Chapter Text
November 6, 1983
It was a night of extreme cold. The trees shook violently in the wind, animals hid or fled, driven away by a person's screams.
Lonnie Byers stood with his hands stained with blood. The snow slowly dyed itself red. It came from an unconscious Will Byers, his son. There was a wound on his head caused by falling onto a sharp rock.
Lonnie looked at the body. The wind made his hair stick to his sweat-covered forehead. He knelt down and raised two fingers to press them against his son's neck. His breathing was slow and shallow. Lonnie couldn't leave him in this place. His screams had surely attracted someone.
That night, Lonnie got drunk, and when his son came home with his face wet from tears, he started yelling at him. His son couldn't be a faggot. Men didn't cry. Crying was for women.
And that was how they'd ended up in this situation. Lonnie grabbed Will from under his shoulders, dragging him to a more hidden, darker place.
Lonnie left, leaving his son almost dead to his fate.
______
Will woke up dazed.
The cold was the first thing he felt.
To his eyes, the world was a white and black blur. His ears were ringing. He tried to breathe and the air felt like a thousand blades in his throat.
He moved his hand and sank his fingers into the wet, freezing snow. His stomach turned when the metallic smell flooded his nostrils.
He tried to sit up but a sharp pain shot through his head. With a groan, he collapsed back down.
He looked around. It was still dark, but he made out his father's almost-erased footprints in the snow. He started to cry.
The sobs broke the silence of the forest. Nothing else could be heard.
Until a crack. Broken branches. Footsteps.
"D-Dad?"
He knew it wasn't him. Lonnie would rather kill himself than come back for his failure of a son.
He opened his mouth but closed it with a gasp. Between the bushes, two red, old, empty eyes stared right at him.
A figure fused with the shadows of the trees. It drooled. The saliva fell and sank into the snow. The creature approached, crawling slowly.
Fear took control of his body. He tried to flee. Useless.
The creature lunged. It slammed his head against the snow again. Long, black claws tore at his flesh.
Will struggled, but the blood loss was defeating him. His eyelids were heavy.
The last thing he felt before falling unconscious was a sharp pain in his neck.
________
November 6, 1987
Mike Wheeler was running late to class.
His alarm hadn't gone off, so when his sister, Nancy Wheeler, banged on the door yelling that he'd better be ready for school, he woke up startled and ran to shower.
Mike hit his head against the shower faucet in his rush. He cursed under his breath, got half-dressed, and grabbed his backpack.
Mike went down the stairs three at a time. With no time for breakfast, he yelled "Bye, Mom!" from the door and left. Nancy had already gone, so he grabbed his bike and pedaled toward Hawkins Middle as fast as he could.
When he got to school, Mike carelessly dropped his bike and ran to his history class.
Mike burst in, interrupting the class. The teacher looked at him with disapproval.
"I don't want to hear your excuses, Wheeler. Sit down and listen to the class."
Just as the teacher told him, Mike sat down and started listening and copying what was on the board.
To his right was the new kid. To Mike, the new and weird kid.
He'd introduced himself yesterday in class. He only gave his name: Will. And since yesterday he hadn't spoken to anyone. He just watched everyone with his empty eyes.
Mike's eyes drifted from the blackboard to the person sitting to his right.
Only to find that Will was already looking at him with a smile.
Mike blushed at being caught and, with a huff, went back to his notebook.
Hours passed and the bell finally rang. The hallways were packed with students immersed in their own conversations.
Mike left his things in his locker and headed to the school library.
There, Mike wandered the shelves looking for an interesting book to read. He finally chose Dead Poets Society
Mike got comfortable and immersed himself in the world of the book before being interrupted by someone who grabbed the book from his hand. After snatching it, they threw it on the table.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
The person responsible for that was Will, who had a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Oh, nothing. You just caught my attention."
Will grabbed a chair and pulled it close, invading Mike's personal space.
"I can't talk to you if you're reading."
