𝟬𝟮
𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻

    𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒. The groggy haze that hung over her as she dragged herself out of bed felt like a cruel joke, a daily reminder that the world didn't care about her preference for the quiet solitude of night. She wasn't like Steve, who could bounce out of bed as if he were starring in his own personal commercial, hair already looking like it had been styled for hours. No, Elise had to fight for every ounce of wakefulness, stumbling through her morning routine with half-closed eyes.

    The ride to school was its own form of torture. Steve, still on his "I'm the coolest guy in town" high, blared music loud enough to rattle the car's windows. It was all noise, all too much, too early. Elise stared out the window, watching the suburban landscape blur by, wishing she could be anywhere but there.

    Elise stared out the window of Steve's car as they drove through the dark streets of Hawkins, the world outside a blur of shadowed trees and dimly lit houses. The radio played loudly in the background, but the usual chatter between her and Steve was noticeably absent. She could feel the tension in the air, the kind that had been simmering between them for weeks.

    Steve kept his eyes on the road, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other drumming nervously against the gear shift. The silence stretched on, apart from the loud-ass song, heavy and awkward, until Elise finally spoke up.

    "Do you even know where you're going?" she asked, her tone more biting than she intended.

    Steve shot her a quick glance, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern. "Relax, Ellie. I've been the one driving you to school. I think I know the way."

    Elise rolled her eyes, sinking further into the passenger seat. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

    He let out a sigh, his grip on the wheel tightening. "I'm trying, okay? You're not making it any easier."

    "Making what easier?" Elise shot back, turning to face him. "This isn't about me, Steve. It's about you trying to play the hero all the time. Like I'm some little kid who needs you to hold my hand."

    Steve clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he pulled up to a stop sign. "I'm not trying to be a hero, Elise. I'm just trying to look out for you. You think I want to do this? You think I enjoy dragging you around when I could be hanging out with my friends?"

    Elise felt a pang of guilt but quickly buried it. "You don't have to, you know. I can take care of myself."

    Steve shook his head, finally turning to look at her. "That's not the point. You're my sister, and whether you like it or not, I'm responsible for you."

    "Responsible for me?" Elise echoed, her voice still flat. "I didn't ask for that, Steve. I don't need you to be responsible for me. I'm not a baby or Nancy." Her face scrunching as she said the Wheeler girl's name.

    Steve let out a frustrated laugh, running a hand through his hair, before lowering the volume of the radio. "God, Elise, I'm not trying to treat you like a baby. But you don't understand—things are getting weird, and I just... I don't want you getting mixed up in it," he tried, ignoring the part about Nancy.

    Elise frowned, her irritation giving way to confusion. "What are you talking about? What things?"

    Steve hesitated, his eyes flicking back to the road as he resumed driving. "Never mind. It's nothing. Just... stay out of trouble, okay? For once?"

    Elise opened her mouth to argue, but something in Steve's tone stopped her. Instead, she turned back to the window, watching the dark landscape pass by in silence. Whatever Steve was worried about, he wasn't going to share it with her—not yet, anyway.

    The rest of the ride was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio. Elise could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging between them, but she didn't push. There would be time for that later, she told herself. For now, she just wanted to get home and forget about the uneasy feeling that had settled in her chest.

    As they pulled into the entrance of her school, Steve turned off the engine and sat back in his seat, staring at the steering wheel. Elise watched him, waiting for him to say something, anything, but he didn't.

    "Thanks for the ride," she finally muttered, reaching for the door handle.

    "Elise," Steve said, stopping her in her tracks. She looked back at him, surprised by the seriousness in his voice. "Just... be careful, okay?"

    Elise blinked, caught off guard by the genuine concern in his eyes. For a moment, the walls she had built up between them wavered, but she quickly reinforced them, giving him a small nod before stepping out of the car.

    As she walked toward the gates of Hawkins Middle School, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something that would change everything. But for now, all she could do was push it aside and try to focus on the normal, the familiar. She could deal with the rest later.

    Elise stepped onto the school's front steps, the remnants of her argument with Steve still lingering in her mind. She watched as he drove off in a hurry, the engine of his car roaring down the street. Her shoulders slumped slightly, wishing for a moment that he hadn't been so quick to leave. She was surprised at the amount of students since it was late—around 10:20AM.

    "Elise!" Dustin Henderson's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to see him running toward her, his backpack bouncing as he weaved through the crowd of students. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with panic.

    "Who's Elise?" Elise asked ready to walk off again.

    "Son of a bitch," Dustin panted, trying to catch his breath. "This is serious, man."

    Elise's eyebrows furrowed as she finally fully turned to him, "What is it?"

    "Have you seen Will?" Dustin blurted out, barely able to catch his breath. 

