December 27th 1986

The hospital room was on the darker side as two small lights illuminated Will's room. The sound of the heart monitor and a breathing apparatus were the only sounds in a room that was dead quiet otherwise. Will Byers was in a coma and has been in one for a week. Other than the massive head trauma from the accident, the only thing majorly wrong was a broken arm and brusing. If Will wasn't in a coma he would of gone home by now.

Will noticed he couldn't come to consciousness and was like stuck asleep. He tried but couldn't wake up. All he remembers is being terrified as the truck slammed into Chance's car. Will wondered if he died or something, which considering he was a Byers, would be par for the course. It seems like that is his fate since Lonnie, his Mom and Jonathan all perished in the last 2 years. Why not add himself to the list and do away with the misery being a Byers entailed. Since he saw none of the signs he was dead like people said that happened when they had near-death experiences, he either was a ghost or in a coma. He heard a doctor and a couple nurses talk before so he thinks he is in a coma. It explains why he feels like a prisoner in his own body. Will hopes he isn't stuck here forever because he wants to get out of Hawkins one day if he can help it.

As Will was thinking, he started seeing things like he was looking through someone else's eyes. He saw a dark hallway in a large house with big doors. The person entered a large bedroom with a messy bed, a drum set and electric guitar setup. Was Will in someone else's body or was he tied up in their eye sight. Will tried to move the body he was in but couldn't, this is reminding him of the Mindflayer incident of 1984. Will was like a passenger in his own body watching something else control his movements. When Will arrived back in Hawkins, the Upside Down entities tried to get in touch with Will but Will was able to like 'change the channel' so he didn't have to listen to the incessant 'join me' and other things he didn't want to hear. Now he is wondering why he is caught up in another person's life. The person who is pounding away on the drum set.

Will is wondering why he can see through this person's eyes. Will let these images go on for a half-hour before he tried something. Will screamed who is this? Can you hear me? into the nothingness. As soon as Will did this he heard squeeling and screeching and squelching noises like you hear on a microphone. All of a sudden Will could hear noise with the picture now. He saw the person drop their drumsticks and ask who's there? Will knew now this was a real person.

"Um, it seems like I am seeing through your eyes literally. What is your name? Mine is Will." Will didn't know what to do next.

"Well how long have seeing through my eyes and in my mind, Will?" This voice was trying to come off as tough , but sounded unsure and almost scared.

"From the moment you entered the room and started playing the drums." Will answered.

"Well you can just leave now. It is creepy that you are in my mind. I don't want you around when I am going to take a shower and stuff." The person in Will's vision made it clear they want Will to go away, which Will thinks is very reasonable because Will wouldn't want a stranger watching him also. Will doesn't know how to turn off the vision but will try to 'change the channel' like he did with the Upside Down.

"Ok." Will tried 'changing the channel' for 20 minutes until he didn't see the person's point of view through their eyes. He was relieved he didn't freak out the poor guy that got saddled with Will. Will wondered if that guy could see what Will could until he realized he was in a literal coma so all that guy would see is the back side of his eyelids. Will is going to try not to spy or bother him unless he can't help it.

Will didn't know what time it was but time didn't have much meaning for Will. All he knew is he rested for a while since talking to the guy that he watched. All Will knows is that he can hear the rhythmic beeping of the machine he is hooked up to. The room was deathly silent otherwise, with nobody visiting him. Will thought about what he is going to do after High School. In a few months he will be 16 years old and will be graduated at 17 at the latest. Will thought about leaving even though he is underage. Would the peace corps be interested in him? He could sneak into that for 2 years until he can go to college. Will was thinking about being some kind of world traveler when his reverie was cut short. Will was sucked onto the stranger's mind again. He saw the stranger going through a dark hallway to a door. He opened the door and waited in the shadows in a bedroom. After a while a blonde haired woman left the bathroom wearing a robe walking to her bed. This guy snook up on her and she turned around startled and managed to get out Miles before his hand reached around her neck and pushed her into a mirror which cracked where her head was pushed forcefully into it. That woman was so shocked she was frozen in place with a look of fear while Will heard a creepy voice that didn't belong to the stranger 'William Byers, welcome to my reality. You will be helping me soon...'. After this happened the voice disappeared and the stranger turned around and left her room going to his room. He felt Will in him and was irritated.

"Will, what the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away."

"Why did you slam that woman's head into that mirror? What is wrong with you?" Will was exasperated.

