CHAPTER TEN
X.      ghostbusters, but better
[ season 2, episode 6 ]

          They made it to the junkyard around midday, and immediately began assembling their trap for Dart.

Steve dumped the remainder of interdimensional-slug chow on the ground between the abandoned school bus and a mound of rusty parts. Steph and Dustin worked together to stack boards of decomposing metal sheets against the exterior of the old bus ── a shield to protect them against the creature lurking somewhere in the hollowed depths of Hawkins.

Steph learned that Dustin was inexplicably smart for his age. Like, scholarship smart. He had a great sense of humour, too, which made their teamwork all the more enjoyable.

Steve, on the other hand, worked alone. But being in his own company opened his mind to a plethora of intrusive thoughts, most of which consisted of the newfound electricity burrowing deep into his core. Not only that, but his gaze was seemingly in a world of it's own ── eyes constantly and involuntarily gravitating toward the blonde girl at the opposing end of the junkyard. He forced himself to look away. But only a moment or two later, Steve would find himself drawn to looking upon the eccentric soul once again, until her appearance was indefinitely scorched to his memory. Messy hair thrown up into a ponytail, grey lumberjacket tied around her waist, determination glinting in her cobalt eyes.

He became distracted when the shrill sound of a bike-bell echoed across the desolate junkyard.

"I said medium-well!"

Steph paused mid-way through prying a slab of chipped metal from a demolished car. Three kids were making their way over the crest of the hill at the far end of the junkyard ── one boy and two girls. The boy waved enthusiastically, while the redheaded girl shoved her hands into her pockets awkwardly, and the brunette swayed on her feet.

Steph's brow furrowed. She turned to Dustin, "Are they your friends?"

He gave a small nod. However, the flustered and captivated look upon his expression was an immediate giveaway to the emotions he was very obviously trying to conceal. The redheaded girl was the main cause of these obscured sentiments. Something that tended to occur when one was struck with this thing called a crush.

Steph fought back a smile and followed Dustin and Steve toward the new arrivals.

"This is Lucas." Dustin pointed at the boy who was carefully placing his bike down in the grass. He then turned his finger toward the girls, "Lucia and Max."

Steve waved. Steph crossed her arms and smiled warmly.

"That's Steph. And that's Steve ── which you already know." Dustin concluded.

They spent the next five minutes discussing their situation, running through a plan of extermination. Steph worked with Max and Lucia in reestablishing the interior of the bus, fitting a ladder inside that gave them access to the roof. They didn't talk much, but it wasn't deemed an issue, only slightly awkward. Concentration was key to their survival, though; this plan had to go smoothly, otherwise a cat-eating monster would be running around Hawkins freely. A Demogorgon. They couldn't risk it tweaking it's diet from cats to humans.

Again. It happened last year, and Steve and Dustin were adamant not to let it happen a second time.

Eventually, the sun began to set. The sky warped into a whirlpool of gold and salmon-pink, melting like honeycomb across the hazy horizon. Steph adored sunsets. She couldn't help but stare at the Earth's canvas, wondering if her late father had been involved in that evening's delicate composition. His favourite colour had been turquoise, from what little she could remember, and there was not enough room in the sky for melancholy blues tonight. He had taken the bench this time, clearly.

Steph sighed and pulled her gaze away from the darkening sky.

By the time the group had finished their structures, it was entirely dark outside. They hauled ass inside of the bus, slamming the flimsy, rusted door closed behind them. It provided more comfort than Steph initially presumed, and she felt moderately protected from the murky, foggy land beyond the shielded windows. That, and Dustin's pet.

She sank to the ground beside Steve, watching as he continuously flicked the lighter-lid on and off to kill some time. It was becoming increasingly annoying.

"Can you stop?" Steph demanded impatiently.

"Stop what?"

She placed her hand over the lighter, cupping Steve's fingers with her own. His face blanched, and he recoiled from the encounter with pursed lips, tucking the lighter into his pocket without argument.

Steph pressed a saccharine smile to her lips, "Much obliged."

They were met with another blockade of uncomfortable silence. Fortunately enough, Max and Lucia returned from their joint watch-duty on the roof ── replaced by Lucas ── both taking a seat at the bottom end of the bus. Max folded her arms, and Lucia leaned against the wall, her eyes growing heavy with fatigue.