    "Will? No, I haven't seen him since yesterday. Why?"

    Dustin's face fell, his anxiety spiking even more. "He's missing, Elise! No one's seen him since last night. His mom's freaking out, and we found his bike near Mirkwood this morning."

    "Mirkwood?" Elise repeated, a sense of dread settling over her. "Are you sure?"

    Dustin nodded frantically. "Yeah, and it looked like it was just left there, like he abandoned it or something."

    Elise's heart pounded in her chest. "I went to Mirkwood just yesterday, but I didn't see anything."

    "You went there? You didn't see anything?" Dustin asked, glancing down the road where Steve's car had disappeared moments ago.

    "Yeah, I just said so." Elise said, her mind racing. "But that doesn't matter now."

    "How doesn't it matter? You went to the same place Will went missing!" Dustin's voice cracked with urgency. 

     "I said it doesn't matter." Elise's tone changed to a more defensive one before cooling down, "I saw nothing there anyways."

     Dustin was about to protest more but Elise cut him off, "Don't mention it to anyone, Henderson. I'm serious," she warned before strolling into the building.

    Elise Harrington navigated the bustling corridors of Hawkins Middle School with an air of disinterest. The hallways were alive with the sounds of students chatting, lockers slamming, and the occasional burst of laughter. Elise's eyes darted from side to side as she maneuvered through the crowded passageways, her thoughts a tangled mess of schoolwork, friendships, and the crushing monotony of her daily routine. She had just finished her history class, a subject that she had always found somewhat tedious despite her decent grades. The lecture had been long, droning on about events she felt were only marginally relevant to her current life. Now, she was heading to her next class, English, where Mrs. Nelson's assignments seemed like a never-ending cycle of essays and book reports.

    As Elise walked, she noticed a small cluster of students huddled near the AV Room, their voices a murmur of hushed whispers. Their glances were darting toward the door of the AV Room with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Elise's gaze followed theirs, momentarily intrigued by the unusual activity. A few of the students exchanged knowing looks, their expressions hinting at some secretive, shared knowledge. Elise felt a brief surge of curiosity, but she quickly pushed it aside, reminding herself that she had more pressing matters to attend to.

    She continued on her way, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of her upcoming English assignment and the novel she had to finish reading. As she entered her classroom, she was greeted by the familiar, somewhat comforting environment of her second-period English class. Mrs. Nelson's room was lined with bookshelves and adorned with inspirational quotes about the power of literature. Elise took her seat and began to prepare for the lesson, though her mind occasionally wandered back to the commotion she had observed earlier.

    Minutes passed in a blur of lectures and assignments. Elise found herself lost in the rhythmic cycle of note-taking and reading, only half-listening to Mrs. Nelson's explanations about thematic elements in the novel they were studying. The usual hum of classroom activity was a distant backdrop as Elise's thoughts drifted once again to the earlier incident. She wondered if there was any connection between the police presence and the group of students' reactions. The mystery of it all was momentarily more engaging than the banalities of her English lesson.

    Just as Elise was beginning to lose herself in the routine of her school day, the intercom crackled to life. The sudden, sharp burst of static sliced through the ambient noise of the classroom, drawing the attention of every student. Elise's heart skipped a beat as her name echoed through the speakers, the familiar tone of the intercom now carrying an unexpected urgency. The announcement was brief but impactful, and Elise's sense of annoyance quickly shifted to a feeling of resignation. She exchanged a puzzled glance with her classmates, who looked equally bewildered by the interruption.

    Elise's thoughts raced as she gathered her things and left the classroom. She knew she had to head to the principal's office, as the announcement had left little room for ambiguity. With a sigh, she made her way through the hallways once more, her footsteps echoing in the otherwise quiet corridor. As she approached the office, she couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was unfolding, something she was about to be pulled into against her will.

    The principal's office was a nondescript space, with its beige walls and wooden furnishings contributing to its atmosphere of authority and formality. Elise took a deep breath before entering, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of what was to come. Inside, she saw Lucas Sinclair and Mike Wheeler seated on one side of the room, their faces reflecting a mixture of discomfort and apprehension. Both boys appeared restless, their fidgeting betraying their nervousness. 

    Elise's gaze landed finally on Dustin Henderson, who was slumped in a chair with an expression of guilt and unease. It was immediately clear that Dustin's presence was the key to the situation. Elise recalled her earlier conversation with him about Mirkwood, where she had explicitly instructed him to keep it a secret. His apparent indiscretion had now led her into this predicament.

    Elise's frustration was palpable as she took in the scene. She raised her hands a bit and let it fall on the side of her legs, her demeanor a mix of annoyance and resignation. 

    "Hey, it wasn't my fault," Dustin put his hands out prompting Elise to shake her head in disappointment.

