/ "and i have to speculate that god himself did make us into corresponding shapes like puzzle pieces from the clay" /
Michelle "Mickey" Hopper has a lot of problems. An alcoholic father ignoring the loss of his youngest daughter, her sister, Sarah...
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...Thursday, July 4, 1985... dying - xtc
Nancy, Jonathan, Mickey, and the kids moved out to the Wheelers' car. Mike and Max, holding Eleven up between them, lingered behind slightly accounting for El's injury. Mickey joined Will and Lucas in the backseat while the other three sat across the back.
Nancy turned the key in the ignition only to hear sputtering. "What's wrong?" Jonathan asked as she tried again, this time turning it harder.
"I don't... I don't know." The sputtering continued through the empty parking lot as Nancy forced the key forward. "You can't be serious. Come on!"
"Didn't your mom just buy this car?" Lucas questioned from the backseat.
"Yes. I'm sure it's fine."
"Did you leave the lights on?" Will suggested.
"No."
"Do we have gas?" Lucas questioned.
"Yes!" Nancy was at the end of her rope as she forcefully spun the key again.
"Nance! Take a breath," Mickey said, pulling her hand away from the ignition. "Just pop the hood, okay?" She got out of the station wagon, the other two teenagers close behind her. She looked over the wires, immediately identifying the issue. "What the hell?"
"What?" Jonathan asked as he and Nancy came up beside her.
"Your ignition cable's gone."
As if answering their growing questions, an engine revved in the distance. They turned and watched the headlights of a familiar, blue Camaro turn on halfway down the parking lot. The three didn't hesitate in shuttling the kids back into the mall anxiously.
Back inside, Mike paced the center of the mall, repeating the same message over his walkie-talkie, hoping Dustin and the Scoops Troop would finally pick up. Meanwhile, the rest of them were scattered back around the food court.
Mickey and Nancy hovered over the limp bodies of the Russian guards as Nancy took two of their guns, handing one up to her friend. Mickey checked the clip, making sure it was filled to the brim.
Max and Will looked on nervously. "You're gonna kill him, aren't you?" Max asked.
Mickey looked up at the small girl, her eyes pitiful. If there was anything she believed, it was that Max didn't deserve anymore pain in her life. But after hearing what the kids had discovered about Billy being taken over by the Mind Flayer, she was scared she wouldn't have a choice. Still, she forced a smile for Max's sake. "This is just a precaution, okay?" she assured.
"And not just against Billy," Will said. "If he knows we're here, so does the Mind Flayer."
Their gaze was drawn up as Mike paced past them, muttering into his walkie. He passed by the upturned car as Nancy said, "No chance that thing'll drive, right?"
