The Devil of Hawkins || Stranger Things

Chapter 18: Plans

Dustin rode his bike at full speed down the destroyed familiar streets of Hawkins. He sped past the quarry and drifted around the sharp turn onto Cornwallis. "I made it," he called into his radio headset as he pulled into the Byers' old residence.

"Let us know how it goes," Mike called back.

"10-4, over." Dustin let his bike fall to the side as he took his headset off, resting it around his neck. It was late enough in the afternoon that Dustin was certain he wouldn't end up waking him. He walked up to the door and knocked. After a few seconds, the door opened and Wayne Munson answered, looking at Dustin, confused.

"Dustin?" Wayne squinted.

"Can we talk?" Dustin asked with a big smile. Wayne stepped back and made room for him to come in. The house was very familiar to Dustin, but the new set-up and unpacked boxes made it feel foreign.

"What's going on?" Wayne said as he closed the door.

"You work at the power plant, right?" Dustin said quickly as he sat on the couch.

"Yes, and you already knew that." Wayne stood and crossed his arms, staring down at the wide-eyed kid.

"Yeah, sorry," Dustin said quickly, "but do you have access to the power usage records?"

Wayne nodded with a quizzical expression. "What's this about?"

He took a breath before he spoke. "I need to know if there was a power surge on the night of March 21st."

Wayne flinched at the date. "That's the night Eddie went missing." He scowled at Dustin. "What are you playing at?"

"I'm not playing," Dustin stressed, his heart racing. "Please, I need this information."

"I don't have time for this, Dustin." Wayne rubbed his forehead.

Dustin sighed and pursed his lips. "Please," he begged quietly. "It's really important."

Wayne dropped his arms and relaxed his face at Dustin being sincere. "What are you involved in, boy?" he said sternly but with genuine concern. "Are you in danger, like the rest of those kids?"

Dustin shook his head. "It's not me, it's the whole town, possibly the world." Dustin was worried about dragging someone new into this whole mess, but he needed Wayne's help.

"The world?" Wayne raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Yes," Dustin said simply. He lowered his head and fiddled with his hands. "And I promise, if my theory is right, I'll fill you in on everything." He looked up at Wayne with a pitiful expression. "I just need to know if there were any power surges or anything weird with the electricity that night, especially at the trailer park and on Morehead street."

Wayne perked. "Morehead? That's where the old Creel house is." His eyes widened in worry. "Is Victor Creel actually involved in all this? Was he responsible for the death of those kids?"

"Not exactly." Dustin squinted.

"Dustin..." Wayne warned sternly. "You obviously know more than you're letting on. I'm going to need you to explain."

Dustin bounced on the couch nervously. "I can't," he strained.

"Now," Wayne pushed.

"Seriously, I can't," he pleaded.

"Can you at least tell me why you can't?"

Dustin racked his brain trying to think of anything. His eyes lit up when he remembered, "I'm sworn to secrecy," he said quickly.