𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕤: 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟘: 𝕊𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕤

 It was lonely sitting in the interrogation room of the Hawkins Police Department. Maybe she should have hired a laywer or contacted her aunt before taking this ridiculous lie detector test, but Darcy wanted to prove her innocence as soon as possible. Was she innocent if she couldn't remember what happened to Tommy?

Darcy leaned back in the cool metal chair, crossing her arms, staring into the bright light, and tapping her foot before Hopper returned with the lie detector. How helpful would a lie detector test be? It wasn't even scientifically accurate!

The door swung open, and Darcy sat upright. Hopper entered the interrogation room with a metal box and wires tucked under his arm. He set the box down on the table, placed patches of wire on Darcy's forehead and fingers, and took a seat across from her.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions and please answer honestly and to the best of your memory. Act as if the lie detector isn't here."

Darcy glanced up at the camera, perched on the corner of the ceiling. She knew Tommy's parents were watching her every move and listening to every word that came out of her mouth. She kept her expression neutral, her lips drawn into a thin line. "On with the questions, Detective."

Hopper opened his notepad and pressed a button on the lie detector machine to activate it. Darcy felt a pleasant tickle in her brain. Was this machine reading her mind?

"Did you go to school with Tommy Hagan?"

Darcy shook her head. "I was homeschooled by my aunt. But I saw Tommy every now and then in town." Beside her, the lie detector's needle lazily scribbled back and forth against a chart. What did those scribbles even mean?

"When did you first formally meet Tommy?"

"At the community pool this summer. We were chicken-fighting in the pool, and he invited me to his house party."

Both Hopper and the lie detector machine scribbled away. "Did you go to Tommy's party alone?"

Darcy nodded, the pleasant tickle in her brain persisting. "I did."

"What did you do at Tommy's party?"

Darcy closed her eyes, thinking. She could remember a few more details now that her mind was clearer. "I talked to a few people. Danced. Sung karaoke. Did a keg stand."

"Can you tell me the names of the people you talked to?"

Darcy listed the names in order. "We just talked about plans for the summer, the mall, stuff like that."

Hopper leaned forward in his chair, eyeing Darcy sharply. "What were your intentions with Tommy, Darcy?"

The tingling in Darcy's head intensified, now like hot, tiny needles poking her brain. She glanced at the lie detector's chart, the lines were taller and bunched together now. "I just...wanted to have a good time like everyone else at the party."

"Many accounts report that you left Tommy's party with the host himself. Those same accounts say that he did not tell anyone where he was going, when he was leaving, or who he was leaving with. One even reported that you practically dragged him out of his own house while he was still heavily inebriated. Most were surprised that you were able to walk straight shortly after finishing a keg stand in under thirty seconds. So let me ask you again, Darcy, what were your intentions with Tommy Hagan?"

Darcy rubbed her hands together, bringing some warmth to them. She closed her eyes, thinking, thinking, thinking, and remembering for the life of her, but the tingling in her head turned to a persistent poking at her brain, preventing her from forming a cohesive thought. Damn wires. All she could remember was taking Tommy's hand in hers. She couldn't remember leaving the party with him or what she did with him afterwards. But she could remember his hands, so warm but sweaty in hers. Why were her hands always cold?

Finally, Darcy glanced up at Hopper. "I don't know."

Hopper slammed his hand against the interrogation table, causing the lie detector and Darcy to jolt. "Bullshit!"

"I swear, I don't know!" Now, the sensation in Darcy's head was like a hundred thorns poking her brain all at once.

Hopper spat. "A boy is missing because of you, Darcy! What did you do with Tommy Hagan?!"

"I don't know!"

"Look, I don't know how you managed to do a keg stand in under thirty seconds and take advantage of Tommy-"

"I didn't take advantage of Tommy!" Darcy seethed with frustration and confusion. Why couldn't she remember what happened between her and Tommy?

"Then what did you do with Tommy?!"

"I SAID, I DON'T KNOW!" At Darcy's outburst, the lie detector combusted, sending sparks flying everywhere. Overhead, the lightbulbs shattered, coating the room in darkness and more confusion than answers.