• disappearing: a stranger things choose-your-own adventure •

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟲 - 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨

You're in Mike's basement again.

El's sitting in her fort, the rest of you across from her.

She looks a bit apprehensive, staring and Lucas and Dustin.

"Don't worry. They won't tell anyone about you," Mike says.

"We promise," you nod.

"We never would've upset you if we knew you had superpowers!" Dustin says.

You smack Dustin on the shoulder.

"What Dustin means is that we were just scared earlier, that's all," Mike says.

"We just wanted to find our friend," Lucas says.

"Friend?" El asks, confused.

"Yeah, our friend, Will."

"What is friend?" El asks.

"Is she serious?" Lucas whispers.

You roll your eyes. "A friend is someone-"

"-someone you'd do anything for," Mike cuts you off.

"You lend them your cool stuff," Dustin says, "Like comics and trading cards."

"And they never break a promise," Mike says.

"Especially when there's spit," Lucas says.

He spits on his hand and shakes Dustin's, grossing everyone out.

"A friend is someone you care about a lot," you say. "You keep each other safe, and you know you can trust one another."

"That's super important because friends. . .they tell each other things. Things that parents don't know," Mike adds.

El looks at you.

You can tell she's still scared, and a bit suspicious of the other boys. She doesn't truly understand what a 'friend' is.

Mike, Lucas, and Dustin are now standing around their Dungeons and Dragons table, whispering.

You turn back to El. "Hey," you say, quietly, "you can trust us, okay? I know Lucas and Dustin can come off a little. . . intense sometimes, but we're all on edge, and we all want to find Will. But trust me, they would never want to hurt you. We promise we won't tell anyone about you. And- and as much or as little as you know about Will. . .you don't have to tell us any of it. No matter what Mike says. But if you want to help us find him, we would really love your help. . .especially if Mike's right, and you really do know what happened to him."

El looks at you. She nods, seeming to understand. "Help. . .find Will," she says.

You smile, nodding. El turns back to the walkie-talkie she's messing with over on the couch, and you turn back to the Party.

It sounds like they've been making a plan.

"We'll just tell them we have AV club after school," Mike says. "That should give us at least a few hours for Operation Mirkwood." 

"You seriously think that weirdo knows where Will is?" Lucas asks, glancing over at El. 

"She's not a weirdo," you say. You've decided to trust El. While you may have some doubts, you have a gut feeling she's not a bad person. 

"Just trust me on this, okay?" Mike tells Lucas.

"Fine," Lucas says. He still seems a bit suspicious of El. 

"Did you get the supplies?" Mike asks the three of you. 

You grab your backpack from where it sits at the foot of the basement stairs.