Chapter 12
They met with Dustin and Lucas before school a few days later, and explained their realisations to them. They were surprised, and had many questions, most of which Mike and El were able to answer. However, they didn't have very much spare time as they had to be in for lessons, and about 15 minutes had been wasted trying to explain the concept of school to El.
They arrived at school late, so didn't have much time to talk when they were rushed into class by an angry looking receptionist who threatened to call their parents if they were "ever late for school again because of your bloody board game." At that they went their separate ways, to reunite in the courtyard when the lunch bell rang.
When the bell did go, Mike was so desperate to meet with his friends he almost knocked over a mean-looking 16-year-old. Nevertheless he continued, and spotted Lucas waiting and Dustin soon after him.
"So, have we got any idea what we're going to do now?" Lucas asked him.
"I'm guessing not", Dustin chipped in to the conversation.
"So, what have we got to go on?" Lucas asked, turning to Mike.
"I don't know", he replied. "Mind you, we could start with the boy sneaking around in rags over there by the trees." They all turned in the direction he was staring. Quite a few people had started to stare; the boy was hardly inconspicuous. He looked like he might be homeless. It appeared he was looking for food-he was rummaging around in the bins and had just picked out a half-eaten apple. He saw the three of them looking straight at him and tried to shuffle away.
They walked towards him.
"Who are you?" Lucas demanded.
"Why do you want to know?" the boy asked.
"Just answer the question", Dustin sighed. "Don't try to be badass, to be honest it really doesn't suit you, you just took an apple out of a bin and ate it".
The boy hesitated. "Ten", he replied.
"Ten, like the number ten?" Dustin sniggered.
"Yes", came the serious reply.
Mike was staring at him, eyes wide, mouth open.
"You wouldn't happen to have visited Hawkins Lab, would you?" he asked.
"The man with the grey hair, you know him?"
"Oh, yeah", Mike told him.
"Do you have any siblings?" he pressed.
"My sister", he replied. "But I haven't seen her for many years."
"We have", Mike confessed.
And in his mind he saw the face of the girl he knew, the girl who had changed all their lives, soon to be reunited with her brother at last.