Hands of a thief

Clarity

I expected a voice to accuse me of something, but all I heard was a rapid panting. Maybe the person had run to catch me? 

I squinted my eyes and dared to look up, to see, a snout? It came closer to lick me on the cheek and I couldn't stop the giggle that erupted in shock. It was just a dog, albeit a very large shaggy one, but it couldn't hurt me. My laughs came in nervous wheezes, but I slowly felt the tension leave my body, and my adrenaline stop pulsing as the dog licked me again, and began to nuzzle into my chest. 

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, patting the doggy's ears. I stiffened as I heard someone else come closer, but it was only the Chief. 

"Hopper." I breathed out in relief. 

"Two, what are you hiding in the bushes for?"

"I saw something... I mean someone and I thought-" 

"Who did you see?" Hopper frowned, suddenly insistent. 

"I- I think it's someone who knows who I am. She, I recognize her from the lab. My lab."

"She a scientist?"

"No, just a girl. I think she's the daughter of the man that funds my lab. She's seen me..." I trailed off not wanting to admit what I was forced to do back then. I wished time would erase as it passed, that would be a better power. To be able to do everything again. 

"Wait, so she's just a young girl? That you recognize? Does she know who you are?" 

"I think... not really. I look different and she wasn't that close, but I'm sorry. I just panicked!"

"It's ok Two. Come on, get up, let's get you home and we can talk about this more in private." He helped me up, and I shuddered thinking about if anyone had found me. If someone from the lab had found me. My heart sunk as I knew what this meant. 

I'd have to keep a low profile, be even more unseen than I already was in this small town. If she did recognize me, well, I wouldn't know what to tell Will. It wasn't my place to tell him who he could and couldn't be friends with, friends didn't do that. But if it came to protecting him from the people of my lab, well, I'd at least have to try. 

***

"Two, can I come in?"

I blinked slowly as I woke up from a well needed nap. Despite feeling like a baby, I was exhausted when we got home and mum insisted I take a nap. 

"Hey Will, yeah sure just give me a second."

I sat up quickly, shifting awkwardly on the bed, making sure I was wearing something, before letting him come in. I wasn't looking forward to the truth coming out, especially because half of my fears hadn't even been confirmed.

"Two, please tell me everything you know. I don't wanna lose you again. Mike, El, Dustin, Lucas, we can all help you, but you have to tell us what's going on." Will got straight into it, looking a little embarrassed. 

"Umm... that's the thing Will. I don't know much. All I know is that Allison saw me, at the lab. I think she's the daughter of the man that owns the place and she... I'm just scared she'll find out and take me back. She might threaten my family, and I just... I know I'd go if they wanted to hurt you guys." I finished, twisting my hands nervously. I prayed that Will wouldn't ask what she saw. 

"When did she see you?" Will asked, sitting at the end of the bed. 

"The day I escaped." He sucked in a breathe at my response, but slowly nodded his head. 

"Well, you have changed a bit. We can make it so that she wouldn't recognize you?"

"What if she already did Will?" I let a small sob escape, and try to stop the crying. Before I can get my bearings, Will is next to me, rubbing my back, helping me to calm down. 

"I just- just can't let them take me back. I don't want to go back." I break down for the 10th time that week. 

"They made me do bad things Will." 

"I know" He whispers, without a hint of judgement. 

"But I can't let anything happen to you either." 

"I promise I won't tell. If she approaches me at school and asks, I'll just pretend I don't know anything."

"It's not that simple Will!" My crying doesn't subside as I stand up and begin pacing. He tries to follow me but I don't let him hug me, even though all I want to do is surrender into his arms. 

"I just wish I could get answers, I wish I could just disappear and then none of that would follow me. You'd think the upside-down is the worst thing that could happen, but... at least they were monsters that we could stop. The people at the lab... I know they're just people but if they really wanted to, they could convince me to go back." 

"What do you mean" Will frowned in confusion. 

"I've heard things. I know there's a kid they've got that can manipulate and suggest things, make people do things they don't want to." 

This caught Will unawares, and I gave a sad smile as I realized, we weren't prepared for this. Not even Eleven could save me if the lab decided to come for me. There was nothing that either of us had against someone manipulating the mind. 

"I never should've come here Will."

"Don't say that... Y/N... you saved us, you saved the whole town! Without you, El wouldn't have been able to close the gate. Without you, who knows what would've become of Hawkins."

I couldn't deny what Will was saying, but I just shrugged my shoulders in defeat.

"I won't let anything happen to you. Perhaps I should ask Allison, just casually, if she saw anything."

I bit my lip at his idea. He'd have to be careful to not draw attention, and I didn't want him near her. But... it would clear things up, knowing if she'd indeed recognized me. 

"For now, I think Max and El would love giving you a ... makeover?" Will gave a small quizzical smile. After a while I returned it, perhaps I was stressing too much over this. I could change my looks, and maybe she didn't know who I was. 

I just hoped Max and El didn't change me too much. 
"Yeah, that's a good idea Will. Though, I hope at least you can still recognize me after everything's been done."

I gave a cheeky grin which widened as we hugged. It felt so safe in his arms, I wished I never had to leave.