MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Gremlins

A bandage sat snug and wound tight around Marley's forearm. It was a foreign feeling to her now, one she had not felt in a very long time, the dull ache of an injury left to heal, a dressing wrapped around it as if it could actually get infected in some way. Marley would be lying if she said she hadn't gotten used to it -- the feeling of invulnerability, the knowledge that she couldn't die. Not by normal means. Now, however, Marley wasn't certain, she didn't know what was going on, was it burnout? Had she used her powers too often? Or had whatever side effects left over from her Demogorgon meal finally worn off?

Worst of all, she had nobody to talk to. With Dr Owens running off to catch his flight an hour after Marley's arm had been stitched, cleaned and dressed she couldn't ask him any questions and with his absence the scientists within the bunker disappeared also, leaving her to the absolutely joyous company of her driver who might as well have been a ghost. She had no idea what was going on and though Dr Owens had apologised for his departure his apology didn't mean squat to Marley when she had a very mortal and slowly healing gash in her arm.

What was she supposed to tell Steve? That the bandage was some new fashion statement? That they were just arm warmers? Steve might be slow but he wasn't that slow, he'd figure it out, wave Robin over and by God Marley would have to sit through an investigation so tedious she might just shoot herself now to save herself the misery of it. 

"Shit..." Marley breathed, blinking away her tears as her arm rang with new pain. The painkillers they had given her had worn off ages ago, in the many hours she sat alone at that bench and Marley didn't carry any around anymore because up until recently she didn't have any need for them. That left home but shit that was too far away, she could go to the Wheelers but then Nancy would be there and she would tell everyone because that's just how she is, Max was an absolute no and Lucas was probably with his basketball team.

That left Dustin. Dustin who lived only a few blocks away, yes and she could talk to him about it, didn't even have to tell him how not necessarily, he ran his mouth but she could make him promise not to. And he'd have to comply after all the shit he had exposed her for in the past, she'd just have to hold his Cerebro hostage or something, threaten to tear it apart so he couldn't talk to his beloved girlfriend. Ok, perhaps that would be too far and she would never actually do it but Dustin didn't need to know that.

Plus they needed to talk, all of them did but just Dustin would have to suffice for now, especially after last night, after what Marley had felt. The tingling up her spine, the disembodied voice she had heard, all of it. She didn't know what it meant but it had to mean something, especially with her sudden lack of invulnerability, luckily, however, it seemed she still retained her ability to run for long stretches and she made quick work of the distance between the town and Dustin's house when she eventually decided the uncertainty of it was too much to bear alone.

The driveway was devoid of Dustin's bike when she arrived and Marley sincerely hoped it was just out back or stored away as she moved for the front door. She rang the bell, her hands on her hips as she stretched out her back and breathed somewhat heavily. It was hot out so it affected her endurance quite a bit. One of the things she shared in common with those that inhabited the Upside Down, she worked better in the cold.

She was startled from her break when Claudia opened the door, Tews in her arms meowing softly.

"Mrs Henderson," Marley smiled but it slowly dropped when she noticed the solemn look on the woman's face, "are -- are you all right?"

"No dear," was all the lady said, moving out of the way and beckoning Marley inside. Of course, the girl complied, concerned for her friend's mother and quickly joined the woman in her living room, the news faintly playing in the background. "Haven't you heard? There's been a murder."