( darkest before dawn / act one )
episode three | stranger things

❛ PROMISES ARE BROKEN ❜

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AURORA STOOD IN FRONT of her aunts, all of which watched her with worry in their eyes. She knew that she had terrified them with her antics that night and morning, but she needed to do this.

She had gotten Mikes scratchy radio call, after school had ended. He called her over there as quick as she could, it was urgent which led her to now. Aurora felt like she was at the principals office — which she had never actually been to, but if she had, this would be the feeling — with her aunts staring at her.

"I want to go to Mikes," Aurora pleaded. The color had slowly returned to her lips and her hands had effectively stopped shaking only thirty minutes ago.

"No." It was Merryweather that spoke, shocking Aurora as she was usually the aunt that preached about letting Aurora go out and have friends. "Do not give me that look Rory. You do not understand that fear you had me and your other aunts feeling this morning when we woke up and you were nowhere to be found. Your friend is missing, up and disappeared with nothing for the police to go off of. Do you want to be just like him?"

Aurora had tears welling up in her eyes as her aunt scolded her, "But—"

"No Aurora!" Fauna jumped in this time, "You do not get another say, you will go to school, as we drive you and you will come back. You do not get to see Mike, or Dustin or Lucas until William is found. No more night adventures in the woods, understand?"

Aurora could barely nod, a sob escaping her lips as she pushed herself to her room. She shut the door softly, hearing Flora speak in harsh whispers to her other Aunts.

Aurora screamed, throwing a pillow at the wall. Her mind and body began to shut down, and Aurora began crying harder in frustration, throwing another pillow at the wall before the feeling disappeared. She heard something fall outside her room, and softly cracked the door to see Flora and Fauna rushing around Mary, who seemed to just be sitting on the floor, resting against the couch.

Auroras head began pounding, but she pushed it aside as an after crying headache, "This is for Will," Aurora whispered to herself before cracking open her window and slipping out, just as she had done the night before.

She ran the whole way to Mikes house, and was out of breath by the time she had gotten to the home. Her breathing was labored as she opened the basement door, to find the party missing. Aurora crept up the stairs, and made sure no one saw her before hurrying up the stairs, into Mikes room.

"Sorry it took so long," Aurora spoke as she stood at the doorway with a grin, "I had to convince my aunts to let me leave."

"Why did you come to school today?" Lucas asked the girl as he glanced over her once.

Instead of letting her answer, Dustin blurted, "Eleven knows where Will is!" Aurora straightened her back, glancing at the girl the girl they had found. Eleven?

"She said bad people are after her," Mike started, not even glancing at the blonde, "I think these bad people are the same ones that took Will. I think she knows what happened to him."

"Then why cant she tell us?" Lucas rolled his eyes as he pushed himself off the bed, shaking Elevens shoulders as he spoke, "Do you know where he is? Do you know where Will is?"

"Lucas!" Mike shouted as Aurora stepped over to the boy.

"You're scaring her." Aurora told the boy as she pulled Lucas's hands from Elevens shoulders.

"She should be scared!" Lucas shouted, "if you know where he is tell us!" Eleven started crying as Lucas moved towards Mike. Aurora made a move to step towards the girl but stopped when she flinched away from her. 

"This is nuts!" Lucas shouted whirling his hands around as he spoke to the boy. Aurora held her hands up, tuning the boy out, as she glanced at Eleven again.

"Hey," Aurora voice was soft as she slowly stepped towards Eleven, this time she didn't flinch, "I just want to make sure you're okay. I don't want to scare you, Lucas is just worried for our friend, Will."

Eleven was sniffing but her tears had stopped. She was watching Aurora with wary eyes, "My friend Will is missing, and I'm worried about him too. If you do know anything about where he is, please let me know El. I just want to make sure he's okay."

