Trouble

Hopper: What is that?Joyce: His license plate.Hopper: What are the dashes?Joyce: Well they're blanks. I think that was an H or P with part of it rubbed off.

*

Nineteen woke to discover she was alone. Eleven and Max were gone. She waited all day for them to come back, nibbling on food she found in the fridge. Max had promised to bring over a sign language book. Feeling lonely, she watched some TV. The action was entertaining but she couldn't hear what the actors said so she shut it off.

Restless, she wandered outside wondering when they would return. Her fingers crackled while she leaned against the porch railing. Odd. Wood wasn't a conductor of electricity but she emitted it nonetheless. She flexed her fingers, straightened them. Sparks flew out, shooting across the glade, splintering the nearest tree.

She sensed trouble, otherwise, why would her powers activate now? Something was in the wind that's for sure.

A brown van arrived minutes later. The woman from the lab jumped out! Nineteen scurried back inside hoping she hadn't been seen. She raced into Eleven's bedroom, leaving the door open just a crack.

The woman had the man's arm around her slight shoulders. He'd been injured by the intruder, Nineteen recalled. It must have taken the woman some time to wake the man up, get him walking and into the vehicle.

She watched them, fascinated as the woman undressed him. His nakedness didn't bother Nineteen. The woman walked to the sink, wet some towels, and placed them on his head. She covered him with a blanket and settled down to watch over him. After some time, she got up and made tea, the scent making Nineteen thirsty.

She licked her lips, longing for a drink but kept hidden. She feared if she were found, they would take her away. She liked Eleven and Max, wherever they were. Part of her wished they had taken her with them.

Day settled into night and still the woman kept her vigil. Vegetable soup cooked on the stove and Nineteen's stomach twisted. What could she do? Go to the woman, beg her for some food? Plead with her not to call the authorities?

She did neither. Nineteen curled up on Eleven's bed, under the covers and went to sleep. Early morning light, teased Nineteen's face, twitching her eyelids. She sat up doubly hungry now, extremely thirsty and in need of the bathroom.

Please be gone, she thought, getting out of bed. The door was fully closed now. It could have shut of its own accord, she reasoned or someone had come in, seen her laying on the bed then shut the door.

And locked her in! Gingerly, she twisted the knob, it gave way, the door opening easily. There was no sign of the man and the woman. She tiptoed across the floor the wood creaking beneath her bare feet.

She peeked through the window. They were outside! Nineteen ducked and crawled back into the bedroom, taking care not to slam the door and alert them of her presence. She observed them enter the cabin through the slightly opened door.

They communicated with intense gestures and worried looks on their faces. The woman handed the man a piece of paper, the dialogue about said paper was completely lost on Nineteen.

The contents of the paper appeared important to the woman but the man seemed to be mocking her. Nineteen concentrated on the man's lips.

He said the word "Joyce." Nineteen muttered the word under her breath, uncertain as to what it meant. Then, like a flash, she understood. A name. The woman's name was Joyce.

Joyce took the paper from the man, with her face angled toward the bedroom, she clearly said, "Hopper."

The curtain shut between them and Hopper came out minutes later wearing a shirt with flowers on it and pants. He Joyce exchanged more words. Joyce gestured toward the bedroom and Hopper strode right toward Nineteen.

Thinking fast, she scampered to the bed and jumped under the covers, pulling them over her head. The bed springs squeaked when Hopper sat on it, dipping it low to the floor. Nineteen rolled toward him as his center of gravity took over.

She stiffened, afraid he would move the covers and discover her instead of Eleven. His baritone voice vibrated into the bed letting Nineteen know he was talking to her. In the midst of the one sided conversation, her fingers began to crackle again. She clenched her fists, afraid he would see the sparks.

The sense of an otherworldly presence grew stronger. The connection to this strange unknown force frightened her. Flashes of darkness flowed through her mind. With each flash the sparks increased spreading toward her wrists and up her arms. If it kept up much longer, she would be glowing like a street lamp revealing to Hopper that she was not Eleven.

He paused in his soliloquy and patted her head, the touch caused Nineteen to flinch. She clearly did not like being touched. Then she was nearly launched into the air when he stood up. The door closed and she breathed a sigh of relief. She slipped to the window in time to witness the vehicle pulling away dirt pelting the cabin from the tires.

Nineteen exhaled a breath glad to be alone. But she was not alone. The connection was back and stronger than ever. Whoever or whatever knew she was there in the cabin. Her short hair stood up on end, accompanied by chills of fear. She psychically sensed the presence but could not see it with her normal vision.

What did it have to do with her? And why did it activate her powers every time she felt it near her? Her vitals went wild, fear took over and before she knew it, Nineteen was out of the cabin and racing down the road.

*

Rough draft. Feel free to point out any mistakes. I may have jumbled up the timeline of the third season of Stranger Things so bear with me.

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