chapter one , the vanishing of will byers

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Dear Diary,

It's official, I'm the world's best babysitter. At least, according to Joyce Byers who has me stay at her house when she's gone. That's when I take care of her son, as well as his three best friends. They're pretty tame kids. They play their board game or the occasional video game. I let them stay up late and we have our own little parties. They think Will's really cool for having me as his babysitter (I think Dustin has a crush on me). Will and I get along, for the most part, which is fantastic. It's his brother who doesn't like me.

Okay, to be fair, if my mom hired a babysitter who went to my school, was in the same grade as me, and was even in my math class, I'd also not like my babysitter. It's not my fault Jonathan sucks at watching his brother! I'm here to watch Will, get paid, and ignore Jonathan at all costs.

I was supposed to be babysitting tonight, but Will went to his friend's house and Joyce said I'd be fine staying home. So, that's what I did.

Okay, that's definitely not what I did.

Also, I totally lied about ignoring Jonathan.

Kennedy Theroux fell back onto the mattress, sighing as she did. A figure landed next to her, letting out heavy breaths. He turned toward her, looking at her features as he did. "You won't say anything, right?" The teenage boy asked as he looked a the girl with auburn hair.

She turned to look at him, raising a brow. "Jonathan, have I said anything the last three weeks?"

Jonathan sat up, pulling the blanket over his lower half as Kennedy slid out of her bed. She picked up a pair of shorts, sliding them over her legs. "No, but I'm just checking." He assured the girl as he looked toward his work clothes on the floor. The girl slid on a shirt, and he paused. "Is that mine?" He asked. Kennedy looked down, pulling at the fabric.

"I think so." She deadpanned as she walked over. Jonathan watched as Kennedy climbed back onto the bed, straddling his lap as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Why? Do you want it back?" She asked with a teasing smile.

His hands rested on her bare thighs as he leaned toward her. "Not anymore." His lips pressed against hers. Her hands were on his face as he embraced her touch. She was addicting like a drug but sweet like candy. And her body melted into his so easily, he just couldn't get enough.

"You should get going. Will's probably home by now." Kennedy said as she slowly pulled away from his kiss. Jonathan groaned, leaning back onto the bed in frustration. Slipping off of him, Kennedy lands on the mattress and trails her hand down his chest. "I'd say you could spend the night, but-"

"But Carol's picking you up and likes to storm into your house. I remember." Jonathan hummed sarcastically as he turned toward the girl. Her hazel eyes shone up at him as she smiled sweetly. He grunted as he sat up, picked up his clothes off the floor, and pulled them back on.

Kennedy sat up, sitting with her legs under her as she watched him. "When are we doing this again?" She asked as she tilted her head.

Humming, Jonathan pulled his jacket over his arms as he looked back. "When are you babysitting next?" Kennedy turned toward her calender a few feet from the bed, leaning to get a closer look.

"I'm at your house on Wednesday," She reasoned as she turned to look at the eldest Byers again. "So I'll have Harrington drop me off and-"

"And I'll drive you home," Jonathan finishes, seeing the playful smile on the girl's lips. He nodded as he stepped toward her bedroom door. "See you then."

Kennedy waved her fingers as Jonathan Byers slipped out of her door, leaving her alone in the comfort of her bedroom. Her soft pastel blue walls and the slanted roof that created the perfect space for her bed and the posters on the right side of the room seemed to welcome her like a hug. The other side of her room (which was normal shaped) had her vanity, a small couch, and her large closet. She hummed as she slid out of her bed, pulling on a pair of socks as she slid across the wood floor, turning on music. Madonna's song Lucky Star began to blast through the cassette player on the girl's dresser. She looked out the window, smiling as she saw Jonathan Byers driving away.

The teenage girl smiled as she began to dance to the music, singing along as she did. Her hands raked over her body as she jumped around. The waves of auburn radiated around her like the perfect frame. She spun around in a circle, her arms in the air as she slid around her floor.

