𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝙾𝚗𝚎
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𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕
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The other side was darker, colder. It make Genie's eyes water and her lungs scream in protest to the air. The fear didn't go away. It intensified, merging with sadness and so, so much pain.
Genie shivered and turned in aimless circles. As much as her brain wanted to turn back, to run towards where she thought her friends still stood, her body wouldn't let her. She was trapped.
"Hello?" She called out in a strangled voice. No answer.
The woods looked eerily similar to the ones she had just walked through. It wasn't raining here, though. It was just cold. Really cold.
"Hello!" She called again. This time, a faint voice came from the distance.
"G-Genie?" The voice was quiet and shaky. It wasn't coming from anywhere near her, that was for sure. She knew it, though. She'd know that voice anywhere.
"Will!" She started stumbling towards him as fast as her legs would carry her. The sound of his voice carried through the dark forest, getting louder as Genie grew closer.
The fear was gone, replaced with such hope that she couldn't help but crack a smile. She ignored the trickle of blood that ran down her face as she ran.
Soon enough, Will came into view. He was sitting on the ground with his knees pulled to his chest. When he saw her, he quickly got to his feet and Genie barrelled into him, embracing him tightly.
"You're okay." Genie breathed in relief. Will was shivering, his skin was unusually cold.
"How did you find me?" Will asked, pulling away from the hug. The two sat on the ground, cross-legged and Genie sighed.
"A bush." Was all she said—was all she could think to say. Will looked at her strangely and she just rested her head in her hands. "I just crawled through a bush."
She wanted to explain the fear drawing her towards him but she couldn't because it was gone. Will ignored her bloody nose, assuming she got it from running through the woods.
"Do you know where?" He asked, glancing at the dark area behind her. Genie turned and her heart sped up. She didn't know what direction she came from let alone which bush.
"No, I- I'm sorry." She sighed, shaking her head. Will was disappointed but he didn't let Genie know that.
"It's okay, Genie, really. Come on I'll show you around." He smiled ever so slightly.
Genie's throat burned from the unfamiliar air and she immediately knew this place wasn't good for her. This was the worst she'd felt in a long time and she'd only jut arrived. Will had been there for a full day.
Genie managed to smile back at him and grabbed his outstretched hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet.
"Thanks." She mumbled, standing beside him and wrapping her jacket tighter around her body. It was colder here and Genie figured it must've been past curfew.
"Castle Byers is over here!" Will kept his hold on Genie's hand and began to jog in the direction of what Genie could only make out as a clump of darkness.
"I thought I already..." Genie trailed off.
"You did, in the other place. This place is different." Will explained as they approached the fort. It looked exactly the same as the one Genie had passed earlier.
"Woah." She breathed, her breath coming out in a puff of white smoke.
"Oh, what time was it when you came through the bush? I can't tell the time here, it's always dark." Will's voice was soft and he frowned slightly. Genie gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder and thought back to just a few minutes earlier.
"Well, my mom said to be home before nine and I left at around eight, maybe so it would've probably been eight thirty, eight forty five, something along those lines."
A gentle wind flew past them and Genie shuddered. Why was it so cold here?
"So it's almost nine?" Will asked.
Genie nodded, "Yup." She clarified.
The pair crawled into Castle Byers and huddled together for warmth. Will was thankful she found him. Genie knew this. It wasn't just a gut feeling, no, she actually knew this. She could see his thoughts.
Closing her eyes, Genie tried to force the thoughts and emotions that weren't hers out of her head. She figured this would be a good time to tell someone what was happening, someone being Will since he was the only one around at the moment.
"Will?" When Genie spoke, her voice was quiet, "I think there's something wrong with me."
Will looked a her, overemphasizing the incredulousness in his expression until he saw hers.
"There's nothing wrong with you, Genie."
"Yes, there is. I can feel things that I'm not feeling. I think thoughts I'm not thinking. I can feel your confusion right now and it's making me confused." She rambled, her voice wobbly. It felt good to finally let the truth escape.
Will sat there staring at her, trying to figure out what was happening with his friend. Then it hit him. "You're like an empath and a mindreader mushed into one."
Genie looked up at him. "What?"
"An empath, someone who can sense other people's emotions."
"Yeah, I know what an empath is. Why aren't you, y'know freaking out?" She asked him. He seemed way too calm.
Will shrugged. "I think it's you."
Genie was beyond confused now. She looked at him and Will read the question in her eyes before it escaped her mouth.
"I mean, I think you're controlling our-my emotions. I wasn't..."
"You weren't what? Flirting with me?" Genie teased poking his shoulder playfully. His face turned red and he rolled his eyes.
"Shut up."
Genie laughed and Will couldn't help but smile.
"How long is it gonna take for them to find us?" The former asked, crumpling into a ball on her side. Will did the same.
"Dunno. My bet was on a month or so but since you found me I've lowered it to about two weeks." He shrugged. Genie smiled.
"They're smart. I'm sure they'll find us soon."
With the exhausting atmosphere sucking their energy away, the two were two tired to talk for much longer though they both had so much to say.
And they drifted off to sleep unaware of what the next day would bring.
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I DONT THINK I CAN PUT IN WORDS HOW EXCITED I AM TO WRITE THE SNOWBALL BUT ILL TRY
AHHHAHHAJAKAKKASKAAJSJYESSSSSSSSSJAHAHA
It's gonna be so freaking cute i promise. You've still got a few plot twists to go before then so brace yourselves.
Also sorry for not updating earlier, I was busy ✨vomiting✨😃
See you in part two <3