Mike couldn't believe what he was saying. What kind of person does this? And what did the weirdo see in him?
"Well, what did you come to talk about?"
Will leaned in, invading Mike's personal space even more.
"I heard you know everything about this town, but the truth is I'm interested in knowing about the underground tunnels."
The underground tunnels were a secret passage hunters used to get to certain places fast.
Mike knew they existed thanks to his dad and his sister. The two of them worked exterminating vampires, risking their lives every day.
In summer, vampires were slow, easier to hunt and kill. They stayed hidden most of the day; the heat slowed their bodies down.
But winter was worse. Vampires moved faster and killed or turned people more quickly.
Still, there were ancient vampires who, regardless of weather or season, hunted with the same strength and speed. They were already used to it.
"You're wrong."
Mike replied, standing up with the intention of leaving.
"I think you should ask someone else."
A hand grabbed his wrist.
Mike turned, looking at Will with an annoyed expression.
Will just smiled.
Mike tried to pull free from his grip, but it was impossible.
"God, leave me alone! I don't know anything, so stay away from me."
Will, unfazed, got dangerously close to his face.
"I heard wonders about you. You definitely know about those tunnels. I even know you've been in them."
Mike was stunned. How the hell did Will know that?
Was this maniac stalking him?
"Stay the fuck away from me!"
Mike yelled, but before Will could respond, the bell rang announcing the return to class.
The grip on Mike's wrist broke and Mike stormed out of the library, leaving the book behind.
_________
The rest of the classes went fine.
Mike, along with his bike, headed home.
On the way, he ran into people from the church. They were warning about vampires and had signs. Among them were written: SINNERS, ANTICHRIST, THREATS.
The town had entered a crisis. Too many deaths had happened with the same cause: their blood had been drained, and others had the bad luck of coming back as vampires.
Mike feared for his sisters. Nancy could take care of herself, but she wouldn't always be lucky.
And Holly... oh, little Holly. She was only 9, but she was different from the others. She believed vampires were just misunderstood species. For that same reason, his parents protected her and homeschooled her.
Mike was heading home to get ready and go to his annual training.
Mike went into his house.
"Mike, Mike!"
Holly ran up to him, holding her doll.
"I want to eat cake!"
Mike laughed at her excitement.
"But Holly, we don't have cake."
She wrinkled her nose and frowned, showing she was thinking, until she had a little grin again.
"Then we have to make one!"
She raised her arms and waved them in the air while giving little jumps.
Karen Wheeler came out of the kitchen.
"Holly, later you and Mike can make cake. Right now he has to go."
Karen fixed the kitchen apron she was wearing.
"If you want, you can come help me with dinner."
At that, Holly smiled and skipped off to the kitchen.
Karen turned to Mike.
"Son, I'll leave your food in a container. Don't come back late, you know why."
Mike sighed before taking the stairs two at a time, going straight to his room.
His room was decorated with band posters. His desk was a mess of scattered papers, and clothes were piling up in a corner.
On his shelf were his books, some board games, and, most importantly, his D&D equipment and books.
In his closet he kept all his clothes, though very well hidden were the daggers used against vampires.
Mike changed, tossing his clothes into a corner before grabbing his backpack. He took out all his books and put them messily on the desk, and put the anti-vampire daggers in his backpack.
Then Mike washed his face and teeth to leave the house and bike back to his annual training.
________
March 9, 1970
It was a noisy day.
The world was going through a social crisis. Vampires, the Antichrist, were exterminating humanity. People hid terrified in their homes, afraid to go out at night.
The news or the papers didn't say how it all started, but everyone knew anyway.
Scientists wanted to create a weapon. They wanted to play god and turn a person into an instrument for war.
They chose a prisoner, specifically prisoner number 26. A man sentenced to death. He had kidnapped two 6-year-old girls, Sara and Lucía. He beat them, tortured them, and finally raped them. The girls didn't survive the abuse combined with lack of food. They died.
