· 。ﾟ☆: *.☽
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰  𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚁  ❱ ˖⋆࿐໋ ⋆ ✰
CHAPTER FOUR ━━
the message man

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      SOMETHING FELT OFF, LIKE SOMETHING DRASTIC was about to happen that would change everything Zero knew. But the blonde didn't know what, how could he know? An omnious feeling had washed over the teenage boy, something he could not shake off.

      There had been a constant tremor in the boy's hands after the cruel flashes from his past had awakened once more to haunt his life. The blonde had been shaken up by the events ignited by seeing the face of the girl he knew as Eleven.

      That was another thing that bugged him to no end, the numbers. They didn't know any names. They were just numbers on a sheet, replacable.

      They weren't even important enough to have a name, to own a name. Everything that belonged to them was stripped away without hesitation.

      It appeared they were seen as an object instead of an actual human being. And Zero hated himself for not realising it sooner. He was acustomed to the harsh treatment at the facility. He deemed it normal even, because he didn't know any beter.

      He didn't know any better...

      Not until it was already too late.

      How many people were given a number? That thought had been etched into his brain for some reason. He felt responsible for all of them. He was Zero, he was the start of everything and he often wondered if he had been better, if he just finished every task like he was supposed to would there be no other numbers?

      Was he the reason why they needed more kids, to find someone who would peform better than him. All because he wasn't good enough.

      Was he to blame for the suffering of those children? He hadn't met the others, he only got glimpses of Eleven every now and then. He only really talked to her that faithful day she was forcefully dragged into the closet. The utter horror on her face broke his heart and it played like a broken record on repeat in his sleep.

      Could he have done something to help her?

      He would never know for certain, he would never know who he was either, where he came from or even his own name would remain a mystery for the boy.

       Zero screwed his eyes shut, the tremor in his hands increasing with every second and his breathing became uneven until they became ragid. The thought of never knowing who he was shook him to the core, but the idea that because of him the other children wouldn't either broke something inside him.

      "Do you know why you're here, Zero?" Brenner's voice was calm and collected as he spoke to the seven year old boy, his hand neatly placed on the table as he stared at the blonde child.

      "No." His brown doe like eyes lifted up to meet the dark ones of Brenner, his voice a mere whisper.

      "Didn't I tell you to work on your assignment for the week?" Dr Brenner pressed, leaning forward on the table, his large stature towering over his small figure.

       Zero's eyes widened slightly as Brenner tone became more harsh, "I-I tried sir." There was a slight crack in the boy's voice as he looked down at his lap.

      "Look at me when we're talking Zero!" Brenner's hand reached out to lift Zero's face up to him. "Now why didn't you do more than just try?"

      "I got really tired. I did not know how to do-do it." He replied softly, his figure shaking on the metal chair.

      "You remember why we saved you Zero?" Brenner returned to sit back in his seat, his voice returning to its calm tone.

      "Because you need my help sir," Zero answered quickly, "bad guys were trying to hurt me so you saved me."

      "That's right Zero, and what was the only thing we wanted in return?" Brenner asked, his dark eyes focused on the blonde boy.

      "For me to help you fight the bad guys with my special powers." Zero replied, the answer drilled in his brain.

      "So why aren't you trying any harder?" Brenner's eyes turned cold and his posture became tense as he spoke.

      "Because I gave up, sir." The little boy stated, knowing already what the doctor wanted to hear.

      "And what are we going to do about it?" The man pressed, leaning a bit forward in his chair.

      "Work harder, sir."

      "Good boy."

      And that evening, Zero worked harder than ever, not wanted to dissapoint again. He worked and worked and worked until he got a result. It was for a flickering moment that he could see into the Upside Down.

      Only at a big cost as he passed out only seconds later, blood dripping from his nose.

      Zero gasped as his eyes snapped open and subconsiously reached for his nose before looking at his fingers to see there was no blood at all.

      The blonde took a deep breath, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart down. Some minutes passed by and he regained the power over his own body again.

      But it was like something was suddenly calling out for him, the small hairs on his neck stood up as a chilling shiver caused goosebumps to erupt on his skin.

      And somehow he knew.

      Will was in trouble.

      And just like that he focused his mind and opened his eyes again in new surroundings. The blue and cold world greeted him within seconds as the blonde stood up from his sitting position and rushed outside the cabin to where he felt he was needed.

      Seconds turned into minutes and the blonde didn't even mind the welcoming sign that stated he entered Hawkins Indiana. There was only one thing on his mind and that was the little brunette boy.

      His feet hit the pavement harshly with every step he took as he came closer and closer to a building. The only thing between him and the large structure was a grassfield.

      But before he could even attempt to cross it, the doors of the unknown building slammed open and outside came a small body, running fast.

      It did't take long for Zero to realise who the kid was. Will Byers.

      But behind Will was something, something big.

      The blonde's eyes widened in fright for a moment as a large shadow like creature emerged from the darkness.

      "Will!" His loud scream echoed over the field until it reached the ears of the Byers boy who looked up in surprise as he closed in on the blonde.

      Before Zero could say anything else, Will startled him as the tiny brunette wrapped his arms around his waist, his fist gripping onto his shirt in terror. "I thought you died! No one believed me when I told them about you!" Will shouted but Zero didn't focus on that as the shadow monster closed in on them.

      "Will. We need to leave. Leave now!" Zero pushed the boy away from him and towards the other direction. "Go!"

      Zero already began to move his feet as fast as he could and he quickly glanced over his shoulder to see if Will was close behind. But he halted in his tracks when he saw Will hadn't moved an inch, and instead was facing the monster with determination.

      "Will! Run!"

      The boy didn't listen and instead started to shout at the large shadow. "Go away!"

      The monster did not leave.

      "Go away!"

      The monster closed in.

      "Go aw-"

      The monster took him.

      Zero's eyes widened at the sight of black like sand entering the boy through his mouth, and forming a whirlwind of darkness around the Byers boy.

     "Will?!"

      Zero couldn't move, couldn't think and he watched in panic as the large creature didn't release Will.

     His eyes flickered towards the building.

     Hawkins middle school.

      He had to tell them, he needed to find them and soon.

      And Zero closed his eyes again for a moment before he gasped, his body shooting up and he blinked when the familiar walls of the cabin greeted him.

      But he didn't spare another thought on the cabin as he shot up. He needed to find the people who found Will. He needed to warn them.

Hawkins Middle School.

He needed to find it quick.

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