𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 / ❛ eleven ❜

[ episode three, holly jolly ]

Lydia was fast asleep when a soft crackle from her walkie-talkie stirred her. She groggily reached for it on her nightstand, blinking as the static turned into a familiar voice.

"Lyds? Lydia, are you there?" Mike's voice was gentle but insistent.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes and grabbing the walkie-talkie. "Mike? Yeah, I'm here."

"Hey, sorry to wake you. I know it's early, but could you come over? I really need your help with something. You don't have to miss school."

Lydia glanced at her clock; it was just past 6:30 AM. She yawned and smiled sleepily. "Sure, Mike. What's going on?"

"It's El. I need your help with her."

Lydia furrowed her brow, still waking up. "Who's El?"

"El, Eleven. The girl we found."

"Okay... I'll be there in a bit." She placed the walkie-talkie back on the nightstand and stretched, feeling the cool morning air against her skin. Getting out of bed, she grabbed her favorite white, knitted sweater and a pair of jeans from her closet. As she dressed, she brushed her hair, tying it back into a loose ponytail with a ribbon. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and gave a small nod of approval.

Her stomach growled, reminding her she needed something to eat. She went to the kitchen and grabbed a granola bar, munching on it as she slipped on her sneakers. The house was still silent, her mother's absence palpable. Lydia sighed, grabbing her backpack and heading out the door.

The early morning light was soft and inviting as she hopped on her bike. She pedaled through the quiet streets of Hawkins, the town slowly waking up. As she rode, she greeted the few early risers she passed.

"Morning, Mrs. Johnson!" she called to an elderly neighbor tending her garden.

"Good morning, Lydia!" Mrs. Johnson replied with a warm smile.

"Hey there, Lydia! Early start, huh?"

She waved to Mr. Clarke, the school's science teacher, who was out for his morning jog. "Yeah, just heading to a friend's!" she said, pedaling on.

The wind brushed against her face, waking her up fully. She took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air, and felt a bit of the weight lift from her shoulders. She arrived at Mike's house, the familiar sight of the Wheeler residence bringing a sense of comfort.

Lydia parked her bike and walked up to the door. Before she could knock, it swung open, revealing a slightly disheveled Mike with a grateful smile on his face.

"Hey, Lydia. Thanks for coming."

"Of course," she said, stepping inside. "Now, El?"

Mike led her into the living room, the house still quiet with the rest of his family asleep. "El is the girl we found in the woods last night. She's—different. She doesn't talk much, and I think she's in trouble."

Lydia raised her eyebrows, giving him a weird look. "Wait, you named her?"

Mike's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "No! She has a tattoo on her arm that says '011,' so I call her Eleven. El for short."

Lydia chuckled, shaking her head. "Okay, got it. Sorry, just had to check."

Mike laughed along with her, feeling a bit of the tension ease. "Yeah, it's pretty weird."

Lydia's eyes widened with concern, flashing her mind back to what he said. "In trouble? Like, serious trouble?"

"Yeah. I need your help to figure out what to do next. And she's just wondering around and I have no clue what to do."

Lydia nodded, her eyes full of empathy. "Okay"

Mike smiled, feeling a bit lighter. "Thanks, Lyds. You're the best."

A soft rustling sound caught their attention. They both turned to see Eleven wandering around the house, her curiosity leading her to inspect various objects. Lydia exchanged a glance with Mike, who shrugged slightly and motioned for her to follow him.

They trailed behind Eleven as she explored, her fingers lightly grazing the furniture and pictures on the walls. She seemed both fascinated and bewildered by her surroundings. Lydia couldn't help but feel a surge of empathy for the girl; she clearly didn't belong here, yet there was an innocence in her exploration that was endearing.

They watched silently as Eleven wandered into the kitchen. She stopped by the refrigerator, her eyes widening as she discovered the magnets and colorful drawings stuck to the door. She reached out, hesitating slightly, before moving a magnet with a drawing of a smiling sun.

Lydia whispered to Mike, "She's like a little kid seeing everything for the first time."

Mike nodded, his gaze softening. "Yeah."

Suddenly, Eleven turned towards the living room, her eyes locking onto a plush armchair. She walked over and climbed into it, her small frame looking even smaller against the large chair. She sat there for a moment, then began to rock back and forth slightly, her eyes lighting up with a hint of joy.

Mike and Lydia approached her cautiously, not wanting to startle her. "Hey, El," Mike said softly, his voice gentle. "Do you like that chair?"

Eleven looked up at him, a small smile forming on her lips. She nodded, and for the first time since they had found her, she let out a soft, tentative laugh. The sound was like music, delicate and pure, filling the room with a warmth that seemed to chase away the morning chill.

Lydia's heart swelled at the sound. She couldn't help but smile, her eyes shining with warmth. "It's a pretty comfy chair, isn't it?" she said, her tone playful.

Eleven giggled again, a bit more confidently this time. She rocked back and forth, clearly enjoying the simple pleasure of the movement. Lydia and Mike exchanged a look, both of them feeling a deep sense of connection with the girl.

As Lydia bid farewell to Mike and Eleven, she couldn't shake off the warmth that had settled in her chest. With a smile, she waved goodbye and stepped out into the crisp morning air, the cool breeze brushing against her cheeks.