The scientists promised him power, privileges, and above all, freedom.
He accepted.
At 4:30, the scientists prepared an injection with a dangerous formula. The formula was made with bat blood mixed with radiation. Its goal was to transfer bat traits to the test subjects. If it worked, they would later integrate DNA from more animals.
At 5:00, the prisoner stopped screaming. He broke his chains and, one by one, the scientists were killed.
It turned out the formula had a flaw: extreme bloodlust.
At 5:17, the military base alarm kept ringing, not because they didn't want to turn it off, but because everyone was dead.
The prisoner was no longer human: he was a beast blinded by bloodlust.
The armored door didn't resist the prisoner's strength and gave way under the blows.
Just like that, the antichrist went out into the universe to bring death.
The next day, March 10, a thousand deaths were reported and that some people were getting up after dying.
The civilian body created defenses for humanity; at first they were useless, but after several improvements, they managed to make them perfect.
________
When Mike's training ended, he went straight to the library and searched the shelves for Dead Poets Society.
When he finally found it, Mike went to the counter to buy it.
Once he bought it, he rode fast with his bike to the quarry, and there he got comfortable and started reading.
The wind moved the pages for Mike, though he read fast. The worries of the day and the days to come vanished like nothing.
Mike got comfortable under one of the trees and kept reading.
He turned the pages quickly and cleanly.
Until he heard the crunch of leaves.
"I knew I'd find you here."
The voice froze his blood. Will was leaning against a tree, staring at him.
His hands were hidden in his pockets. Mike was stunned; he hadn't heard how he'd gotten there or his footsteps.
Mike slammed the book shut and stood up, grabbing his backpack with the intention of leaving.
"What the fuck do you want?"
Will tilted his head, as if studying Mike's features.
His eyes were still dark and empty.
"I'm just admiring the view," Will said.
Sure, Mike thought, he's definitely not looking at me.
"You can go look at it somewhere else," Mike replied.
Mike took a step back, ready to leave.
"Oh, but I like what I'm looking at," Will said.
Will smiled slightly, getting closer to Mike.
Mike, disgusted, bent down and grabbed a rock to throw at Will's head.
The rock hit him in the forehead. Will gasped, surprised, and Mike used that to run and grab his bike.
While Mike pedaled fast, he wondered who Will thought he was.
He was just a weirdo, someone who had no power over Mike.
Mike got home and when he went in he left his backpack on the couch.
Mike headed to the kitchen and looked for the ingredients for the cake he promised Holly.
"Holly! Get down here!" Mike yelled.
Mike put on an apron so he wouldn't stain his clothes with flour.
Holly ran down the stairs before putting on her own apron and helping Mike make the cake.
______
In the end they ate pizza because the cake burned.
It was nighttime, and the temperature had dropped.
Mike was getting ready to go to sleep. He brushed his teeth and put on his blue pajamas.
Lazily, he lay in bed and settled between his sheets.
Mike fell asleep without knowing someone was watching him.
________
The sun was already coming through the window when Mike finally opened his eyes. He'd gotten up late again, but it was Saturday, so he didn't have school.
He yawned, stretched his arms, and stayed in bed a little longer, settling into his warm sheets.
When he finally got up, he went downstairs barefoot.
Holly was watching cartoons on TV.
He headed to the kitchen to make coffee. On the fridge there was a note and Mike read it slowly:
"Mike, we're going to give a class so people become aware of vampires. You're in charge of Holly because Nancy will be at the university.
With love, your mother."
Mike sighed and got to work making breakfast for both of them.
Mike made pancakes and put syrup on his, like he liked.
The coffee started dripping slowly, filling the place with its pleasant smell.
Holly came over and sat at the table while Mike put her plate in front of her.
"What was that note?" Holly asked.
Holly started drinking her orange juice.
"Oh, nothing. Mom and Dad went to give another conference and I have to watch you," Mike replied.
Holly nodded.
