My Strange Thing??

Mike rubs the dirt and old makeup off Five's face gently.

He sighs, "That's better."

She turns and looks at herself before touching her head, where the wig used to be.

"You don't need it."

"Still pretty?" She mumbles and glances at him.

"Yeah! Pretty. Really pretty."

Five smiles as a blush creeps on her face.

"Five?"

"Hm?" She hums as she looks at herself in the mirror again.

"Um, I-I'm happy you're home."

"Me, too." She nods.

They instinctively lean in closer before Dustin flings the door open.

"Guys! It's Lucas. I think he's in trouble." Duston runs back out to the basement, the other two following. "You know how he said he was looking for the gate?"

"Yeah?" Mike answers.

"What if he found it?" Dustin hands him a radio as Five sits down.

The radio warbles as Lucas's voice fights to be heard.

"What's he saying?" Mike asks.

"I don't know, he's way out of range." Dustin responds.

"...Son of a bitch!" Lucas's voice can be heard yelling.

"Lucas, if you can hear us, slow down. We can't understand you." Mike speaks into his radio.

"Yes! I copy! Do you? They know about the weirdos! They know about Five and Eleven! Get out of there! The bad men are coming! All of them! Do you hear me? The bad men are coming!" Lucas screams as he pedals as fast as his boy legs will allow him to.

" 'Mad hen' does that mean anything to you? Like a code name or something?" Dustin asks Mike.

"The bad men are coming!"

" 'Bad men.' " Mike says. "Bad men." Mike repeats as he slams the radio down on the table. He grabs Five's shoulder, "Stay here." He quickly runs upstairs, Dustin following.
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Mike and Dustin look out the window to see the white van, the same one from the Lab.

"What's that guy doing?" Mike questions.

"You don't think..." Dustin mumbles as Mike runs off.

"Well, I know she and Steve have been spendinv some time together, so I thought maybe-" Karen's phone conversation gets cut off by an exasperated Mike.

"Mom!"

She ignores him and continues her conversation.

"Mom!"

"Micheal, I am on the phone. I've told you a million times-"

"Did you schedule any repairs?"

"What?"

"Is there anyone supposed to come and do repairs on the house?"

Dustin watches as more vans drive through the cul-de-sac. He quickly pulls the curtains shut.

"I don't understand. Is there something wrong-"

"No, Mom, nothing's wrong with in the house!"

"Mike!" Dustin yells as he runs into the kitchen.

"One second."

"MIKE!"

Mike quickly spins and looks at Dustin.