To put it simply, Kennedy Theroux had a good life. She was popular, had a fun secret fling, she was doing well in school, and had a job babysitting kids in town. It was fun, it was simple, and it was something she enjoyed. What more could you ask for?

"Kenny!"

The music suddenly cut off, and Kennedy jumped at the sound of her name being shouted. The teenage girl looked around her empty room in confusion. Her grandmother wasn't home. She was out of town for the week. Was someone in the house? Perhaps Carol had decided to sneak out and spend the night.

"Carol? It's not funny to break into my house." Kennedy shouted as she swung open her bedroom door. The girl paused in confusion, looking around her empty hallway. "Carol?" She turned to the left, where the stairs were and made her way downstairs.

The Theroux house was eerily quiet. The lights were all off, she noticed. Usually, Kennedy kept the kitchen light on so if Jonathan came over late he wouldn't trip over something. Perhaps he turned it off on his way out, she thought to herself as she made it down the last step. Kennedy shivered. She felt uneasy as she made her way through her living room. Nobody was here. Nobody could be here.

"Help me!"

She whisked around to her front door, rushing for the handle. She pulled open the door, pausing as she saw nobody was there. Kennedy looked around. Someone had been screaming. She knew it. So, the teenage girl pulled on a pair of her grandmother's sneakers and grabbed a flashlight one of the kids she babysat left at her house.

"Hello?" Kennedy called out as she walked into her front yard. She had neighbors, but across the street were the woods that seemed to be all over Hawkins, Indiana. She tried to look around for any sign of the person screaming. But nobody was in her yard, or the neighbors yards. Kennedy called out again, waiting for a response.

"KENNEDY!"

It was only then Kennedy recognized the voice screaming for her. "Will!?" She called out in confusion as she turned to the woods. "Will, where are you!?"

"HELP ME!"

Her feet acted before her mind did. She ran across the street and into the woods. The trees towered over her like a prison. Sticks scratched at her arms and leaves crunched under her as she followed Will Byer's screams. She breathed heavily, looking for any sign of the little boy. The T-shirt she's in is stained by wet leaves hitting her sides, and her shoes quickly become muddy as she tries to find the little boy,

"Will!" She screamed, pushing her hair out of her face as she spins around. "Will!" The teenage girls screams as something wraps around her ankle. Her back collides with the ground and all of the air is pushed out of Kennedy's lungs. The flashlight is dropped as she is dragged through the woods. She tries to grab at the ground, a tree root, or anything. Mud covers her body as she tries to see what is pulling her away. But she can't see anymore. The darkness of the forest had now shadowed whatever it was.

"KENNEDY!"

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She woke up.

Kennedy sat up straight in her bed, gasping for air as she did. The sunlight entered her room through her window, basking her in its warmth. Her door swung open, Carol leaning against it as she chewed on her gum obnoxiously. "What the hell are you doing still sleeping?" She asked as she glared at the Theroux. "Get up!"

"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute." Kennedy waved her friend off. Carol rolled her eyes in annoyance, pulling the door closed. Kennedy looked around her room. Madonna's album was still in her cassette player. It was all a dream, she told herself as she looked at the shirt she was wearing. It was Jonathan's. Unstained and the way it was last night. She couldn't even remember falling asleep. Perhaps she had after Jonathan left, but she wasn't sure.

Kennedy pulled the blankets off of her, frowning. Her left ankle was bruised. A ring of purple just above the bone. Her nimble fingers moved to graze over it, and even the slightest touch caused her to flinch in pain. Kennedy pursed her lips together worriedly, looking around the room again. It was a dream. It had to be.

It was just a dream.

Carol sat on the counter in Kennedy's kitchen, eating toast as the auburn-haired girl came down. "There you are, gorgeous!" She hummed as Kennedy waved. Kennedy's hair was in its usual style and the auburn-haired girl was wearing jeans and a white top. "Sleep well?"

"No," Kennedy confessed as she walked toward the pantry. "What about you?"

