The flashing of lights, the yells of men, and the snapping of the branches beneath her feet were the only sounds that resided within her ears. Her white flats were long discarded behind her, with no clue where they had finally found a resting point. She was finally free, finally unbound from the once place that had held her for so long.

Her feet were torn and bleeding from the ground. The rain had started to come down, weighing down her blonde curls and the white fabric of her dress. She led herself carefully through the new environment. The environment was full of trees and nature. Riddled by the darkness of night, the only bit of light she had was gifted to her by the illumination from the stars and the moon.

The only friends she seemed to have on that dreaded night.

Number Seven kept running till daylight. Through the rain, ignoring the splash of the mud and water that had adorned her body. All that mattered to her was the freedom she had just fought for. The freedom she had just won.

She hid behind a tree as she noticed bright lights by morning. Ducking down from the eyesight of the strange people who wandered around the place. She slowly peered back out into civilization, her head tilting at the sight of the people walking in and out of the place that was now identified as an 'IHOP'. Or so said the sign.

The girl decided to try and get into town, needing to be somewhere safe but she knew that she needed something to eat. So she decided to go into this IHOP and figure out something. She could easily come up with some sort of lie. She was good at that in times of danger.

She took a deep breath and began to walk with her head held high, acting as if there was nothing off about her. She looked alarmed by the door, reading the 'pull' wording over the bar. Her fingers wrapped around the cold metal causing her to make a face of discomfort.

The bell chimed as she walked into the restaurant. She looked around for a moment before a woman looked at her in sympathy. Wearing a blue dress with a tag reading 'Jessica'.

"Hi Hunny, are you alright?" The woman had long brown hair that was teased up, "Need me to call someone for you?"

"No, I'm alright," Seven thought of some sort of lie to give up, "I got caught by the storm last night on my walk. I just need something to eat."

Jessica gave her a kind smile, "Alright darlin', let's get you seated then."

Jessica seated Seven at a table. Placing a menu in front of her. She ended up ordering something called a pancake with strawberries and when it was placed in front of her, she quickly devoured it.

After that, she used her abilities to leave unseen. Slipping out undetected as blood trickled down her nostril. A quick swipe of her finger against her lip before she continued to walk out. Quickly retreated back to the woods before anyone could take any notice of her.

From behind a tree, she looked around the landscape of the town. Gaining new points of view and ideas of where she needed to go.

Over her time sneaking around, she knew she had a lot to learn. A lot to get up into. She decided to live in the back of a women's clothing store. She had access to things that brought her up to date with the world, things that explained to her what she needed to be at her age.

She was sixteen. According to the papers, a sixteen-year-old girl was in something called High School. She needed to build a normal life so that she wasn't something of a whisper spread around the town. That is what would get her caught.

So the next morning, she would have to try to gather herself some common knowledge and she would need to know what to do. What to say. How to look. She was sure that there were a lot of differences in appearance between her last residence and the town of Hawkins, Indiana.

So that is what she spent the night studying, not too long of unruly hours of the night before she got some much-needed sleep. Sleep that she got from a palette she had made on the floor of old fabrics.

And when the sun rose, so did she. Quickly rearranging everything to how it had been before she had entered and changed into a new outfit from a rack that had a handful of copies.

She looked in the mirror of the back room. Adjusting the plaid skirt with the sweater it came with before pulling her curls out from under the fabric. Her lips were pursed in a thin line before she went to look for shoes, trying on a billion different pairs before settling on a pair of white shoes that were labeled 'nikes'.

She even stopped through a supplies store, managing to get around before opening without being seen. Grabbing a bag she could carry stuff in. Like paper, books, and pens. She knew that those were fundamentals that everyone needed. That's what the elders of the lab held.

She had left earlier so that she'd have time to walk. Blending in easily with the crowd, occasionally asking someone for directions to the High School. It didn't take her long to reach Hawkin's High.

Seven easily walked through the intake of students that the building seemed to have. She slipped through the cracks of people before she found the place labeled 'Main Office'. Using her abilities to manipulate the sight of the office lady to see an adult with her.

"Yes?" The woman placed down the corded phone, giving her attention to the girl.

"We are here to register my daughter here," She made the allusion say.

"Signing up! How wonderful! Any transcript from your last school? Fill out these papers," The office lady handed the girl a stack of papers, "Mind if I get your name?"

Seven halted, going into thought momentarily before saying, "Andrea. Andrea Keene."

The name that a friend had once given her before he had died.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Keene."

"You as well," Andrea nodded before making sure the allusion held up as she filled out the papers with some bullshit of information.

She gave a fake smile upon handing the lady the papers and spinning some fake lie that the transcript would be mailed soon. She would need to find out what that was and make a copy of one for herself.

She made the allusion disappear as if it had walked out the door. The office lady nodded as Seven walked out of the office and looked down at the collection of classes that had been handed to her.

She was a bit clueless. The way that this place had been laid out reminded her of the Lab. She stopped herself in the hallway as she looked around at the different labeled doors.

"Are you okay?" A girl with vibrant blue eyes asked, she stood about half a foot shorter than Andrea.

