The Devil of Hawkins || Stranger Things

Chapter 17: Examination

"What's this about?" Jonathan asked as he got into Nancy's car.

"Did you bring your camera?" Nancy started the car and began backing out of the driveway to Hopper's old trailer.

"Yeah," he held up the camera bag.

"Good," she said quickly as she turned the car in the direction of town, and began filling him in on the details of what she'd found.

"Wait, so you think Vecna is involved in this?"

"Could be, I'd rather not overlook it just in case."

"What-" Jonathan shook his head in confusion, "what would he want with corpses?"

Nancy swallowed, trying to shake the memory of Barb's corpse out of her mind. She took a deep breath, "I don't know, but who else could be doing this?"

"This town is crazy right now, who knows what freaks are coming out of the woodwork."

"Then we end up finding a criminal in the process, but I don't think any of this is a coincidence."

Jonathan knew she was right, but he hoped she wasn't.

---

Hopper sighed as he opened the door for Joyce, Will, and Argyle. "Did you really have to come over?"

Joyce glanced at him as she passed. "I want to get Will looked at," she said firmly.

Hopper placed his hand on his forehead and rubbed his temples, closing the door. "Fine, but why did you bring Argyle along"

"I'm not leaving him alone in my house again," Joyce added sternly.

Hopper squinted, afraid to ask what happened. "Where's Jonathan?"

"He's with Nancy. You said there was something you wanted to show me?" Joyce tapped his chest as she walked into the kitchen.

"Less of a something and more of a someone, and 'want' is the wrong word." Hopper sat at the dining table and watched Joyce get a can of soda out of the fridge. Will sat on the couch, rubbing the back of his neck and watching Argyle sprawl out on the recliner. Argyle looked at the blanket hanging from the large overhead shelf, he attempted to swat it, but his fingers were just shy of contact. Jim continued to rub his temples. "It may freak you guys out, but El says he's fine."

Joyce gave him a concerned glance as she sat across from him. "What's going on, Jim?" she said with a firm caution.

"Where is El?" Will asked looking around.

Hopper sighed. "Last I knew, they were all out back."

"All?" Joyce questioned.

"Yeah, Steve's here too."

"Steve?" Will nearly laughed.

"Yeah," Hopper said quickly, "but the main thing is Ed."

"Who?" Joyce squinted.

"You know that guy we had a funeral for a couple weeks back?" he explained.

Will contorted his face. "You mean Eddie?"

Hopper nodded. "Well, he's alive."

Joyce caught herself before she snorted her soda, "Like Will?"

Hopper shook his head.

Argyle's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward in the recliner. "Woah, did he raise from the dead like a zombie?"

Hopper raised an eyebrow, "closer."