Carol hummed. "Slept at Tommy's." She affirmed. Kennedy grabbed a pop-tart packet, moving to put it in the toaster. "You need to find yourself a boyfriend, Ken. Everybody in Hawkins knows you're extremely dick-deprived." She explained dramatically as she watched her best friend.

Kennedy held back a laugh as her back faced Carol. She thought about the irony of the entire situation. Little did Carol Perkins know, her best friend was hooking up with the towns weirdo. "Oh, yeah? And who would I date?" She said as she turned toward the girl. Carol shrugged, finishing her toast.

"Hell if I know. You already rejected Harrington. Three times."

"Because Harrington is...Harrington." Kennedy reasoned as she turned back to the toaster, tapping her fingers on the counter. "And he has a girlfriend now."

The girl with red hair let out a loud scoff. "Nancy Wheeler? You've got to be kidding me, Ken." Carol slid off the counter, leaning onto Kennedy's shoulder as she spoke into the girls ear. "You are Kennedy Theroux. You could walk into school today, say you wanna jump Steve Harrington's bones, and he would forget that goodie-two-shoes exists and you two would have mindblowing sex in the janitors closer." Carol described as she put her arms on Kennedy's sides. "Oh, Kennedy! Oh, my God you're so hot! Oh!" Carol moaned as Kennedy elbowed her away.

"Shut up, Carol!" Kennedy laughed as she grabbed her poptarts. She looked toward Carol, who rose a brow expectantly. "First of all, I would never have sex in a janitors closet." Carol rolled her eyes playfully, nodding along. "And second, I don't wanna have sex with Steve!"

Carol followed Kennedy through the house. "Why the hell not? Everyone wants to grab that boy by the hair and bang him in the middle of the hallway!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up.

"Do you always have to be so graphic?" Kennedy playfully asked as she grabbed her jacket from the coat rack. She held out the pop-tarts, letting Carol take them

"Yes." The redhead deadpanned. "Look, I'm just saying. You need to start hooking up with people or you're gonna start getting grumpy and prudey like Nancy herself."

Kennedy pulled her jacket on, raising a brow. "I got it," She said softly, turning at the sound of the phone ringing. Kennedy held a finger toward Carol, who stood at the front door. Kennedy pulled the red phone off the wall, bringing it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Kennedy! It's Joyce."

The sound of Joyce Byer's voice caused Kennedy's stomach to sink. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she stood up straight. "Joyce! Hi! How are you?"

"I'm doing fine, Hun," Joyce uttered out as she spoke. "I know I said you didn't have to work last night, but did you see Will at all? Is he at your house by any chance?"

Kennedy felt sick. Her skin paled and her eyes widened. She gripped the phone tightly as she looked at the ground. "No. I didn't see him at all yesterday. He was with the Wheelers." She explained as she pushed her hair back. "Did he not come home?"

"He must have just left for school early." Joyce said with a nervous laugh. Kennedy could hear the anxiety in Joyce's voice, but she didn't say anything. "I'll let you get to school, alright? Bye now,"

Carol watched Kennedy hang up the phone. "What was that about?" She asked as she started eating one of the pop-tarts.

"Someone I babysit for," Kennedy whispered as she walked over, pulling open the front door. Carol walked out first, and Kennedy looked across the street at the woods. Kennedy tilted her head. That dream. It was so real. Hell, Kennedy's back was sore but she silently hoped it was from her and Jonathan moving a bunch of stuff in the basement looking for a box of Kennedy's parents clothes. The auburn haired girl chewed on her lip, closing her front door and walking down her front steps.

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Apparently, Kennedy's friend group was filled with redheads.

Carol Perkins, Vicki Carmichael, a girl named Nicole were all various shades of ginger. Even Kennedy had reddish-hair, leaving really only Tina to be the odd one out with her dark brown hair.

"And so now I'm trying to figure out if Patrick McKinney is even into me!" Gushed Tina, throwing her hands in the air.

"Well, does he ask you out?" Asked Carol, putting her stuff in her locker next to Kennedy's.

