Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers

chapter three , Too Far

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The girl walks down the hall with two guards behind her and another two in front of her. The first two guards turn a corner and she follows them. The girl looks down at her cut and bruised feet that were padding against the concrete floors.

When the girl was first brought here she was so terrified and confused. She wanted her dad. But now, the girl has grown and understood that her dad didn't want her. If he wanted her, he would've fought to keep her. He wouldn't have taken the money right away. The two guards stop at the door and so does the girl. One of the guards knocks on the door and it opens.

The girl inhales a deep breath and hesitantly steps into the room. The door closes behind her and she sees Dr. Brenner sitting in one of the chairs.

"Number 5, have a seat."

The girl complies and sits across from him. Her eyes shift to the crib. "Who's that?"

Dr. Brenner smiles, "This...is my current subject."

The brunette pulls her brows together. When she first got here, she despised Dr. Brenner. But the longer Five spent time in the lab, the more she wanted to prove to Dr. Brenner that she could control what she was. She wanted him to be proud of her. But every time she wanted to make him proud, he would just find another subject. And he would always be proud of their development.

Dr. Brenner stands up and walks over to the crib. He picks up the child and five tilts her head. "I would like to introduce you to subject 11."

Five shifts her gaze from the child to Dr. Brenner. "You've replaced me. Again."

Dr. Brenner looks at the brunette, even though her dark brown fringe was brushing against her eyes, he could still see the anger from her Hazel green irises. His jaw goes slack and he nervously swallows.

"Now, Number Five, you know that's not what--"

"Am I not good enough?" Five stands up. "Do you...do you think that I'm not good enough?"

Dr. Brenner places the baby back into the crib and it starts to cry. Five shifts her gaze to the crib and takes a step toward it.

"Number Five." Dr. Brenner stands in front of the girl.

The brunette keeps her eyes on the crib and the room starts to shake. "What do you plan on doing when you get tired of me?" she looks at the man. "Kick me out? Are you gonna kill me?"

"I would never do that." Dr. Brenner whispers.

Number five squints her eyes and cracks a small smile. "You can try...you'll just fail."

Dr. Brenner kneels in front of the child and grips her arms. "You...are my child. I would never abandon you."

The shaking in the room settles and Number five uncurls her fists. "You have to promise me."

Dr. Brenner lightly touches the side of her face, "I promise, Five."

The brunette exhales a soft chuckle and wraps her arms around Dr. Brenner's neck. He hesitantly hugs her back.

Gus snaps her eyes open to her alarm blaring throughout her room. She groans and slams her fist against the clock, silencing it. The brunette sits up and pinches the bridge of her nose. She closes her eyes and shakes her head.

It wasn't real. Just another nightmare.

Gus looks down at her hands which are covered in sweat and twitching.

"It felt real..." she whispers.

Gus' eyes travel to the time on her digital watch and she groans. The brunette rubs her eyes, walks into the bathroom, and takes a hot shower. After her shower, Gus grabs her towel and wraps it around her chest. She gets out of the shower and looks in the mirror. Her eyes travel to her dripping wet hair and sighs. "I should ask Harrington about his hair care routine."

The brunette then starts to brush her teeth. As Gus continues brushing her teeth, she couldn't help but think back to the nightmare she had. First, it was the daydream about the chalk, then she had a nightmare about a snake, and now she's having nightmares of some creepy children and an annoying baby.

Gus pulls her brows together, thinking. That white-haired man was in every single dre--

A rough knock is heard at the door. Gus flinches and her hand spasms, she drops her toothbrush on the ground. The brunette looks down at it and groans. "Shit!" she whines. Gus rinses her mouth and picks the toothbrush up. She opens the door, "You owe me a new toothbrush."

Gus shoves the toothbrush into Hopper's chest and walks past him. Hopper looks at the toothbrush in his hand and groans. "What the hell--it's still wet!"

