The Next-Door Down

Hopper

As you cycled along the road, the wintry breeze rustled your hair.

It felt eerie yet comforting at the same time, like some part deep inside of you belonged here at the...

Your thoughts stopped abruptly as the bike did when you saw Will's bicycle.

But it wasn't just Will's bicycle there.

Now, it was surrounded by caution tape and a man dressed in light brown was examining it.

He whipped his head around as he heard your bike whirring across the path.

"(Your/dad's/name)'s daughter, Uh, Y/n, I think that's your name." The forgetful man shouts.

It was non other than Jim Hopper, Chief of Police in Hawkins, Indiana.

Your father's old pal.

With a cigarette between his lips and the stench of liquor surrounding him, he beckoned you over.

"Y/n, you are the one that those nerds were talking about! What do you know about the.. the bike here!"

He forced the last couple of words aggressively but calmed down quickly after with a quick puff from his fag.

You slide off your saddle and stand on the floor with one foot on each side of the frame.

"I—"

At that exact moment, your mind went blank.

You had no idea what to say, your mind felt dark and empty, the only thing coming to mind was the laboratory.

But no! You couldn't say that! They'd find your parents bodies! Then you'd be out of Hawkins forever! Adopted! Your new friends would become old ones before you'd even got to know them.

"I'm not sure," You say, not straying far from the truth, "I was just cycling by when I saw his bike—"

Hopper cut you off before you could finish and for once you were thankful for it.

"When exactly did you find it?"

You would've answered this one but since you had fainted back in the lab, you had no idea what time it was when you found it.

"I don't know... sorry." You say, shrugging and looking downwards.

Trying not to think of the lab, the monster or the gate.

The chief of the police held his gaze, staring at you.

It was almost as if he was judging your credibility.

Maybe he knew that you were hiding something.

Maybe he wasn't as oblivious as you and the party had originally thought.

Maybe he—

"Alright, y/n, you should probably go, your parents will be waiting. Tell (your/dad's/name) that I said hi!" He says breaking the silence.

You swiftly nod before clambering back onto your bike and riding back towards your house.

Only hoping that he didn't notice the tears that had begun to stream down your face at the mention of your dad's name.