Max sighed, "So, you really fought one of these things before?"

Steve drummed his fingers against his kneecap. Slowly, he gave Max a nod in response. There was a hint of fear glimmering in her eyes, and reluctance to believe the situation that was becoming more and more surreal.

"And you're, like, totally sure it wasn't a bear?" she added, trying to convince herself of other potentials.

"Shit." Dustin interjected, rolling his eyes. "Don't be an idiot. Okay? It wasn't a bear. Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home."

"Tres harsh, dude." Lucia mumbled from the corner, her face shrouded by a cape of darkness.

Max scoffed, glaring over at Dustin, "Geesh. Someone's cranky. Past your bedtime?"

Dustin continued pacing as Max picked herself up from the floor and clambered up the ladders toward the roof. She joined Lucas, leaving Lucia and the others alone to wallow in trepidation. With a sigh, Steph dropped her head back against the wall, interlacing her fingers, senses keen as she listened out for the telltale signs that Dart was approaching.

So far, so good.

She pushed herself up again, unable to find a comfortable position. Dustin's pacing was making her more anxious about the entire situation, and she couldn't seem to relax no matter how hard she tried.

The tranquil yet eerie silence was shattered by an inhuman sound only a few minutes later.

An animalistic screech pierced the air. It rattled across the layer of wispy fog distending throughout the junkyard, pinning every member of the small collective to the spot. Steph and Lucia exchanged a wary look ── both absolutely clueless as to what was in store for them, having never been involved in this business before. Steve shot to his feet, staring through the grated windows. Dustin's trembling breath echoed around the silent bus, and Steph hesitantly rushed to join them.

"Do you see it?" Lucia asked quietly, standing behind Dustin.

Steve pursed his lips, "No."

"Lucas!" Dustin cupped his hands around his mouth, turning his face up toward the ceiling. Steph quickly shot the boy a reprimanding look, a clear warning for him to lower his voice, but it was a gesture that went amiss. "What's going on?"

Lucas' voice was muffled from the roof, "Hold on!"

There was a brief silence. Steph gnawed on her lower lip anxiously, curling her fingers around the grated window. The air was unbelievably chilly, coiling around the interior of the abandoned vehicle like the glacial breath of the Grim Reaper. She shivered, drawing her jacket around her body tighter.

"I've got eyes!" Lucas yelled suddenly. Lucia flinched and ducked below the window. "Ten o'clock! Ten o'clock!"

Steph's head was directly beside Steve's, their heavy breaths mingling. In unison, they gazed out into the junkyard, scanning the area. There, at the farthest point, was a dark silhouette amongst shadows ── sinister, long, and shaped like a dog. It was still, unmoving, sniffing at something on the ground.

Dustin's brows cinched together, "What's he doing?"

"I don't know . . ." Steve said.

The thing began chittering quietly. Tendrils of fog slithered across the patchy land, separating like the Red Sea to reveal the creature perched at the opposing end of the junkyard, staring into the abyss of darkness. Steph swallowed thickly, overcome with nausea. She had never been able to cope well with fear ── but that didn't mean she couldn't cope with it.

"He's not taking the bait." Steve pointed out. He was right. Dart was avoiding the mound of shredded meat, lingering near the edge of the clearing. "Why is he not taking the bait?"

Steph shrugged, "Maybe he's not hungry?"

"Maybe he's sick of cow." Steve said ominously.

He backed away from the window. Steph peered over her shoulder ── watching the boy grapple nervously with his nailed-bat and near the rickety door ── and her stomach dropped with realisation. His face was a painting of confidence and determination, which could only mean one thing.

He was going out there.

She immediately shook her head, a breathy laugh of disbelief trickling over her lips, "Are you crazy?"

Steve gulped, "Just be ready."

"No, Harrington. Don't be an idiot."

However, her words fell upon deaf ears.

Steve pried open the door. Before Steph could reach out and grab his jacket to reel him back into safety, the sheet of metal slammed closed, rattling inches from her faces. Angered by his illogical thinking, Steph swore beneath her breath and rushed toward the window, watching Steve's every move through the grated metal.

Lucia rose from the ground. Her mouth was hanging open in shock.

"What the hell is he doing?" she implored, her voice a mere hiss.

A slither of moonlight reflected against Dustin's face, "Expanding the menu."