"Yeah, and now it's got bathroom gunk on it too since I dropped it!" Gus calls out while walking to her room. Gus hears Hopper curse and she triumphantly laughs. The brunette gets dressed and walks down the stairs. She grabs a Twizzler and places it in her mouth.

Gus hears Hopper coming down the stairs. She turns to him and opens the door. Hopper tosses Gus the keys and she tosses him a bagel. Gus catches the keys and walks outside to the car. She starts the car, crawls over the seat, and gets into the passenger side. Hopper gets in the car and starts to drive. Hopper and Gus bump heads all the time, that's already known. But they have a system and work well together when they needed to.

Hopper sighs, "Hey, I'm sorry about the other night with the TV dinner."

Gus chews on the inside of her cheek, "No worries, kinda used to that by now."

Her right-hand starts to twitch again and she groans. The brunette grips her wrist and squeezes it.

"Your hand still twitching?"

Gus scoffs, "What gave it away, Hop? Was it..." she gasps dramatically. "Was it the twitching?"

"Haha--funny."

"I'll be fine. I'm used to it." Gus says.

"Well, from the looks of it--the pain still gets to you," Hopper replies.

"Yeah, well...spastic movements'll do that to you." Gus grabs her bag and pulls out another Twizzler.

Hopper glances at her, "You know those'll rot your teeth."

"Yeah? No way, you know else can do that?" Gus places the Twizzler between her teeth and pretends to inhale smoke. She pulls the Twizzler from her lips and pretends to blow smoke out of her mouth.

"Cigarettes."

Hopper lets out a huff and Gus takes a bite out of the Twizzler.

"They'll also screw up your lungs," Gus adds. "So, before you start talking about my candy habit. We should start talking about your nicotine one."

The frustration in Hopper grows. "Look--I know you never had a parental figure in your life, but I think you should show me a little respect."

Gus rolls her eyes, "I did have a parental figure." her mouth twitches. "He's dead."

Hopper closes his mouth and guilt forms in his stomach. A silence settles into the car. Gus rolls her lips into her mouth. She knew that Hopper meant well, but sometimes the brunette would speak without thinking about her choice of words before.

Gus inhales a breath, hoping to lighten the mood. "Also, what the hell does that mean...'I should show you some respect'?" Gus turns to the Chief of Police. "You usually say something like 'Kid, I told you to do this and you're going to do it. No objections!'." she says in a scruffy deep voice, hoping to impersonate Hopper.

"You keep talking about this 'should' stuff and I'm never following your rules again."

Hopper lets out a chuckle of disbelief and Gus softly laughs.

"You never follow my rules now," Hopper says.

Gus nods her head, "Fair point."

"Also, I was trying a new approach." Hopper states.

"Yeah--and that approach was terrible." Gus snorts. "Have you been talking to Mr. Clarke or something?"

Hopper shifts in his seat and Gus' eyes widen, "Oh My God--you have!"

"Hey, he gave me good pointers, all right?" Hopper chuckles.

The brunette looks out the window and laughs softly. "Right, that's why they worked so well."

The truck comes to a stop outside the school and Gus sighs. "Thanks for the ride." she looks at Hopper. The Chief of Police gives her a small smile.

Gus gets out of the truck and closes the door behind her. Before she walks into the school, she turns back to Hopper and peaks her head into the window. "I'm sorry I shut down your encouraging words."

"I know you were trying and...I'm gonna start trying too." Gus says softly.

Hopper raises her brows. "I think those words may have topped mine."

Gus chuckles and frowns, "They definitely did."

Hopper laughs and nods his head, "I'll see you later, Gus."

"See ya, Hop."

☆

"I definitely think that if I were to have nipples for eyes, my life would be better. I mean, just think of the extra pleasure that..." Fallon trails off her explanation, noticing Gus staring off into space with her back against the lockers. The coil-haired girl lets out a breath.

"I think I might actually just get a tattoo," Fallon states. "On my ass!"

One of the students that were walking past, overheard what Fallon said and looks at her. Fallon chuckles nervously, "I was kidding by the way. I was just trying to get her attention."

