Chapter 3: Chapter Three: The Search
When Spencer woke up, it was to Asher violently shaking him. Spencer gripped his brother's arms as he sat up.
"What? What's going on?" He yawned
"Come on! Dustin, Lucas, Mike, and I are going out to look for Will!" Asher said, pulling on Spencer to get him up
Spencer wobbled off the couch, still drowsy as Asher dragged him to the garage. He wheeled Spencer's bike to him and grabbed his own. He already had on a backpack, and knowing Asher it was filled with flashlights, batteries, and snacks. Spencer got on his bike and followed after Asher.
"Where are we going?" Spencer yelled over the wind
"You'll see!" Asher replied
They ended up biking into the woods behind the Byers home, all in the pouring rain that soaked Asher and Spencer to the bone. To Castle Byers, where Will would often hide when things got to be too much for him. Asher dropped his bike and Spencer followed. Both boys fought through the brush as they walked further into the woods. They heard a crack in the distance, Asher took off in a sprint with Spencer on his tail. They both skidded to a halt behind a girl with a shaved head. In front of her was Mike, Dustin, and Lucas.
"Spencer! Asher!" Mike called, "Where were you guys?"
"I couldn't get Spencer awake!" Asher defended
"I didn't know I needed to be awake!" Spencer replied
Mike rolled his eyes. Dustin pushed his way to the front and looked at the Donovan boys.
"Screw all of that! Meet us at Mike's house!" Dustin demanded
Both of them nodded and took off to get their bikes. Once they got them, they headed toward the Wheeler's house. Spencer was annoyed at how soaked he was.
"I have a car so that I don't have to deal with shit like this!" Spencer shouted
"Oh, grow up!" Asher replied
The moment they got to the Wheeler's, Spencer and Asher rushed inside. Shaking themselves like wet dogs. Mrs.Wheeler was less than ecstatic about that. But she was happy the boys were inside and safe. The two hurried down to the basement. All three… well now four, kids were waiting for them.
"Okay, who is she?" Spencer asked as he came down the stairs
Mike looked at him, "Uh, Eleven."
Spencer wasn't amused, "Get her some dry clothes, dingus."
Mike nodded and ran to his room. Spencer went to the girl slowly and offered her his hand. She took it and he led her to sit on the couch.
"You're safe here, sweetheart." Spencer assured, " I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
She nodded and clung to his arm. Opting to stay silent. Spencer didn't press, he didn't want to scare her. So he simply rubbed soft circles into her arm.
When Mike returned he handed Eleven the pair of pajamas he'd brough. The girl started to undress. But the boys were quick to protest, and Spencer lightly grabbed her wrist to stop her.
"Here, you can change in the bathroom," Spencer said, walking her to the bathroom, "We'll be right out here when you're done."
"Pro-mise?" She said brokenly
"Promise."
She entered the bathroom and Spencer was left with the boys.
"So, why do we have a soaking wet, pre-teen girl in the Wheelers basement?" Asher asked
Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Spencer all started talking over each other.
"Well, she was alone-"
"It's pouring rain!"
"We couldn't just leave her out there!"
"What if she knows about Will?"
Eleven exited the bathroom, Spencer immediately went to her and she grabbed his hand. They went back to the couch. She snuggled into him. The boys argued.
"Maybe she's deaf!" Dustin suggested, then he clapped, scaring Eleven, "Not deaf."
"Of course she's not deaf!" Mike replied
Asher chimed in, "You guys are scaring her!"
Mike agreed.
"Well, she's freaking me out! She probably escaped from Penhurst or something!" Lucas yelled
"What's Penhurst?" Mike asked
"A loony bin in Keley County." Dustin informed
"Bottom line is, she's probably an escapee!" Lucas insisted
"No, she's not!" Asher replied, "She's just alone and scared!"
Lucas finally snapped.
"This is stupid! Do you or do you not know where Will is?" He demanded, shaking Eleven
"Hands off, Sinclair!" Spencer growled, "You're scaring her!"
Lucas lifted his hands, "Well, she's weirding me out! Let's face it! She doesn't know where Will is! I'm going home."
"No, Lucas!" Asher pleaded, "She might be able to help us!"
"Lucas, don't be such a dick!" Mike chastised
"Let him go, boys. We'll figure it out." Spencer consoled them, "Mike, is it cool if Asher and I stay here?"
"Yeah, just stay down here." Mike said
"I've gotta go. My mom will be mad if I'm home late for dinner." Dustin said, heading out the door
It was only Asher, Spencer, Mike, and Eleven in the basement. Eleven was sitting in a little fort that Mike had made her. Spencer got Asher settled in on the couch, laying a blanket over him. Once Spencer was certain Asher was asleep, he went to Eleven. Mike had long since gone up to bed.
"You should get some sleep, sweetie," Spencer advised, "You look like you've had a long day."
Eleven shook her head, "Not safe."
"You're not safe?" Spencer queried, "We can help you. We can protect you."
"Pro-mise?"
"I promise. And I'm not going anywhere. I'll keep you safe while you sleep."
That seemed to satisfy the young girl. She leaned over, placing her head in Spencer's lap and fell asleep. Spencer lightly hummed to himself as he stayed awake. But, as the clock turned later and later the drowsiness and fatigue of the day took him into a fitful sleep.
Dreams. Well, Nightmares, were what Spencer experienced. Once again, he was in that dark and dusty place he'd been in the night prior. This time there was nothing to impede his movement. So, he ran like hell. He ran and ran and ran until he couldn't anymore. He ended up at Castle Byers, or whatever twisted version of it was in this hellscape. When he entered, he was sure to do the little knock to get in.
Inside was the saddest thing that Spencer had ever seen. Will Byers, cold and alone, weakly singing "Should I Stay or Should I Go" to himself. Spencer knelt next to the boy, placing a gentle hand on him. Will jolted.
"Will?" Spencer asked
"Spencer?" Will replied weakly
"I'm here, Will!" Spencer said, he felt a pull in the middle of his chest, "Stay strong, buddy! We're going to find you! We're going to get you ho-"
He was cut off by being pulled into the land of the conscious.
The last thing he heard was, "Spencer, don't leave me!"
Spencer shot straight up. Eleven was sitting across from him in the fort. Asher had a firm grip on Spencer's shirt. Mike was standing just behind Asher. All of them seemed scared out of their wits.
"Asher? What's going on?" Spencer asked
"You…you were like seizing or something!" Asher blubbered, the fear even more prominent now, "I couldn't get you up!"
Spencer wrapped his arms around his brother, "It's okay. I'm okay. I'm here."
Asher dissolved into a sobbing mess. Spencer held him close.
Eleven whispered, "Saw him?"
"Yes." Spencer said
— New chapter is coming soon — Write a review
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone