afterlife ➳ stranger things [2]

Chapter 17: Down Under

"We've waited long enough, haven't we? I mean, kids are bound to go missing soon-" Sarah eagerly asked.

"Yeah, but they haven't. There's no evidence that there's any monsters out there." Erin sipped her water.

"But you never know." Sarah raised her eyebrows, tilting her head.

"You're right," Kali nodded. "We don't know. But what we do know is that there isn't any evidence yet. Once there is, we will act almost immediately."

"I think we should lay out all the evidence, y'know to make sure nothing is going on?" Cassidy suggested.

"There's nothing going on in Hawkins, and if there was, I'd know about it," Hopper said, laying down plates full of food. "Now eat."

"It was just a suggestion." Cassidy shrugged, stuffing her face in food.

"Hop, you gotta come take a look at this." Hopper's walkie talkie spoke.

"What is it, Powell?" Hopper spoke back into it, waiting for a response.

"Melvald called, he had a apparent infestation of rats, but these don't look like rats to be, Hop." Powell continued.

"I'll be there. Give me fifteen minutes." Hopper said, putting his walkie talkie back on his belt.

"So, it's possessing animals, now?" Cassidy asked, looking at Hopper.

"We'll see." Hopper said, putting his hat back on and leaving the cabin quickly.

--

Hopper picked up the rat, examining it as it was now dead. The rat had a dark gray coat, but was more demented looking. It looked as if it was possessed. He sighed, lowering the rat as he looked at the hole from where it came from. There was vine-like black goop coming out from the hole, it leaking onto the floor. He looked over at Officer Powell and Officer Callahan. He set down the rat, and walked out of the store. The two officers followed closely behind.

"I want this entire place quarantined, no one comes out and no one goes in unless they're the CDC." Hopper said, exiting the store.

"What do we do about the people who came in contact with the goop and the rat?" Officer Callahan asked.

"People came in contact with this stuff?" Hopper turned around, facing the officers. He took a deep sigh, "Quarantine them too. Call the CDC."

"You got it, chief." Powell nodded, walking off with Callahan.

Hopper turned back around, kept on walking towards his truck. As he got closer, he realized that Joyce's car was now parked next to his, her leaning against it. She looked anxious as ever, scanning the entire town. She kicked off of her car and walked forward to meet Hopper.

"I thought you were at home." Hopper said with a low voice.

"I work here, Hop," Joyce sighed. "What is it?"

"The rat looked," Hopper paused. "Like it was infected, with some sort of disease."

"Disease? What kind of disease?" Joyce asked.