MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

16

The plan was set in motion.

The embarrassing thing is I wasn't sure I understood the plan.

Two groups set out. 

Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy took Will somewhere. I was sure they were performing an exorcism.

Hopper and Eleven went somewhere else. Something about the gate.

I considered it all lost in translation.

Max refused to talk to me. Hell, she wasn't even looking at me. Mike was too worried about Eleven to do anything else. Steve and I were babysitting the four kids, still at Joyce's house.

After my talk with Max.. I felt shoved aside. I know I drew a boundary line, but it was needed. She might hate me now. I wouldn't blame her.

"Maybe if we set this on fire-"

An alarm goes off in my head. I stand up from the couch and hurry to where the kids were.

"Fire?" I repeat.

"Guys.." Steve calls.

I couldn't even hear what the kids were planning. Fire. Lab. Hole. Gate. Dogs.

"Guys!" Steve shouts.

Hub. Distraction.

I put my fingers to my lips and blow- whistling as loud as I could manage. Dustin and Lucas, who were closest to me, cover their ears and cringe.

"Thank you," Steve whispers before turning to the kids. "This is not happening."

"But-"

"No, no, no, no, no!" Steve cuts Mike off. "No 'but's. Now, we're in charge of keeping you shitheads safe and that's what we're going to do."

Dustin pouts and crosses his arms.

"We're staying here, on the bench, and we're waiting for the starting team to do their job. Does everybody understand?"

"This isn't a stupid sports game!" Mike argues.

I look around the room before spotting what I wanted. I pick up one of Joyce's house shoes and storm back over, pointing the sandal to Mike's face.

"These sons of bitches are dangerous. Now, Joyce is going to get Will back to normal and your little girlfriend is going to close the gate."

"Racqu-"

"Eh!" I shout. "You go down in those tunnels and set fire to it, who's to say the fire won't hurt Will even more since that douchebag is inside him? Who's to say you can find your way back out once in there? And who's to say that that won't drag more of those things out of the gate and into this world, huh?"

Mike goes quiet and bows his head, looking down at the map drawing again.

"Mierda," I huff and stand up straight.

"Everybody understand?" Steve asks.

The kids don't say anything.

"I need a 'yes'," Steve urges.

I poke my tongue in my cheek and look at the kids. I quirk an eyebrow up and go to slap the sandal on my arm, but stop when I hear a car approaching.

My heart skips. Billy. That was Billy's car.

I look to the window and see the headlights get closer.

Suddenly, there's pushing against my back.

"What the hell?" I ask Dustin and Lucas.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Dustin cries.

I try to turn but they shove me into the bathroom and slam the door closed.