Chapter Text
Chapter one: The Vanishing Of Will Byers
Hawkins Indiana 1983
Max Mayfield was New to the small town of Hawkins Indiana, She and her Stepbrother, Billy had moved from California with her mom, Susan and Stepdad, Neil. Max didn’t really understand why they had to move to Hawkins of all places, she knew her mom had wanted a fresh start or whatever but let’s be honest it’s not like this place really had much to offer but regardless it was nice she supposed, Quiet, Peaceful, The kind of town where Everybody knew everybody, The Kind of Town where nothing even remotely bad ever happened and believe her she knows, She had done research on the history of Hawkins When she found out they would be moving there And Aside from The fact that some crazed psychopath Brutally murdered his Entire Family back in the 50’s The town remained peaceful ever since.
Somehow Max had attracted the attention of a group of Middle School Boys and Here she was playing Dungeons And Dragons in Party Leader Mike Wheeler’s basement. Prior to moving to Hawkins Max had never played D&D but the group of boys had insisted on teaching her so she reluctantly agreed and honestly she had to admit it was pretty fun.
“Something’s coming!” Mike says ominously “you hear it’s loud echoing footsteps looming towards you, Boom BOOM!” he shouts Banging his fists on the table for dramatic effect “What is it!?” Another boy, Will asks “Is it The Demogorgon?””Oh shit we’re so screwed if it’s The Demogorgon!” “It’s Not The Demogorgon!” “It’s Totally The Demogorgon” Max says rolling her eyes, “THE DEMOGORGON!” Mike says slamming the figure on the game board “WILL! YOUR ACTION!” W-What do I Do!?” He stammers “FIRE BALL!” Lucas Shouts “NO WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY!? CAST PROTECTION!” Max Shouts, “WILL YOUR ACTION!” “FIREBALL!” Will finally shouts as he throws the Die. They watch as it rolls across the table and onto the floor, nowhere to be seen. They all Scramble to find it, frantically searching as Mrs. Wheeler calls from upstairs that they need to end the game “Ten After Michael! That was our Agreement!” Max’s eyes Widen “Oh Shit is it that late already!? Shit My brother’s gonna kill me!” She says as she scrambles to gather her things “You Mean your Stepbrother?” The curly haired boy Dustin asks.
“Brother? Stepbrother same difference” “Normally yeah but your Brothers a grade A asshole” “can’t argue with you there” She Mutters before Heading upstairs “Bye Mrs Wheeler! By Ted!” “Bye sweetie! Careful biking home alright? it’s late” Karen shouts after her “ Yeah and It’s Mr. Wheeler To you Young Lady!” Ted called out Just as she shut the door behind her Too Distracted by the Tv set he was busy trying to fix. Max got on her Bike and was about to start riding home when she noticed The Garage light flickering above her “Jesus Ted you really need to fix the wiring or something” she mutters out loud to herself. Soon after, The boys come outside and Mount their Bikes, talking about How Mikes sister Nancy was dating some Duche bag Jock or something. Soon enough they all rode off leaving just Will and Mike “ It was a seven” The younger boy said, Mike looked at him in confusion “What?” “The Roll, It was a seven” the boy elaborates “The Demogorgon, it got me” and with that Will rode off leaving Mike behind. The Garage light Flickers once more Mike looks up at it in confusion before shrugging it off and heading back inside.
After a little while Will finally catches up to the others, Dustin challenges him to race, betting him one of his comic books Will gladly accepted the bet Speeding off without warning Winning by a landslide. Little did they know about the Horrors that were about to unfold later that same night.
Meanwhile Max parks her bike outside, Carefully entering her house trying her best to not make any noise as to not alert her Stepbrother Billy. She began to make her way towards her bed room when “You’re Late, you know what Fucking Time it is?” Max sighed “Yeah Sorry I lost track of time” Billy stands up and makes his way over to her “Maaax, How many times have I told you? I’m in charge of you okay? So guess who gets the blame when Susan and dad come home to find you gone? ME MAX! Don’t let it happen again you hear me? Because if it does I’ll make sure you never play that little Nerd game again. Do you understand?” “I understand ” She Mutters before Billy walks away, cigarette in hand and Max heads to her room for the night.
