Stay Wild [IT/ST AU] [DISCONTINUED]

7

Stan bolted upright in his bed, his breathing rough and his eyes wide. He couldn't dare believe that the dream he just had was real. Is IT really in the town? If so, that would mean that Will and his friends are in danger. Stan looked around his room for any type of supplies. Knives, baseball bats, hell even frying pans would do! Yet, Stan couldn't find anything.

He looked out his bedroom window, seeing the darkness all around him. It was still night out. The soft pitter-patter of rain hitting the roof and window could be heard. Frantic, Stan leaped out of bed and grabbed his empty backpack, and threw open the door to his room, rushing downstairs.

He made sure to fill the backpack with water and granola bars so he had enough to keep himself going for the trip. For extra measure, he grabbed the pocket knife his dad always carried around and shoved it the pocket of the sweatshirt he had put on.

He slung the backpack over his shoulders and threw open the door to his house, seeing the rain downpouring on the street. He slammed the door behind him and started to run down the street on the sidewalk, trying desperately to get to the woods.

He reached the tree line separating the town from the dense forest beyond. He immediately felt an overwhelming sense of calmness, like everything happening wasn't real. He knew it was because of what the lab had done to him, making him seem like everything wild was tame.

Shaking off the feeling, he walked into the dense trees.

The woods provided excellent coverage of the night, everything seemingly dark and mysterious, and very hard to see. He walked along, following what his senses and gut told him, avoiding all the plants that he knew were dangerous. He walked along in serenity, the rain drenching him and everything he holds.

Then suddenly, the rain stops. Stan shudders, feeling a change in the atmosphere. He looked around, seeing the same forest in all its glory. Yet, it doesn't feel the same. No rain was surrounding him even though he was still drenched. He continued walking on, even though he still had a bad feeling.

The trees ended, and he found himself standing at a wire fence. There was a sign on the fence that warned people to stay away, that the fence was electric. He knew what was behind the fence, and shivered, fear suddenly growing on him. He turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

The woods still surrounded him, but these woods felt darker like they held something sinister. He continued walking, trying to ignore the bad feeling in his gut.

And then, he heard a rustle in the bushes. He jerked his head in the direction of the noise, almost so fast he got whiplash. He rustles continued, and he stalked towards it, trying to not let the leaves and twigs snap underneath his feet. 

Then a head popped above the bushes, eyes doe-like and short brown hair curly. He recognized this new person as the girl he had seen in the black void. He dropped his guard, whereas she put her's up. She lifted her hand, and he flew backward, his back hitting a tree. Pain shot up his spine and he winced.

The girl got up out of her hiding place, walking towards him. Stan could see that she had a flannel coat on over what looked like overalls and a sweater. She had a murderous look on her face as she still held her hand up. She walked over until she was facing Stan.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Stan Uris," Stan answered. The girl moved her invisible grip up to tighten around his neck, cutting off some of his air supply.  

"Who. Are. You?" she asked more forcefully.

Stan knew that she's like him, just that he didn't know where she was. He had found his leads, but forgot, getting caught up in his life at home. 

"Ten." he chokes out, voice small.

Her eyes go wide in surprise, and she loses her focus enough to drop Stan. He falls to the ground, coughing and trying to get air back into his lungs. He looks up at the girl who looks down at him.

"Like me?" she asks, pointing to herself.

"A little, yeah," Stan says, coughing right afterward.

The girl puts her hand out and Stan took it and the girl helped him stand up. He looked the girl in the eyes and saw that the surprise had worn off, replaced by a sense of awe. She had been looking for the others, as she knew they were out there but didn't expect one to be in her town.

"Who are you?" Stan asked.

"Eleven." The girl answered, pointing at herself.

Stan nodded his head and after a small moment of silence looked at the ground. Leaves and twigs were underneath him as well as dirt and small plants. He looked back up at the girl, who was looking at him earnestly.

"Well? What now?" Stan asked.

The girl shrugged her shoulders.

"I know a couple people who might let us stay in their house." Stan volunteered, and the girl simply nodded his head. Stan started to walk in the opposite direction if the fence he found earlier, and Eleven eagerly followed.

The two kids came to the backyard of Will's home. Stan's eyes lit up, and Eleven took notice. She had seen the look on Mike's face before, and she knew that they look meant that Stan was happy. Stan had begun walking towards the back door of the house, and Eleven followed him.

Stan knocked on the back door. Eleven stood on the steps behind him. There was a sound of a lock turning, and the door opened, revealing Will.

Will smiled, his face lighting up immediately. Tears started to form in his eyes due to happiness. He moved away from the door, letting the two kids come in.

Eleven looked around the house, seeing the torn up state it was in. She had never been here before, yet she knew who's house it was. 

Will looked at the two kids, first looking at Stan, absolute happiness in his eyes. When he looked at Eleven, his face grew fearful, quickly backing away.

"No," he said, looking at Eleven. "Go away."

"What happened?" Stan asked, stepping towards Will, worried about his friend.

"The clown," Will said, voice breaking. "The clown used her to try and kill me."

Eleven looked at Will with a questioning look on her face. "Clown?" she asked.

"The clown created an illusion of her," Will broke down in tears, "to try and kill me."

"That's not the clown," Stan reassured. "She's the real El and she won't kill you. Right El?"

Eleven nodded her head, taking in the situation. She didn't know what clown Stan and Will were talking about, but whatever it was had scared them. She walked over towards the two boys and enveloped them in a hug. Will was still crying, and Stan was trying to comfort him. Eleven joined in for emotional support. She wanted her friends to feel better and would make sure that they were okay.