the next morning wasnt any better than the previous night, in fact.. it was worse. school was completely chaotic. everyone was talking about how our fellow classmate, chrissy cunningham had died last night. people have been spreading rumors on how she died, they say she was murdered. i cant confirm nor deny it because i only seen her under a tarp.. wills really the only one to know besides the police and the man to do the autopsy.
people have been spreading around her locker all day, putting up pictures and candles, cards, flowers, and all of that stuff.
i thought people were just doing it for attention, most of the girls who placed the items at her locker hated her.. mostly because she wasn't a mean girl like them. chrissy cunningham was a nice person, and actually cared about people. i didnt know her that well, but it was easy to tell.
her boyfriend wasn't at school today, i know because lucas hangs out with them all the time because of basketball and they were worried about him. jason carver is an asshole though, i'm surprised him and chrissy were even together.
what worried me, though, was will. first period has already started and he didn't show up. it's kept me up all night, thinking about all of the possibilities of why he was there. he couldnt have done this, that's not will. even if he did on accident, he would've been arrested. did he just find her? how did she die? was she actually murdered like everyone says she was?
did he witness her being killed?
the entire thing was freaking me out.
all.. day.. long.
after class, i kept my head down while watching my feet walk down the halls. i was disappointed will didn't come today, but if he saw a dead body last night.. who would want to come to school? especially if you knew them.
as i was walking, i felt 2 hands grabbing my backpack and shoving me into a room, aggressively.
-"what the hell!" i yelled, coming eye to eye with max and dustin.
we were in the AV room, they both looked worried.
-"look at the news." max said, standing out of the way for me to see the tv.
max rewinded to the news channel, going back a few seconds and resuming for me to listen.
"former hawkins high school senior, chrissy cunningham, was brutally murdered last night here at ridgeview park, just around 8 pm. each of the victims limbs have been broken and snapped in half, but the killer of this vicious attack still remains anonymous. if you know or see anything suspicious, please contact 911 immediately."
-"holy shit.." words slipped out of my mouth.
-"yeah, didn't you say will was there last night?" max asked, pausing the tv.
-"yeah, what about it?" i shook my head, still staring at the tv from what i just heard.
-"you don't think he has anything to do with this.. do you?" dustin asked.
-"will? you think will did this??" i scoffed, shocked he would imagine that.
-"no, but he was there! he could know who did this and what happened to chris.. he can help catch the monster who did this!" max exclaimed, getting ahead of herself.
-"max, when i saw him yesterday.. he seemed so traumatized and freaked out. i don't think he'd like it if we were to be breathing down his neck to find out what happened." i explained.
-"so, what? we're just supposed to leave him alone?" she scoffed getting annoyed at me.
-"yes! why are you so worried about this??" my voice slightly raised.
-"because chrissy was my friend!" she slammed her hand on the table.
i was taken back by how snappy she was, almost forgetting everything she's been through these past few years. i cant argue with her.
-"fine, just let me talk to him too.. he's upset about that whole d&d thing." i rolled my eyes, looking over at dustin.
-"yeah, i couldn't come because suzie and i had a fight about her parents and my mom wouldn't let me leave the house." dustin sighed, shamefully.
-"whatever, you guys take care of that. what do we tell el? do you think she knows?" she asked, clapping her hands together.
-"can't you find out, mike? you're her boyfriend." dustin asked, both of them glaring at me.
-"uh.. yeah, about that." i lead on, not knowing what to say.
after standing there in silence and glancing at my feet, max caught on quick.
-"what? you guys broke up?? what did you do this time!?" max growled angrily.
-"nothing!" i yelled
-"guys, stop! we have things worse to worry about than mike and els love life. i'll find lucas, max will find el, mike.. you'll go to the byers house." dustin explained.
-"what- now?! you want me to skip class?? if my mom groundes me again-"
-"nobody will notice, just go! we'll be there soon." he assured me, pushing me out the door before they both stormed off opposite hallways, leaving me there by myself with no choice.
-"shit." i cursed under my breath, heading towards the double doors and shoving them open, letting the sudden, cool air hit me in the face as i walked to my bike.
please don't land me in trouble.
i show up at wills house not long after leaving the school premises on my bike, but stopped outside his door, starting to regret my decision. will wouldn't be happy if he knew i was showing up unexpectedly. but i have too, i don't want him to be scared out of his mind. i just want him to talk to me.
i lifted my hand up, hesitating to knock on the door, but the voice of will made me jump and jult around.
-"mike?" he asked from the open garage, he was wearing sweatpants and and old tee shirt, and his hair was thick and wavy, as if he just woke up.
-"will, hey..!" i awkwardly waved, forgetting what i came here for.
-"what are you doing here?" he crossed his arms, giving me a disappointing look.
-"i know you don't want to talk to me, i know you're mad and i'm sorry. ill do whatever it takes to make it up to you soon. but please, will you talk to me about what happened last night?" i pleaded hesitantly, not knowing what he was going to say.
he just stood there, glaring at me. i couldn't tell what he was thinking about, he was frowning so it didn't seem good.
but after a few moments, he slowly nodded before walking ahead of me towards the garage door.
i smiled to myself and followed him inside as he snuck me passed his mother, who was in the kitchen, and upstairs to his bedroom.
he shut the door before slowly walking over to sit on his bed, looking at me for reassurance.
-"what happened last night?" i repeated, hoping for a clear enough answer.
he rolled his eyes slightly, trying not to make it obvious before looking down at his lap.
-"i was just in the park, trying to get some air. i heard her in the woods. i didn't see her die, and i didn't see who it was.. but i don't know whoever did this.. is not human. i've never seen something so.. horrifying in my entire life." he mumbled, getting shaky in his breath.
i glared at him as he continued looking down, now tearing up.
-"her bones.. i heard them, i heard them snapping from behind the woods. when i found her body.. her legs, arms, even her fucking jaw was snapped out of place.. but thats not even the worst part." he said, shakily, giving me an off feeling.
-"her eyes.. they were gone. it was like there was someone inside her head.. vacuuming her eyes backwards." he blurted out, now looking me straight in the eyes.
the look will had, he looked horrified.
was this all true?
how is that even possible?
i can't believe he saw all this.
-"did you tell the cops this?" i was hesitant to ask him.
-"yeah.. i'm not sure if they believe me, though." he shook his head, wiping his eyes.
i didn't know what to say.. all of this was completely crazy.
i cant even imagine what he saw, or how terrifying it was for him to see.
-"dustin and max are on their way here with-"
i stopped talking and we both looked towards the door from the front door bell ringing.
will and i both looked at each other, eyes completely widened.
