[ Location: Hawkins General Hospital ][ Time: Two Days Later ]
Will woke up.
It was a miracle. He was weak, coughing, but he was Will. Joyce wouldn't let go of him. Jonathan was asleep in the chair.
We visited him. We brought him comics. We didn't talk about the monster. We didn't talk about El.
[ Time Jump: One Month Later - December 24th ]
The snow was falling in Hawkins. It covered the scars of the town, making everything look clean and white.
[ Location: The Frostwell Home Gym ][ Time: 6:00 AM ]
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
My knuckles slammed into the heavy bag.
"Left, right, hook. Duck. Uppercut."
I wasn't the scrawny kid who got knocked out by a rock anymore. I had grown. Maybe it was the lingering effects of the dimension hop, or maybe it was just puberty hitting like a freight train, but I had filled out. Muscles corded my arms. My shoulders were broader.
I wiped sweat from my forehead.
'System. Status.'
[ Vivan Frostwell ][ Telekinesis: Level 4 (Mastery: 12%) ][ Remote Viewing: Level 3 (Mastery: 85%) ][ Inventory: Skill Upgrade Token (Unused). ]
I focused on the heavy bag.
'Push.'
I didn't lift a hand. I just looked at it.
[ Ability Active: Telekinesis. ]
The 100-pound bag flew across the room and slammed into the wall with a bone-shaking crash. No nosebleed. No headache. Just a slight tingle behind my eyes.
'Level 4 allows for multi-object manipulation and heavy lifting. Remote Viewing is now painless and can sustain for 30 minutes.'
I grabbed my towel. I was little handsome now—or at least, that's what the mirror said. The "rich kid" look finally worked for me.
I grabbed a Tupperware container from the kitchen. It was filled with triple-decker Eggo sandwiches with whipped cream and Hershey's kisses.
"Going out?" my mom asked, sipping her coffee. She was calmer now, though she still hated me leaving the house.
"Just to the woods," I said. "Checking the... wildlife."
[ Location: Mirkwood - The Wooden Box ][ Time: 7:00 AM ]
I walked to the clearing. There was a wooden box hidden under a tarp. Hopper put food in it.
But he wasn't the only one.
I sat on a log nearby. I closed my eyes.
'Remote Viewing.'
I didn't project far. Just nearby.
I saw her.
She was watching me from behind a tree. Her hair was growing back—curly, brown. She looked healthier. She was wearing a thick flannel coat that definitely belonged to Hopper.
"I know you're there, El," I said aloud, opening my eyes.
She stepped out. She smiled.
"Vivan."
She ran to me. I caught her, spinning her around. She laughed.
"You look good," I said, putting her down. "Hopper treating you okay?"
"Safe," she nodded. "He is... strict. But safe."
"I brought Christmas," I handed her the Tupperware.
She opened it. Her eyes lit up. "Eggos."
"Secret Eggos," I reminded her. "Hopper can't know I know."
She nodded, stuffing her face. "Secret."
We sat there for an hour, just talking. I told her about school. About how Nancy and Steve were back together, but Steve was actually being a decent guy. How they were both friends with Jonathan now. A weird little triangle of trauma bonding.
"I have to go," I said, checking my watch. "Christmas party at the Wheelers'."
"Snow Ball?" she asked, a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
"Not yet," I said. "Soon. I promise."
I kissed her forehead. "Merry Christmas, El."
"Merry Christmas," she whispered.
[ Location: The Byers' Residence ][ Time: 8:00 PM ]
The party was in full swing. Mike gave El's old Supercom to Will as a present. Everyone was laughing.
Will excused himself to go to the bathroom.
I watched him go. I narrowed my eyes.
'Remote Viewing.'
I projected into the bathroom.
Will was coughing. He gagged, leaning over the sink.
He coughed up... a slug. A green, slimy thing. It swirled down the drain.
Will wiped his mouth. He looked in the mirror. He looked terrified. But he didn't scream. He fixed his hair, put on a fake smile, and walked back out to the party.
I snapped back to my body.
'It's not over,' I thought, sipping my punch. 'Season 2 is loading.'
I touched the Skill Upgrade Token in my mental inventory.
'Good. Because I'm just getting started.'
[ End of Season 1 ]
Next stop: The World of Harry Potter.
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