Chapter 8: September 25, 1985 Girl in the shadows

El fidgeted all throughout class that day and the rest of the week. She was constantly glancing toward the windows, watching for familiar faces in the tree line during lunch when it was nice enough to sit outside. When she'd scamper to the police cruiser after school, her eyes darted around peering out the passenger window for any sign of her. At night, in her room, she'd peer out her window across the dark lake. She'd even wandered out onto the porch in the middle of the night after being roused from a dream.

In the dream, Kali was there, reaching for her, calling her name, her eyes pleading. And El was being catapulted back farther and farther from her. But she wasn't reaching for Kali; her arms hung limp at her side, a trickle of blood fell from her nose and she was choking back sobs erupting from deep in her chest. She could only watch as Kali drifted farther and farther from her and she couldn't—or didn't—try to stop it.

El gripped the wooden railing of the porch and closed her eyes breathing in the late September air. When she felt warmth around her nose, she reached her hand up and felt that warm trickle of blood there. She pulled her hand back and examined the blood seeping into the lines of her fingers confusedly. Had she been using her powers or had she visited the void in her dreams? A crackle of leaves made El's gaze shoot to her left, a terrified gasp escaping her lips. Then a hand fell on her shoulder. She whirled around knocking her back against the railing.

"Woah, kid! It's just me," Hopper placated, eyes worried. "Are you okay? What are you doing out here?" El glanced around at the woods again where the sound had come from and then turned back to Hopper.

"Nothing, I—I couldn't sleep," she narrowly avoided his gaze trying not to pique his suspicion. She fidgeted a little in front of him but tried to keep her face calm, her tone even, like he taught her back in the cabin when they went over how to bluff your way out of a tricky situation.

"You sure?" he raised an eyebrow, noticing how she clasped her hands together and how her fingers twitched ever so slightly. Something was definitely off.

"Yes," she smiled and nodded and moved back toward the house. El couldn't quite place what it was she was afraid of. Surely, she wasn't afraid of Kali—her sister. But something unsettled her. If Kali was here, why wouldn't she just come out and find her? Why was she hiding from her? And if she wasn't here, why was El seeing her? Hearing her? Dreaming about her? Was she in trouble?

El didn't feel comfortable telling anyone about Kali yet, not even Mike. Again, she wasn't entirely sure why that was. She told Mike everything. But this felt like a secret she needed to keep, even if just for a little bit longer.

She knew why she didn't tell Hopper though: that would mean confessing that her detour to Aunt Becky's last year also included an extended trip to Chicago. She knew he wouldn't be happy about that. So it was probably best to keep that and Kali to herself. But the problem was, she wasn't sure if she was going crazy or not and couldn't confide in anyone. This feeling of uncertainty was something she hadn't experienced since right after escaping the lab.

Back in her bed, El couldn't sleep. Every sound was Kali. Every shadow was her reaching out and looking for her. She woke constantly to the sound of her name being whispered in the darkness, sending chills down her spine and her heart racing. Jane.

When she wandered into the kitchen on Saturday morning, she could hardly keep her eyes open. El rested her head on her arms as Hopper shoveled eggs and toast onto her plate.

"You feeling okay kid?" Hopper leaned down a little to try and look at her flushed face while still holding the hot pan of eggs.

"Yes." El stated matter-of-factly again. Once again not making eye contact and sitting up to tuck into her eggs. Her eyes moved about the house, never resting on anything for too long. Hopper was starting to get worried, but it was obvious she wasn't going to open up.

"Listen kid," Hopper took a seat in front of her at the table setting the pan on an oven mitt. "I have to go into the station today and I don't feel great about leaving you here alone." El's eyes shot up in alarm at Hopper. She didn't quite like the idea of being completely alone either just yet.

"So I was thinking," he continued, worry pulling at his face, "Maybe I could drop you off at Joyce's and you could spend the day with Will?"

El paused, her eyes never wavering from Hopper while she considered this. It was similar to those looks he remembered when he first took her in, when she was still mostly non-verbal. There was so much going on behind her eyes, but she would never vocalize it, afraid she might say something she shouldn't or maybe just being unable to. This regression was new though.

"Okay." She finally said and her eyes lowered to her plate again as she continued to eat. Hopper let out a dissatisfied sigh and got up from the table to retrieve more toast.

Later, while El was packing some school books and art supplies in her backpack, Hopper phoned Joyce.

"Hey, it's uh Hop." He firmly gripped a cigarette in his right hand.

"Hopper, so good to finally hear from you. What's up?" there was shuffling and laughter over the line and Hopper took a deep breath before continuing.