"Hey!" Lucia scolded lowly. She prodded a thumb through the air in Steph's direction. "Don't say that in front of his girlfriend!"

Steph whipped her head around frantically, "I'm not his girlfriend."

"Oh."

They continued watching Steve tussle with death outside. He adjusted his grip around the bat, swiping it through the murky air in an attempt to internalise his fear and warp it into . . . bravery. Courage. He was going to need a lot of that ── especially now, considering he was looking into the horrifying face of a shrunken Demogorgon.

Steph's chest felt tight merely watching him. Her heart was thundering against her rib cage, incontrollable and relentless. She inwardly cursed Steve for making her care.

He couldn't die.

"He's insane." Max muttered disbelievingly.

Dustin's face split into a grin, "He's awesome."

"No, he's insane. He's so insane." Lucia whispered shakily. She chewed her nails, unable to continue watching when Steve planted his feet beside the mound of meat and clicked his tongue to lure the creatures toward him. Lucia whimpered, "I can't look. Jesus Christ. I feel sick."

Steph leaned further toward the window. Around Steve, the fog was shifting. It had a mind of its own, swirling into a mass of heavy cloud, likely to be obscuring Steve's view of the chittering creature. He took another step forward as the hazy mist swayed in the darkness once again, finally revealing the very thing he had sought out to destroy.

Dart.

There was a sudden clattering from the roof. Lucas was scrambling to reach his binoculars, gaze pinned to something on the left hand side of the junkyard.

"Steve! Watch out!"

"A little busy here!" the hero of the day called back.

Lucas' shout turned into a shriek, "Three o'clock! Three o'clock!"

Below, the group shifted their gazes toward the other side of the land. There was a second creature ── larger, if anything. Steph's breath hitched in her throat as she watched the miniature Demogorgon crawl down the dilapidated skeleton of an overturned car, mouth opening up like a blooming flower. A chill inched down her spine, and her fingers tightened around the metal grate shielding them from the unravelling chaos outside.

She was becoming increasingly more worried about Steve's wellbeing.

Dustin raced over to the door and shoved it open, "Steve! Abort! Abort!"

There was another monster, creeping out from the leering shadows. Smaller, thinner, more sinister in stature, growling horrifically. This wasn't looking promising for Steve ── not in the slightest. Steph rushed toward the door and skidded to a halt beside Dustin, placing an arm out in front of him to ensure he did not put himself in harms way. If anyone was going to jump in to help Steve, it had to be her.

She flinched drastically when the first Demogorgon lunged toward the Harrington.

He ducked out of the way, rolling across the bonnet of a rusted car. The second creature hurtled through the air, claws shredding the thick and unrelenting mist in a desperate attempt to reach him. But Steve had the upper hand. He ploughed the bat into the thing's face, tearing through several layers of slimy skin and razor-sharp teeth. It gave him enough time to make a beeline back toward the bus.

Everyone crowded around the door, clamouring in terror.

Steph inhaled deeply, "Come on! Steve, run!"

He sprinted across the yard. The miniature Demogorgons were fast on his tail, but not fast enough. Steve threw himself into the bus, and the moment his entire body was safely inside, Dustin slammed the thick shutter of metal closed, barring the Demogorgons outside. Regardless, the inhuman things continued throwing themselves against the side of the elongated vehicle, roaring and chittering loud enough to draw the attention of many more to come.

Inside, Steph was wedged between Steve and Lucia. Her feet were planted against the door, pushing against the unrelenting force of Dart and his companions. She gripped Steve's shoulder as leverage, half of his body braced across her own as a means of protection, one arm arched over her stomach.

"They can't get in! They can't!" Lucas assured shrilly.

The entire bus rattled, throwing the group backward. Steve fell into Steph, and she used both hands to steady him, pressing her fingers into his arms. There was a chorus of screams when one of the Demogorgons burst through the door, splintering the metal sheets, reaching it's claws through the slats. The kids yelled and screeched, running to the opposing end of the bus ── leaving Steph and Steve alone to fight the rabid creature.

Steph grabbed a metal pole from the front of the bus. She shoved Steve aside and swung it directly into the squealing monster's face, grunting with overexertion. The slimy thing shrieked and cowered back ── and Steve used his splintered bat to finish the job, crushing the Demogorgon's blooming face into an unrecognisable pile of mush.