    Chief Hopper, known for his stern and no-nonsense approach, looked up from his paperwork. His gaze was steady and authoritative, his posture conveying an unspoken command of respect. The principal, whose name Elise could never quite remember, offered a curt nod, signaling her to take a seat.

    "Elise Harrington," Hopper began, his voice carrying the weight of authority, "We need to talk about your recent visit to, uh, Mirkwood."

    Elise felt a pang of frustration at the mention of Mirkwood. She had hoped to avoid drawing attention to her trivial excursion. 

    "I don't know who that is," she said, her tone defensive.

    Hopper's face changed from neutral to a bit annoyed as he wiped his face down with his hands. "Will Byers is missing, and any information you might have could be important."

    Elise sighed, her frustration mounting. "I didn't see anything. At least anything you could call important at Mirkwood. I was just wandering around. There was nothing worth mentioning."

    Hopper simply just sighed.

    Elise recounted her brief visit to Mirkwood, careful to avoid divulging any details that might seem significant. She described her walk through the dense forest, the oppressive canopy of trees, and the general sense of ennui that had led her there. Her account was intentionally vague, designed to provide the minimum amount of information required.

    The principal and Hopper listened intently, their expressions serious as they took notes. Elise could sense their underlying skepticism, their eyes searching for any hint of something more than what she was willing to provide. The questions were routine, probing for details that might link her visit to the ongoing investigation, but Elise's answers were straightforward and unremarkable.

    When the questioning finally came to an end, her gaze shifting to Dustin. He offered a sheepish smile, and she rolled her eyes in response, her feelings a mixture of exasperation and resignation. She wasn't truly angry with him; it was the situation he had inadvertently created that she found frustrating.

    "Why can't we just help look, I mean, it makes sense. I've been to Mirkwood plenty-a-times and they're his closest friends." Elise spoke up.

    "Why do you care, you don't even know Will!" Mike sat up straight, facing his torso towards Elise.

    "You don't know me either, so why do you care what I do?" Elise said, squinting her eyes. She already didn't have the best impression of the Wheelers because of her brother but now it was down the fucking drain.

    "Harringtons.." Lucas muttered to himself, burying his face in his hands.

    Hopper sighed but chose to simply ignore the banter, "Look, kid. I don't want you out and about where a missing case possibly occurred. Goes for all of you too," he pointed to the three boys.

     "After school, you're going to go home, stay put in your houses and especially no going to Mirkwood," Hopper continued, specifically squinting at Elise. "Do you understand?"

    As Elise left the office, the hallway felt unusually quiet. The usual din of student activity was absent, replaced by a heavy sense of anticipation. She glanced over at Mike and Lucas, who were now standing by the office door. Their expressions were unreadable, and Mike's gaze met hers with a hint of curiosity. Elise didn't have the energy for small talk or pleasantries, so she simply walked to her next class without saying anything.

    The remainder of the school day dragged on interminably. Each class felt like a marathon, the minutes stretching into what seemed like hours. Elise struggled to concentrate, her mind occupied by the events of the day. The sudden shift from the routine of her school life to the involvement in a missing person investigation was jarring. The normalcy of her day had been abruptly interrupted, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the events of the day had marked the beginning of something much more complex.

    As the final bell rang, Elise gathered her belongings and prepared to leave. The school day had felt unusually long, each moment stretched by the weight of the day's events. There was one thing Elise knew for sure—she wasn't going home.

    With no compelling distractions at home and a distinct aversion to her brother's incessant antics, Elise found herself yearning for a change. The prospect of earning some recognition for locating a missing person seemed far more appealing than languishing in the mundane confines of her daily life. At the very least, it would offer her a chance to be acknowledged for something beyond the shadow of "King Steve's Little Sister."

    Thus, Elise resolved to venture into Mirkwood, fully aware that this excursion would be the most stimulating diversion available in the otherwise insipid town of Hawkins. The ennui that pervaded her surroundings had become a pervasive hallmark of her existence, and she was determined to escape it, even if only temporarily.

.ೃ࿐ IRIS SPEAKS !

im still so shocked about the nikocado avacado fiasco!!

he went from not being able to take two steps to being two fucking steps ahead, its so cool!

anyways scoliosis is tmr and everything just seems to remind me about it and im so not ready

but i really cannot fail ONE class bc my parents are 10x stricter than last time!

anyways dont be a ghost reader! COMMENTT

it makes ur reading experience x10 better to see and connect with other readers and say what ur feeling about something and it also gives me motivation!! after all, mi book tu book (pls that was so corny im never saying that again, i thought it would be cool)

plus, am i the only one who is OBSESSED with doing the gestures i write in my own books?? like i could write "she flipped her off" and mistakenly flip someone off while writing