"Which woman? I didn't slam anyone's head into a mirror. Are you sure you didn't do it Will?" The stranger asked Will.

"What, no I didn't do it. All I know is I was minding my own business when I was brought into your mind against my will and forced to watch what happened. A blonde haired woman was in a robe coming out of the bathroom when you slammed her head into a mirror. Right afterwards a creepy voice said my name and said I would be helping him soon. If you didn't hurt the woman...," a feeling of realization came over Will, "is an evil entity that possess your mind sometimes. Believe me I actually know what that is like." Will tried to get through to this person. "Can I ask what your name is?"

"Are you some kind of ghost Will, or or a sprit guide or something?"

"No, nothing that glamorous. I am just a 15 year old boy stuck in a coma in Indiana." Will tried some levity. "Can I ask what your name is?"

"Uhh, yes. My name is Miles Fairchild and I am 16 years old living in Maine. What do you mean you are in a coma, Will?"

"Yes, um I was in a car accident with a friend from school and the next thing I know is I am in a coma for who knows how long but I think it was the Friday before Christmas. How long have I been out?" Will asked.

"Well it is the 28th of December so a little over a week or so." Miles answers. "What is your last name Will?" Miles asked gently.

"Byers, my name is William Byers but I prefer Will. Was your Christmas good Miles because I missed it."

"Considering my parents are dead and it's just my sister and I orphaned being taken care of by my housekeeper and a stranger named Kate, than yes it was good." Miles bit out sarcastically.

"Well, you aren't the only one orphaned Miles. At least you still have your sister. I lost my entire family this last year and got shipped almost across the country to my foster parents who are basically strangers to me. I can understand how losing your parents sucks." Will tried to strike a tone with Miles.

Miles replied back shyly "Will, what happened to your family? More importantly, how do you know what being possessed is like?"

"It is a long story Miles." Will let out.

"I have time Will and so do you since you are in a coma and all." Miles snorted at the absurdity of it all.

"Ok Miles, it started..." Will spent an hour telling Miles about the mindflayer to Jonathan dying to moving back to Hawkins. Will knew this person was a complete stranger but Will felt a bond with this person. It was like they were meant to be friends since they could understand each other. Will hoped Miles wouldn't push him away.

"That is a story Will. I believe you since it is too detailed to be made up. That and you are in my head telling me about all this stuff. I am glad you told it to me though." Miles thought he liked this Will Byers and wanted to get to know him better. This person doesn't bore him like others his age do.

"Miles, can I ask you about yourself, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Miles thought Will was considerate and because he is a gentleman Miles will tell him. Miles spent over 30 minutes telling Will about his life. Will listened patiently and was happy Miles trusted him enough to tell him things. "Miles, who was that awful voice that assaulted Kate?"

"I am not ready to tell you about him yet. I will later. I would like to talk some more but I have to sleep." Miles cut off the conversation.

"Yes Miles, I should also. I will change the channel to give you privacy." Will left Miles alone but he changed the channel to much and ran into this Vecna person and a creature Will didn't ever want to feel or see ever again, the Mindflayer. Will changed the channel to get away from the two and was terrified to get rest for a while. Just because he was in a coma didn't mean Will's mind was well rested though.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday, December 31st, 1986

Will found out in the last few days that Miles could contact him when he wanted to talk. Will and Miles talked about 5 times in the last few days. Will liked and was starting to develop feelings for this guy. He told Will about his life and tonight he was going to tell Will what he wanted to know.

Will was visited by Roger and Judy for about 20 minutes before they left a day ago. It was their first visit since the accident. Also Nancy Wheeler visited Will twice so far which Will was shocked about but also enjoyed a lot. Nancy was one of the bright spots in Will's move back to Hawkins. She treated him like a person and spent some time with him. Right before the accident Will spent over triple the time with her than with Mike. Nancy of course wants Will around because she thinks he could help take down Vecna. Will had to lie to her about not feeling him because Will could care less about ever knowing what he is up to. He lost his whole family so the world ending isn't very pressing for Will. In fact he almost welcomes it.

Mike on the other hand didn't show but Will didn't expect him to. Will basically broke up with him in not so many words. If the roles were reversed Will would see Mike but Mike never cared about Will like Will cares about Mike.

Will had Miles trying to contact him. Miles was a huge brightspot in this accident. Will liked that Miles understood him and his challenges.

"Will, are you there?"

"Hi Miles, what's happening?"

"Hi Will. I just wanted to see if you gotten better or are still in your coma."

