The Next-Door Down

Chief of Police

You park your bike in the garage and fiddle with the key to the house as quickly as you could in hopes that the police officer wouldn't spot you and strike up conversation.

However, it seemed that whoever was in the car wanted to speak to you specifically.

The lights of the vehicle flashed and your heard the doors chirp.

You whipped your head around to the sound of heavy footsteps behind you.

It was the chief of police.

"Hey Y/n, is your dad home?" He asked.

"Err.. no sorry.." You say anxiously shuffling your feet.

When the chief raised an eyebrow you decided to make up an excuse.

"Yeah, it's annoying, for him and for us, you see it's a long shift for him tonight." You smile, slightly proud of how credible your excuse sounded.

"Oh well, is your mum in then?" He says, he looked worn out.

Quick think of an excuse

"They do the long shifts together, you know, to make them go faster." You answer.

"Oh.." The man looked broken.

"Why what's up?" You ask, a little disheartened seeing the man who was supposed to run this down as depressed looking as he was.

"Well, as you know, Hawkins is a quiet town and this Will thing.. it's just.. it's just a bit of a surprise you know. I- I think I'm cursed or something. I can't find him. All these search teams and.. I guess I thought your dad could help, he always helps me with the hard cases. He was always the smart one in high school. And if he couldn't help, we could've just had a beer or two for old times sake. Now I'm alone and.. well.." Jim Hopper trailed off.

You wanted to go inside and have an early night but you felt guilty so you put on your best sympathy smile and tried to reassure him

"Don't worry, you'll find Will and be able to laugh about this later." You say, "If you want I can make you a coffee or something?"

"Nah, I'll be fine." He smiles getting ready to go, "Thanks though."

You watch as he walks over to his car and just as he was about to climb in, he speaks again.

"Oh and.. by the way.. your parents haven't paid this months bill so err.. if you could err remind them or something that'd be good" He says, climbing in.

You nod, a little worried about how you were going to pay for them without knowing your dad's credit card passwords.

"Alright bye." Hopper says, lowering his window as he drives off, "And stay safe, there could be something dangerous around."

The sound of the cars engine soon faded into silence and soon you could hear nothing but the whistle of the wind.

But the words he spoke didn't fade, they kept echoing in your brain.

There could be something dangerous around.

He was right about that.