How to escape your imagination

Chapter 12

"El!"  Mike screams rushing to her side.  She pushes him away gently with one hand, the other rubs at her face.  

"I'm okay."  She says breathing heavily.  "I'm...okay."  

Mike looks over to the window and begins to walk towards it.  "Where did Nancy go...?"  He asks moving slowly and quietly.  "She just disappeared."

"Get away from the window Mike."  I say, looking over my shoulder.  He grimaces as he denies my request and peers down at the creature below.  

"Are you sure you're alright El?"  I ask, and only when she confirms do I get up and look out the window with Mike.  Nancy is now back to normal, a young girl with her eyes closed and her arms and legs sprawled out on the grass.  I make a face and shut the window, even though the wind still whistles through the large cracks.  

Mike goes back over to El's side, allowing her to lean up against him.

"How old are you, anyways?"  I ask, legitimately curious.

"15,"  He replies, not taking his eyes away from El.  "Is she going to be okay?"

I laugh slightly.  "You're the one who doesn't seem bothered by the fact that she just picked up Nancy and threw her through the window, so I wouldn't ask me."

"I will be fine."  El says propping herself on the heels of her hands.  "I just need to rest."

"I called Dustin,"  Mike says turning his attention back to me.  "He's coming."

I nod, grateful for the thought of extra help.  "That's good."

"He's bringing Max, Will, and Lucas too."

Mike jumps up and looks out the window, trying to find Dustin and the others.

"They should be here soon, he only lives a couple blocks away."

El begins to sit up, and that's when I notice the black tattoo on her wrist.  A number, 011.

"Aren't you a bit young for a tattoo...?"  I ask carefully.

El looks up at me angrily.  "Not my fault," is all she says.

"Care to fill me in?"  I look at Mike.  He shakes his head and puts his arm over El's shoulders, who shakes it off gently causing Mike's face to fall slightly.

"Not really, she doesn't like to talk about it."  

I accept the fact that I will remain in the dark for now.  

"El, can I ask you a question?"  I say looking back down at her.

She nods.  "Yes."

"You said Nancy and Mike were bad, but Mike doesn't really seem..."

"You said that?"  Mike asks, incredulous.

El glares up at me and then turned to look at Mike.  "I did not."

Mike groans and looks up at the ceiling.  "Is this because I didn't call you back?"

El nods.  "You said you would."

"But I couldn't--"

"Twice."  El says aggressively.

Mike stops mid-sentence and doesn't deny it anymore.  "I'm sorry."

I watch the scene unfold before me, taking in the entertainment that I was receiving.  

The two of them continued bickering until finally...FINALLY, El accepted Mike's apology and they both looked at me suspectingly.