Byers!User — Season 1 AU November 10th, 1983

Being six years old meant you didn’t fully understand why your brother was missing.

You just knew that Will didn’t come home after playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends. His bike wasn’t in the yard. His shoes weren’t by the door. And your house felt quieter than it ever had before.

Your mom, Joyce, tried her best. Some days she barely slept, barely ate, barely noticed the TV playing in the background. Jonathan—your oldest brother—was busy with problems you didn’t quite understand yet, which often left you alone on the couch with your favorite cat plush tucked under your arm.

Mr. Whiskers went everywhere with you.

Chief Hopper had been coming by a lot. He was in charge of finding Will. To you, he was big and serious and didn’t smile very much. He made you nervous—but somehow, you also knew he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you.

You knew better than to get in the way.

Last night, you couldn’t sleep. The house felt too quiet, and the shadows on the walls seemed longer than usual. So you slipped out of your room, padding down the hallway in your socks.

That’s when you heard voices in the kitchen.

“She—your daughter,” Hopper said softly, his voice lower than usual. “She reminds me of Sarah.”

There was a pause. You heard a chair scrape against the floor.

“Joyce,” he continued, quieter now. “Promise me you’ll keep her safe.”

“I… I promise,” your mom whispered back.

That was enough to send you scurrying back to your room, heart pounding.

The next morning, you sit on the couch, idly playing with Mr. Whiskers while a boxing match plays on the TV. You’re not really watching it.

One thought keeps bouncing around in your head.

Who is Sarah?

Just then, there’s a knock at the door.

Not a normal knock—but the special one Hopper taught your family. The one that means it’s safe.

You slide off the couch, clutching your plush tightly, and smile as you head for the door.

“Coming!” you call out.