Joey Hopper//Will Byers -Book two-

Will the wise: Part one

The mist is thick and toxic smelling. Despite that it takes me a few seconds to realize just how suffocating it really is. Before I know it I'm violently coughing and in the process of gasping for air I can taste a few reluctant breathfulls of the black fog go into my body. It feels like what you would imagine it would be like eating a live octopus tentacle. Squirming around in your throat, trying to get out. No, this monster doesn't want anything to do with me...it just wants Will.

Finally as I begin to feel light headed I use a small burst of power to create a hole in the tornado of shadows. I fall through, hitting hard against the grassy floor.

I immediately start sucking in oxygen like it's the last bit I'll ever get. Eventually I look up to see the entire party crowded around us, Will's mom with her hands on his shoulders.

"Get away from him!" I quickly scream as the mist threatens to engulf her as well.

Mike looks down at me, "Joe-"

"Move!" I shout as I use my arm to fling her away at the last moment.

She lets out a grunt as everyone stares at me in shock.

"Joey, what's wrong with you!" Dustin asks in bewilderment.

I stare at the huge wave of mist swirling through Will and then look back at them all. "What do you mean? What, can none of you frickin see it? It's huge!" I frantically yell.

They all just give me matching looks of confusion.

Max shakes her head, her eyes wide. "Joey, there's nothing there."

I roll my eyes and turn my attention away from all of them. It feels like everything's moving at one hundred miles per hour. Like I can't afford even a second to think this all through.

As the wind rushes through my ears I put my hand out and use everything in me to tear the monster away from Will.

"Joe-" Lucas starts.

Just then though the shadow monster overpowers me. It flings me at least twenty feet away. I let out a scream as I'm flying mid air. Then I hit the ground with a thud and my consciousness is tethering on and off. I guess it doesn't help that I have a concussion. I can't just pass out though, I can't let it take Will. I can't...

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I wake up on a soft couch. Why am I on my couch? I don't remember falling asleep on- wait no, Will!

I shoot up and notice that I'm not at my house. I'm at a place I've spent so much time it might as well qualify as a second one though. I'm at Wills place. How did I get here? I jump to my feet and start looking down the halls.

"Will?" I call out.

For a moment there's no response and then I hear a small voice say, "in here."

I turn the corner to see Will and his mom sitting at the dining table.

Joyce turns to me with a light smile. "I'm glad you're up, Joe. I tried calling your dad a while ago to tell him what happened but he didn't pick up. I was just about to call him again."

I let out a sigh of relief. On top of everything else I don't want to have to deal with my dad right now.

"It's okay, I'll call him later." I start. "Sorry for throwing you by the way."

She lets out a sort of laugh. The kind you do when you're upset about something but are still desperately trying to keep the mood light. "It's no big deal honey. Will and I are just having a talk. Would you sit down with us."

The rooms quiet and still and I can't help but take notice to how Will looks as though he wants to sink into his chair. Despite all of that, I take a seat.

I glance around. "Is everything okay?"

My eyes land on Will and a silent conversation passes between us. He's worried, scared...and that makes me worried and scared too.

As I look away I catch Joyce looking at the two of us in wonder. "I don't know how you do that."

"Do what?" Will asks as he obviously tries to cover the shakiness in his voice.

Joyce just shakes her head, "it's nothing...Do either of you know what happened?"

The temperature in the room must drop at least ten degrees based on the shiver that creeps into my bones.

Will looks down. "I can't remember."

"I need you to try." Joyce sighs.

"There was mist." I start, "Will was running-"

Joyce looks towards Will, a frown plastered across her face. "Honey, what were you running from?"

Before Will can even respond I find the words tumbling out of my mouth. "The mist."

"What?" She asks.

"The mist." I say again, "he was running from the mist...it was a monster."

Will looks at me and I spend a moment staring into his brown eyes. They're deep like the sea, usually there light as a feather. They haven't looked like that in a while though. In this moment I think I'd give anything to see them again, to see Wills eyes not full of fear.

"I was on the field." Will says, "and...and then it- Joe probably knows more than me. Everything after that's just blank. Up until you were there mom."

For a minute I can't tell if he's lying. I finally decided that I don't think he is. He might remember a little but I do think that it went blank. If he did remember what happened I don't think he'd be talking right now. I think it would be too much for him to even attempt to handle. So I make a decision. I won't tell anyone what I saw, not yet anyways. Not until Will can't hear me. I have to keep him safe. Why else would I have these powers? If my life can't be happy then maybe I'm just here to bring joy to everyone else's. I can't help but feel like I'm doing a pretty sucky job at that so far. Nonetheless I keep quiet...for now.

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EDITED