Chapter Text
Mike Wheeler never considered himself a “violent” person. He loved his friends, yet he tended to be sort-of closed off. But he was never violent. Mike only got violent when you fucked with someone he loves.
He didn’t know what happened to him. After the violent homicides that occurred in Woodsboro before he was even alive, Mike found himself interested in the murderers stories. Ghostface, the name of the killer, always seemed to intrigue him.
Mike loves scary movies. His friends always considered it “creepy,” and they didn’t like how invested he was. But that never seemed to bother him.
He opened up his laptop, opening up the “Stab” subreddit. He’s recently been speaking to this girl, who also seemed to share this unsettling love for Ghostface.
Personally, Mike’s favorite killer so far was Roman Bridger. He was always inspired by the fact that he managed to pull off all of those killings on his own. Sure, it’s kind-of weird to have a favorite “killer,” but he could always excuse it by saying he means from the movie.
Pshh, obviously.
The laptop dings with a new notification, a message from his new friend. She recently revealed her name to be “Max,” and that she also happened to live in Hawkins. Like Mike.
‘It’s fate,’ she types, adding that stupid smirk emoji at the end of her message. Mike can’t help but scoff, typing up a small quip back at her before switching tabs.
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t have..plans. He wanted to meet up with Max and have some discussions with her, to continue on the Ghostface legacy. He already had a mask hung up in his room, even after the continuous whines from his family telling him to take it down.
Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Mike’s head jerks up - he completely forgot will was coming to stay over.
In a rush, he closes a bunch of tabs, shuts his laptop, pulls down the Ghostface mask, and readies himself.
Mike tries to keep this “weird” obsession hidden from Will, after his sister was injured a couple years back when visiting Woodsboro. Even when the party tries to convince him that Mike had taking a liking to these homicides, Will never believed them.
Because of course he didn’t. He had Will wrapped around his finger like a string of yarn.
Taking a couple deep breaths, Mike awaited in his room for Will’s arrival. It’s kind of disappointing how he can’t share this love with anyone just yet, but he knows Max will be here soon enough.
He hears Will skipping up the stairs, opening the door with a grin on his face. Mike smiles back, wrapping an arm around him, pressing a soft kiss to Will’s head.
-
“Fucking hell…” Will murmurs, watching the news on the small television. They’ve found a body, supposedly with twenty stab-wounds down their chest and stomach.
Will’s glad that his sister isn’t home at the moment, since she still has scars on her upper shoulder from her attack.
He shuts the television off, trying to collect his thoughts - before his phone begins to ring. He picks it up with raised suspicion, bringing the phone up to his ear.
“Hello. Is Jane Hopper there, by any chance?” A low, raspy voice answers before Will has the chance to. He takes a moment, looking around. He’s home alone - perfect. Just great.
He huffs, before responding, “No…Can I take a message?”
The man on the other end snickers, before sighing. Will begins to feel a bit creeped out at the mans silence, as he pulls the phone away from his ear to hang up.
“WAIT. Don’t hang up. Please.” The man begs, and that confuses Will more. How did he know Will was about to hangup? “Just- I heard you like scary movies. What kind do you like?”
He cringes a little at this, hoping the man will eventually give up if Will just answers his questions. “Umm..I guess. I like the kind that has a bunch of twists. It’s hard to pick, they’re all pretty great,” He sighs. Will this guy just give it up already?
“I see..alrighty. So.. Will Byers, what’s your favorite scary movie?” His voice seems to get more menacing, and hearing his name makes Will’s heart to pickup.
“How do you know my name?” Will’s voice is shaky, as he stands up and makes his way to the kitchen. He feels like he’s living a real life Stab movie right now. “Who is this?”
The man groans in annoyance. “That doesn’t matter. Answer the fucking question!” He’s getting more agitated. Will arms himself with a knife, gripping onto the counter.
He feels frozen, the words just don’t wanna come out. He mumbles a little something, then taking a deep breath to collect himself. It’s probably just a troll. “I-I really like the Saw movies. Is that what you wanted?”
