Elijah Brooks's life is turned upside down when his best friend Will Byers goes missing one night. Teaming up with an unlikely group of friends, Eli finds himself transforming from a quiet bookworm to a courageous adventurer willing to do anything f...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
ELI GLANCED AROUND THE BATTERED remains of Starcourt's food court, embarrassment tickling his weakened limbs. His fainting spell had not let him forget the image of his electricity blasting the walls and every corner of the vast space, frying each Russian body with deadly voltage.
"Is that better?" Eve asked next to him in a quiet, strained voice. Her fingers gently pressed a cold Coke can against his black eye, staring at the purpled bruise in agony.
Eli felt his stomach twist into knots at the sight of his twin. "Yeah, thanks," he nodded. He considered grabbing the soda can and holding it against his wound himself, but his arms were incredibly sore and well, Eve was willing. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, you asshole!"
Eli reeled at the curse so easily spat from her lips, much like poison. There was a new fire brimming in her hazel eyes as she glowered at him. His chest crumbled when he noticed there were tears there too. "Eve..."
"You were tortured," she whimpered, bottom lip sucking into her teeth. "I was so scared for you. But it wasn't your fault, so don't apologize about this ever again. You've been through too much. Okay?"
Eli readjusted the ice pack shoved under his newly acquired T-shirt, a piece stolen from one of the shops. "Okay," he caved instantly, his heart squeezing inside his ribcage at the sight of his sister like this.
"I love you," the young Brooks girl murmured with fresh determination, not removing her gaze from Eli. "I know...I know we've kinda grown apart because of Philadelphia, and then you coming back. But...you're my twin brother. Nothing will change that."
Eli nodded again. Furiously, because if he didn't he might let a sob rattle out of him. "I love you too," he managed with a tight throat, and allowed himself to be delicately embraced by her. "I don't wanna grow apart from you."
"And you never will again," Eve whispered into his shoulder, rubbing his back soothingly. "Not if I can help it."
"Same goes for me, shitheads," a sour voice cut in, and Brandy emerged with both hands planted on her hips. The wet expression gave her facade away, and she let it fall as both her arms clamped fiercely around her younger siblings, Eli's injuries be damned.
"And you," Brandy yanked away from the sibling hug to fire an iron-clad gaze at Eli. Her palms snaked against the rough bone of his shoulders, holding him lightly with sisterly protection. "I swear to God, if that shit ever happens to you again...I'd...I'd die before I'd let them hurt you."
Eli swayed against his sister's words, stunned by her brutal vulnerability. "O-Okay."
"I love you, shithead," she grumbled, pulling him into another hug before he could see the tears doubly running down her cheeks. Her chin pressed into the top of his curls, and he could feel them growing damp from her silent crying.
