Present day.
Danielle's POV
Dustin and I were over at the Wheeler's house. Dustin was playing D&D with Lucas, Mike, and Will. Nancy and I were in her room, she's sitting at her desk and I'm sitting on her bed. She's flipping through her flashcards, studying for our chemistry test tomorrow, as I finish up today's homework
"I can't believe Kaminsky gave us homework before our test tomorrow." I say to Nancy.
"Yeah, it's totally not fair." Nancy says as she's making flash cards.
"Hey, what did you get for the last one? Did you get pH =14-poH = 10.3979. I rounded it up to 10.398." I ask as I glance down at my notebook.
She puts down her flashcards and takes a quick look at her homework. "Yes, 10.398."
"Cool." I say smiling and adjusting my glasses. I really suck at chemistry.
"Hey, Nancy." My little brother's voice comes from her bedroom door, catching our attention.
We both look over at the door and see Dustin waving at her. "There's a slice left if you want it. Sausage and pepperoni." He says opening the box as I pack up my stuff.
I get off of Nancy's bed and sling my backpack over my shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow Nance." I tell her and walk over to Dustin.
"We can study for the test tomorrow during free period." Nancy says to me.
"Okay, thanks." I say before walking out of her room, shutting the door behind me.
"She doesn't want any of your pizza dweeb." I tell Dustin before making my way downstairs.
"Can I ride my bike home with Will?" Dusting asks as we leave the Wheeler's.
"Sure." I say as I open the door to my red Jeep. "Just don't get home too late." I say as I get in and starting it.
Dustin gives me a salute and he goes back under the awning with the boys.
I pull out of the Wheeler's drive way and make my way home.
**
Finally, I pull into my driveway. I shut my car off, grab my bag and go inside. The house was dark, indicating that my mom has already gone to bed. I make my way towards my room at the end of the hallway, next to Dustin's.
When I walk in, I am greeted by Mews, my cat. My mom got her for me a few years ago. Mom ended up growing an extremely large attachment to her when dad left, so she's her "baby." I change into some pj's and do my nightly routine. Once I'm under the covers, I take my glasses off and fall into a deep sleep.
**
"But Papa he's stronger than me." I say to an unrecognizable man.
I look down at my feet. White shoes, no laces. I'm standing in a circle that looks to have been drawn on the floor with chalk.
The sound of glass breaking makes me look up.
There's a young man that appears to be sitting on the floor, leaning his back against the wall, passed out. I slowly walk closer to him. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I know this person. I reach my hand out slowly. Suddenly the young man snaps his eyes open and yanks me down by my wrist. He goes to open his mouth, going to say something but the sound of my alarm cuts him off.
My alarm blares as I open my eyes. It's six o'clock.
Stupid alarm.
I cover my face with my pillow.
Five more minutes.
It continues to beep, loudly, making me groan.
Just shut up!
Suddenly, my alarm stops beeping. I take my pillow off of my face and look over at it. My eyes widen at the sight. My alarm is nothing but tiny pieces. I sit up reach over to pick up a piece.
"What the f-" I whisper to myself.
"Dani!" Dustin shouts from the other side of my door, scaring me.. "Mom says it's time to get up!"
"I'm up!" I yell back and set the piece of my alarm back down on my nightstand before getting out of bed.
**
As I walk through the school hallway, I spot Nancy walking along side Barb.
"Hey, guys! Wait up!" I say as I run past other students to catch them.
"Hey." I say when I finally reach them.
"Hey, Dani." They both greet me.
"So? Did he call?" Barb asks Nancy.
"Keep your voice down." Nancy scolds Barb.
"Who, Steve?" I question and Barb nods her head at me excitedly.
"Did he?" Barb then whispers to Nancy.
"I told you, it's not like that. Okay, I mean yes, he likes me, but not like that."
"We just... made out a couple times." Nancy says.
"Nancy's got a boyfriend." I tease her lightly, hiding my sliver of jealousy.
"He's not my boyfriend." She shyly says back as we stop at our lockers.
"Nance seriously, you're gonna be so cool now, it's ridiculous." Barb says.
"No, I'm not." Nancy smiles back at her.
"You better still hang out with us, that's all I'm saying."
"If you become friends with Tommy H. or Carol-" I say as I open my locker, throwing my bag inside.
"-Oh, that's gross!" She cuts me off as she opens her locker. "Okay, I'm telling you guys, it was a one-time..."
Barb and I give her a look.
"Two-time thing." Nancy smiles.
As if on cue, and note falls out of her locker. I grab my folder for my first period art class and shut my locker.
