Not Just Another Number

The Storage Room

Sarah's POV

We all sit on the mall's roof, waiting for Erica to start moving. "Erica, do you copy?" I ask her through the walkie talkie. She answers back, voice slightly staticy. "Mmhmm, I copy. You nerds in position or what?"

"Yeah, we're in position." I answer her. I look at the others, who are all focused on the storage room door. Dustin's using the binoculars to see better. "It's all quiet here, so you've got the green light. Be careful."

"Commence operation, Child Endangerment."

I sigh at the name. "Can we maybe not call it that?" I ask, annoyed. She doesn't respond. I sigh again and put the radio on the ground. I lean back on my hands, staring at the storage room. "Now, we wait." I mumble.

Nobody shifts their gaze away from the door. The air around us is so tense, you could cut through it with a knife. Why is it, whenever something good happens, Hawkins just has to have something crazy happen?

I cough suddenly, making the others look back at me. "You good?" Christine asks, leaning back with me. I nod and wave my hand at her, covering my mouth with a fist as a few more coughs come up. It's not as bad as yesterday, so there's no blood.

I drop my hand and feel heat bloom in my chest, as if something was burning. I hiss under my breath, luckily not gaining anyone's attention. What's going on now? Is it something with Billy again?

Suddenly, the radio next to me comes to life with Erica's voice. "All right, nerds. I'm there."

I pick it up and lean forward, closer to the edge. "You see anything?" I ask. I hear her scoff from the other end. "Yeah, I see those boring boxes you're so excited about."

"Any guards?"

"Negative."

"Booby traps?"

"If I could see them, they'd be pretty shit traps, wouldn't they?" She sasses, making a small chuckle leave me. it's quiet on her end again. I look down at the radio in confusion. What happened? I look up again and see the doors leading to the storage room open.

Erica walks out, hands on her hips. "Free ice-cream. For Life." I smile and push myself up, grabbing my bag. I turn around quickly and walk to the door leading to the stairs. "Well, let's go." I say over my shoulder.

I rush down the stairs, taking two at a time. I just want to find out what's going on and be done with it, but, from past experience, this is probably going to bring up more questions. Only one way to find out.

I run out of the mall and over to the storage room, the others following behind me. I walk in, looking at all the boxes. Wonder what could be in them. I grab one from a shelf and bring it to the center of the room.

The others surround me, staring at the box in wonder, and slight fear. "You got anything to open that?" Steve asks, gesturing to the box. I nod and reach into my bag, fishing out a pocket knife.

"Why do you have a pocket knife on you?" Robin asks, voice raising in pitch at the end. I shrug and cut the box open. "Never know when you might need one."

I open the flaps on the box, revealing another box. But unlike the one it's in, this one is made of metal. Steve reaches in and opens that box. The top comes off easily, with steam coming out. Inside are four containers.

"That's definitely not Chinese food." He remarks. I nod. he reaches in again, attempting to take one out, and we all lean in closer to watch, but he notices that. "Maybe you guys should, you know, stand back." I roll my eyes, but comply.