Freak {Will Byers}

Chapter Zero

"Hey!"

Mari turned her head mid-spray and saw none of than Chief Hopper. She quickly threw her bag on her shoulder and sprinted down the alley.

"Don't you run from me you little shit!"

She came out of the alley and kept running on the open street. Luckily for her, Hawkins wasn't a busy town so she wouldn't get run over by a car. Mari could hear the Chief's footsteps behind her as she pushed her way through the people on the sidewalk.

"Watch it!"

Mari ignored the complaints as she kept running. She glanced behind her and saw that Hopper was stuck behind some people. She smiled until she looked in front of her again. She abruptly stopped as a cop car pulled right in front of her path.

Officer Powell got out of the car as she sighed. Hopper ran in behind her and gestured for her to get in the car.

"Come on, kid."

She rolled her eyes and hopped into the backseat. Hopper took her bag away from her as they drove her down to the police station and sat her next to a desk.

"Morning Flo." she greeted.

The older lady smiled and handed the young girl an apple, "Out on the streets again?"

Mari shrugged, "I can't help myself sometimes."

"Kid! My office, now." Hopper commanded.

She rolled her eyes and walked into the gloomy office.

"Sit."

She plopped down in the chair and crossed her arms, "How's your day?"

He gave her an unbelievable glare, "How's my day? I'll tell you how my day is, I had to chase a rebellious little girl down the street because she was graffitiing the walls...again!"

"Huh. Well, a little exercise never hurt anyone. Besides, I prefer to call it mural painting. Graffitiing is an insult to my work."

Mari smiled innocently as he scoffed and lit a cigarette.

"You are the second most frustrating person I've ever met."

"Glad to know. Am I free to go yet?" she asked impatiently.

He pulled out her bag from under his desk. He took a spray paint canister out and held it up, "If I catch you painting my town walls with these again, I'm going to be forced to arrest you. I've caught you three times now."

"Well by now you should just know I'm not going to stop." she retorted.

"Don't you have something better to do with your time?" he asked while zipping her bag up, "Maybe hang out with some friends."

"It's funny that you assume I actually have friends," she took the bag from him and started to walk to the door, "Besides, everyone in this town is boring as hell."

She opened the door and walked out of his office, biting into the apple in her hand. She immediately bumped shoulders with a boy about her age.

"Sorry." he mumbled.

They briefly locked eyes as they passed. He kept staring at her long after she looked away. But he continued his way to Hopper's office.

"Hey kid!"

Mari popped her head back in the office doorway.

"I'm serious, last warning."

She mock saluted and strolled away, bag hanging off her shoulder.