you had another year left?" Mike's skepticism was evident in his tone, his arms crossed defensively as he positioned himself protectively in front of the brunette girl beside him.

     Wren's gaze flickered between Mike and the brunette, a smirk playing on his lips as he noted Mike's defensive stance. "Good behavior," he replied casually, his attention shifting to the girl beside Mike. "Hey, what's your name?" he inquired, his smirk widening as Mike stepped in front of her, a clear indication of his protective instincts kicking in.

     "Wren, get out. Dustin doesn't wanna see you. Ju— Just go home, all right?" Mike's voice wavered slightly as he stumbled over his words, his discomfort palpable. But Wren wasn't about to back down so easily.

    "No," he stated firmly, his resolve unwavering as he walked past Mike, pushing him aside with a dismissive gesture. Towering over the brunette girl, he met her gaze with a challenging stare, ignoring Mike's attempts to intervene.

    "Hey, guys, stop!" Max, Lucas, and Will interjected, their voices filled with urgency as they attempted to diffuse the tension. But before peace could be restored, chaos erupted.

    Wren threw a punch at Mike, but to his bewilderment, his hand froze in mid-air, as if held back by an invisible force. He struggled against the invisible barrier, his confusion growing with each futile attempt to move.

    "Stop fighting," the brunette girl commanded sternly, her voice cutting through the chaos, a trickle of blood running from her nose. Wren's gaze snapped to her, his eyebrows raised in disbelief as he realized the source of the strange phenomenon.

Wren blinked in disbelief as the brunette girl lifted her head, releasing him from the invisible restraint that had momentarily held him back. He flexed his hand experimentally, still processing the strange encounter as he glanced back at the girl.

The tension in the room seemed to dissipate as Wren stepped outside, seeking solace in the familiar ritual of smoking. With a resigned sigh, he dropped his bag on the ground and retrieved a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, the familiar weight offering a sense of comfort amidst the chaos.

As he lit a cigarette and took a long drag, Wren's gaze drifted upwards, lost in thought as he contemplated the events that had just unfolded. The sky stretched out above him, a vast expanse of blue that seemed to offer no answers to the questions swirling in his mind.

"Sorry if I scared you," the brunette's voice broke through his reverie, drawing his attention back to the present. Wren turned to look at her, meeting her gaze with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, the smoke from his cigarette swirling around him in the breeze.

For a moment, they locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them before Wren turned away, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the air. As he watched it dissipate into nothingness, he couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning of something much bigger than himself.

The brunette gestured toward the cigarette dangling between Wren's fingers. "Why do you hurt yourself? With the puffy stuff?" she inquired, her tone gentle yet probing.

Wren squinted against the glare of the sun as he turned to face the brunette girl, her question catching him off guard. "I'm guessing you mean cigarettes. It's just to calm my nerves. Juvie gave me a lot of anxiety. Saw stuff that messed me up pretty badly," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation.

The girl regarded him with a mixture of concern and curiosity, her brow furrowed as she processed his words. "But why hurt yourself to calm down?" she pressed gently, her gaze unwavering as she searched for understanding.

Wren shrugged, a bitter laugh escaping him as he took another drag from his cigarette. "Sometimes, it's easier to numb the pain than to face it head-on," he admitted, his tone heavy with the weight of his experiences. "Besides, it's not like I've got much else to help me cope," he added with a rueful smirk, his gaze drifting back to the horizon as he exhaled a cloud of smoke into the air.

The brunette nodded solemnly, her expression reflecting the weight of her past. "I'm El. Short for Eleven," she introduced herself, extending her hand. Wren shook it, his curiosity piqued by her revelation.

"Your name's Eleven?" Wren raised an eyebrow in surprise, prompting El to shake her head. "Birth name... Jane. Hawkins Lab... took me. Gave me a new name. Eleven. Escaped when I was eleven and Mike found me... gave me the nickname El," she explained slowly, each word measured and deliberate.

