The true meaning behind the definition of fear is running from an unknown presence you couldn't see. Dread creepily taking over your mind, making control of your subconscious until a point you're hallucinating. That is what Melissa Byers felt waiting inside Hopper's car scouting her eyes around all those flashing red and blue police headlights, Volunteer officials conducted a search and rescue operation to locate her little brother. She was not religious, hadn't visited the church growing up which was ironic taking in consideration of her state, but here she sat hands clasped murmuring.

Her eyes shot up upon hearing a returning whisper which refused to leave her alone. 'Melissa.' And 'Follow me.' Coaching her out in the forest, it repeats those two phrases.

" Help me."

Came will's voice, sounding more scared then previously. Raspy and tired. He'd been crying. Melissa promised Jim she would not interfere in their offical police search and rescue but how could she just wait for a minute longer, when will is out there wanting to come home. Canines barking cut through the night air as Milly felt Hawkins frigid wind bite at her heels. She uses her intuitive conscious, going in to those depths of darkness picking up pace.

Calls for will came deep behind her as Jim, even teachers participating in finding a lost student of theirs. Her feet gained traction in speed, not wanting to alert hopper or the K nine tracking dogs she was careful to avoid stepping on fallen leaves. Stopping Melissa rests her palms on her thighs, glad she had worn loose fitting clothes, ears prickling up just when she hears an inarticulate, menacing, snarling scream mixing in with an unearthly growl.

Her eyes reduce to a sudden wide, shocked, expression. There it stood. One of its horrid creatures. The humanoid monstrosity has a disproportionate flower-formed head, its needle teeth glistening under the moon beams.

" I know you have my brother, you monster. I am back, I'm right here. Why don't you stop being a coward, take me instead. You want me. After all these years, I'm back. I know you can understand what I am saying, motherfucker." It chitters, mouth contracting back to show off its teeth. The monsters dislocated, long, limbs crept down to a bone crunching positioned crouch. Void-less eyes maliciously stare at her. Her breathing never changes, staring down death right in its horrible gaze.

She screams, fury in her eyes.

" Come get me. I'm right here. COME ON."

If it was going to send her back to the upside down, then it will mean she can bring her brother home. Screeching it teleports right where she stands, intent on finishing its first job of taking her life. But Something stops that creature, as it has her choking mid-air by its clawed hand. Tortured hellish cries from it, which in return made it drop melissa down on the forest ground, resound out in the forest's trees. She does greedy gasps of air.

Rumbles of Thunder, lightning cracks illuminate the sky, reveals a bolding shaven haired girl no older than age eleven staring down it intensively.

She wore an orange and yellow men's graphic T-shirt blood staining the logo design. Before Melissa could breathe a thank you, she leaves.

" Chief hopper. I found someone! Over here! She's hurt." Scott Clarke, science teacher for Hawkin's middle school, calls out his find. His glasses fogging as his breath mists over.

" Wait you are Joyce's daughter. Melissa Byers? H-H how are you out here, I thought you were suppose to be waiting back in the van?"

Canine paws began bounding over where Scott yells and Scott smiles; wanting to be a source of comfort for Melissa kneeling down on one leg. He hated to admit but she had grown in all the right places.

A real woman. Much like Joyce is.

Jim had came hurtling towards the commotion wanting to be certain it was will, however he is disturbed at noticing Clarke pretending to be careful touching Melissa's bruising neck.

Milly eyes water, upon hoppers gaze falling on her, she reaches for him. " J-Jim. I'm sorry. I just.. I heard.. I heard h-him, will. But I.."

Jim didn't have it in him to argue about her stupidity, not when she had a mysteriously inflicted injury, or the fact Scott Clarke stood uncomfortably close to her. " move, Clarke. Milly needs to be seen and looked at. I will have you arrested for indecency if you ever touch her again."

Melissa is lifted in hoppers arm, her head easing in a resting placement on his shoulder. It felt right.

" I just want my little brother back, Jim." Milly quietly proclaims. He roughly sighs. However strong she wants to be, Jim saw past the facade illusion which she put a front on for show. She is the same broken-hearted girl aching for her father's respect, yearning for validation. He loathed Lonnie for breaking Melissa down over her entire twenty two years of life. If it isn't for murder being illegal, he would commit that crime. And he would get away with such thing.

" These are great, Jonathan, They really are. I know.. I know I haven't been there for you. For your sister, Milly she.. she is so much like you, honey, and that.. I've been.." 

Joyce sat close to her eldest son, admiring his skilful photography talent he has capturing memories over the years, lost for words to describe how awful she feels at thinking of how much of an idiot she is. For basically neglecting him because of her worry for will.

