There was a sad madness in simplicity; when the world felt too simple, too normal that's when one poor boy's head began to sing and everything he thought was behind him, everything he thought he could pretend wasn't going on screamed loudly. The voices in Duncan Downings head reminded him he was not average and he never would be again.

The block party had been a wonderful success, the night growing cool around the guests that nibbled up the baked goods and sipped at fruit punch. The Lonsdale family actually thought their life could one day be classified as picture perfect on the outside. The long lost daughter had returned, the forgotten dead boy had found his way home and the youngest, saddest daughter could finally let her guard down because the shadows didn't crawl towards her now. The mother could find peace, the crazy aunt was not deemed completely bonkers because all her theories had been true. The grandfather could go back to pretending his family was not a thorn in his side. But sadly, on one cool fall evening those hopeful realities were smashed into a million pieces.

"Duncan, are you okay?" Dottie Fields's voice broke through the calming party atmosphere, everyone jerking their attention to the boy who was bent down on his hands and knees, maybe fallen from his attempt at rollerblading to try and be normal. "Hey, it's just some blood...it's okay." She was trying her hardest at comforting him but, it was very clear he was not hunched over in pain because of a bloodied knee.

It was Marigold Lonsdale pushing through the sea of guests, leaving Nancy Wheeler at the refreshments table alone. Her heart was thumping against her ribcage, knowing exactly what was going on with her cousin. Mike Wheeler was frowning deeply, not quite sure what was going on when Marigold reached him alongside Dottie. "I don't know what happened..." His words were mumbled.

Dottie agreed, her voice clipped. "One moment we were just rollerblading and the next second, he was dropping to the pavement in pain." The three teenagers glanced upon the older boy, who was pressing his fingertips to his temple now, his eyes squeezed shut tightly.

"What's going on?" Molly Lonsdale peered down at him too, removing the apron that had been tied around her waist from cooking inside the house. Guests still watched the scene and that made her skin prickle with nerves. Her chin jerked back to spot her father, Fredrick Lonsdale, who eyed the situation with particular interest and mild disgust.

Marigold was dropping to her knees without thinking, the dirty ground staining her brand new dress but she didn't mind too much. The only thing she wanted to do was reach through to her cousin because she was maybe the only person in the world that could stop his mind from screaming with voices. "He's okay," she announced loudly, trying to control the problem. A few odd guests turned their attention away, not interested any longer. "Duncan, hey, it's me. Listen to my voice, okay? Only mine."

Duncan's head was tilting upwards, his eyes slowly opening and landing on the girl who had found him once upon a time and told him he didn't have to be so alone anymore because the bad men were all gone and he could come home. He tried to listen to only her voice; the sweetness of her delicate tune. But he could still hear the thoughts from nearly every single guest gawking at him still.

What's that kid's problem? Everyone always mentioned the Lonsdale family were nothing but a bunch of nutters. Come on, why do they even put up with that crazy aunt? And why does nobody ever mention that both their husbands are dead? That's odd to me. They should have left him alone. That poor boy is probably scared for life.

Every single word hummed so loudly in his mind and it took everything inside of him to keep the voices at bay. For a brief second, he squeezed his eyes shut again and that's when the power controlling his mind faded just briefly. A trickle of blood dripped from his nose and Marigold was wiping it away with her sleeve before anybody could notice, but one boy did. Mike Wheeler had seen that very same occurrence with another girl and he wasn't about to forget it.

"Let's get him inside. He just needs some rest." Marigold noted quickly, her hands moving under his armpits and helping him to his feet. Dottie was circling around the boy to help too, and together they fumbled towards the house. Molly Lonsdale followed behind them, her lips pursed together in a tight line as she started damage control with guests.

***

When the news of the oddness of Duncan reached Daisy Lonsdale, who had spent the remaining night in the backyard with Steve Harrington, laughing about stupid things and forgetting about the little fact her heart jumped crazily in her chest when he gave her a lop-sided smile. Their private time in the dark shadows were broken when Jonathan Byers came looking for her, not even a little bit surprised to find them together.

"Uh, hey," he greeted them quietly, rocking back on his heels. He always hated such events and would have rather stayed home listening to records or playing around with Will, but his mother had made a point to socialise a little bit more with town folk. He had a feeling that had to do with her new boyfriend, Bob. "Your sister is looking for you, Daisy. She's upstairs with your cousin. He...uh, he had a strange fall just before."

Daisy was scurrying to her feet, her fleeting sweet moments shared with a boy seeping away from her mind. She was brushing by Jonathan with a grunted thanks, before hurrying around the side of the house. She had almost made it inside before she was stopped by her grandfather, a man that somewhat spooked her. "Daisy, how's Duncan?"

She paused. "I'm just about to check on him."

Fredrick Lonsdale gave a little grunt. "I mean, how's he adjusting?"

"He's...fine," Daisy replied hastily, wondering why her grandfather was acting so strange. The boy in question was his own grandson, surely he would be glad he had returned to the family. But weirdly, with the coy look in Fredrick's eyes, Daisy found herself questioning him. "I'm sure he's just sick or something. There is this dreadful flu going around."

Her grandfather gave a brief nod of his head, his attention slipping away from her which allowed her to head back inside and race upstairs. When she finally made it to the landing, she found Marigold standing in the spare room's doorway, her head rested against the doorframe. Daisy stepped up to her, shoulder almost touching her own. Inside the bedroom Aunt Beatrice was sitting besides her son, her soft hands brushing the thick blond hair from his forehead while she hummed a sweet lullaby for him.

"What happened?" Daisy questioned.

Marigold feared the worst, knowing Duncan possessed something nobody could quite understand. It was a painful secret she had taken upon herself to keep, knowing it could put the dear boy in danger when the only thing he had been searching for was safety. She never mentioned their cousin could hear voices in his head, could read minds. That would most likely cause another uproar within her family and Marigold was not about to risk that. "I think he's just got a migraine or something. He'll be fine by tomorrow, we shouldn't worry."

"Okay," Daisy noted. "Grandfather was asking about him downstairs—"

The older sister turned her chin towards her. "Don't tell him anything about Duncan. Not a single thing, okay? We can't...it's just not the right time. Promise me."

Daisy didn't question it. "I promise."

A creaking sound on the staircase snapped the girls' attention and they found Steve Harrington nearly at the top of the landing, eyes glued to them both. He offered a little half smile in greeting, only wanting to check on Duncan too. Marigold was turning her gaze back to the bedroom without a bad thought about Steve or her sister. "Head back downstairs, Daisy. Enjoy your night, yeah? There's some new movies in the basement that might keep you and Steve entertained."

The youngest Lonsdale went to open her mouth and remind her sister that there was nothing but friendship between herself and Steve Harrington, but her heart just was not in it tonight. Sweetly, she placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze before turning back to the boy waiting for her with a smile painted on her lips. He returned it without hesitation.