"Yeah. I'm... new," Andrea held onto the papers in her hands, bag resting on her shoulder.

"Do you need help getting around?" She asked before offering out her hand to take the paper, "I'm Nancy, Nancy Wheeler."

"Andrea Keene," The girl mumbled, cautiously handing Nancy her paper.

"So we've got all of the same classes and it appears we are in the same grade, you can just stick with me. I'll be glad to take you around. I know the first days are typically hard, not knowing everyone and all," Nancy explained before she motioned for Andrea to follow.

Seven wasn't sure what to feel about Nancy. She didn't believe that she was someone from the lab who would easily turn her in but in this town, you'd never know.

Nancy took Andrea throughout her classes with ease. Seven hadn't spoken much, staying silent throughout the day and staying close to Nancy. Not speaking much to other people at first.

They began to walk out of their classes, Nancy talking to a dude with shaggy blondish hair. Everyone walked out of class in a messy line. Chit-chatting and talking around.

"Hey, Nancy," One of the girls smiled at Nancy as she handed her an orange invitation of sorts.

"Hey, thanks," Nancy took the paper from the girl.

She skipped the guy walking with Nancy and smiled at Seven, "Hey. You should come, you've caught the attention of many guys."

"Oh, thanks," She took the paper and nodded, "I'll think about it," Before she went to catch up with Nancy.

"Hey could I get one more," Nancy turned back to ask the other girl.

"Sure," She moved up and handed Nancy another before resuming her position.

"You're coming to this," Nancy handed Johnathan the paper with a grin, "So are you Andrea. It'll help you adjust."

Andrea simply made a face before looking back at Nancy's guy friend, "Come and get sheet-faced. No, I'm not." He was clearly amused by the writing.

Seven let out a small laugh, her arms crossed across her chest as she adjusted the strap of her bag.

"I can't let you sit all alone on Halloween. That's just not acceptable," Nancy explained as she adjusted her binders in her grip.

"Well, you can relax. I'm not gonna be alone," Johnathan tried to explain.

"Hm?" Nancy raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Johnathan.

"I'm going trick-or-treating with Will," Jonathan explained, seeming content with his answer.

"All night?" Nancy asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah," Jonathan nodded.

"No, no way. You're gonna be home by eight listening to the Talking Heads and reading Vonnegut or something," Nancy assumed based on how well she knew her friend.

"Sounds like a nice night," Jonathan walked a bit ahead of Nancy before halting.

"Jonathan, just come. I mean, who knows, you might even, like, meet someone," Nancy tried to convince him as she opened her locker.

Andrea knew that when she got back to the building she needed to figure out more of what Halloween was and what trick-or-treating was. It seemed she had a lot more to learn than she had originally thought but it wouldn't be that bad. She did have some knowledge she had learned long ago from an old friend.

She noticed as a guy walked over. Trying to be undetected as he wore black sunglasses over his eyes. His brown hair teased up and the collar of his jacket puffed up. It wasn't long before he went and picked up Nancy causing her to shriek.

A laugh left his lips since Nancy whipped around, "Oh, my god! Take those stupid things off," Nancy looked at the new person with a smile.

"I missed you," He spoke as he slid his glasses off before pulling Nancy closer.

Andrea waved at Jonathan, watching as he walked off, "It's been like an hour!" Nancy exclaimed.

"Tell me about it," Steve pulled her closer, placing their lips together.

"Okay. Okay," Nancy pulled back and began to place stuff in her locker.

"Sorry," the new guy apologized.

Nancy turned to look and watch as Jonathan walked away. Andrea moved closer to the lockers, the new guy seemingly catching her eye.

"Who is this?" He asked as he looked at Seven, "I'm Steve, King Steve if you'd like."

Seven raised an eyebrow, making a face at that name.

"Not a talker, huh?" Steve questioned as he tilted his head.

"She's new, she just needs time to build trust," Nancy spoke before smiling at her.

"My name is Andrea," She spoke simply, feeling her stomach do flips.

"Well, Andrea, it's nice to meet you," Steve winked at the girl, causing Nancy to give his arm a harsh nudge.

"Uh, I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow, Nancy," Seven was quick to speak, ready to get out of this high school setting.

"Bye Andrea, hope you had a good first day," Nancy gave her a smile.

Andrea knew now that she needed to get out before really being detected. She was getting around the crowd and giving small smiles to anyone who seemed to look in her direction so that she didn't seem mean.

The girl had walked back behind the store, residing in the woods as she looked through the things that she had. She looked through her writing of things she wanted to learn and things she'd have to research to find out what it is.

And that's what she spent her time trying to figure out. She taught herself about what she learned at school but she'd have to figure out in the coming days the rest of the stuff she truly did not know.

And when the day was over, she did the exact same thing again.

Sleeping on the palette she made on the floor of the back room. Waking up as the sun came up and changing into an outfit the store had that held many copies and placed the old one back on a rack.

This time she wore a pair of blue jeans with the same shoes. An oversized off-white sweater resting over her upper body. Her curls let down in a wild heap.