Fallon looks at Gus. She exhales a breath and swings her locker door shut. The slam of the locker snaps Gus out of her thoughts. She focuses her attention on Fallon.

Fallon tilts her head and presses her lips together.

"What?--I was listening."

Fallon nods her head, "Uh-huh. Yeah--sure."

Gus looks at the ground and Fallon's eyes soften. "Hey..." Fallon touches Gus' arm.

Gus looks back at Fallon.

"Will's going to be fine..."

Gus swipes her tongue across her lower lip. "You wouldn't even have to say that to me right now if I were actually a decent babysitter."

"You are the best babysitter I know, all right?" Fallon raises her brows. "You were watching them for ten hours that day--"

"And I couldn't even take Will home." Gus pinches the bridge of her nose, trying to stop the tears from forming.

Fallon's eyes widen, "No--hell no. You are not." she grabs Gus' arm and looks around to make sure no one is looking at her friend.

"...going to cry in front of everyone."

"Why not? I mean--"

"No, there's no, 'I mean'. You hate these people. And you hate this place." Fallon huffs. "And you wouldn't cry especially here. Not again."

Gus sniffles, remembering when she heard the news about her dad dying. The brunette bites her lower lip and nods her head. "Okay, okay..."

Fallon smiles softly.

"Thanks, Fal."

Fallon shakes her head. "No need to thank me. I'm with you, through thick and thin." she lightly punches Gus' arm. "You ready to present today?"

Gus groans, "Uh--yeah. Have you seen Steve today?"

Fallon looks around the hallway of the school. "Mmm--not at the moment..." she looks back at Gus and sees her grow nervous.

"He's not going to show up." Gus huffs.

"He's going to show up." Fallon tries to reassure her.

Gus deadpans and Fallon shrugs. "Try praying to the Universe again."

"Right, because that always works." Gus scoffs.

The bell rings and they make their way to class.

Gus looks at her friend, "Also, I would definitely have eyes for nipples."

Fallon's face lights up, "You were listening!" She wraps her arms around Gus' neck and presses her face against hers.

Gus scrunches her face, but smiles. She wraps her arms around Fallon's waist. "Of Course I was."

☆

Steve didn't show up.

And now, Gus was looking at the entire class, with her cheeks bright red. They were all just...staring at her. She wanted it to stop. Gus wasn't a shy person, but it doesn't mean she wanted to be embarrassed in front of her whole class.

They're probably thinking that I can't talk with Steve by my side.

I'm as dumb as rocks.

Will is missing and I'm at school?

I'll never make it into college.

I'm gonna live in this shitty town forever.

Fallon notices Gus staring off into space, shutting down. The coil-haired girl clears her throat and shoots up from her seat.

"H-Hey--look at me!" Fallon raises her hands in the air.

Everbody turns to Fallon and Gus exhales.

Harrington is a dead man.

With the attention now on her, Fallon was just standing there. "I...didn't plan this far ahead."

"You never do." Robin mumurs.

Fallon tilts her head, "I'm sorry, do I know you, lurker?"

Robin scoffs and flips Fallon off.

Fallon arches a brow, "Seems a little racially motivated..."

Robin's mouth hangs open, "It was not!—"

"Miss Price, please sit back down and Miss Buckley please don't use your fingers in a malicious manner." Mrs. Click speaks.

Gus inhales, and she hears a rattling sound behind her. She turns and sees the chalk shaking vigorously against the desk. Her eyes widen and she shakes her head.

Flashes of the daydream goes through her mind. The snake and the white-haired man. They were all so real. And she felt the pain and fear from them. The brunette runs out of the room with tears in her eyes. Fallon exhales a sharp breath and takes a step forward.

"Miss Price, I would like you to present next."

Fallon chuckles nervously, "But...M-My partner isn't here either."

"Well, I'm sure you can still do it without Miss Wheeler, right?" Mrs. Click tilts her head.