"Yeah, well a guys been busy so, listen. I need your help. Uh, I gotta go into the station today and El is still grounded. Can I drop her off at your place for the day? I know it's a lot to ask I just—,"

"Hop, please. That's nothing, of course she can come over here. Will and Jonathon are just playing on that damn Atari, so it'll be nice to have El come over and break that up a little."

"Okay great, and hey listen." He paused, not quite sure if what he wants to ask is even possible. "Listen I—" he turns his back away from the hallway leading to El's room and lowers his tone, "El's acting kind of…skittish? I don't know, she's being really quiet and evasive and won't tell me what's going on. I don't know maybe she's just mad about being grounded, but I was wondering if maybe you could talk to her? See what's going on?" there was quiet on the other side of the line for a minute and Hopper held his breath, then suddenly, a little laughter broke across the receiver.

"Of course. I'm sure it's nothing. Teenage girls can get a little—uh," she didn't quite know what to say, having raised two boys so far.

Hopper let out a sigh of relief and turned around leaning back onto the countertop. But then he jumped. El was standing there looking at him by the kitchen table, her backpack on her shoulders, while chewing on a cold eggo.

"Th-thanks Joyce, we'll be over in a bit." He hung up hastily. "You ready to go kid?" She nodded and turned towards the door, waiting before opening it so he could exit first—another small rule. She walked over to the cruiser, keeping her gaze turned down and trying to quell the anxious feeling building in her stomach. That knowing sensation you get when you feel like you're being watched.

Pulling up the Byers house, El felt a warmth sweep through her. It felt calmer here for some reason and she was finally able to take deep full breaths without jumping at every single sound. The knot in her stomach loosened ever so slightly as she climbed down from the cab. She turned and gave a small reassuring smile to Hopper who smiled back:

"Call me if you need anything, okay kiddo?" she nodded in response and shut the door jogging up the Byers front door. It swung open enthusiastically by a delighted Will who had been watching at the window ever since his mom let him know El was heading over. He pulled her into a quick hug and grabbed her wrist gently to lead her into the house.

El couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. Joyce waved happily from the kitchen, scrubbing out some dishes still in her work uniform. Jonathon sat on the couch examining pieces of his camera he was attempting to clean. Will led her into his room and plopped down on the bed. El realized suddenly that in all the time she spent with Will, she never had spent time with him on her own. And that warmth swept through her again. She smiled and let her backpack slide off her shoulder and bounced onto the bed with a laugh.

"I'm glad you're here!" Will beamed. "I just got a new set of markers…well they're from the thrift store but most of the colors aren't even dried out. We could draw or we could play the Atari. But Jonathon's kicked my butt for the last hour so I don't know if I can take another losing streak. Something tells me you're probably really good a games." His eyes flickered back and forth between her eyes and the comforter. His enthusiasm never wavered and for that she was grateful.

"Yes, let's draw!" El chirped and Will excitedly grabbed a stack of paper and they set to work with his new markers to craft their masterpiece.

An hour or so passed in comfortable silence, broken by laughter and exchanging drawings with one another. El hadn't felt this at ease all week. Something about Will connected in her—she felt drawn to him, in a way that was different with how she was drawn to Mike or Hopper or anyone else. It's as if Will knew exactly what she was all about without having to ask any questions. It was just comfortable being Will Byers friend. She made a point to add extra friend time with just Will to her list of things she wanted to do when she was ungrounded and allowed one special thing a week.

Joyce gently knocked on Wills door and peaked her head in. "Hey guys, I have to run to the store really quick, but Jonathon is hanging in the living room if you need anything. I'll be back in about an hour. Any requests for lunch? Maybe Ponchos or McDonalds?" Her nose crinkled when she smiled. El tried to memorize the gesture.

"Really?! McDonalds?"

"Yep! My treat. It's a special day with El here." El smiled back. That warmth swept through her again.

"Awesome!" Will beamed at El. When Joyce had gone and they were quiet for a little while longer, El let her mind comfortably wander. She thought about Will and Mike and Hopper. She thought about how different her life was now compared to just six months ago. She was filled with so much happiness. Her eyes lingered across Will's room and she stood up to examine some of his possessions. Will was still bent over his drawing as El walked slowly around his room, gently touching hand-me-down action figures, a couple of vinyl records, and the faded posters of bands she didn't know plastered on his wall. She picked up a familiar wizard figurine resting on his windowsill. It was the same figure she had pinpointed as his when he disappeared into the upside down. It felt like forever ago, but the tiny figurine still pulsed with an inexplicable warmth that she could only attribute to Will.

Outside, a figure pushed out ever so slightly from the tree line. El's gaze moved from the figurine to the black-haired, dark eyed girl. She dropped the wizard and rushed toward Will's bedroom door. Her panic grew as she bolted down the hall and out the back door through the kitchen. Jonathon was tucked away in his room, listening to music through his headphones.