Tina shrugs. "Kinda? Does going to his dad's house and hooking up count?" She asked awkwardly.

"No." All of the girls said at once, causing Tina's shoulders to slouch.

Kennedy turned toward the brunette, shrugging. "Look, don't worry about it. If he's into you, you'll know."

"And what if he's not?"

"Then you leave his ass and hook up with his best friend!" Kennedy reasoned with a grin. The girls all laughed and shouted in agreement. The school bell rang, and all of them started gathering their things. Carol gave Kennedy a wave as she went one direction, and Kennedy went the other.

The girl came to a slow stop as her Principal came down the hall, two cops behind her. A sheriff and a deputy.The world seemed to shrink around the girl. Her stomach began to churn and her skin began to crawl. Goosebumps trailed up her skin.Kennedy watched as they approached her. She noticed how tall one of them was. The Principal gave a gentle and polite smile to the teenage girl. "Kennedy, can you come with us?" Kennedy swallowed the lump in her throat, pushing her hair out of her face as she nodded.

The principals office felt awfully large as Kennedy sat down in a chair. The Principal sat at her desk, and the two cops sat across from the auburn. Chief Jim Hopper cleared his throat as he sat back. "How are you doing today, Kennedy?" He asked. Kennedy chewed on her tongue nervously.

"Um, fine," Kennedy said shortly. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, not liking the sheriff's stare. "Am I in trouble?"

Hopper shook his head. "No, we just have a few quesitons about Will Byers." That sinking feeling was back. Kennedy felt like she was going to throw up. "You babysit him, right?"

"Once or twice a week, yeah." Kennedy nodded as she started playing with her fingers. "I was supposed to last night but Mrs. Byers said he went to his friends instead."

"Right, Mike Wheeler's house." Hopper said, causing the girl to nod. "Do you know how he gets home?"

Kennedy clicked her tongue as she thought. "Yeah, he takes that road where Cornwallis and Kerley meet. Him and the boys call it Mirkwood." She told him matter-of-factly. Kennedy swallowed the lump in her throat as she spoke up. "He didn't make it home, did he?"

Hopper's looked at his deputy, shaking his head. "We're trying to figure out where he might've gone after he left his friends house." He explained. Kennedy nodded, thinking back to the dream she had the night before. "Did you see him at all last night?"

His screams echoed Kennedy's ears. She could feel that thing in the darkness grab her, pulling her through the woods. There was no way it was real. It was impossible, but the smallest possibility made Kennedy feel like throwing up.

"No." Kennedy said finally, shaking her head. "No, he doesn't come my direction on his way home."

"What if he was scared? Would he go to your house?"

The girl shrugged, "I think so. If he can't get to any of his own house or any of his friends. I'd probably be a last resort." She reasoned as she picked at the skin around her nails. "Are Joyce and Jonathan alright?"

Hopper didn't really answer the girl. He looked at Deputy Phil Callahan, who was taking notes and such. His hat was in his hands, and he looked up. "If you think of anything, or you see any sign of Will, give us a call." Kennedy nodded, standing up from her seat as she spoke.

"Yeah, of course," She said as she looked toward the cops as they made their exit. Her mouth clamped shut, her stomach churning at the thought that something might have actually happened to Will Byers last night.

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Joyce Byers ran to the door at the sound of a knock. She swung it open quickly, her shoulders slouching in disappointment when it wasn't her youngest son. Kennedy Theroux stood on the other side, holding a bags filled with stuff and her own bag she brought around. "I came as soon as I could." Kennedy said softly, stepping inside.

Jonathan looked up from the living room couch, watching Kennedy hug her mom tightly. "They have a search party," Said Joyce, her eyes wide. "A search party!"

"That means Hopper is taking things seriously. That's a good thing, right?" Kennedy asked as she placed her hands on Joyce's upperarms. Joyce stuttered as she nodded. Kennedy smiled softly, grabbing the bags she brought. "Let me make you guys some dinner."

