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an overdue reunion
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. ✧ ・゜. +・o ✧
The ride to the mall was tense, and cramped, as usual. Alina found herself not minding it, though, probably because of her worry about Dustin—and Steve, who she hoped he was with—and what sort of condition she would find him in. Her ribs were aching again, too, and she was practically stabbing them with the ice she'd nabbed at Bradley's Big Buy, where they'd left a complete and utter mess of blood and medical supplies. She'd even thought she saw the hint of a chittering creature within a pool of red, but maybe she was just paranoid. But... if there had been, Billy and the Mind Flayer might have known where they were. She just hoped that it couldn't follow them here.
When they finally arrived, Starcourt Mall was glowing like the day it had been when the party went to the movies, bathing them in that classic neon light. Alina found her eyes dragging down to her pink and blue shirt she'd bought at the mall just a couple days ago. The once clean garment was stained with blood around the collar, and crusted with dirt as well. It made Alina shudder. She couldn't believe it had been such a short amount of time that spanned between that girl's day, giggling, playing pranks on Daniel and Stacy's crew, and now, with bruised and battered faces and a weight heavier than any fourteen-year-old—no, anyone—should have to carry.
Maybe after this, at least for a little while, she'd go back to wearing Star Wars merch and Jonathan's old shirts. If there was an "after this."
Despite the fact that the exterior of Starcourt Mall looked almost as normal as it did the day without boys, there was something a little off, and, as Nancy pulled into the parking lot, Alina realized why. The mall was closed now, so everyone had gone home... except for the two men standing by the entrance, holding something in their hands even Alina's sharp eyes couldn't make out. They were burly, and there was a certain look on their shadowy faces that told her that they were not men to be crossed.
"Who are those guys?" Gabe asked as he climbed out of the car. He looked the worst out of all of them, even with the blood and muck cleaned off his face. "Wait. Oh, shit. Do you think they're after Dustin?"