Mounting her bike, Lydia set off for school, the familiar route feeling strangely comforting beneath her wheels. As she pedaled down the quiet streets of Hawkins, she couldn't help but greet the familiar faces she passed along the way.

"Hey, Jake" she called to a classmate walking to school, earning a smile and wave in response.

The further she rode, the more the streets seemed to come alive with the buzz of morning activity.

Arriving at school, Lydia parked her bike and made her way to her locker, exchanging smiles and greetings with classmates along the way. The halls were loud and filled with chatter. Yet amidst the hustle and bustle, Lydia's presence seemed to command a certain reverence. The halls cleared for her to pass, students parting like the Red Sea in her wake, yet Lydia hardly noticed, lost in her own thoughts. "Hey Dia" a girl called out. She smiled at them, glancing around the room.

It wasn't until she reached her locker that she noticed Lucas and Dustin waiting for her, their expressions eager.

"Hey, Lydia!" Lucas called out, his voice laced with urgency. "We've been looking for you"

Dustin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we've got some serious stuff to talk about."

Lydia raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What's going on?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.

The boys exchanged a glance before Lucas spoke up. "It's about last night. About the girl."

Lydia's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. Without hesitation, she followed Lucas and Dustin to their science class, where they huddled together in the back corner.

They talked about El, and Lydia had told them her name and why Mike didn't show up at school. It was a quick interaction as the bell rung not long after, and instead of sitting in the middle of the class she sat with them two and they quickly began to talk about nerdy stuff that Lydia only somewhat understood. It made her chuckle to herself.

Lydia sat with Lucas and Dustin in class, listening to their animated conversation, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth spreading through her chest. These boys, who had been little more than acquaintances before, seemed to be a lot better and amusing than she had thought.

It struck her how rare it was to truly connect with someone, to have meaningful conversations beyond the superficial greetings exchanged in the hallways or the casual games played at lunch. With Lucas, Dustin and Mike, it felt different. It felt real, and she had met them only a night ago. She guessed it was real to just click to someone.

.・゜゜・・゜゜・

As Lydia, Dustin, and Lucas pedaled their bikes through the quiet streets of Hawkins, the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement. The familiar route to Mike's house was etched into their minds, a well-trodden path they could navigate with ease.

"So, what do you guys think about this whole Eleven situation?" Lydia asked, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Dustin glanced over at her, his brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know, man. It's weird. Like, really weird."

Lucas nodded in agreement, his grip tightening on the handlebars of his bike. "Yeah, and did you see her eyes? They were like... intense."

Lydia frowned, the image of Eleven's piercing gaze still fresh in her mind. "Yeah, she seemed—different. But Mike seems convinced she's not dangerous. We should give her a chance."

Dustin shrugged, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see. But we should definitely keep an eye on her."

The trio pedaled on, their conversation shifting to lighter topics as they neared Mike's house.

Dustin shut Mike's door, his face tense. Lydia stood between him and Lucas, feeling a mix of uncertainty and determination.

"Are you out of your mind?" Lucas spoke, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"Just listen to me!" Mike said, his voice urgent.

"You are out of your mind!"

"She knows about Will."

"What do you mean she knows about Will?" Dustin asked, his tone skeptical.

Mike grabbed a photo from his table and held it up. "She pointed at him, at his picture. She knew he was missing, I could tell."

"What about Alex?" Lydia asked, her voice wavering as she twisted a strand of hair around her finger.

"I don't know, but she also mentioned a girl, and she probably means Alex. Think about it, do you really think it was a coincidence we found her on Mirkwood? The same place where Will and Alex disappeared?"

"That is weird," Dustin responded, exchanging a glance with Lydia and then Lucas.

"And she said bad people are after her! I think maybe these bad people are the same ones that took Will and Alex. I think she knows what happened to them."

"Then why doesn't she tell us?" Lucas demanded, crossing his arms and glaring at Eleven.

Lydia gulped and began tapping the charms on her bracelet, her anxiety rising.

They all took a few steps forward, Lucas raising his voice. "Do you know where they are?" He put his hands on Eleven's shoulders, her face filling with fear. "Do you know where they are!?"

"Lucas, stop, you're scaring her," Lydia said, her voice steady despite her nerves.

"She should be scared!" Lucas snapped, turning back to Eleven. "If you know where they are, tell us!"

El stared up at him, her eyes glossy with tears.

"This is nuts! We have to take her to your mom," Lucas insisted.

"No!" Mike shouted. "Telling any adults will put us in danger."

Lydia stood there, gazing at Eleven, her heart pounding. "What kind of danger?" she whispered.

"Danger, danger!" Mike shouted, mimicking a gun with his fingers and pointing it at Dustin's head. He glanced at Lydia, his eyes softening slightly, then moved his hand toward Lucas, who slapped it away.

"No, no, no! We're going back to plan A! We're telling your mom." Lucas stomped past them, reaching for the door. But as soon as he opened it, it slammed shut again, the characters and books on the shelf bouncing.

Lucas opened the door again, but it slammed shut and this time the lock turned. Figures fell to the ground, and all four of them turned to face Eleven.

A drop of blood streamed down her nose, her glare harder now as she looked at Lucas. "No,"

.・゜゜・・゜゜・

word count : 2009

day published : 01/15/2025

naomi speaks...

yippee
if you liked this chapter could you please vote or comment? tysmmm💞💞

.・゜゜・・゜゜・