" Working hard.. I. I feel bad, you know, I don't even.. know what is going on with you. With Melissa. I'm so sorry baby. I'm sorry about all that." Jonathan couldn't contain his emotions, soft sobs take over his system. He could hear his father scoffing at how ridiculous for a man to cry is. He's suppose to be head of the house. But it's healthy for the nervous system to cry.

" It's just... I should have been a better brother. Been there for him. None of this would have happened if.. If.. I had just been.. a better bro-"

Joyce didn't want to hear her son blaming him self. He was not at fault here. She rubs his back in circles. It isn't anyone's fault.

" This is not your fault. Do you hear me? He is... close. I know it. I.. feel it in my heart. You just have to trust me on this, okay?"

Jonathan notes how a glimpse of blue and red glows outside, gaining a quizzical stare of question from his mom. He goes to stand, Joyce shot one hand to her face after noticing her daughter slumbering in Jims hold. Callahan gets to the door allowing access for hopper, bringing Melissa in her house.

" Milly. Oh no. Hopper wh.. what happened to my girl. Jim hopper, you better answer me right now, before I make a complaint to your superior." Chief hopper held his eye roll to him self. 'I'm the chief. Joyce. I'm my own superior. I can't exactly be sarcastic, right now, she is a grieving mother. Worried for her kid.' Showing hopper where to place Melissa, Joyce uncovers the neutral coloured duvet on her bed. " oh my goodness. Her neck. Jim what happened out there which cause Milly to get this bruise..? Oh honey. Oh I'm so sorry. That looks awful." She soothes her little girl, being tentative of how to touch Melissa not wanting to accidentally hurt her even more. 'What kind of mother am I.'

" Scouts try to detect the cause of her injuries but there was nothing to be seen. Clarke, Scott, found Milly in her condition as she is now. I'm not one hundred percent certain, or sure, how she sustained 'em." Jim tightens the tendons in his jaw, to a degree it begins clicking at how tense he is. He couldn't exactly blame Melissa for wanting to find her brother. But he was angry at himself at the thought, possibility, she could have not been found in those woods. " I.. put mill's in my.. uh, jacket. So she wouldn't be hypothermic on the ride back here to home."

Joyce, grateful, sighs. " Th.. thank you. Jim. I.. it's. It's just so difficult. You know? The first day I have my baby girl back and this is what she comes home to. Will missing. Jonathan.. he is.. I can't even imagine what was going on in her mind when I rang her. I had been a total wreck and he had to take over because I could not form words."

She had patted a dry cloth on Melissa's face, which was handed to her by Jim and cleans off remaining wet dribbling strains of mascara.

" Milly had a life. A good life in NY. I hated how much I ruined that goodness when I rang her. She deserves to have happiness, I... I took that from her with a single phone call."

Apprehensively Jim situated his self on Milly's bed. Near her feet. " This whole thing going on isn't either yours, Mills, or Jonathan's fault." It was easier to tell and say then to not feel a sense of guilt. Which, how ironic as it sounds, his own iniquity he felt, for Sara's death, remains to this moment in time.

" That's the thing, though, Hopper. I can't help but think it is. 'Specially the whole debacle with Lonnie. I was caught up fighting for her to have a good relationship, you know the one every girl needs to have with her daddy. But Lonnie.. what he did to my.. to my girl, Hop.."

Joyce sobs; her heart breaking in to pieces for her daughter.

Hopper would admit he had thought of ways to incriminate Lonnie Byers. Karma, the universe, had punished that son of a bitch for him. Jim places a calloused, dirtied, hand on Melissa's foot. There is a certain place in hell for pieces of shit such as Lonnie. " I..ll be back. Let me just go answer this call. Wait here with Milly, Hop." Joyce sniffs, cleaning her nose, and goes out to the living room.

Showing how reluctant he is, being left alone, Jim awkwardly moves closer. Not enough where he would be taking away space on her bed. Eyes widening, at her directing her body near his. Hopper goes rigid after Milly lies, nestling close, next to his side. Hand on his torso. Jim could feel an inch of his sanity seeping through the cracks. He leans on the head board, for support, not moving an inch. Not wanting to risk waking her. " Jim." He blinks, hearing Melissa say his name in her sleep. He wasn't certain she was awake or just her subconscious speaking for her. But it was enough, to where a ghost smile visibly grew.

'You will be okay. I am right here, i'm not going anywhere. Melissa Byers. Nowhere.'

-

JASMINE SPEAKS;

Melissa is experiencing a whole heap of bull shit right now and it's chapter three. I feel sorry for her, I'm the one writing this fan-fiction. I like making my OC's go through trauma because I can't exactly have an all too perfect character now, can I? Besides that. I gotta know. What did you think of this chapter and Melissa? Jim? Joyce? I hate Lonnie. He reminds me, unfortunately, of my own father.

®️ written by Jasmine. 2024