Aurora jumped as Mikes bedroom door slammed. She turned towards the boys, watching Lucas try to open the door again before it was slammed by an invisible force and the lock was engaged. Aurora turned back to Eleven and watched as a single drop of blood fell from her nose.

"No," Eleven spoke, her voice was heavy and it was Auroras first time hearing it. She turned her head slightly and made eye contact with Mike as she watched Aurora with caution. She was the closest to Eleven.

"Cool," Aurora mumbled to herself, as the boys stared at the girl in shock.

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AURORA HAD BEEN INVITED to dinner, but she had to decline as her aunts hand no idea where she was, and she had to get home before they realized. Lucas offered to take her home, but Aurora declined.

She was on her way home, but Aurora got side tracked. The girl slowly approached her best friend's fort, the wind softly blowing at the curtain as the sun began to set.

It was different than the night before, the solar light Aurora convinced Will to hang had begun to glow, illuminating the small space. Books and comics alike lined the small shelves that Joyce had brought for the two kids. The small bed was still damp from Aurora the night before, but she paid no mind to it as she laid down, clutching the pillow the two shared.

"Are you finally taking me to see the infamous Fort Byers?" A younger Aurora questioned, as a younger Will pulled her through the woods. Aurora hair was braided, and fell down her back as her pink dress would occasionally get caught on small branches.

Will was dressed in jeans and a blue shirt, his hair was longer than normal. He grinned as he pulled Aurora into the clearing, "Castle Byers. Renamed to include your title," the young boy bowed, "princess Aurora."

The girl in question giggled, and rushed towards the small building made of wood. Aurora took the time to admire every small detail, even the title of the building, which the wood had clearly been cut in half to accompany the name change. The girl smiled, before grabbing Will in a right hug, even when they were younger, Will had always been taller than the girl.

"You didn't have to do that, Will." Aurora spoke, her cheeks a soft pink as her best friend pulled her inside, "change the name. I mean, what if in ten years we aren't friends anymore?"

Will sat on the small bed, "Well, in ten years this thing won't be standing anymore, and we will still be friends. Forever, I promise."

"And you promise to never leave me?" Aurora had tears in her eyes, as she looked at her best friend.

"I promise to never leave you, Rory." Will smiled, and pulled the girl into a hug.

"I promise too, Will."

Aurora woke up to tears on her face, she hadn't even realized she had fallen asleep. The sun set began to fill Castle Byers with pinks and oranges as Aurora wiped the tears from her cheeks. It was three weeks after the pair had become friends, and the first time Aurora saw Fort — or Castle Byers — as Will had named it.

Aurora let a soft smile grace her lips, before the solar lights began flickering. Almost like a morse code signal, but Aurora didn't know morse code, so all she did was stand up, and leave the fort.

The lights stopped flickering as she did, but the code spelt out: HELP ME.

⋆ ★ ⋆

IT WAS HARD TO convince her aunts she was well enough to go to school, but eventually Aurora pulled the 'I'm missing out on so much learning' card and her aunts caved. They had always valued her education, something about her mom not finishing high school.

Merryweather was the one to drive her to school, her all blue outfit made Aurora wince slightly before agreeing.

"So," the older woman started as she began driving, "where did you run off to last night?" Aurora froze, and began playing with her fingers as her aunt let out a laugh.

"Aurora, no need to panic. I haven't told the other two, but I just wanted to know." Mary placed a hand on Auroras arm, a soft smile on her lips.

"Um, I went to Castle Byers." It wasn't a lie, Aurora did go to Castle Byers, she just went there after Mikes house.

Merryweather sighed, "Oh sweetie, it's alright. I understand, you miss your friend, but the rules we put in place are there to protect you. That is all. That being said," Aurora glanced at her aunt with curiosity. "If you would like to hang out with Mike tonight, I will tell the others that you're at AV club tonight. Which means you will have until the sun sets."

Aurora grinned, "Really? You would do that?"