Joyce was quick to shake her head. "I'm not hungry-"

"Joyce, you haven't eaten all day. I know you." The auburn-haired girl said as she adjsuted her grip on the paper bag. "You need to eat, okay? I'll make you something easy. Like mac n cheese." Kennedy walked further into the house, eyeballing Jonathan.

The Byers mom stuttered. "Jonathan, go help Kenny!" She waved her arm, moving back toward the phone. Kennedy stood there awkwardly, watching Jonathan look up at her. He inhaled sharply, standing up. His hands ran over his jeans as he stepped toward the front door, grabbing the other grocery bags.

The Byers kitchen wasn't very big. It almost felt cramped even when just Kennedy and Jonathan were in it. "You didn't have to come here." Jonathan whispered, side eyeing the auburn-haired girl. He pulled out the boxes for the macaroni and cheese, watching Kennedy pull out other foods. Bread, apples, chips, cookies, frozen meals. Kennedy had packed it all.

"I know," Kennedy said simply as she turned toward the cabinets, grabbing a pot. "But I wanted to. You guys need all the support you can get." Kennedy pursed her lips together as she looked up. "We're gonna find him."

Jonathan couldn't help but have a closed-mouth smile. Kennedy's hazel eyes met his, and for a moment he felt at ease. Jonathan's heart slowed and the world felt like it stopped shrinking around him. She reached out, her hand touching his. Her touch sent shocks up his skin and his breath caught in his throat.

Kennedy turned at the sound of Joyce on the phone with someone. She pulled away from Jonathan completely, moving toward the stove and her pot of water. The eldest Byers son clenched his jaw as he turned to the groceries, beginning to put them away.

Joyce didn't each much of her food. Kennedy didn't expect her to, but she was happy Joyce ate something. Jonathan devoured his bowl, clearly hungry. Kennedy smiled as she ate her own food, and then Jonathan ate what was left of Joyce's.

Kennedy was used to having dinner at the Byers house. She'd spend the night when Joyce would be gone late. Will would beg Kennedy to make grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and watch a movie, and that's what they'd do. Jonathan would come home from work halfway through, and Will would eventually fall asleep during the movie.

It didn't feel the same without Will. Kennedy kept looking at his empty chair, thinking back to her dream. She never saw him, that's what freaked her out. It was like Will was right in front of her but he wasn't there. The fact that Will was now missing after her dream scared Kennedy. A freak coincidence, that's all it was. She knew that. Of course she knew that.

But why did it feel like it was so much more?

Kennedy sat on the couch with the Byers. They were now sorting through photos from a box. Some of the boys growing up, some Jonathan had taken. Joyce looked at them all, sniffling as she did.

"Jonathan, wow. You took all these?" She whispered as she looked at her son. "These are great." Kennedy smiled as she looked across Jonathan, watching Joyce. "Wow, they really are."

Kennedy smiled as she looked at the photo in Joyce's hand. It was a photo of Kennedy, one he had taken in the summer a few weeks before their first hookup. She had sunglasses on and was wearing a dress, laughing at something Jonathan had said. It was a beautiful photo. It was one of Jonathan's favorites. "He's really amazing," Kennedy whispered, leaning onto Jonathan slightly.

Joyce nodded as she sniffled. She looked toward her son, her eyes becoming sad again. "I know I haven't been there for you." She stammered as she shook her head, looking at the ground. Kennedy looked toward Jonathan. He was becoming nervous. He wasn't one to talk about things. "I've been working so hard and I, I just feel bad. I don't even...barely know what's going on with you." Joyce chuckled as she patted Jonathan's knee. He played with his hands, and Kennedy chewed on her lip as she looked at the table. She studied the photos of Will. Staring at the little boys smile she didn't know she could miss so much. "All right? I'm sorry about that." Kennedy didn't expect to hear a shudder of Jonathan's breath. She slowly looked up, seeing a tear rolling down his cheek. Joyce leaned over, her hand on her son arm. "Hey, what is it? What is it, Honey?"

