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Chapter 7, Unexpected Alliance (Ep. 4 & 5: Will the Wise & Dig Dug)
Mike Wheeler stood on the front porch steps of the Byers' home. He pounded his small hand against the wooden door in full determination to get answers on his best friend's well being, but it seemed no one wanted to ease his concerns.
"Hello? Will!" he exclaimed, "Mrs. Byers?!"
Gwen was just turning the corner after having driven in complete silence. From never getting a moment of peace and quiet at her home, she took advantage of every minute and tried forgetting how afraid she was of starting to become interested in Steve. Especially after spending years holding on to her resentment.
"Mike!" she called out, surprised at his sudden but expected visit.
He glanced back at her, "Here to see Will too?"
"Been meaning to since yesterday. Are they not-" her words were cut short by the door opening halfway, allowing for Joyce to prevent from entering.
"Hey, you guys," Joyce greeted them through a feigned smile.
"Is Will here?" Mike asked.
Joyce stepped out and closed the door behind her, "You know what? Now's not a really good time."
"Is he okay?" Gwen and Mike asked at the same time.
Gwen took notice of the worry in her expression. Her brows were cinched together and she continuously kept glancing toward the driveway as if expecting someone to arrive.
Something's definitely off.
"Yeah. You know, he's just not feeling well," Joyce began to lead them off her porch in more of a subtle way than anything. "He's laying down, so I'll tell him you both stopped by, okay?"
Before Joyce was able to head back inside, Mike blurted out, "It's about the shadow monster, isn't it?"
Gwen faltered at his question.
This was the first that she's heard of this monster. From only being aware of the creature her brother found, she hoped that would have been the only entity to come back.
It seemed she was wrong.
With slight reluctance, Joyce allowed them to enter. The last thing she wanted was to involve anyone else. She didn't want to put anyone in danger and even if Will and Jonathan's friends knew about this, it seemed better to keep them in the dark from this new situation. Only now, two of them already know.
Upon entering, Gwen remained partially paralyzed once noticing the entire living room covered with drawings. They were unlike anything she had ever seen, so sinister and so foreboding, like a strange kind of artwork created for a deeper meaning. She was careful not to step on any of them, but it was hard walking by without stepping on their edges.
