A Different Point of View

12. Decisions

9th November 1983, 9:57 pm

SEVEN'S POV

It's been almost 1 hour since El left. I've done nothing but cry into my knees the whole time, whilst still hiding behind the red truck. My clothes are not as dirty as they should be, but they still have a few marks that will definitely leave stains.

I slowly raised my head from my knees when I felt a low vibration flowing through the packed dirt I was sitting on. I looked up just in time to see one of the last trucks make its way around the corner and back up onto a road. Now there was only the one large red truck I was sitting behind and two police cars, one being the light brown one I saw earlier.

It was a fair bit closer than earlier, so I could see what was written on it. 'Hawkins Police Dept.'. There was also the word 'CHIEF' written up near the hood. There was a man in a matching suit and hat standing beside it talking to two police officers in blue. After they finished their chat, they went their separate ways; the two officers getting into the blue car and what I presumed to be the Chief, getting into his car.

There was something about the Chief... something I couldn't quite pick out.

It was at the tip of my tongue, but I didn't know what. It was almost like I'd seen him before... known him... but all thoughts aside, I'm lucky enough that the only vehicle still in the clearing happens to be the one I'm hiding behind. I didn't have much time, so I slouched over to a patch of grass near some trees and stayed low. I wasn't too concerned about anyone seeing me as there were only a few people there, plus it must have been almost midnight by now.

I watched as the last red truck left, leaving the clearing empty apart from a few skid marks and poles stuck in the ground to fence off certain areas. It's going to be a long walk back to the Byers' house, especially with not much energy left to push on. But, what needs to be done, needs to be done.

I got up stretched my legs but winced when I felt how tight and sore my legs were from running so much. I wouldn't call myself fit, seeing as I barely ever left my room for anything other than experiments, but I was skinny. I was so used to being weak all the time that I never really built up enough strength to be anything but fragile.

I knew I had to walk to the Byers' house sooner or later, and dreaded the thought of it. I had surely done enough exercise to last me a week but there was no ignoring the fact that the sooner I got there, the better.

I slowly started the walk back to the Byers' house, being mindful of the time but also my weak state.

Time Skip - 10th November, 10:59 pm

SEVEN'S POV

I finally reached the end of the forest near Castle Byers. I could see the shabby-looking hut and the Byers' house further into the distance. After an excruciating hour of walking, I finally made it back.

One thing that I couldn't wrap my head around was how I didn't seem to be visiting the Dark Dimension anymore. Coincidence? Could be, but it's not like I can control when I go there anyway. I guess I just have to do something in the meantime. As much as I hate to admit it, I think I know what that is, and I don't like it. It's dangerous for multiple reasons, and it could involve me in things I don't need, let alone want to be involved in.

The thing I so desperately don't want to do but can't avoid is making myself known. I think I've known it for a while but have tried to ignore it. I know I will be more helpful to people if they know about me. They may know more about this monster and the Dark Dimension than I do, which could be beneficial for everyone. On the other hand, they could think I'm a freak and that I need to be locked up, or worse; they could take me back to the lab.

I need to make a decision. And as risky as it may be, I'm certain that I need to be brave and expose myself. Not for me, but for El and Will. Especially Will. Now, I know that he was found last night but, was it him? I could just be confused and they could have found someone else. But the boy... he said it was Will. Could it possibly be someone else with the same name? Like I said earlier, I don't know the facts so I'm going to have to figure them out for myself.

There are a few people I can possibly expose myself to. There's obviously the police, but I don't really want the whole police department to know about me, so possibly just the Chief. Then of course there's Will's Mom, Joyce. She seems to understand something about the whole situation, so possibly she wouldn't think I'm a freak, but who knows. My last and possibly safest option would be the boys that El hangs out with. They're just kids but I don't even know if they are involved in this whole mess, but if I get the chance to talk to El, I'll ask her.

Then again, I might not see El for a while and that could be quite dangerous. Plus, chances are that Joyce is at her house at the very moment, so that could be an immediate option. However, the Chief of Police probably has the most power in this scenario, yet it's most likely the most dangerous choice of the three.

So now, my choices are either choosing whatever is safest for me seeing as I don't help if I'm back in the lab, taking immediate action which has a medium risk, or putting myself in the most danger to get the possibly best outcome. High-risk, high-reward kind of thing.

Honestly, I've got no clue what's going to be the best option, but I know that Will is either dead or dying, so I need to act fast. And which is my fastest option? Joyce.