"You were saying?" I smirk.
**
I make my way through the hallway to art, when I suddenly feel a tap on my right shoulder. I turn my head to the right to see no one there, so I look to the left and see Eddie Munson. He sits next to me in art and is one of the few people that actually acknowledges my existence.
"Hey, weirdo." He smiles at me.
"Hey, freak." I smile back.
"How are you on this shitty morning at Hawkins High?"
"Oh you know, just living it up." I say sarcastically.
"Well, well, well. Eddie "The Freak" Munson is walking Danielle "The Weirdo" Henderson to class. Isn't that sweet." I hear a whiny voice say from behind us.
We both look over our shoulders behind us and see that it's Carol.
"Just ignore her." Eddie says to me, putting a comforting hand on my back to keep me walking.
"You guys make such a cute couple." Carol says mockingly as she walks along side us.
"Shut up, Carol." I mumble.
"What did you say weirdo?" She taunts.
"Nothing Carol, just leave her alone." Eddie speaks up for me.
"Shut up, freak! I think the weirdo can speak for herself." She turns her attention back to me. "What did you say?" She taunts me again.
This time I didn't say anything and look down at my shoes, watching my feet as I walk.
Say something you idiot, people are watching.
"That's what I thought." Carol laughs and walks away.
I lift my head back up watch as she leaves.
Do something.
"Hey, don't worry about it Dani." Eddie says as continues to escort us forward. "Let's just go to class."
Do something.
My blood begins to boil as Carol continues down the hallway. My intrusive thoughts take control and for some reason, I nod my head upwards. Immediately, she falls down, landing flat on her face.
What the hell? Did I do that?
"Holy shit!" Eddie shouts, scaring me, causing me to jump a little. "That's called karma Carol!" He laughs and other students laugh with him.
My eyes feel like they're about to pop out of their sockets. Tina rushes through the crowd of people and helps Carol to her feet.
"Oh Carol, your nose. It's bleeding." Tina says as, pointing to her own nose.
"Dammit! My nose!" Carol cries as blood gushes out of it.
"Carol, babe, what's going on?" Tommy H. says as he walks up to her. "Holy shit!" He says once he sees her nose.
"Okay time to go." Eddie says to me and gently pushes me along. As we round the corner to art, Eddie shouts, "It's about time you got a nose job!"
"What the hell did you just say freak?!" Tommy shouts.
"Run." Eddie says as he grabs my hand and we run to art.
"Holy shit, that was insane." I say out of breath as we slow down to a walk.
"Insanely awesome." He says smiling at me.
"Are you going to be joining me in class today, Eddie?"
"As much as it's killing me to be here in this hell hole. Yes, I will join you today." He smiles back at me and opens the door. "My lady." Eddie says, holding it open and escorts me inside.
"Thank you." I blush and walk inside.
**
Art was almost over when the principal, followed by Chief Hopper and Officer Callahan, comes into the classroom.
"Sorry to interrupt, but, may I borrow Danielle Henderson?" Mr. Wilson asks as he looks at me.
'What did you do?" Eddie whispers to me.
"I didn't do anything." I shrug as I stand up and grab my stuff off of our table.
As I walk to the front of the class, everyone starts "oohing" at me. I walk out the door and Mr.Wilson explains that the Hopper and Officer Callahan are going to escort me over to the middle school and then they'll explain everything.
**
I walk into the principal's office at the middle school and I see Lucas, Dustin, and Mike, sitting on the couch. Officer Powell is watching them.
"What did you guys do?!" I whisper shout at them.
"Danielle have a seat." Hopper tells me and I take a seat on a chair next to my brother and his friends.
**
"Okay, okay, okay. One at a time, all right?" Hopper says at the boys. "You." He says to Mike. "You said he takes what?"
"Mirkwood." Mike says.
"Mirkwood?"
"Yeah."
"Have you ever heard of Mirkwood?" Hopper asks Callahan.
"I have not. That sounds made up to me." Callahan says.
"It is." I speak up.
Both Hopper and Callahan look at me.
"No, it's from "Lord of The Rings"." Lucas says.
"The Hobbit"." Dustin corrects him.
"It doesn't matter." Lucas says back.
"He asked!"
"He asked!" Lucas says mockingly.
"Would you guys just shut up and listen?" I scold them.
"Shut up, guys!" Mike says.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Hopper says, causing them to stop bickering. "What'd I just say? One at a damn time. You." He nods at me. "Do you know what they're talking about?"
