There was an awful and heavy feeling sitting in the very bottom of Daisy's stomach, reminding her that something was very wrong. She could not explain the feeling, just that it was trying to tell her something. Almost like her body, her soul, knew something impossible, something that nobody else knew. Maybe it was just her conscious or maybe it was her sister trying to tell her to keep asking questions, to keep looking.

It had almost been a full week since her sister had gone missing, something the entire town was reeling with, but nobody had spoken up to question if Marigold Lonsdale hadn't simply just run away, like so many people believed. The only person that went against that common thought, was indeed little Daisy. "Chief Hopper, do you have a moment?"

Hawkins had gathered a lousy search party, sweeping the woods for any signs that Marigold had fled on foot, but nothing had been found. A few local stores had allowed posters to be hung up in windows and the Lonsdale family had called out of state friends and family, asking if their beloved eldest had visited. Weirdly though, nothing had been found. It seemed like Marigold had just disappeared into the night without any indication of where she went or whom she went with.

Chief Hopper, ridden with tiredness stared across at Daisy Lonsdale, sipping on his now cold coffee. He had been the leading man in discovering the whereabouts of Marigold, but with time passing, it seemed he was just grasping at straws. He knew very little about the Lonsdale family, never quite taking a liking to Molly Lonsdale, which meant her children were usually casted aside in his mind. "Daisy, you do realise you should be at school." he grunted, resting back in his chair. The poor girl had been down at the station nearly every day since that night, questioning and in a way, telling the man how to do his job. He did not appreciate that.

"I know, sir." Daisy noted sternly, stepping into his office anyway. She eyed the messy desk, paperwork overflowing the space and a framed photograph of his daughter sitting tall and mighty. She knew bits and pieces about Jim Hopper, the saddest detail about his dear daughter that had passed away. "But it's been nearly a full week and nothing."

Chief Hopper shifted in his seat, his heart bleeding for the girl nonetheless. He had gone over the case again and again, studying the facts and running the details through his head countless of times. There had even been a few sleepless nights trying to figure out what had happened. "Daisy, we've been through this. Most teenagers aren't actually missing. Marigold most likely found herself too big for Hawkins and thought her life would be greater somewhere else."

"Marigold didn't just flee town," Daisy jolted out with, dropping into the chair before his desk, her hands wringing together. Her mother, her friends, everybody in town had their own opinions about the case. Marigold always thought she was better than Hawkins. She's most likely run off with some boy. So many opinions, but none of them were correct. "Marigold hated Hawkins, sure, but she wouldn't run away. She wasn't like that."

A stiff silence filled the room, Chief Hopper sighing loudly. He had spoken with Molly Lonsdale and he knew about the argument the night Marigold had left town. He knew the girl didn't feel suited to a place like this and wanted a way out, she had spoken to many town people about that. So, it was no surprise really, that she had up and left one night. "Look kid, it's sad news. But we're doing our best to locate her, make sure she's safe, but right now, we can't do much."

"She didn't just leave!" Daisy started desperately, "She fought with our mother so many nights, this time wasn't all that different, and yes, she told everybody that would listen that she'd leave one day, but she would not run without telling us, without telling me."

Chief Hopper leaned forward in his chair, searching her face. He honestly did want to help take away that confusion and pain he knew was circling around in her mind. He wanted to inform her that Marigold was missing, maybe taken in the night, but he knew better. "I spoke with her friends from school," he admitted slowly. "They said she spoke about leaving town and how she had a plan to stay in the city and rent an apartment. Apparently, she'd been saving money for months. They mentioned something about an older boy too. Marigold isn't missing, she's just...gone."

Daisy was frowning with the sudden news. She knew her sister had always dreamt of leaving Hawkins and renting some cute one bedroom apartment with a fire escape so she could sit upon at night and watch the stars. Daisy knew that dream, she had helped develop that dream. But it didn't make sense. Marigold had told her nothing about this plan to leave home at sixteen or anything about an older boy out of town. Quickly, something was snapping in her mind. "Who told you all this? Which friends?"

"Um, Steve Harrington and those other two kids..." Chief Hopper answered, watching the girl's face closely. He could practically see her mind turning with the new information and only hoped this could sooth some of the pain in her chest. It did the very opposite though.

Quickly, Daisy was hurrying to her feet and mumbling out a goodbye. The young girl didn't even have time to question him further, already having somewhere else to be in this very moment.

***

Hawkins High School's carpark was nearly empty that afternoon, dark clouds rolling in from the south. Wind nibbled at Daisy's skin, her hair whipping around like she was caught in a storm. Her heart quickened when she spied Steve Harrington and his friends, all huddled around his car and laughing like the sky wasn't falling and their supposed friend was not missing. Daisy's boots slapped against the concrete and there was a fiery rage in her eyes as she stalked towards them.

"You dirty, lying bastards!" Daisy shouted at the three of them, her lungs feeling like they had been set on fire. Without question, her hands were pushing against Steve's chest, his lanky body jolting backwards a few inches. He was staring hard at her, words beginning to pour from his mouth, but she was not finished. "Marigold was your friend, how could you lie and pretend she just randomly fled town with some grand plan? A plan I know is total crap."

Steve was blowing out a huff, straightening his shirt. "We didn't lie."

Daisy's glare turned towards Carol and Tommy H. both standing there silently with fat and ugly smirks dancing across their faces. Daisy had never understood why Marigold had wanted these three kids as her friends. These kids were just rich party brats that didn't care about anybody but themselves. She hated them. "That's bullshit, Steve Harrington." Daisy hissed back at him, throwing her fists against his chest again. "There was no plan. There was no older boy. You three lied to Hopper. Why?"

Steve didn't have an answer, his face black from any remorse. Daisy could feel her anger slipping with his pretty face, knowing damn well this boy was covering something up. She was pushing away any nice and sweet memories she had with Steve Harrington, washing away the good times they had shared in the Lonsdale basement when Marigold was busy chatting on the landline. In that very moment, Steve Harrington had become the enemy. "Why did you fucking lie, Harrington?" Daisy cried desperately, her thumps against his chest becoming harder. "She's gone because of you and I want to know why!"

Quickly, arms were wrapping around her waist and pulling her away from Steve, who was cursing loudly, trying to cover up one lie with another. Hot tears were spilling down Daisy's cheeks, the emotions that had been building up over the course of the week finally being let free. "Daisy..." A quiet voice sounded in her ear, but with a fierce force, she was pushing away Jonathan Byers, who had stepped in and dragged her away before she caused too much damage and found herself in more trouble.

"Don't touch me." Daisy hissed across at him, pushing her hair from her eyes as tears continued to fall down her cheeks. Somehow, she had managed to bite down on her bottom lip in the struggle, blood gathering in her mouth.

Tommy H. was glaring across at her. "You better stay away, Lonsdale. You psycho."

Jonathan Byers was watching the Lonsdale girl, watching her heart break in that very moment with the reality that somehow, Marigold was not coming home anytime soon, and that had something do to with these three teenagers. She wouldn't believe her sister would just leave town, which meant something had happened and she would not forget this.

Wiping a droplet of blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes narrowed back onto Steve Harrington, who was standing frozen, something new shining in his eyes, maybe it was guilt. Daisy didn't look away from him, making a promise that day. A promise that would break in a little over a years' time.