And she cleaned up and began yet another journey to school. She slipped her way through her classes and got through with her day until it came time for the party.

Nancy had picked Andrea up from her walk and made her go. Nancy had brought her something to change into, a red dress and a jacket. It didn't take long for the girls to arrive and join the party.

Andrea looked over at the door after being at the party for nearly an hour and smiled upon seeing Jonathan. He had spent most of the day with her and told her about himself. She learned he liked photography and he told her about his brother, Will.

He had earned a bit of her trust for his story.

"Um, Jonathan," Jonathan shook a girl's hand.

"Hey! If it isn't ole Byers," Andrea walked over to Jonathan with a small smile, to blend in she'd need to let loose.

Besides, what teenagers work for the government?

"Andrea, I see she got you here," Jonathan looked through the crowd.

"Then ditched me with an unfamiliar crowd," Andrea spoke as she crossed her arms, "You'll stay here with me, right? I'd rather not be stuck here."

"Yeah, of course," Jonathan stopped looking at the dance floor and looked at Seven.

The girl gave him a small smile over the roaring music. Her hand clasped over her left wrist where her marking was located.

"How has Hawkins treated you so far?" Jonathan asked before the crowd went silent.

Seven looked around to figure out what the sudden quiet was from and it seemed that Nancy had a drink spilled all over her from Steve. The two disappeared.

"Uhm... I'm actually not new to Hawkins. Just school, but school has been good," She looked around the crowd before looking back at Jonathan.

"Homeschooled?" Jonathan questioned before he looked at her hand which had absent-mindedly begun to tug at her sleeve.

"Yeah," She said without another thought, "Homeschooled."

It wasn't until Steve stormed through them that Andrea looked confused, "I'll check on Nancy, you check on Steve?"

Andrea made a face but agreed, "Fine."

The girl followed out the door after the so-called 'King'. Though it seemed someone else had taken that title. The other new kid, Seven had learned was named Billy Hargrove.

Seven walked outside looking around. Her brows furrowed together as she looked through the darkness of the roadway.

"Hello?" She called out trying to figure out if Steve was there, "Steve?"

Seven continued to look around trying to find him but to no avail. She only stopped upon seeing a red glow that resided against one of the cars, now looking much older than it had seconds before.

Her eyes slowly trailed up to the sky which now was glowing red. Her breath hitched in her throat as her eyes widened. What on earth was happening?

"Woah there," Andrea had nearly thrown back Steve, who scared the living hell out of her, "Are you alright?"

Seven looked around and it all looked normal yet again. A sigh left her lips before she looked back at Steve, "I'm supposed to be asking you that question."

It was clear that whatever had happened between Steve and Nancy in the moments that no one had seen them had been some sort of argument. Steve appeared upset.

"I'm always great," Steve resided back to his usual attitude.

"It doesn't seem that way," The teenager tilted her head, "I can tell you're lying."

"You can't tell shit. You don't talk well enough to know," Steve snapped at her.

"Actually, I can talk. I'm just used to being told to be silent," Andrea snapped harshly back at Steve, "Now if this is how this game will go, then I suggest you get your attitude in check."

"What are you? Sheltered?" Steve retorted.

"That's the easiest way to put it," Andrea shoved Steve's shoulder harshly as she stood on alert, "Now I've best get going. Jonathan took care of Nancy so I'm heading out."

The tone of Seven seemed to straighten out Steve, his head hanging low as he seemed upset, "Heading out? Where are you going?"

"Anywhere but here," Andrea retorted as she continued her walk.

She walked inside of the home trying to make sure that she left nothing behind. A sigh leaving her lips as she got caught by a guy grabbing her arm.

"Hey sweet thing, you know, you're pretty hot new girl."

"Thanks," Seven tried to keep it short and sweet, "Now let go of me."

And he did but he held his hands up in a show of surrender, "Just tryna let you have a good time."

Andrea let out a laugh, "Yeah, good time? Doesn't sound like a time with you. Sorry," She faked a pout before she headed out the door.

Seven continued to make her way out the door. Weaving through the crowd before someone managed to catch up with her.

"Hey!" Steve called out.

"Sorry, I don't talk to guys like you," She retorted.

"Guys like me?" He questioned, "Weren't you the one just checking on me?"

"Yeah, big mistake on my part," She retorted before turning on her heels, "Can I just walk in peace?"

"You can't walk all the way to wherever at this time," Steve simply spoke as he looked at her.

"And why can't I?" She asked, "I can take care of myself.

"I believe that but I don't think that it would be safe... it's dangerous to everyone."

"If it's so dangerous, how am I getting out of here?" Andrea crossed her arms over her chest, "Please enlighten me."

She struggled with her words for a minute before seemingly getting the hang of it. It was odd being out of the lab, a good odd. The three days she had been free had been an experience and Seven was learning fast. Faster than she thought she would be.

And no one seemed to notice a difference between who the girl was and the normal people who grew up living normal lives.

"I've got that covered," Steve adjusted his black jacket before holding up a pair of keys with a forced grin.

"Don't smile, I can tell it's forced and it makes this all the more weird," Andrea sighed.