Work Text:
*November 12th, 1983*
Vines, slithering against the ground. The sky, a deep blue that turns red with each lightning strike. A boy, no older than 12, hiding in a wooden fort. Pale, thin, and cold. His voice is raspy as he sings in a rough whisper, trying to stay conscious. “Should I stay or should I go…” he trembles, hugging his knees to his chest in order to keep himself warm. A sudden rustle outside of Castle Byers startles the boy. The boy silences himself and observes. A low growl, just beside him could be heard.
Will clenches the shotgun beside him, readying for action when a monster, tall and thin, humanoid yet has a flower-like head, unfurled, revealing rows of sharp teeth. A demogorgon. It roars at him, reaching for him with its long yet fast, agile limbs and slimy skin. With no time to react, he aims and shoots the demogorgon right at the center of its head with precision. Distracted, Will quickly flees Castle Byers and bolts to the woods. Each step, a drum in his ears. He pants, legs growing heavy, the lack of healthy nutrients taking a toll on his body. The rustling leaves and loud growls behind him ,following, strengthening his resolve to escape the monster.
Spotting a tall tree, an idea struck him. A moment of hesitation sparks in his mind before another loud growl dismisses the thought. Will starts climbing the tree with difficulty. His heavy body, growing tired, yet refusing to slow down even for a moment. He made his way up the top of the tree when the growls suddenly started coming from below. He was stupid for thinking the monster wouldn't reach him from high above. The Demogorgon began to make its way up, not slowing down. In quick thinking, Will sees another tall tree right beside the one he's on, and decides for a split second to jump.
The chances of him surviving the jump is low but never zero. Even if he does make it, the monster could just jump as well. With the chances not being in his favor, and the Demogorgon closing in from below, the crackling of red lightning in the background, he takes the leap. Low survival and all. Even if it's barely there, it's better than getting eaten alive, right? Right…? He jumps just as the monster reaches for him. He was so close. He could feel the tip of his fingers touch the branch but alas. Will's heart drops to his stomach as he fails to reach the branch. His arm was too short. He was gonna fall to his death. He was gonna die. All of a sudden, everything happened at once.
He falls and his life flashes before his eyes. He felt the cold embrace of death. He also felt himself get pulled up from his bag. Of all things, his backpack got caught on a branch. He was so thankful that he never took off the backpack. ‘Maybe..?’ he thought, before his hope died again. He was slipping. He really was gonna die. The bag slips and once again, he's falling. A branch hitting his head hard, knocks him out, unconscious.
The vines on the ground slither around him as a Demogorgon grabs his leg and starts to drag him across the floor. When the Demogorgon reaches the Hawkins public library, all weary and old, an unknown figure reaches for Will, the vines on the ground hugging the boy's body and trapping him onto the wall. The figure gently caresses Will's cheek as he attaches a tentacle to the boy’s mouth, forcing the unconscious boy to swallow unidentified liquid from the tentacle. “We will do many great things together, William.”