"Are the communists behind this?"
"No."
"So our government lied?"
"Our government is behind this!"
Did Scarlett think she would be involved in a huge...
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"The end justifies the means. But what if there never is an end? All we have is means."-Ursula K. Le Guin" ｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡* ∞*⍋⋆*❅｡
With the spores spewing into Hawkins, a lockdown was issued. No one was allowed to leave their houses until further notice. Floyd's parents refused to leave the school with the spores, and the rest were ordered to return home.
So the meeting to regroup was pushed back. Jonathan had called everyone from the Wheeler residence, where the Byers, save El, were temporarily staying. No information on where El was staying was shared over the phone. Even knowing El was in Hawkins would jeopardise her safety.
Three long days passed before the lockdown was lifted. Claudia's house had never felt so cramped. With Lorenzo and Viola waiting out the lockdown with the Hendersons, they had established a bathroom schedule that only Scarlett and Viola followed.
"Dustin, please," Scarlett croaked, knuckles rapping on Dustin's bedroom door. "Let me in." She knocked harder. "Dusty." She reached for the handle to yank the door open. In her left hand, she held a steaming plate of spaghetti, and wedged between her elbow and torso, she clutched a cup of orange juice.
"Leave me alone," Dustin barked. His voice came through clearly, albeit cracking with signs of exhaustion.
Two full cups of water and a plate loaded with toast and dry cereal sat by Scarlett's feet. She eyed the dishes and closed her eyes. She leaned her head against Dustin's door. "Dusty-"
Music blasted through the door. Music that hadn't always been Dustin's taste. It was dark and loud. Echoes of Eddie...
With a sigh, Scarlett set down the plate and took the bowl of cereal. "It's by your door," she replied, raising her voice in hopes that Dustin would hear her.
The brunette strode away and down the stairs. She checked the cereal before tossing it back in the correct box. Who knew what would happen to food supplies in their small town.
"Scarlett?" Claudia asked as she walked into the kitchen. The woman had rekindled her love for knitting since the spores burst out of the earth. Now, wherever Claudia walked, she was trailed by a ball of yarn rolling across the floor. Tews was never far behind; she pounced on the ball of yarn and started strangling it.
"Yeah, Mom?" Scarlett asked, reaching up to store the cereal box in the cupboard. She lingered a little longer than necessary and blinked quickly to clear up her eyes.
Claudia's needles ticked together as she started a new crooked line of red in a scarf she had been working on for six years. "Has he eaten anything?" Her voice wavered, and she frowned as she stared down at her craft.