The Next Day, The Kids were all at school In Mr. Clarke’s science class Neither of them had seen Will All day, and they were starting to worry. Will Was never this late to school and he definitely Never skipped school at least not on purpose. Their worries However were quickly confirmed when the Chief of Police asked to talk to them all. . . About Will.
Max’s heart sank as Chief Hopper sat them down and broke the news that Will Never came home, That Will’s Mom and Brother hadn’t seen him since yesterday, That Will. . was missing. “He’s Missing?” Max asks “Was he kidnapped or something?” “That’s what we’re trying to figure out” Hopper replies. “Will, Has he ever talked about running away before?” “What!? No! No Will wouldn’t do that!” Mike says “Yeah The only place he’d “Run away” to was Castle Byers in his backyard” Lucas elaborates. “He takes Mirkwood home” Mike says Before Lucas and Dustin start to talk over him
“HEY! One at a time! You, Wheeler” hopper says pointing to Mike “You said he takes what?” “He Takes Mirkwood ""Mirkwood?” He asks before he gestures over to another officer, Officer Callahan “Mirkwood have you heard of that?” He whispers to the other officer “I haven’t, sounds made up to me” “Mirkwood” Mike says again “It’s a real road it’s just the name that’s made up” “It’s from Lord Of The Rings” Lucas explains “The Hobbit” Dustin Corrects” “it doesn’t Matter” “He Asked” The two boys start to argue “Guys? GUYS!? I really don’t think he cares nor do we have time for this shit.” Max interjects before the argument can escalate. “Will” She says Changing the subject “He’s really good at hiding ” “Remember that time With Troy? It took us forever to find him ""Yeah his brother mentioned that, either of you kids know any places he might be hiding?” They all shake their heads. “Mirkwood” Max says “it’s where Cornwallis and Kerley Meet right?” She asks looking to the other boys for confirmation “Yeah I know it” Hopper says “ We can show you if you “ Mike says clearly not having heard Hopper the first time “I said I know It!” Hopper says more sternly this time. “But We can help you look! Lucas says “No! Listen to me after school you are all going straight home! The last thing we need are more kids going missing” His face softens a bit “We’ll find him alright? I promise.” Max doesn’t say anything but she’s not stupid, she knows that’s not something anyone can promise.
Later That Night:
Max is in her bed Trying to focus on her homework but she keeps thinking about Will. Even though Max hasn’t been in the party for long She does know that Will is sweet kid, he’s kind and caring, if Max was completely honest sometimes Will was the only one she could handle being around. He was the peacemaker of the group but Max also knew that he was different from the others, Quieter, More reserved, More sensitive. . . An easy target: something about this whole thing just seemed off, it was all too random. What? some random person just decides to start kidnapping children? Why now? And why in Hawkins of all places?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Mike’s voice coming through the Walkie Talkie. “I’m worried about Will Over” “Yeah Me too over” Lucas replies Max reaches for the Walkie and listens “I don’t care what the chief says We have to do something” Lucas says. There’s a brief moment of silence “Meet me at my place in Ten Minutes Over” “Why? Over” Max asks skeptically “We’re going out to look for Will.”
Max quickly grabs her raincoat and a Flashlight and sneaks out the window to meet the boys leaving the window open a crack. As she makes her way to Mike's house she walks past Hawkins National Laboratory. Max doesn’t know why but every time she passes by that place she gets this feeling, this feeling deep in the pit of her stomach, this feeling that she’s not supposed to be there. Max was startled out of her thoughts by rustling in the Trees, she stops in her tracks and shines her flashlight to get a better look.
Maybe it was the rain playing tricks on her but she could’ve sworn she saw a shadow run through the trees. She startles and Runs the rest of the way to Mike’s house.
Once she gets there they started the search. Max toys with the idea of telling the boys what she saw, but ultimately decides against it. Besides Why would Will Be hiding at Hawkins Lab?
' They continue searching, Yelling Will’s name but they still get the same response, Silence. Except for the sound of the rain hitting the ground and. . . Footsteps? “Did you guys hear that?” Dustin asks wearily “Shh!” Mike shushes, “Guys? I think we should turn around” “Shh! Stop talking, Stop talking!” Mike Says cutting Dustin off. The footsteps Continue to get louder and louder until they’re right behind them! They all Spin around shining their Flashlights on whatever or Whoever was about to strike They all Freeze as the figure runs out of the trees it was a kid. . . A Girl with a shaved head.