And His Name Was Steve

Chapter 3: The Weirdo on Mirkwood

A/N: Hi! This chapter includes: family issues, mentions of missing kids, horror, physical touch, abuse, drinking, vomiting, and cursing. Just wanted to let y'all know <3. Hope you enjoy!
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Monday: November 7th, 1983

Lea left the Byers, promising to come and help them again soon. She needed to be there for her brothers.

While approaching where Cornwallis and Keerly met, she noticed something out of the corner of her eyes. 3 small bikes were at the opening of the woods...Will's crime scene. Coming to a rapid halt, she pounded open her car door and strolled over to the bikes. Touching one of the bike's handlebars, she noticed a brown smudge that almost looked like...chocolate...chocolate doughnut. Dustin's bike! Lea's heart began beating as loud as a drum circle, her head swirling with the possibility that Dustin and his friends could be in real danger. "Dustin! Lucas! Mike!" Lea screamed, her hands crazily shaking. She looked up to the sky praying to God, Please don't let Dustin get hurt, please! She closed her eyes and wiped her hands on her shirt, calming herself. Then nodded to herself and headed into the dark abyss, hoping to find her favorite people...alive.

"Dustin! Lucas! Mike!" She continuously howled. CRACK. Lea gasped, turning her head towards the noise. She backed away into a slimy tree, holding on for dear life.

"Dustin?" Lea hoped, swaying her head to the left and the right, her breaths coming quicker and quicker. She closed her eyes bracing herself to get killed by whatever took Will.

"Lea?" Her eyes shot open, "Steve!" She darted over to him squeezing him like a boa constrictor. "Thank goodness you're here!" Lea cried, her tears wetting his shirt more than the rain. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head, "Lea what are you doing out here?" "I saw my brother and his friend's bike at Will's crime scene. I thought they would be here, but I can't find them. Why are you here?!" Steve pulled away holding her hands. "I heard screaming coming from the woods and I wanted to make sure everyone was okay, my house is like a minuet from here."

"Lea?" Her eye's strayed from Steve and landed on the face she wanted to see most, Dustin's. "What are you doing out here? It's not safe?" "We wanted to find Will," Dustin pulled away,  pushing Lucas and Mike forward. Lea hugged the three boys, "I understand, I want to find him too. But we don't have any weapons or forms of protection. The thing that may have taken Will could be dangerous." She saw the hurt on their faces. Lucas's watery eyes. The quiver in Dustin's voice. Mike's bowed head. Lea sighed,"How about I take you guys back home and soon we will come back out. Prepared this time." The boys turned to each other, contemplating the offer. "We're in." Mike agrees as he pushes to the front of the group leading them back home. SNAP!

Mike stopped in his tracks and slowly pivoted towards the rest of the group. Mouthing: what was that? Dustin hugged Lea as Lucas hugged the other side. Steve came in front of Lea, using his hand so they couldn't come forwards. Lea flipped her head back signaling for Mike to walk back to her slowly and quietly. The rain poured like bullets from the sky and a large crack of lighting blocked their view. In the blink of an eye a young girl appeared in between Steve and Mike. The boys let go of Lea as she slowly approached the mysterious child. "Hello," the girl backed away, her chest rising and falling speedily. "I'm not going to hurt you, are you okay?" The girl began walking towards Lea. "I'm Le-" she engulfed Lea in a compressed hug. Lea began massaging her back and putting a hand on her small shaved head. "It's okay, you're safe now. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."
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Back at the house, Steve climbed to Nancy's window so he could "study" with her. Whatever the heck that means. But the young girl still seemed as petrified as she was in the woods. She sat on Mike's small couch with his dad's old jacket and a drenched vomit yellow Benny's Burgers shirt that almost swallowed her whole. "Is there a number we can call for your parents?" Mike asked while kneeling down. The girl just stared, her frail body violently shaking. "Where's your hair? Do you have cancer?" Lea slapped Dustin across the head. "Did you run away?" Lucas interrogated, standing behind Mike, in fear this girl was dangerous. "Are you in some kind of trouble?" "Is that blood?" Lucas reached his hand out, attempting to touch the dark red stain near her neck. "Stop it! You're freaking her out!" Mike slapped his hand out of the air. "She's freaking me out!" he threw his arms up after clenching his jaw. "I bet she's deaf!" Dustin laughed and clapped in her face. Lea reached out covering his mouth and leaning down. "You make another stupid remark, and I swear Dustin Henderson I will tell them all what you hide under your bed," she angrily whispered.