Wren's eyes widened as he processed her words, his previous smirk fading as he realized the gravity of her situation. "Hawkins Lab? Is that how you got superpowers?" he pressed, his tone a mixture of fascination and disbelief.

El nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Cool shit," Wren exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as he admired her resilience. El chuckled softly, mirroring his grin. "Cool shit," she echoed with a nod of her head, a sense of camaraderie blossoming between them despite their vastly different backgrounds.

"Why did you go to... bad place?" El inquired, her brow furrowed in genuine curiosity.

Wren gave her a puzzled look. "Bad place?" he echoed, seeking clarification.

"The place with the cells. When I met Mike, he told me about you. You were in trouble. Said you're a bad person," El explained, her words laced with concern as she recalled Mike's stories.

Understanding dawned on Wren's face as he connected the dots. "Oh! Juvie. I don't think I'm a bad person. Just misunderstood. I like getting in trouble. The thrill is fun," he admitted, a smirk playing on his lips as he defended his actions.

El nodded in understanding, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I get it. I like the thrill too," she confessed, a sense of camaraderie forming between them.

Their eyes locked for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them, before their reverie was interrupted by Mike's voice. "El, come on, Dustin's gonna be here soon!" he called out, breaking the moment.

El nodded in acknowledgment, turning to leave. Wren took another puff from his cigarette, watching her go. When she glanced back, assuming he might follow, he shook his head.

"I'm gonna wait for Dustin out here. I won't tell him you guys are here. Let you guys do your surprise," he assured her with a smile.

El returned his smile, gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you," she said softly before continuing on her way, leaving Wren alone with his thoughts as he awaited his friend's arrival.

Wren rocked on his heels, anticipation building as he scanned the street for any sign of Dustin's arrival. His grin widened as he spotted Dustin's mom's car approaching, his excitement palpable. With a playful whistle, Wren signaled his presence, his eyes lighting up as Dustin responded with their secret whistle.

As the car pulled to a stop, Dustin practically leaped out of the vehicle, his excitement matching Wren's. Without hesitation, he enveloped Wren in a tight hug, catching him off guard. Wren chuckled in surprise before returning the embrace, the warmth of their friendship evident in the shared moment of reunion.

Dustin grabbed Wren's shoulders, his excitement quickly turning into concern. "Wren! When did you get out!? Why didn't you call me at camp?" Dustin bombarded him with questions, his worry evident in his voice.

Wren laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I literally just got out forty minutes ago," he reassured, his smile unwavering despite Dustin's barrage of questions.

But Dustin's smile quickly faded, replaced by a stern expression as he delivered a punch to Wren's shoulder. "Ow! What the hell? Since when can you punch good?" Wren winced, rubbing his sore arm as Dustin leveled a pointed finger at him.

"That's for being a dumbass and getting yourself into juvie after you promised you would stay outta trouble," Dustin scolded him, his tone harsh but tinged with underlying concern.

Wren smirked in response, his defiance unyielding. "I'll never stop, Dustin. It's just who I am," he shrugged, his words echoing with a hint of resignation.

Dustin shook his head in exasperation, frustration evident in his expression. "Is everyone else here?" he asked, scanning the room for any sign of their friends.

Wren pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze momentarily faltering before he smoothly replied, "Nope... just me," his lie slipping effortlessly from his tongue.

As they walked inside, Dustin continued to rant about their absent friends, his frustration mounting with each step. When they finally reached Dustin's room, Wren couldn't help but seize the opportunity for a moment of levity, spinning around in Dustin's wheeley chair with a mischievous grin.

      "At least someone's happy I'm home," Dustin remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of disappointment as he observed their empty surroundings.

      Wren frowned, a pang of sympathy tugging at his heart. "Dustin, I bet they're throwing you a surprise party and you just don't know it yet. I mean, before I came home here, I saw my cousin, and he was real mad that I was home. Almost punched him," Wren offered, attempting to lift his friend's spirits with a playful jab.