"Still in the coma. At least my foster parents visited yesterday for a short time."

"Yeah that sucks. I want to tell you about the man you want to know about. He struck again last night and scared Flora and Kate. Maybe with our brains we can figure out how to get rid of him. Anyway the scruffy man you are concerned about was our stable and grounds manager and riding instructor named Quint. He wasn't a very good man. He sexually assaulted our last live in tutor and he did awful things to me also. He fed me liquor all the time and one night he.... hurt me. When that happened Mrs. Grose pushed him off the top flight of stairs into the floor below which killed him. That was over a year ago. He still stayed around in spirit form. Now he torments us on certain occasions. If we can find a way to get rid of him it would be nice." Miles felt a weight coming off his shoulders telling Will this.

Will told Miles about the Upside Down and Mindflayer and if they could find a way to get Quint in the alternate dimension. Miles told additional information on how Quint shows up.

"Why do you think Quint wants you Will. What kind of powers do you have for him to take advantage of?"

"I am not powerful at all so far. All I have is this true sight to see in the other dimension and a brain wired to remember and come up with crazy solutions and do well in school. If I have something else I don't know about it yet. All I can come up with is he wants to tap into the power of the Mindflayer and Upside Down. Wait, I will try to think of something. I need time though." Will felt like it might be possible to help Miles.

"Let me know what you come up with Will. Did any if your friends visit you in the hospital yet?"

"Just one and she is the sister of my ex-best friend. I don't think he will show at all."

"If I were in Hawkins I would visit you often. You deserve more than the crappy treatment you have gotten. You said you are a foster child. I could have our estate lawyer look into the Fairchild estate adopting you. At least you will be cared for like you should be. It is bullshit you are treated like some piece of meat."

"I appreciate that Miles, but I am a freak with a secret that if you knew, you would never talk to me again. I don't want to disappoint you." Will sounded on the verge of tears when he told Miles that.

"We are all freaks Will. Since you told me your biggest secrets I am guessing you are gay or a serial killer."

"Yes Miles I am gay. I probably disgust you. I am so sorry but I can't control it." Will was in tears in his mind which Miles hears.

"I think I like you better now Byers. I am bi myself so we have some common ground. I definitely will look into the adoption thing." Miles now knows Will is capable of loving him back as he wants him to.

"Thanks Miles." Will thought about the challenge of getting Quint into the Upside Down. After mulling it over Will came up with the solution. Maybe they can end this tomorrow. Will drifted off thinking about living away from Hawkins.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday January 1st, 1987

Will's plan is basically ready to go. It isn't much of a plan but Will doesn't think it matters since he is in a coma anyways. All he has to do is contact Miles and find out when they are going to light this candle.

Miles will contact Will at 9-9:30 PM to put the plan in action. All Will has to do is wait.

Will heard footsteps and then a chair was dragged alongside him. A person sat next to Will and cleared their throat before talking.

"Hey Will." Will recognized the voice as Mikes. "I am sorry I didn't come to see you sooner, but I had a hard time with seeing you like this. It's just that I lost friends from Vecna and trauma but it is hard to look at you because I can only blame myself for losing you. I wish we could erase what happened on that Friday afternoon and go back to how we used to be when you were my best and closest friend. I miss my kind and supportive Cleric so much. I thought at one time El, you and I would always be together throughout high school because we need each other, I still need you guys." Mike's voice cracked up and he started sobbing. "I told you that Chance wasn't to be trusted. I don't know if you know but he died 3 days after the accident. Now he can't hurt anyone else." Will was mad that Mike saw Chance that way. Will also was surprised that Chance died. He was good to Will and Will felt guilty missing his funeral.

"I lost so much this last year I can't stand losing anyone else. You are the only one to understand since you lost more than I have and I am sorry you had to suffer again. You don't deserve any of what happened to you. Please wake up Will. I can't lose another Party member, especially you." Mike cried for a few minutes. Will felt his heart breaking over again because he knows Mike is seriously sorry and has remorse over what happened to the Party and what Will has lost. Will has feelings for Mike but will gladly settle for being his friend. Will has to get ready for later so he tries to bury his feelings. It doesn't help that Mike pulled out a book to read to Will.

"Will, I know you like fantasy stories so I thought you would like this one. It is called The Sleeping Dragon and is the first book of the series. I found it in the High School library." Mike started to read the story. It was interesting but made it hard to plan. Will was happy just knowing Mike actually cared to be mad about it. Mike read for a