Downside Up [W.Byers]

000

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Ruby is quickly awoken by a calling from a young boy. She jumps up from her current spot, preparing to attack. With her fiery hands ahead of her, she slowly walks towards the voice.

"Anyone?"

The voice seems weak, as if the boy were crying. Ruby silently steps over the vines, stopping as she comes face to face with the horrified boy. Her fire shines brighter as she fearfully backs away, yet attempting to keep her intimidating demeanor.

"Who are you?" She asks, glaring at him. The boy puts his hands up in the air as he begins breaking out into quiet sobs in front of the girl. She curiously watches him fall to the ground. She puts out the fire in her palms, bending down beside the boy.

"You're normal." She mutters in shock, examining his wrist, which contained no number. "Who are you?" She repeats. "Will Byers." He coughs out. "How did you get here?"

"I was chased." Ruby sighs, helping the boy sit up and face her weakly. "You can't be here. You won't survive." She warns. He only coughs in response, shaking in the freezing cold.

Ruby sighs, looking off to the side. "Come. I can't just leave you here." She says, taking the boy's hand and pulling him up. She wraps his arm around her shoulder, leading him to shelter.

"I've never seen this place before." She says in shock as they pass by what seems to be a fort. Ruby leans in closer, reading the sign above it.

Castle Byers

"It's castle Byers. I built it." He coughs. "This is way better than what I built. We'll stay in here. Come on, you should get some sleep." She says softly, setting the boy down on the ground.

"Try to sleep, alright?" She says, lighting her hands on fire to keep him warm.

Will yawns as he awakes, completely forgetting about the events of the night. Ruby yawns, putting out they fire that she stayed awake to keep lit all night. Will takes in his dark surroundings, shooting up.

"Where am I? Who are you?" He asks worriedly. "I'm Ruby. I'm the girl who saved you last night."

"Where am I?" He repeats. "Somewhere you don't wanna be. Come on, we have to look for food." She gets up, pulling him out of the fort.

"Why's it so dark?" He questions. "Stop asking so many questions, Will." She responds. "How do you know my name?"

"You told it to me, now please shut up." She sighs. They slowly begin their journey for food, stepping over multiple vines and oozing black goo.

"How do you light your hands on fire?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Why are you helping me?"

Ruby turns around in frustration, sighing as she crosses her arms. "I was a failed experiment at the Hawkins lab. My powers didn't work at the time, so they sent me here. I've been here for about a year, practicing my powers. That's why I have this." She says, pulling down her sleeve, revealing a tattoo.

001

"I was their first experiment. There's many more out there." She sighs, continuing to lead the way through the dark forest. "I'm helping you because you won't survive a day here if you don't have me. The monsters that live here are brutal. The only reason I'm alive is because of my powers."

Will sighs, slowly following behind the girl. "If anything, you're lucky to have me around. There's also tons of diseases around here. Stay clear of making contact with any vines, trees, water that isn't boiled. Oh, and, don't breath in any dust. It's deadly." She warns.

"There's an awful lot of rules here." He exhales, examining his eerie surroundings. "And you're gonna have to follow them until we find a way to get you out of here. But then again, I've been trying to find a way out of here for a whole year."

"You're not really helping me feel any better." Will comments. "Im not here to make you feel good. I'm here to keep you safe, alright. Here's a bucket. Collect some water from here and I'll grab some food from that bush." She points, earning a nervous nod from the boy.

Once they have collected the goods, ruby continues to lead the way back to Castle Byers. "It's a good thing you built that fort. It's a perfect shelter." She says as she leaps over a large rock. "Thanks, I guess."

"I haven't spoken to anyone in such a long time. I feel like I have so much to say." Ruby sighs as she uses her fire to boil the water. "Now can I ask more questions?" Will asks as he pops a small berry into his mouth.

"Go ahead. I'm sure you have a lot." She shrugs. "Were you born in the lab?"

She shakes her head. "I had parents. But then again, that was only up until I was five or so. My name wasn't even Ruby. I don't know what it was." She sighs.

"Did the lab give you that name?"

"No. I did. In the lab, I was just 001. I just thought it was a nice name."

"Did you go to school?"

"Never. Have you been there?"

Will nods. "What's it like?" She sits up as the water is fully boiled, leaning in closer, interested. "You sit in a class and learn for seven hours. It's not as fun as you'd think." He replies.

"I've always wanted to go to school. It'd make me feel normal, at least." She sighs. "You still have a chance, you know. If we find a way out of here, you're still young enough."

With hope in her eyes, she smiles, yet her smile quickly drops. She shakes her head. "I wish that were true. How old are you anyway, Will?" She questions.

"I'm 13."

"Me too."

"Here, drink some water. Water's been my best friend living here. Maybe you could be now."

Will nods, taking a sip of the water.