Mike sat across from her with his own plate. The pancakes were a little more golden than usual, but at least they hadn't burned like the cake. He took a big bite and the syrup stained the corner of his mouth.
Holly looked at him and giggled softly.
"You've got your whole mouth stained, you eat like a little kid."
Mike rolled his eyes, but couldn't help smiling.
"Shut up and eat."
They finished breakfast in silence, just the noise of the cartoons in the background and the hum of the fridge. When Mike took the plates to the sink, he felt like someone was watching him.
He turned toward the kitchen window. There was no one, just the backyard and the trees moving with the wind.
He figured it was just Holly looking at him.
"Is something wrong?" Holly asked, looking at Mike.
"Nothing," Mike lied.
"I'm gonna see if Nancy left laundry to wash."
He took the stairs two at a time, trying to shake the feeling of being watched.
When he got to his room, the window was slightly open. He swore he'd closed it before sleeping.
___________
Mike did all the housework with Holly's help.
He cleaned his room, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, swept the floor, and also washed everyone's dirty laundry.
Holly was bored, so she went upstairs and burst into Mike's room.
"Miiike, will you buy me ice cream? Pleeease," she said.
She gave him her best puppy-dog eyes and Mike gave in to them.
"Let me change and we'll go," he replied.
Holly left Mike's room and went to hers.
She put on a pink dress and when she came down, Mike was already waiting for her.
Mike and Holly left their house to head to Starcourt Mall.
Starcourt Mall was fuller than they expected for a Saturday morning.
Mike scanned for the ice cream shop, Scoops Ahoy, while Holly walked two steps ahead, looking at the displays without much real interest.
"Come on."
Mike and Holly headed to the ice cream shop and ordered their ice creams.
The girl at the counter served them with a fake smile. Holly ordered strawberry while Mike got chocolate.
They sat on one of the benches. Holly swung her feet while she ate and let the ice cream melt a little on her fingers.
Mike pulled out his phone and checked if he had messages. Nothing from his parents or Nancy.
Mike looked at Holly. She'd already finished her ice cream and was staring straight ahead.
"What are you looking at?" he asked.
Holly took a moment to answer.
"I thought someone was watching us," she said.
Mike followed her gaze but none of the people were looking at them.
"It was probably your imagination."
Holly shrugged and wiped the ice cream remains from her hands with her dress, staining it.
"Can we look at clothes?" she asked.
Mike hesitated, but in the end agreed. He didn't want to go home yet. He had nothing to do.
They walked aimlessly. Most stores were just opening.
Holly stopped in front of a store full of clothes.
She pointed at a yellow shirt with flowers.
"Would it look good on me?" she asked without looking at Mike.
He nodded. Before shifting his attention to a black shirt with cat prints.
"Try it on if you want," he said.
Holly went in and Mike grabbed the cat shirt to buy it. He stayed waiting for Holly.
He pulled out his phone again. No new messages. He locked the screen and looked toward the fitting rooms waiting for Holly to come out.
"voilà!"
Holly came out of the fitting room with the shirt on. It was a little big on her, but she didn't care. She spun in front of the mirror.
"Well?" she asked.
Mike smiled and nodded. "It looks really good on you."
While Holly changed back, he felt like he was being watched again.
He looked up toward the store aisle but no one was there.
"Should we take it?" Holly asked.
"Yeah, both of them," he replied.
They paid for their purchase. The cashier didn't even look at them when she gave them the bag. Her eyes were glued to her phone.
When they left, the ceiling lights flickered before shining again.
They walked past Scoops Ahoy again. The girl at the counter was gone. The place was empty, with the light on and the "open" sign still hanging.
They left Starcourt Mall and headed home.
________
It was already getting dark.
Mike and Holly were trying to make pasta.
They'd made the dough and Holly was cutting it into strips.
Mike was in charge of making the sauce and boiling the water.
The kitchen smelled like tomato and basil.
Some of the pasta strips Holly cut were thick and others thin.
