Freaks

Chapter 11

Eddie helped me hurry down the stairs, where we were met with all three of our companions pacing around the room, shouting angrily for Dustin.

"What in the hell are you all doing?" Confusion riddled my features.

"Ari!" Nancy jumped round, "What did you hear? Anything useful?" Steve shone his torch in my directions lighting up my exhausted face, "Woah," She paused her questioning, "You look rough. Your ears..."

I touched them gently, dried blood flaking off and onto the floor, "Don't worry about it. It happens, normally when I see things."

"You saw something?" Her eyes lit up.

"Maybe." I grimaced, "But it won't be helpful in here. I need to get back home." I took a breath, "Shouting for ghost-Dustin is all we got right now. Sorry."

Nancy shrugged, "Worth a try." She smiled lightly at me, I knew it was a thank you, "We think we can hear Dustin. Listen."

They all silenced, allowing Eddie and I to listen, and true enough, a quiet whisper of Henderson's voice was bouncing off the walls.

"All right," Steve decided, "Either this kid can't hear us or he's being a total douchebag."

"Will found a way," Nancy was breathless.

"The kid that went missing years ago?" I asked, "Didn't they find him?"

"Yeah." Steve looked at me, "He went missing in here."

"No way." Eddie mumbled.

"He found a way to speak to his Mom, Joyce, through the lights." She grinned, making a dash for the lamp on the nearby table.

She pulled it quickly up and down, but it didn't turn on.

"The switch, try the switch." Steve gestured at the mains switch on the wall. She tried it, but again. Nothing.

"There's no power here." I sighed.

"Guys." Steve moved the torch, slowly back and forth over the chandelier on the ceiling, "You seeing this."

All attention turned to the ceiling where an ambient glistening was coming off the light, little red specks floating round it angelically. No one could look away as we all slowly crowded around it.

One by one when put our hands up to it. Each of us lighting up one of the bulbs. It felt warm, energy pulsating through my fingertips. I smiled a little, wiggling my fingers through it.

"It...tickles." Steve observed.

"It kinda feels good." Robin said lowly.

"Like a hug." I added.

Nancy pulled her hand away first, "Does anyone know Morse code?"

"No." We all spoke in unison.

"Wait?" Eddie stopped, "Does SOS count?" He looked round at all of us, "Is that... is that good?"

"Yes you idiot." I smacked the back of his head, "That's good. Now get to finger wiggling."

Eddie put his hand back up, pulling his hand in and out of the red dust, making the light flicker on and off. He continued to signal for help.

"It's working." Robin's eyes were fixated on the light.

"Remember when I said they wouldn't be stupid enough to go through water gate," Dustin's voice floated through the room, "I overestimated them."

I scowled at phantom Dustin's voice, "I couldn't help it."

"Guys! Guys!" Dustin yelled, "If you can hear me, we've got Mike's sister's light dot game, go to Nancy's room. We've got an idea."