CHAPTER SIX — THE MONSTER AND THE SUPERHERO PART TWO
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THEY FOLLOWED the sound of sirens down the road, staring ahead in anticipation. It was the first car ride in a long time where the silence hadn't been from anger or ongoing tensions—it was because they were anxious. Police lights flashed, and the street was closed off by signs.
There was a large white sheet covering something in the middle of the road, and when Steve pulled the car to a stop, she could tell there was a body underneath. Heart pounding, she glanced to the others in the vehicle with her, terrified that any one of them could be next.
"Hold on," Max said as they all opened their doors. "Is that... Is that Nancy?"
It was her, Jackie realized with a start, and Nancy recognized them just as quickly, raising her hand up into a small wave as the cops continued to question her. Jackie met Steve's gaze over the roof of his car, and she could tell from his expression that they were both thinking the same.
Back at the trailer park, they gathered by one of the picnic tables, which was covered by a roof that looked ready to collapse at the next gust of wind. They had just finished filling Nancy in on everything they'd learned, and she was listening, thoughtful gaze on them.
"So you're saying that this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy, it's from the Upside Down?"
"If the shoe fits," Steve mused from across Jackie, catching her eye again. Her foot was tapping anxiously against the ground, and all she could look at was the trailer before her, where her mother could be seen sitting on a lawn chair, drinking a beer. No one else seemed to be paying attention to her, but that was the only thing she could focus on.
"I'll be right back," Jackie announced, rising to her feet.
"What? Where are you going?"
"I need to do something."
Steve watched her. "Do you want me to come—"
"No," she cut him off. "No, it's okay. I'm good. Thanks."
The rocks skidded out from under her shoes as she crossed the dirt road to the trailer. Her heart pounded in her chest when she reached the door, but she did not hesitate to push it open.
Cautiously, she called out. "Mom?"
There wasn't an answer, but she didn't know what she'd been expecting. Though, she was surprised to see that her mother was still awake, and sitting at the small circular table they had for the kitchen.
"Oh, God," Susan pinched the bridge of her nose. "You here to tell me about what a worthless piece of shit I am again?"
Jackie swallowed the bile that threatened. "No. No, Mom, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I should've never said those things to you."
