Downside Up [W.Byers]

005

Ruby and Will are awakened by a faint playing of 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go?' Emanating from all around. Ruby's eyes flutter open as she arises, looking down at the weak will. "Do you hear that?" She whispers.

"I thought it was only me." He chokes out. "Will... Will is that you?" An echoing voice sobs. Will shoots up from his spot, startling Ruby.

"Whoa, Will! What's wrong?" She asks. "That was my mom. It's my mom! I know it is!" He shouts. Ruby's eyes widen as she checks the surroundings before speaking up.

"It's trying to contact your mom and trick her." She says sadly. "What? What do you mean?" The boy sniffles. "I mean, that it's pretending to be you or something.. I don't know. I have a bad feeling about this." She sighs.

"Is my mom gonna be okay?" He asks worriedly. Ruby doesn't respond and simply sends him a sympathetic look. That alone causes the boy to break out into tears, coughing every once in a while.

Ruby wraps her arms around him, hugging him tightly and warmly.

The music continues to play faintly in the background as flashes of lightning hit the sky.

"Hello?" A voice fearfully calls out, grabbing Ruby's attention as she sits against a tree. She had left to go search for food, but was taking a small break.

The voice is merely just an echo, so she ignores it. She assumes it may have been will's mother again, although it sounded more like a young woman, rather than his mother.

Once she returns back, she finds will lying on the ground helplessly as he always does. "How are you holding up?" She asks, taking a seat in front of him. "Not good." He coughs.

Ruby sighs, looking off to the side nervously. "I feel it." He says weakly. "Feel what?" The blonde girl stiffens up, squinting her eyes at him.

"My mom. She's trying to talk to me."

Ruby lightly gasps. "Do you.. do you know how to answer?" She asks, earning a nod. Ruby gulps, taking his hand in hers as he seemingly concentrates.

The voice of his mother echoes through the woods. "Will..are you here?" She asks shakily. Will nods his head slightly, earning a faint excitement from Joyce.

"Okay, good, good, good, good." She whispers. "Are you..Um, blink once for yes, twice for no." She explains. "Can you do that for me, sweetie?"

Will blinks once. "Oh, good boy. Good boy." She exclaims. "Baby, I need to know... are you alive?" She cries.

Will blinks once. "Are you safe?" She asks softly. Will blinks twice. "I need to know where to find you, honey. Where.. where are you?" She sighs. "Can you.. can you tell me where you are?"

Ruby sighs, watching will let tears slowly escape. "Can you... Please, baby. I need to find you. Tell me what to do." Joyce whimpers. "Please just...Will..." She cries, her voice slowly fading.

"No.." Will says quietly, quickly jolting up. "Will!" Ruby screams, startled by the sudden motion. "No! No! No! I lost it! I lost her!" He shrieks. "Will, calm down! You need to rest!"

"No! I need to talk to her! I need to talk to my mom! I miss my mom! I miss my family!" He sobs. Ruby, who's never felt much emotion at all, finds herself quite confused. She's of course felt sadness and anger, fear, but she's never felt love. Not for a family, or the lab workers, of course. She doesn't know a single bit what it means or what the boy is going through.

"Will, I'm so sorry. I wish I could help. But, right now, you're scaring me. I'm worried for your health, Will." She sighs, placing a hand on his shoulder. Will's sobs quiet down as he faces the girl.

It goes silent for a moment as the two look to each other. All of a sudden, Will engulfs her in a hug, holding her tightly as he cries onto her dress. "Will, I can't promise you that we'll get out of here, but I promise that I'm always here for you." She whispers softly, placing a hand on his back, leaning into the hug.