The Byers house was extremely small, but it was a safe place for the time being. Will, as Jackie had learned his name was, sat across from her on the couch, while they passed around a bag of chips that had appeared in the kitchen. He was a small skinny boy, with longish brown hair and brown eyes, but very sweet all the same. 

"How did you get sucked in here? How long have you lived in here? What is your name?" He asked her, looking around his creepy house. It was strange for him, thinking that he was alone in this strange world, about to die by himself, only to find some strange girl standing over him, cursing because he got taken. She let out a small chuckle, looking slightly relieved for some reason.

"I was sucked in here three months ago. I was walking back from a party when the streetlights flickered and went out, then I saw this hideous figure. I ran for my life, and have been doing that pretty much since then. My name is Jackie. Jackie Reed." She picked at the potato chip in her fingers, breaking off a piece, and putting it in her mouth. Will's jaw dropped, and his eyes bugged out of his head. Jackie didn't seem to notice, as she rolled up the bag, and stuffed it into the backpack that she had slung over her shoulder when she found Will. 

"I know who you are!" He exclaimed but was quickly shushed by Jackie. "Sorry." He lowered his voice but continued. "I saw missing posters for you all over town. Everyone was worried sick about you." Jackie looked down at that, feeling guilty that she made people worry about her. 

"Do-do you know anything about my friends, Betty Alexander, and Lucy Brown?" She asked, praying that he knew something. The boy considered it for a little while. 

"Yeah..." He trailed off, thinking hard. Then he saw the look on Jackie's face. She was clearly near tears and had an almost hopeful look on her face. "They were all over the news. Them and your parents as well as your little sister. They haven't stopped looking for you. Betty and Lucy were begging on the news for you to come home. They made posters and put them everywhere. They clearly miss you." Jackie wasn't quite prepared for that answer. 

"Shit." She muttered, wiping away a tear. "Sorry to start crying on you, kid. What about you? How did you get here?" 

"Pretty much the same way you did, except I was biking home from my friend Mike's house," Will answered, looking at the room again. "It's so... Similar." He let out a small shudder. 

"I know. It's pretty creepy, isn't it? You do get used to it after a while." She pulled her knees closer to her chest. "The main thing to remember is to always stay moving, and try not to be too loud. It's crazy how quick this thing can find you." There was a little stretch of silence as they both contemplated it. 

"How did you live for this long?" Will asked suddenly. 

"I don't know, Kid. I just... Never gave up hope that my friends and family would find me. Or that I would get out of here. But now that you're here, it's a little easier." 

"How?" 

"Well, now that you're here, I know that there's definitely an exit to this place. Plus there's two of us now. It won't be so lonely here." She gave him a small smile, not willing to let this kid see that she was so scared for him. "Hey, why don't we get some rest. Yeah?" Will nodded, laying down on the couch, and curling up into a ball. Jackie got a sweatshirt that she had found and handed it to him. "It's not much, but it'll keep you warm." His eyes fluttered shut, and his breathing evened out. Jackie sat at the end of the couch, careful not to wake the boy. She knew that she wouldn't be sleeping in that place. Not while she had someone to take care of now. 

The next day couldn't come soon enough. The only way Jackie could tell that it was day, was because it got slightly lighter in the other world. "Hey... Will." She shook him gently. "It's time to get moving." She had let him sleep enough. Jackie knew that if they stayed there long, it would cause problems for both of them. 

"Morning." Will yawned, sitting up. "How did you sleep?" Jackie smiled at him. 

"Fine." Even though she hadn't slept a wink. She knew that if she did, there was a greater chance for the monster to find them and kill them. While they were weak. 

"Jackie?" Will asked as the two shared the rest of the potato chips. 

"What's up." She answered making sure to not eat as much as the little boy, knowing that he would need more strength then she would. 

"Did you ever try... Calling someone?" Jackie looked up, surprised. 

