MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Pass Times

Night was quick to fall. Marley hadn't noticed when it happened, she simply remembered blinking and finding the light of the sky diminished. She found time was passing by quickly, the minutes acting as seconds, occasionally slowing to hours only when her arm would give a particularly vicious throb. The painkillers had worn away almost as quickly as they'd kicked in but Marley hadn't moved to take anymore with so many eyes in the car, tensions were already high and she didn't want to go making them ten times higher.

But by God, she felt as if the skin of her arm was burning -- as if someone was pressing a hot poker to her flesh. It reminded her of when her powers were first blooming, back when Will went missing, that feverish heat that constantly overwhelmed her. Only it was all concentrated on that one spot, the one blackened spot caught in the process of healing. 

She pressed herself further back into her seat after another especially painful jolt, clenching her jaw so tight the muscle there grew noticeably taut. Her eyes were pinched closed and she just knew she had a build-up of sweat balancing atop her brow. Marley found herself grateful for the darkness of the car, thankful that no eyes rested solely upon her.

Gravel crunched under tire and the high-pitched whistle of Steve's breaks cut through the night. Marley finally opened her eyes, taking in a breath and looking around, they were outside a lake house, one clearly unconscious within for no lights shone through the open blinds. Steve got out first, Robin and Dustin next while Max got out last, holding the door open and peering inside when Marley did not move.

"You coming?" Max asked as Marley sifted through her bag slowly, eyes remaining on its innards as she gave a non-committal shrug.

"Uh, yeah...just give me a moment," she managed, holding her breath for the instant she heard the soft gravel grind, telling her that Max had walked away. 

But it never came, instead, there was simply a subtle crunch. Max was still there but shuffling from foot to foot, waiting for her. Marley glanced over at her briefly, she was looking away, shining her torch over at the porch where the rest stood, so she frowned tightly before biting the bullet and pulled out her painkillers quickly, aware of the eyes that fell upon her face at the distinct rattle of the bottle. She picked out two and threw them to the back of her mouth, swallowing briefly and exiting the car.

"All right, finished," Marley said quickly and shut the door behind her before jogging up to the porch. Max followed quietly behind but quickly caught up and ended up in front of her by Dustin, Marley let her gaze wander over to her, watching her silently as she chewed on the inside of her cheek.

Muttering profanities under her breath she spun around when Max seemed to turn toward her and instead, peered through the dirty windows in an attempt to look as if she were trying to be helpful. It didn't look convincing but luckily for Marley, Max hadn't even turned in her direction in the first place. Which she found was kind of mortifying for assuming but she didn't get time to wallow in embarrassment for long because soon she found herself distracted by the incessant bell ringing within.

She turned to see Dustin abusing the doorbell and reached forward, pulling away his hand.

"Dude. Annoying," she muttered as Steve made a gesture to the home.

"Okay. Well, that's settled. I guess he's not here," he said just as Dustin pulled his hand away and pounded on the door.

"Eddie! It's Dustin!"

"Great," Steve murmured, peering through the darkness of their surroundings.

"Look, we just want to talk, ok? No cops, I swear. We just wanna help," Dustin pleaded to what clearly appeared to be an empty home. Marley shook her head and leaned against the wall, peering at her arm and flexing her fist.