"Mirkwood. It's a real road. There wasn't a name for it, so that's just what they call it." I say as I gesture to Dustin, Lucas, and Mike. "It's where Cornwallis and Kerley meet."
"Yeah, alright, I think I know that-"
"-We can show you, if you want." Mike says, cutting Hopper off.
"I said that I know it!" Hopper says as he rolls his eyes.
"We can help look." Mike says back sternly.
"Yeah." Dustin whispers.
"No." Hopper and I say at the same time.
The boys start to speak up at the same time.
"No." Hopper says. "After school, you are all to go home. Immediately. That means no biking around looking for your friend, no investigating, no nonsense. This isn't some "Lord of the Rings" book."
"The Hobbit." Dustin corrects him.
"Shut up!" Lucas yells at Dustin and smacks him.
"Hey!" Dustin says and hits Lucas back.
"Stop it!" I say as I reach for their hands to break them apart.
"Do I make myself clear." Hopper says lowly.
The boys stop fighting and I lean back in my seat as Hopper proceeds to stand.
"Do I make myself... clear?" He says again.
Dustin looks over at me. "Dani?" Dustin whispers out.
"Answer him Dustin." I say back, sternly.
The three of them nod their heads.
"Yes, sir." Dustin and Mike say.
"Yes." Lucas says.
Hopper then turns to me and says.
"I want you to do me a favor. I need you to keep tabs on them. Make sure they don't go out looking for Will."
"Like as their babysitter?" I ask, confused.
Hopper gives me a look.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll watch them." I sigh, nodding my head.
"Alright." Hopper says as he nods his head.
**
I'm in my room, sitting at my desk as I study for Kaminsky's test when suddenly, Dustin barges in.
"Hey, shithead! Ever hear of knocking?" I yell at him as I thumb through my flashcards.
"I'm going to go look for Will with Mike and Lucas. Are you coming or not?" He says as he stands at my door.
"Not. And neither are you." I say as I turn around to face him. "You're not allowed, remember?"
"Please Dani!" Dustin begs as he walks in. "Please come with. You'd be with us the whole time."
"No." I say, shaking my head.
"Please."
"No."
"I'll do your chores for a week."
That caught my attention.
"A month." I say to him as I stand up and grab my shoes.
"What?" Dustin asks shocked.
"You do my chores for a whole month and I'll come with you to help look for Will. And I won't tell mom... or Hopper." I say as I put my shoes on.
Once they're on, I stand up and hold my hand out for Dustin to shake.
"Deal?" I say smiling.
"Fine. Deal." With a roll of his eyes he shakes my hand.
I throw on my jean jacket over my sweatshirt, grab my walkie, and leave my room, with Dustin following closely behind. Dustin and I quietly sneak out of the house and enter the garage, getting on our bikes.
**
The two of us met up with Lucas at his house. Then the three of us met Mike on Cornwallis. We come up to Mirkwood blocked off.
"Ah, man. This is it." Lucas says.
We all come to a stop and get off our bikes.
"Hey, guys. You feel that?" Dustin says as it starts to rain. "I think we should go back."
"No." Mike says. "We're not going back. Just stay close." He starts going into the woods. "Come on." Lucas follows behind him, going under the rail.
"Just stay on channel six. Don't do anything stupid." Mike says
"It'll be okay Dustin. Let's go find Will." I say to him and I follow Mike and Lucas.
"Hey, guys, wait up." Dustin says behind us. "Wait up!" He says once again to get us to stop walking. We turn around and see that he's running after us and then we start walking again.
**
It's raining really hard now. Even with our flashlights, we can't see very far, and I have to constantly wipe off my lenses.
"Will!" Mike shouts. "Will!"
"Byers!" Lucas shouts.
"Will!" I shout.
"I've got your X-Men 134!" Dustin shouts. "Guys, I really think we should turn back!"
"Seriously Dustin?! You wanna be a baby, then go home already! Dani can help us!" Lucas says
"I'm just being realistic, Lucas!"
"No, you're just being a big sissy!"
"Dustin it's alright, just keep going." I tell him.
"Did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad? And we're going to the exact same spot where he was last seen? And we have no weapons or anything?" Dustin says to no one in particular.
"Dustin, shut up." Mike states.
"I'm just saying, does that seem smart to you?"
"Shut up, shut up." I say.
Dustin stops talking and we're all quiet. Then we hear rustling.
"Did you guys hear that?" Mike says.
We hear it to the left of us. We point our flashlights and see nothing. Then more rustling is heard to the right of us. This time when we point our flashlights we see a... girl. Alone. With a shaved head.