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cocoa puffs and crucial conversations
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. ✧ ・゜. +・o ✧
In the morning, gathered up in the basement with puffy eyes, the party crowded around El, who, with a blindfold around her eyes, was searching for Hopper. It had been universally agreed that Alina needed a break—she'd used too much energy back in the sauna—and even after a full night's sleep, exhaustion was sweeping over her. Which was why El was doing this alone. Even though there were bruises beginning to form on her neck, and she still seemed to be trying to catch her breath, like it had been only moments since Billy let go of her instead of hours. Alina sat there and watched and worried, wishing she could be more helpful.
Gabe seemed to be doing okay. His face was darkened with bruises now, and although he still couldn't open one eye, his head wound was better. The bleeding had stopped, and, according to Gabe, the headache—which had been pounding through him ever since he'd woken up—was feeling a little less painful. Not so... noticeable. More like something he could shove to the back of his attention. Which was definitely progress.
Right now, everyone was quiet, with only the buzz of TV static filling the silence. Their thoughts were whirling, crashing from one track to the next, and it didn't help that most of them were wearing the same clothes they had yesterday, when everything had gone down. The only exception was Gabe, who'd needed a change. Alina trained her eyes on him.
"I found him," said El suddenly. It had been around five minutes, and Alina was beginning to wonder when she would. She was sitting on a chair beside Lucas, passing a box of Cocoa Puffs between them, knowing it would be a good idea to refuel to prepare for the uncertain days ahead. Gabe, perched on the arm of a chair, was sharing Froot-Loops with Will, but the latter didn't seem very hungry. He looked like... well, like shit. Probably because the Mind Flayer had seen him. Just like it had seen Alina.
And Alina was afraid, too, but she knew that there was no use just sitting there. She'd be less scared if she did something, if she fought back, instead of just wondering what there was to be done. And they were doing something right now. They were finding someone they knew could help them.
