There's No Place Like Hawkins//Stranger Things. SH

TWENTY TWO

MADMAX

October 1984

Hawkins, Indiana

"Son of a bitch! Son of a bitch!" Catherine heard her younger brother, Dustin yell as he searched under couch cushions for any loose change. He ran into the living room where their mom, Claudia, was sat watching television with their cat Mews. "Another stupid penny!" Dustin cried, as he threw it across the room.

"Dusty, watch it!" Claudia cried, holding the ginger cat. "You almost hit Mews."

"Can I please check under your cushions?" He asked, walking across the room towards her.

"Dusty."

"Mom, please? It's an emergency!"

Claudia sighed and gave in, standing up so her son could look for change under the chair's cushions. Dustin grinned as he held up two coins. "Love you, Mom." He said as he ran back to his room.

Cat sighed as she looked into her full-length mirror, holding her t-shirt in her hands. She frowned as she looked at all the scars that littered her body. The one that went across her face hadn't fully healed and was very visible, as were the ones down her chest and her side. The one on her arm had faded slightly and was very white in comparison to her skin. She hated them. They were horrible and ugly.

Catherine jumped as there was a knock on her door. "Kit!" Her brother called out from the other side of her bedroom door.

"Just a moment!" She called back, throwing on her shirt and pulling it down as far as it would go. She made sure it had long sleeves, not only because it was autumn and was starting to get chilly, but also because she wanted to cover as many of her scars as possible. She walked across her room to the door, pulling it open to reveal her brother. Dustin said nothing as he pushed past her and began searching for any spare change she had lying around. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"I need money. We're going to the arcade, remember?"

"Okay, well, you could have just asked me for some." She said, walking towards her sock drawer where she kept her purse. She held it up to show him. "You can use some of this money. It's the money I save for special trips to the arcade, like today."

Dustin grinned at her like it was Christmas. "You're the best!" He exclaimed, giving her a huge hug.

Cat smiled. "Yeah. I am, aren't I? But I'm holding onto my purse."

"Why, 'cause it's the one Steve gave you?"

Cat shook her head, shoving him out of her room. "Just go. I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes. But you better wait for me."

Dustin ran into his room, grabbing his walkie-talkie and sitting on the floor by his bed. "Lucas, you copy? I've got four quarters. Kit's coming as well and she has loads more for us to use. What's your haul?"