At the end of the bus, Dustin was yelling into his walkie-talkie, "Is anyone there? Mike? Will? God! Anyone! We're at the old junkyard, and we are going to die!"

Lucia snatched the walkie-talkie from Dustin's hands and threw it to the ground. "We'll be a pile of bones by the time they get here!"

Fearfully, Dustin gulped.

Steph's breath trembled, throat tightening.

Then, a chilling silence billowed over the entire group.

Until . . . a booming thud echoed from above. And then another. And another. The metal roof braced over their heads was slowly caving in beneath the weight of something reasonably heavy, eliciting a terrifying growl that had the hairs standing to attention on the back of Lucia's neck.

Steve began to approach the end of the bus. Steph followed behind him cautiously, and he held out an arm protectively, his fingers grazing against her elbow.

The thudding ceased.

In unison, they all looked up. A Demogorgon was hanging its head through the open cavity between the roof and the bottom floor, head splitting open like a watermelon ── blank stare set on Max. The redhead screamed, and Steph instantaneously ran forward, clambering to the ladder despite Steve attempting to grapple with her arm and hold her back. He wanted to the saviour again. Not this time.

Steph clutched the pole tight in her clammy hands, clambering up the first step on the ladders.

"Hey, you!" she shrieked, heart thrumming against her ribs. The Demogorgon roared, claws bending over the edge of the cavity, it's gaping, cavernous mouth lined with endless rows of pointed teeth. Steph's lip curled in disdain, her fury mounting, "Eat shit, you slimy prick!"

She jabbed the pole into it's swollen stomach, spraying a bottle-full of tar-black liquid across the roof ── droplets splattering against her face ── and the creature released an agonised squeal, its entire body convulsing and twitching. Steph clenched her jaw, reeling her arm back, every muscle squeezing as she aimed another jab for its head.

However, before she had a chance to unleash the final blow, something in the distance caught the monster's attention.

It's head whipped to the side, mouth folding back into normality; a rosebud out of season. Steph blinked rapidly, and the Demogorgon rolled off the roof with a deafening howl, scuttling into the fog and darkness alongside the other insatiable monsters.

Lucia gulped. In the heat of the terrifying moment, she clutched Max's hand. And as the silence stretched onward, they kept their fingers interlaced.

Steph dropped her head against the ladder poles, exhaling sharply. The relief submerged her, burying her alive. With her eyes closed, she swayed on the spot, unable to keep her balance ── something Steve noticed. He reached up and placed a gentle hand on the curvature of her waist to keep her steady, helping her down from the rickety ladder.

She managed a small smile, "Thanks."

He was in too much of a state to respond accordingly.

The entire group moved out into the night. Thankfully, the Demogorgons had cleared off. But staying at the junkyard any longer than necessary posed an immediate risk ── they could return at any moment to finish what they started.

"What happened?" Lucas implored, referring to the unprecedented disappearance of the monsters. He and the other kids were still hiding behind the door, eyes darting every which way.

Dustin shrugged, "Steph and Steve scared 'em off?"

"No. No way." Steve mused. He had his back turned to the others, spiked bat propped against his shoulder. After a moment of deep thought and consideration, Steve finally whirled around to face them, "They're going somewhere."

Somewhere.

In response to that, Lucia scoffed, running a hand down her face out of frustration. "And my guess is, we're gonna follow them?"

"Do you have any better ideas?" Dustin challenged.

"Yes!" Lucia retorted sharply. She splayed her arms out either side of her body, completely astonished that these people were willing to go through with this. "Sleeping doesn't involve being eating alive, that's for sure."

Steph pointed a finger at the younger girl, "Hey, she has a point."

But the others were no longer listening. They had already began making their way across the vacant junkyard, retracing the steps of the deadly creatures out for blood.

The group were the prey, searching for the predators. In most cases, that led to the worst case scenarios.

Wanting to divert her thoughts elsewhere, Steph expelled a heavy sigh through her nostrils and walked in step beside Steve. She pondered aloud, "With all this monster hunting business, I feel like we should have a group name. Like, the ghostbusters but better."

Nothing came to mind.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

sorry this took a while to come
out! i had covid and was unable
to get out of bed or even lift my
head at all. but here we are!!