Jonathan clenched his jaw tightly as he swallowed the painful lump in his throat. "Nothing." He tried to force it out, but his voice betrayed him as he let out a sob.

"Tell me," Joyce assured her son.

"No," Jonathan shook his head as he tried to figure out what to say. He didn't want to cry. He hated crying. "It's just," Kennedy looked up at the Byers boy. He shook his head as he spoke. "I should've been there for him."

Kennedy felt a pain in her chest. She didn't know what to say. She thought about what would have happened if she and Jonathan didn't meet up after work. Maybe he would've been home in time to see Will. Maybe Kennedy would've stopped by Mikes house to drive Will home. Was it really their faults? Their secret had caused this?

Joyce shook her head. "No. Oh, no. You can't do that to yourself." Joyce told her son as she shook her head. "This was not your fault. Do you hear me? This was neither of your faults." Joyce leaned over to look Kennedy in the eyes. The auburn-haired girl closed her eyes tightly. Hot tears rolled down her reddened cheeks as she felt the guilt crushing her lungs. Jonathan looked at the photos of his brother as Joyce stammers. Kennedy sniffled as she wiped a tear off her face. "He is close. I know it. I feel it i'm my heart." Joyce reached for her son. "You just have to...you just have to trust me on this, okay?"

Joyce pulled a photo of Will from the pile. He was smiling up at the camera, causing them to laugh. "That's it. That's the one." Joyce said as she leaned onto Jonathan. Kennedy felt a hand link with hers, and the girl looked at Jonathan's hand. He looked at her, tightening his grip. Kennedy squeezed back, the two of them looking over at the sound of the Byers phone ringing.

Joyce ran to the phone, picking it up. "Hello?" Kennedy leaned onto Jonathan's back, trying to see Joyce from the couch. "Hello? Lonnie?"

"Dad?" Jonathan whispered in confusion.

"Hopper?" Joyce looked at the teens in her house as she listened to the muffled breathing on the phone. "Who is this?" Jonathan walked toward his mom. Kennedy pushed herself off the couch, only taking a few steps. The hair on her neck stood up. Her eyes wide as Joyce leaned into the phone. "Will?"

Jonathan looked at his mom in surprise. "It's Will?" Kennedy hissed in pain, grabbing at her ankle. She looked down. seeing the purple bruise now darker than it was before. Joyce let out a sob. "Mom, it's Will?"

Kennedy looked up as Joyce started yelling. "Who is this!? What have you done to my boy!?"

"What? What!?"

"GIVE ME BACK MY SON!"

Kennedy jumped at the electricity surge that shocks Joyce. The phone falls to the wall as Joyce lets out a sob of pain and frustration. Jonathan grabs them phone. "Hello? Hello, who is this?" The phone was shot. There was nobody there anymore. Jonathan still tried, slamming his hand on the phone. "Hello? Who is this!?" Joyce sobbed. Jonathan turned around. "Mom, who was it?" Kennedy took a couple steps forward as Joyce sobbed incoherently to her son. "Who was it, Mom?" Jonathan grabbed his moms wrists as she cried. "Look at me, Mom. Was it Will?"

"Yes!" Joyce cried outs

"What did he say?"

Joyce shook her head wildly as she sobbed. "He just breathed. He was just breathing."

"And was someone else there?" Jonathan tried to get answers from his mom who just tried the phone again. "Moms who was there? Who was it?" Kennedy closed her eye tightly. Joyce hugged Jonathan tightly as she sobbed. Kennedy squeezed the roots of her hair, nearly pulling them out as she listened.

"I know it was his breathing.
I know it was his breathing."

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NAT SPEAKS !

hello beautiful people and
welcome to fever dream!

this chapter feels very bad and boring
and i'm sorry in advance. there just
isn't a lot for kennedy to do in episode
one so...yeah.

i'm excited for y'all to see more of her
with the other characters! i really love
her and jonathan's dynamic as it's
something i haven't written to much of
before.

anyways i'm gonna go, i hope you
enjoyed this mess and i will see you all
very very soon.

TOODLES

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