Mike put the pasta in the water while Holly stirred the sauce.
Holly stopped stirring the sauce and set the table.
Mike drained the pasta and mixed it with the sauce. Then he served two plates on the table.
They sat across from each other. The steam from the plates fogged up the window glass a little. Outside it was already dark.
Holly twirled the noodles on her fork enthusiastically. Mike copied her.
"It's good," Holly said.
Mike nodded. But before he could respond, a noise was heard on the roof.
"Did you hear that?" Holly asked quietly, leaving her fork on the plate.
"Hear what?"
"The noise from upstairs. Like something hit."
"Yeah. I'll go check," he said.
Mike stood up slowly and went to the stairs. Holly stayed at the table eating.
The second-floor hallway was freezing, even though the heat had been on since they got back.
His room was lit.
Mike had left the light off.
Slowly he approached and pushed his door.
There was no one. Mike went in to check more but a hand covered his mouth.
"Scream for help and you're dead," the person behind whispered behind him.
Mike froze and recognized the person by his voice.
It was Will.
Will took his hand off Mike's mouth but grabbed his shoulder and forced him to turn to look at him.
"Listen to me," he said quietly, almost right against his ear, "you're going to go down now and keep eating with Holly like nothing happened."
Will tightened his grip on Mike's shoulder.
Mike nodded without being able to speak. Fear had closed his throat.
"Act normal," Will continued. "If she suspects anything, just one little suspicion, I'll kill her."
Will's voice was dangerous and left no doubt that he was capable of it.
Will gave him a soft push toward the door.
Mike hesitated to leave. Will pinned him with a stare.
"Holly's waiting for you, Mike," Will said.
Mike swallowed and went down the stairs.
When he walked into the kitchen, Holly looked up from her plate.
"Well?" she asked with her mouth half full.
Mike forced a smile, sat down, and grabbed his fork.
"Nothing, it was just the wind," he lied.
________
Holly went to sleep and Mike was left alone in the kitchen, washing the dishes.
While Mike dried the dishes, the cloth slipped between his fingers from nerves. He couldn't stop thinking about Will waiting for him upstairs. Every drop falling from the poorly closed faucet sounded like a clock marking the seconds of false calm he had left.
Speak of the devil, Will appeared behind Mike. He made no noise coming in. He was just there, cornering him against the sink. The heat of his body made the hair on Mike's neck stand up before he even touched him.
"You talk too much but then you don't do anything," Will murmured. His voice was deep, restrained, with that dangerous calm that made Mike more nervous than a shout.
Will's lips brushed Mike's ear as he spoke. It wasn't a kiss, but even so Mike felt every muscle in his back tense. His heart pounded against his ribs, hard and messy.
"Stay the fuck away from me!" Mike demanded. His voice came out higher than he wanted, broken by fear and rage.
He tried to push Will away with his elbow, shoving him back, but it was useless. Will was short, heavier, and had enough strength to overpower him. He trapped him with an arm on each side of the sink, leaving him no way out.
And before Mike could say another word, a sharp, piercing pain exploded in his neck. It wasn't a hit. It was pressure, teeth, something that dug in and burned at the same time. His breath cut off. The words choked in his throat.
Will held his neck with a firm hand, fingers digging into his skin. Mike went suddenly still, paralyzed between panic and an electric jolt he couldn't name. Then Mike heard a sound: a low, deep, almost animal groan that rose from Will's chest.
It was a groan of satisfaction and pleasure from his soul.
At the edges of Mike's vision, black spots formed that gradually covered all his sight. His eyelids were heavy, his body going limp without him being able to stop it. The fear was still there, but underneath it was something else: vertigo, confusion, a betrayal by his own body that he didn't understand. When he went limp in Will's arms, his head fell back, exposing his throat even more.
A whisper broke the silence of the kitchen, barely louder than the dripping faucet.
"Now you belong to me and nothing can change that," Will said against his skin.
Mike fell unconscious from the blood loss.