Fallon forces a smile, "Of course."

It felt like an elephant was sitting on Gus' chest. She looks at the lockers that were rattling and she inhales deeply. Her right-hand starts to twitch and she tries to shake the pain out of it. A ringing starts in the brunette's ears and she groans, her brain was practically shaking. Without another thought, Gus slams her fist against the locker. Gus freezes for a second and her mouth hangs open from the wave of pain shooting through her right hand.

A gasp of pain leaves Gus' lips and she whimpers. She waves her now bright red hand. Gus looks down at it, her hand was shaking from the pain. But at least her breathing and her head wasn't killing her anymore.

Gus looks down the hall to where her classroom was located. She couldn't go back there. She quickly walks out of the school and tries to catch her breath. She places her hands on her knees and tears blur her vision.

Before the tears in Gus' eyes could fall, she hears a familiar voice.

"Hey, Castillo!"

Gus looks up and her eyes land on Steve waving at her. He was standing in the parking lot with his group of friends and Nancy. The brunette feels her chest tighten and a familiar bubble of rage forms inside of her. Gus wasn't one to be the person who takes the first jab. Okay, that's a lie. It just depends on the person.

Maybe, Steve forgot about the presentation and didn't have any malicious intent by it. But right now, Gus didn't care.

After her presentation, Fallon was running out of class while mumbling swears; from the heels she was wearing. She most definitely bombed that presentation. Maybe not as bad as Gus, but...she did bad. Fallon stops outside of the school and sees Gus marching over to Steve and his friends.

"Ah shit." Fallon slumps her shoulders. "Please, punch everyone but Nancy."

Fallon quickly makes her way over to the parking lot.

"What the hell?!"

Steve's eyes widen, "What? What did I--"

"We had a presentation today, dipshit!" Gus snaps. "The one we've been working on for the past 2 weeks?!"

Steve slightly opens his mouth, "Shit--I'm sorry, I...it may have kind of slipped my mind—"

"Kind of?!" Gus takes a step forward.

"Hey, okay--I made it!" Fallon places a hand on Gus' shoulder and tries to catch her breath.

"I'm glad you're here, Fallon. Now you get your dog out of here." Carol hisses.

"I think that we should use nice words!" Fallon raises her arms. "And I don't think violence is good for anyone—especially me."

Gus shifts her angry glare onto Carol. The brunette squints her eyes and starts to walk toward Carol.

"Hey, no--Gus." Fallon grabs Gus' arm. "Let's just go--"

"No, someone's getting their ass kicked," Gus says. "So, who's gonna volunteer?"

"God you are such a freak!" Carol scoffs. "You're just going to get yourself suspended again."

"Gus, I'm sorry," Steve speaks. "I shouldn't have left."

He then looks at Fallon, "And I shouldn't have dragged Nancy with me."

Fallon inhales, "Yeah, my mom's gonna kill me..."

"I don't even care about my grades," Gus speaks. "You get that, right? I was fine with letting us tank this presentation--I was fine with skipping class. But then you said you needed a good grade. And I did the work for you!"

"That's so sweet," Tommy pouts his lip in a teasing manner. "Gus, you should give him a kiss--"

"Shove it up your ass, Tony!" Gus barks. She snaps her eyes back over to Steve. "You're a bag full of dicks, Harrington!"

Steve pulls his brows together and his friends start to laugh.

"I-I'm not a bag full of dicks--"

"Bullshit--you are! And a little advice..." Gus shoves him. She then points her finger in his face. "...if you want a passing grade to leave your parent's 'loving home'. Actually, show up to class!" anger grazing her voice.

Laughter fills the parking lot and Steve looks around at his friends. Gus turns to Fallon, "I'm done. We can go now."

Fallon raises her brows. She was surprised all Gus did was shove the boy. But she walks with Gus back toward the school.

"Who are you..."

Gus and Fallon stop in their tracks. The brunette lets out an exhausted sigh and turns back toward Steve.

