004 - Stranger Thing

ep. 6 heroes

Troy walked downstairs, only to find his parents in a quiet but tense conversation. It was unusual—his parents never argued, at least not when he was around.

"I don’t like how things are going at that lab, Matthew. You have to quit," his mother said, her voice low but firm.

Matthew sighed, glancing away. "It’s the only job I have right now, Sara. Do you want us to move away from Hawkins?"

They fell silent as soon as they noticed Troy standing there.

"Good morning," Troy greeted, trying to sound casual.

His dad turned, clearing his throat. "Good morning, son."

His mom offered a small smile, though Troy noticed her hands were still trembling slightly as she resumed making breakfast.

Matthew walked over to Troy, taking something out of his pocket. "I've been thinking about everything that's happened lately… about how much you need to know that we trust you." He held out a set of car keys, a soft smile on his face. "This is for you, Troy. A gift to show we believe in you. I know you’ll do your best to live up to it."

Troy’s eyes went wide as he took the keys, speechless. “Thank you, Dad.” He pulled his father into a tight hug, his heart pounding with excitement and gratitude.

“Just don’t do anything stupid, alright?” Matthew said with a chuckle, patting Troy on the back.

“I won’t, Dad,” Troy promised, smiling as they stepped back.

His dad grabbed his coat. “Alright, I’ll see you later.” With a final wave, Matthew headed out the door.

Once he was gone, Troy turned to his mother, sensing the tension still lingering in the room. “Mom?” he asked softly, pulling her into a hug.

She squeezed him tight, then gently brushed the hair from his face and kissed his forehead. "I'm okay. We’re okay, don’t worry."

Troy gave her a reassuring smile, but he still felt uneasy. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Your lunch is by the front door,” she said, her voice softer now. She gave him a gentle nudge toward the entrance, and with one last look back, she headed off to another room.

Troy watched her go, sensing something unresolved in the air. With a quiet sigh, he picked up his lunch, his heart heavy with a new understanding that not everything was as it seemed at home.

At School

Troy strolled into the school, his usual calm demeanor in place. He caught a glimpse of Steve and Nancy kissing near her locker but kept walking, unfazed. He headed straight for his history class, noticing Barbara’s empty seat as he walked in. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the memory of his dreams—visions where he heard her screams, her frantic footsteps echoing in his mind.

“Broody as always,” Nancy's voice broke through his thoughts, and he looked up to see her watching him.

"Wheeler," he replied with a smirk, causing her to blush slightly. He noticed the worry in her eyes, though.

"Have you seen Barbara?" she asked, her voice wavering.

Troy’s heart clenched a little. He had seen her—if only in a vision. In his dreams, she was in trouble, desperate and alone. He forced himself to keep his voice steady. "No, I haven't," he said, though he sensed her unease growing.

"I haven’t seen her since last night. I’m really worried," Nancy admitted, her eyes searching his for any hint of reassurance.

“We’ll find her, Nancy.” He offered her a smile, hoping it would ease her worry, even as his own concern deepened.