"Of course, it brings your spirt up, so it brings mine. I just want you happy and safe, Aurora." Merryweather stopped the car as she pulled into the school parking lot. "So grab your bike from the back and get going!"

Aurora thanked her aunt profusely as she pulled her bike from the back, nearly skipping to the doors of the school as she locked her bike up, taking note of her friends bikes as well.

She couldn't let her smile drop the entire day. Of course, Troy didn't let that stop him from making fun of the pair, but he stopped quickly. Dustin had clued her in one what was happening after school, and Aurora was thankful that her aunt had brought up the lie for her.

At recess, the four of them began to look for rocks for Lucas's slingshot. Dustin and Aurora were looking near each other as Mike approached, "How about this one?"

"Too big for the sling." Dustin told to boy before dropping the rock on the ground as Aurora pocketed one that was the right size. "So, do you think Eleven was born with her powers, like the X-men, or do you think she acquired them, like...like Green Lantern?"

Aurora laughed as she listened, "Neither of them are real Dusty, El is."

"She's not a superhero, she a weirdo." Lucas spoke, rolling her eyes.

"Why does that matter? The X-men are weirdos." Mike spoke, the two of them had stopped looking for rocks, as Dustin and Aurora kept glancing at each other.

"If you love her so much, why don't you marry her?" Lucas mocked Mike, and Aurora stopped looking for rocks to glance between the two.

"What are you talking about?" Mike glanced at Aurora for a second, noticing the frown and distant look on her face.

"Mike, seriously?"

"What!"

"You look at her all, like," Lucas brought his voice higher, "'Hi, El! El! El! El! El! I love you so much! Would you marry me?'" Lucas quickly hugged Mike before being pushed away.

It was exactly how Aurora looked at Mike.

"Shut up, Lucas."

"Yeah, shut up, Lucas," Troy mocked as he approached the four of them, "what are you losers doing back here?"

"Probably looking for their missing friend." James laughed, and Aurora scoffed.

"That's not funny." Dustin harshly spoke, "it's serious. He's in danger."

"I hate to break it to you, Toothless, but he's not in danger." Troy spoke, a grin on his face.

"Do you know where he is?" Aurora spoke up. A hopeful look had crossed over her face as she gazed up at the boy.

"He's dead," Troy told the girl, laughing at her defeated face as the words hit her. "That's what my dad says. You should start believing it too, princess. He was probably killed by some other queer."

"Come on, just ignore them," Mike was the voice of reason, turning away from their two bully's. Lucas and Dustin rolled their eyes before slowly following Mike, who was tripped by Troy as he walked by.

"Watch it, Frogface," Troy scoffed before walking away,

"You all right?" Lucas questioned, helping the boy stand up.

"Yeah." Mike winced, being a hand to his chin. Aurora rushed to his front and grabbed his chin. She moved his face softly as she examined the small cut on his face.

"Now I'm no nurse, but I think you'll live. Maybe a cool bruise, say you fought a wild animal or something." Aurora spoke softly, before realizing that she was inches away from the boy face. She dropped her hand quickly, taking a few steps away from the boy whose cheeks were red.

To brake the tension, Dustin grabbed a rock, patting Mikes shoulder, "How about this one?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, this is it."

"Oh yeah, this is the monster killer." Lucas grinned, before throwing his arm around the girls shoulder as they all walked away. Aurora didn't grin though, still thinking about what had just happened.

Aurora couldn't focus the rest of the day, even thinking about what happened would cause her cheek to turn a bright pink. After school, the kids rushed to their bikes and made their way towards the power lines behind Mikes house.

"El!" Mike shouted as the wheeled their bikes up the hill, "you okay?"

El just nodded, as Aurora noticed the cat hissing at the girl. She dropped her bike, and smiled at El as she walked to the cat, who quickly crawled through the gate and onto Aurora lap.

"Hey baby," Aurora ran her hand through the cats white fur softly, "you're so pretty." Aurora reached for the cat's collar, only to not find one as she reached around for it.

