ELEVEN SITS AT THE TABLE, hands laid in front of the weathered Dungeons and Dragons board which the Party knew so well. Approaching her curiously, Lucas tilts his head before turning to the group.

"What's the weirdo doing?" He asks as they get closer, watching as she puts all her focus onto the board.

"Eleven?" Mariella questions, tilting her head and sitting down in the chair next to her. Eleven picks up one of the board pieces.

"Will." She states, simply.

"Superpower." Dustin's eyes widen as Lucas rolls his.

"Did you... See him? On Mirkwood that night? Do you have any idea where he could be?" Mariella asks with a particular gentleness that would instantly calm a baby.

Ignoring her, Eleven pushes all the pieces off the board and flips it over and puts the figure right in the middle.

Mariella looks down, confused before looking to the others with squinted eyes.

"I don't understand," Mike says while coming up behind Mariella and putting his hands on her shoulders and resting his chin on the top of her head, looking down at the board. He notices the familiar scent of her hair, some kind of floral medley.

"Hiding." Eleven says, no emotion in her voice.

"What? What do you mean? He's hiding?" Mariella asks, voice trembling. She wondered how Eleven knew this. If she did truly know, it couldn't be for a good reason. Anxieties were beginning to flood her mind.

Eleven nods. Dusting and Lucas leaning closer, curious now.

"From who? The bad men?" Mariella's voice would raise a bit at the beginning but quickly go soft as she reaches for Mike's hand which rested in her shoulder still and squeezes it for comfort. To remind herself that she still had him. She still had Dustin. She still had Lucas. They'd find Will. They have to.

Eleven shakes her head, no.

"Then from who?" Mike pipes up while leaning his face deeper into Mariella's hair.

She would then grab the demogorgon figure and places it next Will's. Dustin inhales sharply while putting his hands on his head. "Shit."

It was the next day, Mariella sat on the couch next to Eleven as the boys talked about their plans for after school, Eleven played with Mike's walkie-talkie. Charlie has ended up dropping Mariella off at the Wheeler's early while on his way to work. He couldn't deny when Mariella begged him to drop her off early, claiming that she had forgotten her important math homework there — there really was no homework, at all. Charlie liked his daughters friends, feeling as if they were right for her. After all, they made her happy and that's all that matters.

"We just tell our parents we have AV club after school. Mars, tell yours that you have... to tutor! Yeah, say you have to tutor some kid in algebra cause you're real good at that. That'll give us at least a few hours for Operation Mirkwood," Mike explains the lies he planned out the night before. Mariella gets up and squeezed between him and Dustin.

"You seriously think that the weirdo knows where Will is?" Lucas asks while leaning into the table.

"Just trust me on this, okay?" Mike says, shortly.

"Okay." Lucas replies, apprehensive.

"Did you get the supplies?" Mike asks now, looking between the three of them. They all nod.

"Yeah. Binoculars.. From 'Nam. Army knife, also from 'Nam. Hammer, Camouflage bandana... And, the Wrist Rocket!" Lucas pulls out each item and places them on the table, saying the last part excitedly.

"You're gonna take out the demogorgon with a slingshot?" Dustin snorts while Mariella puckers up her lips with a smug grin. Oh, how they had no idea what she swiped from her father.

"First of all, it's a Wrist Rocket. And second of all, the demogorgon's not real. It's made up! But, if there is something out there, I'm gonna shoot it in the eye..." Lucas snaps the slingshot in Dustin's face causing the group to flinch.
"And blind it!"

Mike sighs before looking at Dustin and Mariella, "What'd you guys get?" He asks.

Dustin dumps out a bagful of snacks as Mariella unzips her backpack carefully.

"Well, alrighty. So, we've got.. Nutty Bars, Bazooka, Pez, Smarties, Pringles, Nilla Wafers, Apple, Banana and Trail Mix!" Dustin smiles happily.

"Seriously?" Lucas deadpans.

"We need energy for our travels! For stamina. Besides, why do we need weapons anyways? We have her!" Dustin gestures to Eleven.

"She shut one door!" Lucas argues.

"Alright! Alright! Settle down," Mariella says, pulling out her things now.

"I've got a notebook and a pen, camera, a first aid kit in case any of you decide to be stupid and get hurt, aspirin, a comb, ooh! Perfume!" Mariella shoves them all onto the table with a cheeky grin.

"Oh my god!" Lucas groans as Dustin picks up the aspirin bottle and looks to Mike, "why does she have this?" He whispers. "I don't know, maybe she has them in case she has cramps? Nancy uses them then," Mike shrugs.

Mariella disregards them and turns to Lucas. "Wait! I'm not done," she says while searching her bag. Smirking now, she pulls something out.

"Here it is, my dads pistol." She places it onto the table and looks up at the boys. "For good measure," She adds.

They stare at her shocked.
"Holy shit!" Dustin shouts out.

"Do you even know how to..." Lucas starts, nervously yet part of him was slightly excited.

"Obviously. My dad taught me last summer," Mariella shrugs. "Don't worry, the safety is on, Bud,".

Mike stares at her. "You can't take that to school!" He says, worriedly. "What if they search your bag?".

"What if they search Lucas' and find the knife? And why would they search my bag?" She questions, shrugging tossing everything in and zipping her bag up.

"Don't be a sissy, it'll be fine. If any bad guy tries to hurt us now, we're prepared," She adds before turning to Eleven, "I'll see you later!" She says before beginning for the stairs.

"Mars! Wait!" Dustin calls after her causing her to turn, lips parted curiously.

"We need you to explain the plan to El," Mike starts, sheepishly.

"She likes you most." Lucas states, a-matter-of-a-factly.

"Well, obviously. I wasn't too keen of any of you when Will first introduced us," She teases, dropping her backpack on the steps and sitting next to Eleven.

"Well, there are these... Powerlines, big wire things... Behind Michael's house. Meet us there at 3:15, okay?" Mariella explains, holding up her fingers to represent each number.

"Kids! Time for school!" Karen Wheeler's voice echoes though the basement from the top of the stairs, Lucas and Dustin beginning to scramble for their things.

"Be sure to make no noise, okay?" Mike says to Eleven, worried that their cover will be blown by leaving the odd girl alone. She nods in response, eyes wide. Lucas and Dustin already up the stairs.

"Michael! Mariella!" Karen shouts again as they finish up explaining the plan to Eleven.

"Coming!" Mike shouts back, voice harsh causing both girls to flinch.

"Calm down!" Mariella shouts at him, kicking his foot, taking notice of Eleven's discomfort.

"Remember, 3:15, El. Michael, give her your watch," She reminds, rubbing her tired eyes.

"Nice thinking, Mar." Mike smiles, beginning to pull off his watch and hands it over to Eleven.

"3-1-5. When the face reads 3-1-5, that's when you meet us. Kay, el?" Mariella smiles.

"3-1-5." Eleven repeats, smiling back shyly.

"Sure, thing." Mariella gives her a thumbs up. She seemed to have this bond with Eleven which was hard to explain. 

Mild was already gathering up his things, hurriedly — preparing himself for the earful he'd get from his mother.

"Mar, let's go!" Mike groans as he notices how she's still talking to Eleven

"Wait!" She responds.

"No, come on!" Mike groans again, walking over and grabbing her backpack and grabbing her hand.

"I'm not finished talking!" Mariella sighs, as he pulls her away. "Bye El!" She calls as Mike pulls her up the stairs.