Will relaxes his shoulders, as the man replies, “Good choice, Will. How about.. do you wanna play a game? I’ll ask you a couple trivia questions about Saw. You get them right, you live. You get one wrong, and I’ll fucking gut you from the inside out! Sound fun?”
Oh. Will’s heart picks up again, and he can feel the tears prickling his eyes. He doesn’t want to die. He quickly hangs up the phone, trying to get his breath back.
His phone dings. It’s a text from the unknown number.
‘Don’t hang up.’
His phone starts to ring again. He declines the call, not wanting to deal with this anymore.
‘Pick up the phone!’
‘ANSWER ME.’
‘PICK UP THE PHONE, OR YOUR SISTER DIES.’
A photo is attached, and it’s a picture taken outside of a restaurant window. A picture of the back of Jane’s head. A video is attached, and it’s her getting up to use the bathroom.
The phone rings again, and he picks up this time. “Please- please just leave me alone. I’ll play your stupid game. Please just-“ He can’t even finish his sentence, through sniffles and the loud breathing on the other side of the phone, he’s about to lose it.
“Good, good. Okay.. warm up question. What medical condition does Jigsaw have?” Will has to pull back from his memories, since it’s been so long since he’s watched one of the movies.
There it is! “Oh, ah- brain cancer! He-he was diagnosed in 2004 with it and..and over time it became terminal.” He tries to wipe the tears from his eyes, his hand hovering over the knife next to him on the counter.
The man laughs a little, making Will tense up. He clears his throat, beginning to speak, “That was an easy one. Okay, question one-“
Will cuts him off, “Wait! Don’t-don’t I get points for that first one? I..I got it right. Come on!” Confusion arises within him, wishing he could just get this over with.
“Well..no. That was only a warm-up question, Will! The next question is easy. So, question one. Name three traps from any of the Saw movies.” The man finishes, and Will knows this one. He knows it.
Remember. Remember. Remember. “Fuck- Shotgun Carousel, Eye trap, and that..Wire Saw trap!” He spews out the first ones that came to mind, and he assumes he passes, because the man’s silence told everything.
Soft, incoherent whispers come from the phone, before a sigh. “Alright then.. question two. The final accomplice to John Kramer is revealed in this film. Who is the actor who plays said accomplice?”
Shit. Is Will supposed to know every single actor in the first film? He hasn’t watched that movie in years. He tries to recall it, but it isn’t coming to him.
“Tick tock, Will. Every second you don’t answer, every second you get closer to death.” The man says, and Will’s heartbeat picks up. He can’t lie. What is he supposed to say?
Actors name. He knows the character- but who’s the actor? “Uh- shit. Um, Cary- Cary Elwes?” He winces, preparing for the ‘incorrect’ to come from the man..but it doesn’t happen.
“Wow. Correct! I’m surprised you’ve made it this far. Let’s not waste time now, question three. What area did Saw Six start out in?”
Saw Six? Will stopped watching the series after the fifth movie. “What- I don’t know! How am I supposed to remember that?” Tears begin to fall as he stands up, beginning to pace around the kitchen.
“Is that your final answer? I see.” Will pauses in his tracks. I see? “How about.. Who do you think is standing right behind you?” Before he has a chance to turn around, a sharp pain stabs right through his back.
Will screams, pushing himself away and running. He doesn’t get the chance to grab the knife, his main focus is trying to run.
With shaky hands, he quickly dials 911. “Help! Help- there’s someone in my house and they’re trying to kill me! Please send help-“ He doesn’t have the chance to finish his sentence before the killer — Ghostface, he notices — wraps his arm around Will’s neck and begins to choke him.
The phone hangs up, as Will is fighting for his life. Ghostface pushes him to the ground, lurking behind him as he tries to crawl away.
He can’t scream, now he feels helpless. Another stab to the back, as he rolls over and tries to defend himself.
The last thing he sees is Ghostface holding the knife up, before everything goes black. Sirens fade in, but he barely notices.