Stranger Things: Chapter 4 – Meeting in the Shadows
The night had fallen over Hawkins, cold and heavy, and the forest behind the Wheeler house was alive with rustling leaves and strange, almost imperceptible whispers. Mike, Lucas, and Dustin had returned yet again, desperate for any trace of Will. Their flashlights cut narrow paths through the trees, illuminating nothing but shadows.
Elias trailed silently, faster now, feeling the growing pulse of unnatural energy. The deeper into the woods they went, the stronger the sensation became—a cold, jagged pressure in the air, like the world itself was being pulled thin.
Scene: The Encounter
A sudden cry—a small, frightened voice—echoed through the clearing. The boys froze.
"Did you hear that?" Mike whispered, gripping his flashlight tightly.
"It's… it's a girl," Dustin said nervously, stepping forward. "Someone's there!"
From the shadows, a small figure emerged, crouched and wary. She was pale, fragile, her face damp. The boys' eyes widened.
"She… she doesn't have anyone with her," Mike said, taking a cautious step closer.
Elias stayed in the background, partially hidden behind trees. He could feel the girl's fear and confusion radiating off her like heat. He didn't move forward—he didn't need to. Instead, he focused on the shadows creeping around the clearing, feeling every tiny hazard—branches, uneven ground, thorns—and absorbed the potential injuries into himself, wincing but remaining unseen.
The girl looked at the boys, her eyes wide, uncertain. Her presence was strange, powerful, and terrifying in a way the boys couldn't explain.
Scene: Discreet Protection
As the boys approached, a branch snapped behind them. Lucas froze, ready to stumble, but Elias moved with lightning speed, brushing past him to absorb the minor scrape that would have resulted. Pain flared sharply in Elias's chest, but Lucas remained steady.
The girl flinched as a small creature—a shadowy, skittering thing—darted from the edge of the clearing. Elias reacted instantly, taking on the minor cuts and bruises that the boys would have sustained from falling or scraping against the forest floor. The creature recoiled, then disappeared into the darkness.
Dustin gasped. "What the hell was that?"
Elias stayed hidden, chest heaving slightly, his secret toll growing heavier. He couldn't afford to be seen—not now.
Scene: Realization
Mike crouched slightly, speaking gently. "Hey… are you okay? We're trying to find someone. Can you help us?"
The girl's eyes darted between them, hesitant. Then, slowly, she stepped forward. Her presence carried an unspoken weight, an almost supernatural authority that made the boys instinctively cautious.
Elias watched her carefully. He didn't know her name, didn't know her story—but he could sense she had power, and she was vulnerable. A dangerous combination. If anyone was going to get hurt here, he would take it.
And he would do it without a word.
Scene: Leaving the Woods
After a tense moment, the girl moved further into the shadows, disappearing almost as suddenly as she had appeared. The boys were left staring, speechless, caught between awe and fear.
Elias followed behind, unseen. He felt the lingering aches from the injuries he had absorbed, but he didn't complain. The boys had survived, and the girl—whatever she was—remained unharmed.
Hawkins slept below, unaware of the danger that had brushed so close. Elias pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the sharp pulses of minor injuries he had taken on, already preparing himself for whatever came next.
This is only the beginning, he thought. And I'll be ready.