And the Earth, It Will Shake

Chapter Ten - Episode Two (CONT'D): The Weirdo on Maple Street

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"Are you out of your mind?!"

"Just listen to me-!"

"You are out of your mind!"

Although your plan was to arrive at the Wheeler abode before anyone else did, family and friends alike, you didn't beat the unexpected rush hour, almost all stores filled to the brim with shopaholic mothers thanks to the now approaching holidays.

You had to make due, buying what you could while putting up posters inside the establishments that would let you and telephone poles when rushing back to your car. It was a lengthy process, and add on the ending of school hours, you were stuck in traffic like no other, streetlights blinking from yellow, to red, then green in an almost infinite manner.

By the time you made it to Mikes house with the bags in tow and greeting a surprised Karen, Lucas and Dustin had already beaten you there, staring down the other boy and his still-guest Eleven.

Seems you were right to assume she and Mike hadn't asked the adults for help.

Closing the bedroom door behind you and locking it at the boys behest, you dropped all the bags you brought, letting the various snacks and articles of clothes fall out as you sighed. "Okay, what's going on right now, update me."

The three boys automatically began throwing accusations and insults around, spittle flying as they pointed in the other's direction. Whatever you walked in on was intense, and you had to fight back the immediate headache you felt when listening to the conjoined noise. Holding out a hand, the commotion stops, and then you nod towards Mike. "You. What happened to the plan? Why'd it fall through?"

"She knows about Will."

"What do you mean she knows about Will?"

Picking up a science fair photo of the four party members, Mike turns from his bookshelf, bearing the evidence for all to see. "She pointed at him, at this picture. She knew he was missing, I could tell."

"You could tell?"

The pale boy waves away Lucas's skepticism. "Just think about it. Do you really think it was a coincidence that we found her on Mirkwood, the same place where Will disappeared?"

Dustin nods. "That is weird."

"And she said bad people are after her. Think maybe these bad people are the same ones that took Will. I think she knows what happened to him."

"Then why doesn't she tell us?" Lucas still seems to disregard Mikes words, coming to stand in front of Eleven as he gathers to question her himself. "Do you know where he is?"

When the young girl doesn't answer, gnawing at the skin of her lip instead, Lucas grabs her shoulders, shaking her furiously. "Do you know where Will is?"

"Lucas, stop!"

"You're scaring her!"

"She should be scared! If you know where he is, tell us!"

Whether because of the incessant shaking or the yelling the boy was doing, Eleven starts to cry, making the group hush as they stare at the young girl. Stepping away from your place at the wall, you make to comfort her, giving her a slightly melted chocolate bar from one of the bags, steadily pushing Lucas out of the way as he continues to mutter on nonsense. Even though you were in the same boat as him, cynical when listening to Mikes explanation, you tried not to be so reactive, tried to be empathetic towards the obviously scared and uncomfortable girl.

"This is nuts! We have to take her to your mom."

"No! Eleven said telling any adult would put us in danger."

You shake your head at his words. "All the more reason to tell your mom. What kind of danger are you even talking about? And 'bad people'? Who are these people you keep mentioning?"

"Wait, her name is Eleven?"

"El for short."

Having enough of the useless back and forth, Dustin steps up to the groups 'leader,' gums bared as he desperately asks, "Mike, what kind of danger?!"

"Danger, danger."

Creating a finger pistol with his hand, Mike lets it run through the group, stopping at Dustin first, then you, then Lucas, who pushes the example away in a huff. "No, no, no! We're going back to Plan A. We're telling your mom!"

Mike turns to you in what you assume to be solidarity, but you can only sigh. "Mike, this might be what's best. If we involve ourselves further with this, who knows what could happen. All we can do is provide her shelter, call the cops, and wait until they come get her. There's nothing more we can do."

"Exactly!"

Rushing to the door before anyone could make a move to stop him, Lucas unlocks it, opening the wood wide and rearing to run down the steps. Just before he sets foot, however, the door slams shut, seemingly on its own, making you all jump away from the loud slam. Stunned, the whole room pauses for a second, eyes moving from place to place as if to gauge what was the cause for such a random action.

Shaking away his confusion, Lucas opens it for a second, then a third time, receiving the same treatment in rapid repetition. It's when he reaches for the doorknob a forth time that you all hear the sound of the lock clicking in place, the door no longer budging as it remains frozen. No matter how hard Lucas pushes at it, the wood doesn't move, and you can see the small shreds of panic begin to seize at the others, who watch in morbid fascination and fear.

It's quiet for a moment too long, all of your attention towards the entrance to Mikes room, dumbfounded by the way the hinges seemed to be glued shut. No one says a word, the silence seeping it's way into your bones in an uncomfortable manner, small shreds of incredulity taking hold within the column of your neck. You swallow, confused and dazed, until Eleven finally breaks the rooms stupor, blood trickling down her nose as she stands. It isn't until you see her that something seems to settle into place like an odd puzzle, mind opening into a cynical way of thinking as you take in her new posture and sure demeanor.

'Did she just...? There's no way she just...!'

Wiping the blood away, Eleven looks around the room, conviction evident in her gaze as she gives a one worded response to the chaos her presence has unleashed in the past couple of hours.

"No."

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