"...who are you to try and advise me about parents?"

Fallon's eyes widen and Gus's body stiffens.

"Steve, shut up." Fallon snaps.

Steve walks toward Gus. The brunette tilts her head up and burns her fiery Hazel green eyes into his coffee brown ones.

"I think out of everyone here...you aren't an expert in parents being around."

Gus' stomach turns and she looks away from the boy with a breath of disbelief. She runs her tongue over her teeth and her right hand starts to twitch. The brunette didn't show it, but she felt sick to her stomach.

Steve was different. How could someone be so happy and open with everyone as a child and then suddenly pick and choose his friends like he's some kind of god?

And in that moment, Steve was thinking the same thing about Gus. The brunette was such a lively person when they were younger, but now she was morphed into such a different person. He barely recognized her.

The brunette forces a twisted smirk onto her lips and Steve's jaw goes slack. Gus takes a step forward so she was standing toe-to-toe with Steve. "Did you really think you could walk up to me, talk about my dead parents, and I would cower away from you like a bitch?"

"Oh, shit..." Fallon takes a step back.

"I'm not one of those people that looks up to you like you're some kind of King." A laugh leaves her lips. "And I am most definitely not one of those people who fear you. You don't scare me, Harrington."

Steve saw Gus' strong facade waver and the pain in her eyes was so obvious.

Everything in his heart was telling him to stop trying to shatter that facade. But, Steve decides to push his conscious down. "Really?" he tilts his head. "Because that look in your eyes, it's saying something completely different."

Gus' eyes slightly widen and she takes a step away from him. The brunette slightly opens her mouth, wanting to say something else but even if she said something that would make everyone cheer and freak out; Steve was right. Her eyes already gave away that she wasn't the confident troublemaker she made herself out to be.

The brunette grips her twitching hand and quietly winces in pain. Steve pulls his brows together and shifts his eyes down to her twitching hand. Gus quickly turns on her heel and walks back toward the school.

Fallon's mouth hangs open, "Gus--"

"I can't, Fal." Gus quietly whispers, walking back toward the school.

Fallon's eyes follow Gus as she walks into the school. She looks back at the group and notices Steve's eyes are on the school doors; Gus just walked through. Nancy was looking down at her shoes, embarrassed she missed her presentation and let her own partner down.

"Well..." Fallon presses her lips together and shifts her eyes between Nancy and Steve. "...in case you two didn't get it already." She then throws her hands in the air. "We failed!"

She then walks back toward the school.

☆

Gus knocks on the door and nervously taps her shoe against the porch. She knows that Hopper doesn't want her to go out at night, but the brunette didn't want to be at home alone. And she sure as hell didn't want to be alone with her thoughts. Gus felt an immense amount of guilt for not being there for Will, and she wanted to be there for his family.

The door opens and the woman who answers the door exhales a soft breath.

"Gus."

The brunette smiles softly, "Hi, Ms. Byers."

Joyce steps forward and wraps her arms around Gus' neck. The teenager blinks, but she hugs Joyce back.

"I am so sorry," Gus whispers. "I should've walked home with him or--"

"No, no, stop it." Joyce pulls away from the hug.

Joyce shakes her head and keeps her strong gaze on Gus. "This was not your fault. It was no one's fault. Do you understand me?"

Gus bites the inside of her cheek and nods her head.

Joyce cracks a small smile, she then slightly opens her mouth. "I'm being rude—come in!" She takes a step aside.

Gus enters the house and she looks around, noticing how messy the house was. She doesn't even remember the last time she's been here.

"Gus?"

The brunette turns to her estranged friend.

"Jonathan, hey." Gus chuckles. "Long time no see." She then moves her head from side to side. "I mean, I see you at school—but I mean, long time no...friend see."

Jonathan tilts his head and Gus inhales.

"Yeah...I don't know either—honestly. I'm just rambling." Gus rubs her arm and looks at the ground.

"What are you doing here?" He asks. "You haven't come to visit in...years."

