DESOLATION [ 1 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

2. THE BEGINNING OF THE END

DESOLATION
CHAPTER TWO

➝ THE BEGINNING OF THE END

        COLLEEN SAT AT THE BAR STOOL, ROCKING HER FOOT BACK AND FORTH IMPATIENTLY AT THE ISLAND IN HER KITCHEN. Her fingers dangling in her mouth as she chewed nervously on her cuticles, still awaiting any news to return about her father's possible whereabouts. Hopper had called the house after school for an update, but only said that his car was nowhere to be found. She knew that her father would never just up and leave without even saying goodbye. He knew what affect that would have on her, especially after her mother. Colleen's stomach was twirling with fear and anxiety, knowing that something must have gone terribly wrong.

She could hear the front door swung open from the kitchen, and Colleen quickly darted off of the stool and ran into the hallway. Only to smash straight into Chief Hopper, who let himself inside with his spare key. "It's only me, kiddo."

Colleen rubbed her forehead, "M'sorry. I was just hoping that you were dad." She slumped her shoulders forward as she made her way back into the kitchen and sat back down at the kitchen table. He followed her in pursuit and sat down across from her. His eyes scanned around the room, she was sitting in complete silence. A notepad in front of her as she was sketching away. He noticed a plate of brownies in the center of the table, and reached forward to grab one but Colleen chopped his hand away. She pointed a stern finger at him with a hard glare, "No. Uh uh. These are not for you, Hoppy. Those are for dad when he comes home, they're his favorite. I haven't been slaving away in the kitchen all afternoon for you to eat them all before he got home."

Hopper put his hands up in defense, a chuckle escaping his throat, "My apologies. How about you just chop my hand off while you're at it, Jackie Chan." He re-enacted her karate chop which gained a laugh from the young brunette.

Colleen chewed on her bottom lip before letting out a sigh, "So? Did you find anything?"

Hopper shook his head, "I had patrols out looking everywhere. His car is nowhere to be found. Listen, are you sure he didn't just take a vacation? Last minute fishing trip? Didn't wanna worry ya?"

"He wouldn't go without telling me."

He nodded slowly understanding what she meant, "All right. Well, I'll keep looking. But why don't you stay with the Wheeler's, at least for tonight. I'd feel a lot better knowing that you were staying with some family rather than camping out here all alone. I'll have Officer Callaghan drop you off."

Colleen huffed out, pushing herself out of her seat and closing her notepad. "Okay, I'll go pack a bag real fast and then we can leave." She started to make her way out of the kitchen and towards the staircase, but she stopped, turning around. Low and behold, Hopper's hand was planted in the brownie platter and Colleen threw her pen towards him, bouncing off the top of his head. "I said no brownies, Hop!"