resonance

04

Thursday, November 1

It wasn't surprising that Hopper was gone when you padded out of the bedroom much later than usual the next afternoon.

The panic from the night before kept you awake long after you heard him rustling around in the early hours of the morning, and it was only after a moment of bleary confusion that you noticed El wasn't home either. Yawning, you assumed she was out back and went to make a pot of coffee, thinking of the decision you'd stewed over all night.

I'm gonna leave today. You took a sip of the steaming mug of Folgers with a grimace at the taste, opening the door to feel the crisp air outside. But I need to say goodbye to El first.

"El?" you called when you stepped onto the grass, the boots you'd shoved your feet into crunching on fallen leaves. Peering around the yard, you didn't see the girl, and that's when your panic began.

Calling her name again, you cursed at the silence that followed, hurriedly going back inside. Where could she be? You bit your lip. There was no way she would've gone outside alone, right? She wouldn't.

You thought Hopper liked you, too. That little bitter voice inside of you taunted. What makes you think you really know them?

Setting your mug down on the dining table, you went to the phone on the wall, dialing Joyce's phone number anxiously.

"Come on!" You shouted. A fourth beeping tone answered you before you looked at the clock, noting that she was probably picking Will up from school.

Your hand ran through your hair, pushing it out of your hair frantically. Maybe El was with Hopper. You highly doubted it, and surged ahead to punch in the Hawkins Police Station's number, clearing your throat when you heard a woman answer the phone. "Hello. Can I speak with Chief Hopper?"

"Sorry hon," the woman responded. "Chief's been out since this morning. He should be back in the office tomorrow morning. Want to leave a message?"

Fuck. You sighed. "No thank you."

"Where the fuck is she?" you groaned, thinking back to the creature you saw last night. Determinedly, you went to sit on the floor in front of the couch. You hadn't visited your void in a while but reached it easily, aimlessly walking around the vast darkness while focusing on finding El. This is the easiest way, you told yourself, fighting a shiver at the unsettled feeling you always had while here.

A swirl appeared around you. Two unfamiliar voices rang out.

"Okay, you're making me dizzy!" a boy's voice said, begrudgingly letting out a chuckle. "Please just stop."

A red-haired girl was skating around a sullen boy in what looked like a school gym.

Christ, you nearly scoffed. Is this Hawkins Middle School? It looked practically the same as when you attended it.

"I'll stop when I join your party!"

Walking towards them in an inch or so of water, you scoped out the gym for El, knowing she was here somewhere in the flesh, spying like a creep.

"Come on, just stop," the boy laughed a little.

"No way," the girl grinned. "It's a simple question. Am I in or out?"

She was suddenly yanked off the skateboard with enough force that made you narrow your eyes. "El!" you yelled, still looking for her while the kids' conversation continued in the background, not privy to the two girls eavesdropping. "You little shit! I know you can hear me!"