vii. hello?

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unknown time
El's POV

I couldn't sleep.

Ever since that dream, I had been awake for who knows how long. My stomach kept growling, and every time it did I flinched edgily, imagining it jumping out at me, ready to strike.

Since I had left Mike's house, I had gone into the woods near the other place. I had opened a portal there once, so maybe there was hope.

But there hasn't been. So now I sit against a sticky tree, waiting. But I don't know what to wait for.

I suddenly felt someone watching me. I stood and looked around nervously, but there was no one.

Then I heard a voice, a vaguely familiar voice that I had heard in dreams. "Hello? Is anyone there?" My instinct told me to run, but I stayed.

"Hello?" I called, my voice trembling with effort.

"Who are you?" the voice came again, growing nearer. Its source sounded as nervous as I was.

"Eleven. Who... are you?" I replied carefully, taking a step in the direction I thought it had come from.

The voice was silent, but I knew it was still there. "I know you. You helped me escape the first time. My best friend is looking for you."

I blinked.

A figure appeared in the dimness, far away but still discernible. I recognized him from a picture in Mike's bedroom. "Will?" I asked.

He came closer. He looked afraid. "Where am I?" he gulped.

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