Complicated • Stranger Things

13 - Dig Dug

It was a weekend, so I was able to sleep in for a few hours and ended up eating breakfast around 10. El hasn't come out of her room yet today, but I thought it would be best to leave her be until she wanted to talk. She already had to deal with Dad pestering her. Speaking of my dad, I realized that he never came home last night. Maybe he came home really late and left really early? I decided to call the station to see if he was there.

"Hawkins Police Station, how can I help you?" Florence, the secretary, asked from the other line.

"Um, hi. It's Jordan. I was wondering if you've seen my dad at all this morning?" I asked.

"No, I haven't seen him since yesterday. Why? Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Oh, I just didn't hear him come home last night and he wasn't here this morning. He's probably fine. You never know with him." I laughed, despite feeling a bit uneasy about the situation.

"You got that right." She laughed along with me. "I'll be sure to let you know if I hear anything."

"Okay, thank you." I said a quick goodbye before hanging up the phone.

Barely a second after I hung up the phone, it starting ringing. I had no idea who would be calling, but I picked it up in hopes that it would be my dad.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Oh, Jordan. Thank god you picked up." I was surprised to hear Dustin's mom on the other end. It's been a decent while since she's called me for anything. "I need you to come watch Dustin for me."

"Why on such short notice? Is something wrong?" I questioned.

"Mews has been missing, but she was spotted around Loch Nora. I'm going to see if I can find her and didn't want to leave Dustin home alone." She explained. "I'm sorry if you were busy. I can try to find someone else."

"No, I can make it. It's been a while since I've hung out with Dustin. I'll be there soon, and I hope you find Mews." I told her and we said goodbye before hanging up.

I quickly got ready and called out to El before leaving, saying that I was leaving and would be home later. I felt bad leaving her alone, but then again, she didn't seem to want any company right now.

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"Dusty, I'm here!" I called out as I entered the Henderson residence. I stopped in my tracks when I found Dustin suited up in hockey gear and slabs of baloney on the floor. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Jordan? What are you doing here?" Dustin stared at me with a shocked expression.

"Your mom just called me. Said she was going to look for Mews and that you needed a babysitter." I told him.

"Shit." He swore under his breath before turning back to me. "Look, you can't be here right now, okay? You need to go."

"Why can't I be here? And why are you dressed like that?" I asked.

"I can't explain right now." He said.

"Well, you're going to." I crossed my arms and gave him a determined look. Dustin sighed when he realized he didn't have a choice.

He explained to me how he found a creature from the Upside Down in his trash can and named it Dart. Apparently, he's been keeping "Dart" in his turtle's tank, but he found Dart way bigger than he was before, eating Mews. And now he has a monster trapped in his room.

"Wait, so you sent your mom to look for your dead cat?" I asked. That poor woman. I don't want to see how she'll react when she realizes that Mews isn't coming back.