"Rory! Come on, we only have a few hours." Mike shouted, and Aurora softly stood up, the cat still in her hold. Eleven was already on Mikes bike and Aurora placed the cat in her basket on top of her backpack.

"Stay." Aurora told the cat, who almost nodded as she biked towards the boys who had already taken off. Aurora walked behind the Mike and El, as Lucas and Dustin grinned over the cat. Making sure that she didn't hit any bumps too hard so she wouldn't wake the sleeping fur-ball in her basket.

"What should I name her?" Aurora wondered, her eyes set on Mike who was talking with Eleven. She tried to make herself smile as the boys started listing off as many names as they could but she couldn't.

"Mango?" Dustin spoke, and the fluffy white cat softly lifted her head, meowing at the three of them.

"Mango? That's a stupid name," Lucas disagreed, rolling his eyes.

"I guess she agrees, so," Aurora reached her hand into the basket, softly petting the cat under her chin, "Mango it is."

"Haha," Dustin taunted Lucas, pushing the boy to the side, "she picked my option."

"Stupid," Lucas shoved Dustin to the side, before laughing at the pair, "I guess Mango is an alright name."

They walked the rest of the way in silence, as the sun began to set. Aurora slightly noticed the route Eleven was taking them on, they were headed towards Wills house.

"What are we doing here?" Lucas voiced her thoughts as they walked from the woods, Wills house coming into view.

"She said he's hiding here," Mike gestured to Wills house.

Lucas let out something between a laugh and a cough, "where would he be? This was the first place the cops searched! I swear, if we walked all the way out here for nothing!"

"That's exactly what we did!" Lucas scoffed, jabbing a finger towards Eleven, "I told you she didn't know what the hell she was talking about."

"Why did you bring us here?" Mike turned to El, who just stammered out a response.

"Mike, don't waste your time with her," Dustin scoffed, tugging at his hair.

"What do you wanna do then?"

"Call the cops!" Lucas threw his hands up, almost hitting Aurora as he dropped them. "Like we should've done yesterday."

"We are not calling the cops."

"Hey guys," Dustin spoke up, looking out towards the road. Aurora was the only one who walked up to the boy, trying to find what he was looking at.

"What other choice do we have?" Lucas argued back.

"Guys!" Dustin shouted, as sirens filled their ears. They watched as cops raced past the group.

Aurora was the first one to jump on her bike, racing to follow the cops as the boys rushed behind her. Mango meowed loudly as Aurora rushed through a puddle, splashing up her legs. She had a gut feeling, her stomach twisting as she peddled harder following the sirens to the quarry.

Police, fire trucks and ambulances alike were all at the scene already. Aurora was the first to get there, Mango jumped from the basket as her bike slammed to the ground. Aurora scrambled to hide behind a firetruck. Tears were already pooling in her eyes as the others caught up to her.

When the rolled the body out of the water, a red vest caught Aurora eyes as the tears began to fall. Lucas tried the grab the girl, but she pushed out of his hands as she ran towards her best friends body.

"Will?" Aurora mumbled, as she pushed past the cops, who tried to grab her but she moved too quickly, rushing towards the water where they had pulled Will from. "No, no, Will!"

Hopper grabbed at the girl. Dragging her from the ankle deep water before pulling her into his chest. "Hey kid, calm down."

Aurora sobbed in the chiefs arms, her hands beating against his chest as she tried to escape. "It's not Will. It's not Will." Aurora kept shouting, "Will, Will you promised. It can't be you." Hopper let a tear fall as well, but kept his hold on the young girl tight.

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(      LET ME SPEAK    :      )

one of my favorite chapters i've ever
written! i literally will never get over
this chapter because aurora will
GO THROUGH IT! :( so
apologies in advance! also that start
of aurora and hoppers relationship <3
the italics are flashbacks, if you didn't
catch on!

credit goes to fivehxrgreeves