"Well, the first night I was here, I tried to call one of my friends on some old payphone I found by the bank. It didn't work though, the line was dead." 

"But... Well, I was thinking about this last night... What if I tried calling my house. I mean we are in it right now, and what if there's a link?" Jackie held no hope, but she didn't want to crush his spirits. 

"I suppose you could try it." She told the incredibly bright kid. She still had yet to learn his age. He jumped off the couch and walked over to the phone, Jackie trailing behind him, just in case. He dialed a number and put the receiver to his ear. Someone picked up. In the distance, there was a snap. "He's coming," Jackie whispered. The cracking of sticks and the crashing of trees grew closer. 

"Hello?" A woman's voice was on the phone. Jackie's eyes widened and she gripped the boy's shoulders. "Hello? Lonnie? Hopper? Who is this?" Will was breathing heavily, scared for both him and Jackie. There were tears running down his face. "Will?!" The woman exclaimed. "Will?" 

"It's Will?" A male voice asked on the other end. "Mom, it's Will?" 

"Will we have to go! He's getting closer." Jackie could feel it, the sensation on the back of her neck that told her when it was near. 

"Just a few more minutes please!" He pleaded with Jackie. There was growling right near the house. The woman on the phone was sobbing. 

"Who is this?" The woman shouted. "What have you done to my boy? Give me back my son!" 

"WILL WE HAVE TO GO!" Jackie shouted the thing was so close she could practically feel it breathing on her neck. The woman's voice was reduced to static, and electricity jolted from the phone. Will tumbled back into Jackie's arms. She pushed him behind her and grabbed her bag, pulling out a rife with a few bullets. "Stay very close to me, and if I tell you to run, you run and you don't look back. Okay?" She asked, looking him right in the eyes. The monster was close. Will nodded. 

"I know a place we can hide." He said, his voice small. Jackie sent him a small, reassuring smile. 

"Keep that place in mind when I tell you to go." She looked around, spotting a window. "I'm going to open that window for you, and you're going to get out of here." 

"But what about you?" 

"I'll try and hold him off. Then I'll come and look for you. Just get away from here." Will looked terrified. "I'll be okay, kid. Really." Jackie walked him over to the window and pried it open. "Make as little noise as possible but move fast. Here's some food just in case we get separated." She thrust a box of Cheez-its into his hands and pushed him towards the window. The growling at the door moved to a banging, Jackie placed her finger on the trigger. "I'm right behind you." She said. And with that, the boy was off. The wooden door of the Byer's house crashed open and the monster advanced. Jackie shot the gun twice, sending it back a little, but it surged forwards again and swiped at her. A sharp pain pierced through her left arm and she realized that it had scratched her. She shot the gun once more, this time hitting it in its open mouth. The monster collapsed on the floor, still alive but not conscious, and Jackie hopped out the window and ran in the direction she saw Will go in. Luckily, the boy hadn't made it that far, and she caught up with him easily. 

"Jackie!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms around her. 

"Will." She whispered, clutching him to her before pulling him into the shelter of the trees. "Are you alright? Hurt?" She looked him over. 

"Your arm!" Jackie looked down and realized she was bleeding. 

"Shit!" She exclaimed, tossing her bag down, and ruffling through it. She wrapped some sort of cloth around the wound before standing up. "Where's this place we can go?" She asked. "I'll fix myself up more when we get there." 

"Follow me." Will knew these woods better than Jackie did, seeing as he walked through them a lot as a kid. He led her to a small little shack-type structure made of sticks. Castle Byer's was painted across the top. "Is this good?" He asked. 

"It's good." Jackie pulled back the curtain and sat down on the ground. It was cozy inside, with drawings on the stick walls, and plenty of blankets for them to use. Will followed after her and settled down on the tiny bed. There was a table covered in stuff, that Jackie quickly cleared so she could clean up her wound. The structure wasn't perfect, but it was safe for the time being. They were safe for the time being.