A Different Point of View

11. Lost and Found

9th November 1983, 8:44 pm

SEVEN'S POV

I've been jogging for 15 minutes, and I can quite honestly say I've never felt more lost in my life. I haven't seen El in who knows how many days, so for all I know, she could be dead or living halfway across the state with some family.

All I know is that'll stay safe, I need to get as far away from here as possible, but, if I leave Will he might die... and I can't let that happen even if I just met him. I can protect him with my fire, but he can't protect himself. If the monster's weakness really is heat, then I can use that to my advantage and possibly even bring Will back to the real world.

But one can only hope. I just hope that I find El and Will make it back home nice and safe. Those are two very important things that are too risky to leave up to fate, so I'm going to have to do my best to make sure they come true, starting with saving Will.

As much as I care about El, she has powers that can keep her safe, plus she could be safe regardless. Will, on the other hand, is not; and I know that.

Now, all I have to do is probably sleep at Castle Byers or the Byers' house, seeing as those are the places that Will is most likely hiding. Then, all I'd have to do would be to somehow go to the Dark Dimension... but how?

So many thoughts were processing through my head at once, but I decided now was not the time. I focused back on my jogging and realized that I was way out of breath. I paused with my hands on my knees to regain my composure.

After breathing heavily for about 30 seconds, the sounds of distant sirens filled the air. I immediately ran to the closest road which was about 30 meters away to see red and blue lights flashing past me.

I hid behind the trunk of a tree, waiting for the lights to pass. I have seen those lights before... but ages ago. I vaguely recall seeing after my first visit to the Dark Dimension all those years ago.

Now's not the time for that though, I need to follow them. I was about to move from behind the trunk when I saw three bikes chasing the lights as well. On the front bike, two people were holding onto each other as if their life depended on it.

I stumbled over some roots and leaves to get a better look before they all rode too far into the distance.

"El?" I whispered, questioning myself more than anyone else. I slowly started to chase the bikes, my legs starting to burn the further the bikes continued to ride.

I had lost El, and if now I might have found her, I will not be losing her again.

After chasing the bikes for about 5 minutes, I started to fall behind. The bikes weren't riding too fast, but I was super puffed. I breathed in the thick air one last time before pausing.

I watched as the bikes turned a sharp corner and the pedaling sounds came to a halt. This gave me a bit of motivation to return to a slow jog and head towards where I had last seen the bikes.

As I neared the corner, blue and red lights started to come into view. I sped up despite the muscles in my leg feeling as if they were on fire.

The moment I turned the corner I stopped in my tracks to view the sight before me. There were multiple red trucks and a few similar-looking cars plus a light brown one with words on it. It was too far away to read so instead I redirected my attention back to the bikes and whatever the fuss was about.

I crept over to behind a red truck so that I could hear what the riders were saying.

"It's Will. It's really Will..." one boy said. This immediately sparked my concern. Will? Do they know Will? Were all these vehicles just for Will? What is going on...

The wind started to pick up and my hair flew in my face, partially blocking my view and stopping me from eavesdropping on that conversation. When the wind died down, I looked up to see a boy ride off on a bike. I watched him storm off into the distance but my gaze was broken by loud crying, coming from the riders.

I looked over to where the group of riders were to see two boys and... El. I debated on walking up to her to talk to her but I figured it was too dangerous with the other boys there so doing it later was my safest option.

Suddenly, a flashing lifeguard boat being pulled out of the water caught my attention. I saw the boat being dragged along the wet gravel with someone in it, but they weren't moving.

All at once, everything hit me. What that boy said, about Will. Was this motionless body Will? It had to be, he's wearing the same clothes. But, that thing... with Joyce, not too long ago. He was alive then, but dead now. How so fast?

It didn't make sense, any of it. However, I didn't know the facts, and by the looks of it, nobody else did either. Chances are they probably didn't even know Will was in the Dark Dimension. Wait, Will is in the Dark Dimension! And, if he's not, how did he return?

Too much to think about for the moment, right now I need to focus on what's most important. El is right in front of me, so I'm going to try and talk to her.

After about 5 minutes of watching the group of three cry, one of the boys walked off in the direction of a bike and started to ride away. The next boy proceeded to do the same but motioned for El to sit on the back of the bike.

Oh no, not again. I've had more than my fair share of running today, and I don't plan on having to run anymore. I outstretched my arm and focused all of my energy on the bike seat. I could tell it was starting to heat up, so kept my arm tensed for a few more seconds before returning it to my side.

"Ow, what the shi..." I heard the curly-haired boy said. I exhaled and placed my hands on my hips to steady my breathing. Using powers takes a lot more energy than you would imagine, and you don't even realize how much energy you've drained until you take a break.

The curly-haired boy mumbled something to El before pitching his bike against a tree and walking out of the clearing behind some trees. He was just pacing and most likely thinking to himself.

I took this as my opportunity to say something to El, so I stepped out from behind the red truck, letting the moonlight shine on my face. The leaves beneath my feet crunched and made El slowly raise her head to look at me. We held eye contact for a moment before she leaped off the rock she was sitting on and ran over to hug me.

I opened my arms wide, waiting for her embrace. As soon as she reached me I wrapped my hands tightly around her shoulders and started to sob into her chest.

"El..." I sobbed, my cries muffled by her jacket.

"Sev," she said, and she pulled away from the hug to look at me. We looked at each other for a moment before I started to speak.

"El it's been so weird without you, I've felt so alone a-and... I don't want to lose you again." I stuttered, not breaking eye contact with my best friend.

"It's okay I'm right h-" El started to speak but was cut off by the curtly-haired boy.

"EL! THE SEAT'S FINE NOW." We both looked at the curly-haired boy who was calling out to El from the distance. I immediately ran up behind the red truck again. El turned to look at me with an apologetic look.

"I'll see you soon" she whispered.

She then turned back to face the boy and climbed on the bike behind him. I watched in dismay as I saw her tiny figure slowly fade into the distance.