Gus swipes her tongue across her lower lip. "I was wondering if you guys needed help with anything. To help find Will or something." She shrugs.

Joyce raises her brows and chuckles, and so does her son. Gus pulls her brows together, but she smiles; glad that the Byers were laughing.

"What's funny?" Gus asks.

Joyce wipes her nose, "Uh—Hop called earlier. Said you would be here sooner or later, even though he told you to stay home."

"Wow, for someone I barely interact with—he sure does know me well." Gus frowns. "Besides, this is the only time I have now since I go to school...sometimes."

Jonathan softly chuckles and Gus cracks a small smile.

"There's gotta be something I can help you guys with, right?" Gus bunches her shoulders. "Do you want me to clean? Make you food?—actually, I can't cook, uh...I could pick you up some food..." she scratches the back of her head. "...I don't have my license. Uh—maybe—"

"Gus, Gus, hey..."

Joyce walks over to the teen and gently grips both of her arms. Gus falls silent and looks at Joyce.

"You can help us with the flyers if you want." Joyce gives her a small smile.

Gus exhales a soft breath and nods. "Yeah, yeah...I can do that."

Jonathan walks over to the table of pictures. "We were just...trying to pick out which picture would be the best for the flyers."

Gus slightly opens her mouth, "Oh...is that really something you want me to help with? I mean, you two know him best."

"We want your input." Jonathan shrugs a shoulder.

Even though Gus tried her best to act like this tough girl who didn't care about people, Jonathan knew that she would do anything for the people she cares about. And he knew that Gus was going insane, just sitting around doing nothing for Will.

They all needed this.

Gus presses her lips into a small smile and nods her head. She walks over to the couch and sits with the Byers, helping them sort through the photos of Will.

After a few minutes of sorting, Gus finds one picture and smiles softly.

"These are really good..." Gus says.

Joyce looks at the brunette and lightly touches her back, "I'm sorry I haven't checked up on you recently."

Gus looks at Joyce and pulls her brows, "You have nothing to apologize for." she chuckles. "I'm sorry that I haven't come sooner."

Gus then turns to Jonathan, "And I'm sorry I haven't been there for you even before all of this."

Jonathan keeps his eyes on the pictures of his little brother, tears now forming.

"I feel terrible and I'll do everything that I can to help find Will," Gus says. "I promise..."

Gus trails off her sentence when she hears Jonathan sniffle. The brunette's back straightens. "Jonathan?"

Joyce looks at her son with her brows furrowed. "What's wrong?" she asks.

"Nothing." Jonathan shrugs.

Gus stands up, so Joyce can sit beside her son. She then sits on the other end of the couch. "Joyce places a hand on Jonathan's back. "Hey, talk to you..."

"N-No..." Jonathan whimpers. "It's just...I should've been there for him."

Gus' eyes start to burn with tears and she looks at the floor.

"No. Oh, no. You can't do that to yourself." Joyce whispers with a shaky voice. "This was not your fault. Do you hear me? This was no one's fault. He is...close. I know it. I...I feel it in my heart."

"You just have to...you have to trust me on this, okay?"

Joyce pulls Jonathan into her side and they both cry. Gus quickly wipes her tears and spots the picture she was holding earlier. She reaches over and grabs it, "Look at this one, guys."

Gus holds it out towards the Byers and they both laugh. The brunette smiles softly. "Is this one good?"

Joyce and Jonathan look at the brunette. The woman lightly touches Gus' face, "It's perfect, Gus. Thank you."

The phone rings and Joyce quickly stands up and makes her way over to the phone. Gus hands Jonathan the picture and gives him a reassuring smile.

"Hello?"

"Hello?"

Joyce pulls her brows together when she doesn't receive an answer. "Lonnie? Hopper?"

"Who is this?"

Jonathan and Gus turn to each other, exchanging a look. The teenagers make their way over to Joyce who was on the phone, her expression now filled with shock.

"Will?"