Will had watched as El bolted from his room, calling after her while hastily pulling on his boots and vest. He chased after her out the back door and down the steps, watching as she disappeared into the treeline.

"El! Eleven! WAIT!" a small fear filled his eyes as he watched her disappear and a small sound escaped his throat as he ran after her.

El's feet crunched loudly and quickly as she pushed her way through the woods. Stray branches pulled at her thin sweater, her coat had been left behind in her hurry. She kept running toward where she felt Kali might be. She had seen her this time, she was sure of it. She wasn't crazy. Kali had looked right at her and then vanished. Why was she running from her?

Crashing through the forest, no sound but the dead leaves and the heavy breaths escaping her lips, El came to a clearing. There was no sound, no movement. She tried to quiet her breathing and cast her eyes around the clearing. Nothing. Her face scrunched up in frustration as she held back tears. Then she heard a distant cry.

"El! E-e-e-e-l!" Will came into the clearing, his hot breath fogging in the later September cold. "What happened?! Are you okay?" his eyes went wide was he walked up to her and put a soft hand on her shoulder.

"I—I thought I saw something," El's eyes still scan the surrounding forest. She had to be here. She had to.

"What?" Will asked incredulous. "El, what are you talking about? Are you okay?" he asked a little more emphatically, his hand gripping her other shoulder and standing in front of her. "El."

El snapped her head to stare at Will. His eyes were pleading, worried. She felt terrible for having worried him so much to chase after her. There was definite fear in his eyes. He was concerned and being in the forest made him a little uneasy after the events of last year. She couldn't hold back the well of emotion building in her. Tears stung at the corner of her eyes and soft sob broke from her lips. Will's eyes widened in surprise.

"Come on." He said leading her deeper into the forest. Just a few minutes walk away from the clearing Will led her to Castle Byers. He held back the fabric that acted as a door and they both climbed inside. "What's going on, El?" he asked so gently she whimpered a little trying to quiet her breathing.

"It's Kali." El finally managed after wiping away tears. Will looked at her confused.

"Kali? Who's—,"

"My sister," El whispered.

"Your sister?" again confused. El paused and looked around Castle Byers. It was somehow so comfortably warm in here. But then again, it was probably just Will. He carried warmth with him wherever he went. El took some deep breaths, steadied her gaze and launched into the story of last year, Chicago, and how she found Kali. The words kept tumbling out, spilling from her mouth like a runaway river. When she told him about seeing her now, dreaming about her, and not knowing if she was there or not, he reached out to rest his hand over hers reassuringly.

"You're not crazy." He shook his head and his face remained even and serious. El bit her lip and let a few tears escape again.

"No?"

"No. I'm not sure why you're seeing her. Or even if she's here. But I know a thing or two about feeling crazy. Seeing things that aren't there. Things that shouldn't be there. You feel like you can't trust yourself anymore and that makes it worse. You could find her again though can't you? In—in the void?" He asked hesitantly. "Just to see if she was actually here in Hawkins or back in Chicago. You could check."

El hadn't considered this. She knew she could do this, but the thought hadn't occurred to her, mainly because she was afraid of what she might find. Would Kali still be okay? If she was in Hawkins and El found her, then what?

"I guess." El said, her face puffy and red. She hadn't realized but the light had faded around them outside of Castle Byers. It was starting to get difficult to see. She didn't know how long they had been here and the darkness surrounding them started to press in on her.

"Maybe you should. Just to see. Or at least to put your mind at ease at least." He nodded reassuringly.

El looked down at her hands for a moment. She still felt that familiar warmth and now a small bit of relief washed through her. She would find Kali. If she was here, El had to find out why. And if she wasn't, at least she could put her mind at rest. Maybe she could still reach out to her across the void and call Kali to her, like she had to Mike on Halloween last year. Maybe.

A booming sound rang out across the woods. Will and Eleven's eyes shot to the billowing curtain and ran out into the darkness. The sound was warbled and low, like a howl. They're eyes widened in brief fear until the sound began to take shape:

"EL-EV-EN! WI-II-LL!" More voices joined in. Some higher, some lower and suddenly a cascade of flashlight beams could be seen coming over a crest in the hill backing Castle Byers.

"Is that? Mike?"

"And Hopper and your mom and everyone. Oh no." El looked frantically at Will. He returned her alarmed gaze and let out a soft 'shit'. She had never heard him curse and the sound of it made her giggle.

"I'm so dead." El breathed.

"Come on," Will said and they took off up the hill to meet the barrage of voices calling out into the night. Reaching out for them across the dark.