     Dustin chuckled at Wren's attempt to lighten the mood, but their laughter was abruptly interrupted by the sudden activation of one of Dustin's robots. As more robots began to move, Dustin and Wren exchanged a panicked glance, their instincts kicking into overdrive.

      Without hesitation, Wren spotted a baseball bat with nails on it and grabbed it, while Dustin found a hairspray can and clutched it tightly. Together, they followed the trail of robots out of the room, their adrenaline pumping as they prepared for whatever lay ahead.

      As they reached the living room, the robots came to a halt, leaving Dustin muttering to himself in confusion. Sensing the tension in the air, Wren stood behind him, his senses on high alert.

      Suddenly, El tapped on Wren's shoulder, handing him a kazoo. Wren offered her a grateful smile before placing the kazoo in his mouth, ready to join in whatever was about to happen.

      On cue, they all blew into their kazoos simultaneously, causing Dustin to whirl around in terror, spraying hairspray into Lucas' eyes in a moment of panic. Chaos ensued as Dustin and Lucas screamed, with Dustin continuing to spray hairspray uncontrollably.

      Reacting on instinct, adrenaline coursing through his veins, Wren teleported to Dustin's side and smacked the can out of his hand, bringing an abrupt end to the chaos. "What the hell?" Mike breathed out, his expression a mix of shock and confusion.

      Wren laughed nervously, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Um... some weird shit happened while I was in Juvie," he admitted, his laughter tinged with relief as he attempted to explain away the bizarre sequence of events.

Max assisted Lucas in getting the hairspray out of his eyes while Wren remained in Dustin's room with Dustin, Will, Mike, and El, recounting the events that led to his newfound ability to teleport.

"Okay, so how did this happen? We both know your mom wasn't subjected to testing, and you weren't born with these powers," Mike interjected, his curiosity piqued by Wren's revelation.

Wren nodded in agreement. "I know. It was six months ago. I woke up outside of Juvie. I almost got caught because it was literally right before rounds. I had no idea how I got outside, but I was freaking out, and I teleported myself back into my cell. I haven't used it since because I didn't want to be tested on or have extended time for 'escaping'," he explained, his words tinged with a sense of caution.

As Mike and El exchanged a meaningful look, El's excitement was palpable. "The date. What day was it?" she inquired eagerly.

Wren furrowed his brows, his expression shifting to one of concern. "Um... November 4th, I think? Why?" he asked, a note of worry creeping into his voice.

Will's breath hitched at the mention of the date. "You haven't had any weird dreams or... wanting to kill anyone?" he asked Wren, his voice laced with concern.

Wren laughed nervously, shaking his head in disbelief. "Um, no. No weird dreams or wanting to kill anyone," he reassured them, his tone tinged with incredulity.

Concerned whispers filled the room as Will turned to Mike. "Could he still be...? What if this isn't Wren?" he whispered anxiously.

Mike scrutinized his cousin, his mind racing with possibilities. "What happened at the mall when you were six?" he asked, his tone firm as he sought confirmation.

Wren hesitated for a moment, his memory flashing back to a childhood memory. "I was with you and your mom, and you peed on Santa's lap," he admitted reluctantly, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.

"Yep, it's Wren," Mike declared confidently, snapping his fingers in affirmation as relief washed over the group.

      Wren cleared his throat, his arms crossed as he sought clarification amidst the whirlwind of information. "Could someone explain?" he requested, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and apprehension.

      "There's another dimension called The Upside Down. It has these creatures... very evil creatures. One of them, the Mind Flayer, possessed Will last year. We were able to get it out of him, but I think the shadow part of it, not the evil part of it, attached to you. Giving you the ability to leap through shadows, and I bet you can control shadows too. You just don't know how," Mike elaborated, his tone grave as he conveyed the gravity of the situation.

