Lost boys • Will Byers

5

Danny's POV

"Will!" He called. "Will?" His voice seemed to fade into the darkness.

He didn't know where he was.

One second he was in Will's shed then boom, he's gone.

"Will." He called once more.

From what it looked like, he was in Hawkins— or some version of it. It was dark and cold, so cold. He wanted to be warm again, something that seemed impossible.

He'd gathered that this wasn't home. He knew Will would know what was happening.

Will...

He missed him.

Danny had been searching for Will since they'd been taken. Whenever he thought he could hear him, he'd turn around and there'd be nothing there.

He'd spent countless nights alone in the Byers' house, a place that made him feel comfortable.

That's where he was headed at that moment. Somehow it didn't feel right, sleeping in Will's bed. So he'd curl up on the cold, dusty floor and shut his eyes. Just as he was about to fall asleep, the door flew open.

Danny quickly stood looking for a hiding spot, but he stopped when he saw who it was.

"Will!"

Hopper's POV

"Flo says you got a phone call? Oh, yeah. Storm barbecued this pretty good." Hopper said, observing the burnt phone.

"The storm?" Joyce asked, disbelief laced in her voice.

"What else?" Hopper asked, raising his eyebrows.

"You're saying that that's not weird?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. "No, it's weird." He admitted.

"Can we, like, trace who made the call? Contact the—"

"No, it doesn't work like that." Hopper shook his head and paused. "Now, uh, you're sure it was Will? Because Flo said you just heard breathing then a word."

"No. It was him. It was Will. I heard him say Danny's name. I swear on my life—"

"It was probably just a prank call. It was somebody trying to scare you."

"Who would do that?" Joyce asked loudly, panic in her voice.

Hopper exhaled.

"Well, this thing's been on TV. It brings out all the crazies, you know. False leads, prank calls..." he trailed off, hoping she'd get it. "Uh No, Hopper, it was not a prank. It was him."

"Joyce."

"Come on, how about a little trust here? What, you think I'm I'm making this up?" Joyce asked, throwing her hands up.

"I'm not saying that you're making it up. All I'm saying is it's an emotional time for you."

"And you think I don't know my own son's breathing? Wouldn't you know your own daughter's?" She asked, causing Hopper to go quiet.

"You hear from, uh, Lonnie yet?" He asked, changing the subject. "No." She answered. "It's been long enough. I'm having him checked out." Hopper said, shaking his head and standing up.

"Oh, come on! You're wasting your time." She said, sounding exasperated. "Hey Hopper. Let me go." Jonathan suggested. "I'm sorry?"

"To Lonnie's." He said, standing awkwardly. "You know, if Will's there, it means he ran away. And if he sees the cops, he'll think he's in trouble. He'll hide. You know, he's good at hiding." He explained.