Here. [ st ]

Sunshine

Mike wiped El's face. Cleaning her up a bit. Mike sighed as he finished up.

"That's better."

El turns to look at herself in the mirror. She touched the top of her shaved head, in wonder if she still needed the wig. "You don't need it." Mike assured her.

"Still pretty?" El asked as she turned to the boy.

"Yeah! Pretty. Really pretty."

There was a short pause, silence.

"El?"

"Yes?"

"Um, I'm happy you're home."

"Me, too." El smiled warmly as they looked into each other's eyes. They were inching closer.

Dustin abruptly swang the door open.

"Guys! It's Lucas, I think he's in trouble." The boy panted. Everyone walked over to the walkie. "Do you remember how he said he was looking for the gate?"

"Yeah."

"What if he found it?"

Lucas shouted through the radio. Mike got a hold of the walkie.

"What's he's saying?" The boy asked Dustin.

"I don't know, he's way out of range."

"..Son of a bitch!" was heard over the walkie. Mike tried to respond.

"Lucas, if you can hear us, slow down. We can't understand you."

"Yes, I copy! Do you? They know about Eleven! Get out of there! They know about Eleven! The bad men are coming! All of them! Do you hear me? The bad men are coming!" Lucas shouted as he rode his bike fast.

"Mad hen. Does that mean anything to you?" Dustin asked. "Like a code name or something?"

"The bad men are coming!"

"Bad men. Bad men!" Mike repeated. He set the radio on the table. "Stay here." He told El.

The boys ran upstairs. Mike looked through the nearest window facing the out front. Dustin joined.

There was that van of power and electricity company. They saw someone in the vehicle.

"What's that guy doing?" Mike asked.

"You don't think.." The boys looked at each other. Mike dashed away.

"Well, I know she and Steve have been spending some time together, so I thought maybe--"

"Mom!" Mike came running, cutting Karen off as she spoke on the phone.

"Well, is he home? Maybe you could ask him?"

"Mom!"

"Can you hold on a second? Michael, I'm on the phone. I've told you a million times--"

"Did you schedule any repairs?"

"What?"

"Is there anyone supposed to come and so repairs on the house?"

Dustin saw that there was many vans pulling up. When one of the vans turned, a man in the van caught Dustin. The boy quickly shut the curtains.

"I don't understand. Is there something wrong--"

"No, Mom, nothing's wrong in the house."

"Mike!"

"One second."

"Mike!" Dustin yelled, finally getting the boy's attention. "We need to leave, right now. Dustin ran off to the basement with Mike. Karen called after Mike.