      Wren's mouth gaped open in astonishment, struggling to process the newfound knowledge. "I need a minute to process this..." he trailed off, pushing himself up and exiting Dustin's room. He made his way to the front porch, the hot air providing a moment of solace as he grappled with the implications of his newfound abilities.

     Wren's leg bounced anxiously as he picked at his lips, his mind racing with a myriad of thoughts and emotions. Anxiety gripped him tightly, his heart pounding in his chest as he attempted to make sense of the surreal situation.

     Startled, Wren jumped when the front door opened, turning to see Mike and El standing behind him. "You okay?" El asked, her expression filled with concern.

      Wren forced a smile, nodding in an attempt to reassure them. "Yeah. Just... processing. Where are you guys going?" he inquired, diverting the conversation to a more lighthearted topic.

    "Dustin had a girlfriend! We're gonna talk to him," El explained eagerly.

     "Dustin got a girl! Hell yeah, man!" Wren exclaimed, offering a high-five to Dustin as he joined them, momentarily setting aside the weight of his revelations for the excitement of his friend's new romance.

      Wren walked behind the group of friends, a peculiar sensation gnawing at him as they ascended the hill alongside Dustin and his companions. "Aren't we high enough?" Lucas grumbled, voicing his discomfort with the climb.

      "Cerebo works best at a hundred meters," Dustin informed him, his determination unwavering as he pressed on.

     Suddenly, Wren stumbled over a rock, but before he could hit the ground, El reached out and caught him. "You okay?" she inquired, concern etched into her features.

     Wren nodded gratefully, offering her a small smile. "Thanks, El," he expressed his gratitude, receiving a smile in return.

    Max chimed in with a comment, her skepticism evident in her tone. "You know, I'm pretty sure people in Utah have telephones," she remarked.

     Dustin countered Max's remark with a hint of exasperation. "Yeah, but Suzie's Mormon," he explained.

     "Oh, shit. She doesn't have electricity?" Lucas cursed, his disbelief evident.

     Wren shook his head, offering some insight. "That's Amish. I met a guy in Juvie. He grew up Amish," he clarified, his experience shedding light on the matter.

     "Yeah, Suzie's Mormon," Dustin reiterated, confirming the information.

     Curious, Will piped up with a question. "What are Mormons?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar term.

     "Super religious white people. They have electricity and cars and stuff, but... since I'm not Mormon, her parents would never approve." Dustin replied succinctly, providing a simple explanation for his friend's inquiry.

Wren skipped over another rock, his mind wandering as he made light conversation with his friends. "Sounds a bit like Star-Crossed Lovers," he commented casually, drawing parallels to their current situation.

Glancing back, Wren realized that Mike and El weren't following behind. He observed Mike whispering something into El's ear before they both turned to him. "Hey, guys!" Mike's voice echoed across the hill, prompting Wren to fully turn around and face them.

"This is fun and all, but, uh..." Mike tapped his watch, signaling their impending departure. "I have to go home," El added, her tone apologetic.

"We're almost there," Dustin pointed out optimistically, his eagerness evident.

"Sorry, man. Curfew," Mike explained, his expression apologetic yet firm.

Wren scoffed, his disappointment palpable. "Damn, Cuz, just got back and you're already running away with your girlfriend?" he retorted, his glare directed at Mike as he walked away with El.

As the two departed, a sudden force pushed Mike forward, eliciting gasps from the group. Wren's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled back, a trickle of blood emerging from his nose. El turned back, noticing the blood on Wren's nose. "Did you do that on purpose?" she questioned, her tone accusatory.

"N-No! I didn't know I could do that," Wren defended himself, his voice tinged with surprise and uncertainty. El rolled her eyes in response, grabbing Mike's hand and leading him away. "That was badass," Dustin commented, his admiration evident as he watched the scene unfold.

ASH SPEAKS!

i hope you guys like wren bc im so excited to write him!

scared this fic might flop☹️