Time After Time (a Stranger Things fanfiction)

The Gambler

"The Gambler"

You've got to know when to hold 'em

Know when to fold 'em

Know when to walk away

Know when to run

- Kenny Rogers

Joyce's fingers were shaking as she dialed the number for her house. She let it ring a long time, but she could practically hear the sound echo through the empty house. Okay, so they weren't at her house, she thought, her fingers automatically dialing a second time just in case. No reason to panic. They could be—they could be anywhere.

That wasn't a reason to panic, either, she told herself, as the phone rang and rang in her empty house. The kids spent half their time outside, roaming the fields of Hawkins. They were fine.

Of course, that was before strange things from a dark, dead version of Hawkins started stalking her child. Her breath came fast, her heart thudding against her ribs as she dialed Mike's house. The phone rang a long time there, too, before it was picked up by the answering machine. Karen's calm voice: "You've reached the Wheeler residence. Leave a message at the tone."

Joyce didn't bother. What was she going to say, "call me back at this weird guy's house"? Hardly. She dialed again, and this time Karen picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Karen, it's Joyce. Are the kids over there?"

Karen held the phone away from her mouth and shouted "Mike!" After a moment, she came back on the line. "I don't think so, Joyce. You want me to check the basement?"

"Please. If you wouldn't mind."

There was a silence and then Karen's voice came back. "No, they're not here. Is anything wrong?"

"No! No, nothing's wrong. Just ... checking in. You know how I am with Will these days." She gave that half-apologetic laugh that came so naturally while she was calling herself a lunatic. "If they come in—if you see them, um—" What should she say? "Tell them an old friend of Will's might be in town, and they should watch for him." Maybe they would get that. No, they were smart, they would get that.

"An old friend of Will's, and they should watch for him," Karen repeated, slowly, as if she was writing it down. "Anything else?"

"No, that's it."

"You know what, Joyce?" Karen said suddenly. "I bet they're at the festival. We were just heading over there with Holly."

"Oh, of course! I completely forgot. If you see them—"

"I'll tell them."

"Great. Thanks, Karen!" Joyce hung up, leaning out into the room. "Hopper!"

He and Murray both came into the room where the phone sat. "What?"

"I can't reach the kids, but I'm pretty sure they're at the festival. You think they're okay there?"

"Festival?" He looked blank.

"Yeah, you know, the Mayor's whole big Fourth of July deal?"

"Oh, yeah. That. You think they went there?"

"I think they're kids and it's a carnival, so ... yeah. You think they're okay there?" Joyce repeated.