Will thought he was alone. He could’ve sworn he evaded the Demogorgon. He had learned to breathe quieter than the wind and run faster than his legs should’ve allowed. He knew the rules now—don’t make noise, don’t use light, stay hidden, stay small, stay scared.

But when he heard a noise outside Castle Byers, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

It wasn’t the creature. Will had heard that thing too many times to mistake it now—the awful clicking-growl that made his skin want to peel off and hide somewhere safer. No, this sound was something different: deliberate, clumsy, almost human. Wood crunching underfoot. A rustle of breath. A grunt. And then... a cough.

Someone was out there.

He held his breath and reached for the gun he’d been holding while he was snatched, his hands trembling around the handle. He hated this part—how even Castle Byers, his own handmade fortress, didn’t feel safe anymore. Everything in this place was wrong. The air was heavy and wet like it had been underwater for years. The sky didn’t move. The air was thick with spores. The shadows twisted even when you stood still. He was always cold.

But now? Now he wasn’t just scared. He was.. curious.

He poked his head out from the torn blanket flap—and nearly dropped the gun.

There, standing a few feet away and holding what looked like a jagged piece of metal pipe, was a boy. About thirteen, maybe fourteen. A little taller, a lot dirtier. His clothes were torn and stained with something dark—mud? Blood? Will didn’t want to know.

Having thought he was just gonna stay quiet and wait for the boy to pass, Will is definitely surprised with himself when he pulls the tarp at the entrance to the side a bit and whispers shouts out to the other boy.

“Hey..! Over here..!” Will calls out, keeping his voice to a whisper level so he’s not heard by anything unwanted.