Happenstance ⌱ Jim Hopper

[ 14 ] ALL THE YOUNG PUNKS

[ 14 ]

                       KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

     "Go away Lonnie," Joyce's rattled voice called from inside the Byers' home. Jodie and Jim stood on the outside porch, shivering against the cold. Birds called overheard, tittering about the trees in the pale blue sky. It was late in the day now, and they were readying themselves for the hunt.

     Jim raised a heavy hand and pounded against the door once more. The worn wood scratched at the back of his palm. In her hands, Jodie clutched the second note Jim had written, folded and unfolded countless times.

     KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

     "Seriously," Joyce scoffed. The pair could hear her scuttling to the front door, banging into furniture and cursing at her ex-husband.

     Joyce yanked the door open, a gust of autumn air catching her dark hair as she blurted: "I'm going to murder y--" Joyce bit her tongue. The dark rings around her eyes contrasted with her high, pale cheeks, her face sullen and weary. The surprise livened her expression, just for a moment.  "Jodie? Hop? — What are ya—"

      Jodie held up Jim's warning sign, as Jim hushed Joyce, pressing a finger to his lips and slouching his shoulders.

DON'T SAY ANYTHING

     Jodie and Joyce exchanged hesitant smiles before she read the note, a frown of confusion etched on her brow. Jim glanced around the foyer to the Byers'  home and gaped, removing his tan hat and stepping across the threshold.

Dozens of strands of Christmas Lights were strung throughout the home. Jodie could tell that even more had been added since the last time she'd visited Joyce.

Jodie stepped inside as well, as Joyce began to try and question them once more, only to be hushed by Jim.

The black painted alphabet remained on the wall, its lights strung, unlit, across each row with care. The house looked in better condition, and Jodie wondered if Johnathan had stepped up to help with the chores.

The wall beside the front door, however, had a giant hole in it. Jodie drew closer to the boarded-up wall, examining it with an arched brow. It looked like someone had taken a pick-axe to it, then set wooden planks over top as a temporary patch.

Jim breathed out an exasperated sigh, touching a strand of lights, knowing that they were going to have to look at each and every one. "Oh, Jesus."

'Way to not saying anything, Hop.' Jodie thought, shaking her head at him.

Jodie and Joyce sat in silence, waiting for the Chief of Police to finish his search. Jodie didn't bother helping him, knowing he was a 'lone wolf' when it came to these sorts of things. Besides, if she'd searched for a tiny microphone in a string of lights, Jim would probably want to double-check her work, out of compulsion.