Gus stops in her tracks and her eyes widen.

"Will?"

"It's Will?" Jonathan asks.

A small cry leaves Joyce's lips and a chill shoots down Gus' spine. The brunette's stomach turns and she's left with an eery familiar feeling. It was almost nostalgic to her.

"Mom, it's Will?"

"Who is this?!" Joyce shouts into the phone. "What have you done to my boy?!"

Gus' breathing quickens and her right-hand starts to twitch once again.

The door opens and the girl is guided into the room. She enters the examination room and is greeted with sobbing. Number five turns her head and sees the person sitting at the table. Their hands were zip-tied and a bag was over their head.

"Number Five."

The young girl turns her head toward Dr. Brenner.

"Father, what's going on?"

Dr. Brenner walks over to the person with a bag over their head. "I've got a new test for you."

Her eyes follow Dr. Brenner. He takes the bag off the lady's face and she screams. "PLEASE LET ME GO!"

Number five slightly jumps from the woman's screechy voice. Just like every time before this one, Number five sits at the table. The guards strapped the girl to the machine.

Five looks at Dr. Brenner, "What...do you want me--"

"Kill her."

The girl pulls her brows together and looks at the woman. "Please, don't--don't do this! I won't tell anyone--"

"Who is she?" Number Five inquires.

"A reporter. She snuck in...can't let her reveal our secrets to everyone." Dr. Brenner states.

"Why not?"

Dr. Brenner looks at the brunette. Number Five raises a brow, "If the truth is revealed, we don't have to hide anymore."

"But if the truth is revealed they'll take you away from me."

Number Five's jaw goes slack and her back straightens. "Wh-what?"

"They'll take you away. Make you do their bidding." Dr. Brenner shakes his head. "You won't be a hero, Five. You'll be a monster."

Dr. Brenner knew how erratic the young girl was. But he also knows that Number Five wanted nothing more than to be a hero. Sadly, the truth was she was truly a monster.

"Do you want that to happen?" Dr. Brenner asks.

Number Five looks back at the sobbing woman. The lady's eyes widen, "Y-You can't let her do this! You can't--"

The building starts to shake and the woman's throat tightens.

A low ringing settles into Number Five's ears. Blood slowly leaves her nose as the woman begins to choke. Blood spews from the woman's mouth. The machine connected to the girl starts to beep unstably.

Number Five tilts her head to the side and the woman's face sinks in. Her body slumps and collapses to the floor. Blood continues to spill from her body, even though she was dead.

The bones in the woman's body were completely crushed.

"Is she dead?"

Dr. Brenner turns to the brunette. Number Five looks at him, her face filled with contentment.

"Yes, she is."

"Good."

Dr. Brenner pulls his brows together and Number Five cracks a smile.

"Now no one can separate us."

"GIVE ME BACK MY SON!"

An electrical surge shoots into the phone, causing Joyce to scream and drop it. Gus flinches and she snaps back into reality. The brunette takes a step forward. "Ms. Byers, are you okay?"

Jonathan grabs the phone and places it against his ear, "Hello, who is this? Who is this?!"

Jonathan sets the phone down and turns to his mother. "Mom, who was it?"

Joyce starts to sob and Gus' jaw clenches.

"Who was it, mom?" Jonathan questions.

Gus looks back at the phone, the eery feeling in her body not going away. Her mind goes back to the flashes that appeared in her mind a few moments ago. A part of Gus knew that these recurring nightmares were her memories. There was always a gap in her memories about most of her childhood. Some scars that were there, she couldn't explain.

"Look at me, mom. Was it Will?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?" Jonathan asks.

"He just breathed. He just breathed."

Gus walks over to the phone and looks at it. There were black scorch marks across the ends of the phone. Anybody would suspect the storm to do that, but for some reason--deep down. Gus had major doubt it was the storm.

━━━━━━━━━━

author's note.

I hope you're all enjoying the story! Make sure to vote and comment! I love hearing what you guys have to say!!!

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