Chapter 3 — "The Girl in the Rain"
The storm had eased by the time they reached town, but the air still felt heavy, like Hawkins itself was holding its breath.
The boys split up briefly near Elm Street so Lucas could stash his bike outside his house. Dustin muttered a quick excuse about telling his mom he was "sleeping at Mike's" and dashed inside to scribble a fake note. Elias waited with Mike under a flickering streetlamp, shivering in his soaked clothes.
Mike kept glancing at him. "Are you sure you're okay? You looked like you were in agony back there."
Elias rubbed the side of his head, which still throbbed from the wave of transferred pain. "I—I'm fine. I just… felt something. Something strong."
Mike frowned. "Felt what?"
Elias hesitated. He couldn't tell them. Not yet.They'd think he was crazy.
"Nothing. Just stress, I think."
Mike looked like he didn't believe him, but he didn't push.
When Dustin and Lucas returned, they all mounted their bikes again. The storm clouds split open slightly, letting a thin sliver of moonlight slip through.
They rode toward Mirkwood.Toward the place Elias least wanted to return to.But they had to. Will needed them.
They coasted down the winding road, tires hissing on the damp asphalt. Mike pointed.
"There — that's where Will crashed!"
They skidded to a stop near the fallen bike, still lying half-hidden beneath the brush. It hadn't moved since Elias found it earlier.
Dustin crouched beside it. "This doesn't look good, guys…"
Lucas swept the flashlight beam across the tree line. "If Will walked into the woods from here, why didn't Hopper find him?"
Mike swallowed. "Maybe he didn't go in."
Elias scanned the darkened trees. His heart started beating too fast. He didn't know if it was fear or if something — someone — nearby was hurt.
He stepped a few paces into the brush.
"Elias?" Mike called. "Where are you going?"
"Wait," Elias whispered."There's someone here…"
He didn't know why he said it. He just felt it.Like pulling on a thread in his chest.
Dustin shined the flashlight around. "Dude, I don't see anyone."
But Elias kept moving.
Then he froze.
At the treeline stood a small figure.Barefoot.Shaking.Head shaved to the scalp.Wearing a hospital gown beneath a too-big yellow raincoat.
Lightning flashed overhead.
The girl flinched violently, eyes squeezed shut, like even the sky frightened her.
Mike whispered, "Holy crap…"
Dustin breathed, "Is… is that a kid?"
Lucas lowered his slingshot. "What the hell?"
Elias stepped toward her slowly. "It's okay… you're safe."
The girl opened her eyes.
Huge, dark, terrified eyes.
They locked onto Elias's immediately.
He felt it — a pulse of fear so sharp it nearly knocked the breath out of him.This girl was hurt.Not physically… not badly.But emotionally.Like a mind ripped raw.
She swayed on her feet.
Elias reached for her arm gently. "Hey, hey — it's okay. We're not going to hurt you."
The girl flinched back at first—
But then something in her expression changed.Recognition?Trust?He didn't know why she trusted him — but she stepped toward him and let his hand touch her arm.
Her pain hit him like an echo — faint, but twisted and heavy. The kind of hurt you get from being alone too long.
Elias steadied her. "Are you hurt? Do you need help?"
She parted her lips.
One word came out, raspy and trembling.
"…Eleven."
Dustin blinked. "Eleven? Like, the number?"
Mike whispered, "What… like her name?"
The girl looked at Mike, then back at Elias, and nodded weakly.
Lucas crossed his arms. "This kid is seriously messed up."
Eleven snapped her head toward him, eyes narrowing. Lucas shrank back instantly.
Mike pushed between them. "Okay, everyone just… chill. Elias, you found her, so what do we do?"
Elias swallowed. "We take her somewhere safe."
"We can't bring her home," Lucas said. "My mom will freak out."
"Mine too," Dustin added.
Mike stood straighter. "She can stay at my place. In the basement. My parents won't notice."
Lucas stared. "Your house? Mike—"
"We don't have options!"
Elias looked down at Eleven. Her bare feet were scraped, her lip was cracked, and her hands were trembling.
He knelt slightly. "Do you want to come with us?"
Eleven looked at him for a long moment.Then she nodded.
That was enough.
Dustin sighed heavily. "Alright. Mike's house it is."
They walked their bikes quietly along the road, Eleven sandwiched in the middle so she wouldn't get lost or wander. She kept glancing around like something might leap out of the trees at any moment.
When a distant animal call echoed through the woods, she clung to Elias's sleeve tightly.
He didn't shake her off.
Instead, he gently rested his hand over hers.
"You're okay," he said softly."You're safe with us."
Her grip eased — just slightly.
—
THE WHEELER BASEMENT
They snuck Eleven through the Wheeler side yard, Mike peeking in through the living room window to make sure his parents were still awake watching TV. Luckily, Ted Wheeler was already asleep, snoring loudly.
Classic.
Once in the basement, Eleven stood in the center of the room like she'd landed on an alien planet. Her eyes darted over the shelves, toys, lamps, the old couch blanket — everything.
Mike whispered, "Here, you can sit."
She didn't understand at first. Elias guided her to the couch gently. She perched on the edge, hands folded tightly.
Dustin paced. "Okay, so, we found a weird girl in the woods. She barely talks. She knows where Will is—maybe? Possibly? Probably? And she's terrified of something."
Lucas groaned. "And we brought her home. Great. Perfect. Nothing is dangerous about this at all."
Mike sat on the arm of a chair, watching Eleven. "She trusts Elias. That's something."
Elias sat across from her, giving her space. "Eleven… do you know Will?" he asked gently.
Eleven's breathing quickened.But she nodded.
Mike leaned forward. "Where is he?"
Eleven shook her head rapidly — "No. No," she whispered — tears forming in her eyes.
Elias picked up on the panic rising inside her. He slid off the chair and knelt next to her again. "It's okay. You don't have to tell us everything. Not tonight."
Eleven breathed shakily, then whispered something:
"Bad."
Dustin whispered, "Bad… what?"
Eleven pointed toward the basement door.
Then to the ceiling.Then to the woods.
Elias felt it — her fear slamming into him like cold water.
"Something bad came for Will," Elias translated.
Lucas exhaled sharply. "You think she saw it?"
Mike looked like his blood had turned to ice. "The growl we heard…"
Eleven curled into herself.
Elias whispered, "You're safe here. We won't let it hurt you."
When she looked up at him, eyes glassy, something unreadable passed between them.
A moment of trust.A moment of recognition.
Like she knew what he was.What he could do.
But she didn't say anything else. Instead, she leaned sideways against Elias weakly, exhausted. He stiffened — not expecting it — then relaxed and supported her gently.
Dustin whispered, "Dude… I think she likes you."
Lucas muttered, "I think we're all screwed."
Mike's jaw tightened. "Tomorrow, we go back out there. We find Will. With or without Hopper."
Elias nodded slowly, feeling Eleven's trembling ease as she drifted into an uneasy half-sleep against his shoulder.
But the fear inside her didn't fade.
And because of his ability, Elias felt every drop of it.
Somewhere in the dark outside Hawkins, something was hunting.