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˚⋆ ┊ ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING ┊ ⋆˚
☆⋅⋆ ─ act i. don't you want me, baby?

CHAPTER TWELVE — who you gonna call?
( episode six ; the spy )

- warnings: descriptions of violence/blood

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⠀ ⠀ LUCAS HAD ALREADY CLIMBED THE LADDER MAX HAD PLACED through the gap in the ceiling where a window once was, electing himself as a lookout for the group. Below him, the younger teens clustered together, their eyes wide with anticipation as they peered through the barred windows, scanning the darkened landscape outside for any signs of movement.

Whilst Steve and Peyton had situated themselves on the floor. Most of the seats within the bus had been ripped out, the leather tattered and torn. To combat the heavy silence that threatened to engulf them, Steve occupied himself with his lighter, a well-worn Zippo that gleamed faintly in the low light. He flicked it open and shut in a steady rhythm, the metallic clink echoing in the cramped space, a small act of defiance against the oppressive quiet of the night.

Peyton had managed to ignore him thus far, her knees drawn up to her chest, slightly parted to accommodate the grip she maintained on the crowbar resting on the cold, dusty floor. She opted for a blank stare, rendering her almost oblivious to the incessant clicking sound coming from Steve. Each flick of his lighter was a distant echo, overshadowed by the fear swirling within her. It wasn't until quiet footsteps approached that she felt her focus shift, her gaze breaking away from the scrapes and grooves of the floor once she'd recognized who they belonged to.

"Hey..." A soft smile broke through her anxious demeanor as she tilted her head to acknowledge the approacher, catching her little brother's eye. His familiar face, framed by shadows, brought a flicker of comfort amid the uncertainty.

"Hey," she greeted, as Parker lowered himself to the ground beside her, instinctively mirroring her position, tucking his knees toward his chest. A small gesture that offered Peyton a much-needed moment of solace. "Still nothing from Mike?" Walkie clutched in his hand, Parker used his palm to retract the antenna, head shaking ever so slightly. He'd been trying to get ahold of the other party members all night. To find out if they'd found Hopper. To see if his dad was still okay. But all he got was static. A haunting reminder of their isolation.

"Radio silence," he replied shakily. Peyton frowned, leaning forward in an attempt to get a better look at his face through the darkness. There wasn't a person in the world who knew Parker Newby better than his sister. And it didn't take more than a couple of anxious words for her to know something was wrong.

"You alright?" she asked, her concern etched in her features as she narrowed her eyes when her brother hesitated to respond.

"I guess..." he finally trailed off, although Peyton could have sworn she'd seen him begin to shake his head no. Although his response wasn't truly a lie, it wasn't the whole truth either.

"You know..." she began, soft tones doing little to prevent the others on the bus from overhearing their conversation. She didn't care; her focus was solely on her brother, "You could have called me earlier,"

The Newby boy nodded. Because of course, he knew that. He'd always known Peyton was one of only two people on the planet who would have dropped everything and rushed to his side at a moment's notice, "I know,"

"So why didn't you?"

Parker shrugged again, "I... I don't know," guilt settled in the pit of Peyton's stomach as her brother stammered through his words, "I guess I just... I knew you were at the Byers. I figured maybe they needed you more that I did," It broke her heart to hear him say that. To know of his internal conflict of wanting to reach out for help while fearing he might burden her further. One hand still firmly gripping the crowbar, she reached toward her brother to place a gentle hand on his knee.

"Hey..." she gripped it once, only aiming to gain his attention, to catch his eyes so he could see every bit of truth behind her words, "Don't ever think like that, okay? You are my brother. My baby brother," it was a struggle for her not to become tearful, "There is nobody in this world I wouldn't drop everything and run to help you for. Not a single person," Parker smiled gratefully, knowing that exact sentiment had crossed his mind just moments ago, "Anything this god-awful town throws at us. We get through it together," she cupped his hand in hers. Squeezing tightly as she brought their arms up into a handshake, that in all truth looked like the beginning of an arm wrestle. It was her way of capturing the gravity behind her words. Locking eyes with her, a silent promise passed between them,"Together,"

"Together," repeated Parker, a determined nod accompanied his glassy eyes, the sentiment of it all starting to get to him.

Seriousness faded when Peyton dropped their reddened palms, "I mean it," emphasized the blonde, prodding at his chest with the tip of her finger, "As soon as you smell trouble, you call me, okay?"

"Alright!" swatting her hand away, Parker let out a restrained chuckle. A grin crossed Peyton's lips before the next phrase left them, amused at the words she'd yet to say.

"Who you gonna call?" a corny callback to his costume just days ago, it was visible, the groan Parker held back. When Peyton got to her feet, stretching her legs as she peeked out the window, she caught Steve's eye for a moment, darkness doing little to mask his fond smile.

The Newby boy shook his head, fiddling idly with the walkie in his hand as he told her, "You're so lame,"

"I know," chuckled Peyton, nose scrunched into a regretful grin, "I heard it when I said it," She'd somehow situated herself beside Steve now, back to him as she leaned against the metal grooves that framed the cracked window. He hadn't moved from his slouched position, bat resting heavily against his knees, as he continued to flick his lighter with an almost obsessive rhythm. Each spark sent a brief flash of orange dancing across the worn interior of the bus, illuminating the peeling paint and worn leather, before he extinguished the flame with a practiced flick of the hinged lid, cutting off the oxygen and plunging them back into darkness.

Peyton's hot breath fogged up the glass as her eyes traced the darkened junkyard. The setting sun had brought with it a thick layer of mist. Pale as the moonlight, it hovered above the grass, casting an otherworldly glow that crept between the rusted cars to obscure their shapes.

Meanwhile Steve, like a pissed-off statue, stared resolutely ahead, his gaze fixed on some invisible point in the near distance. As though glancing at Peyton ever again would somehow turn him into actual stone.

"So you really fought one of these things before?" thumb burning as he scraped it against rigid metal once again, Steve froze, unextinguished flame highlighting his features. The lighter in his hand was the very same kind they'd used that night. Peyton still had the faint scars on her chest from where the beast had stood over her, claws pinning her to the ground. Breathlessness was a familiar feeling for her, she'd had nightmares of that moment ever since. Of the hungered roar, of the hot saliva burning her cheeks as it threatened to sink its teeth into her head. And although she hated the way he taunted her for it, it was undeniable that Steve had saved her life that night. With the very bat that rested against his knees in the present. The party saw them as heroes because of what happened. They'd heard the story told time and time again. It was why they came calling for Peyton. Looking for Steve. For Nancy and Jonathan. They knew exactly who they needed when a demogorgon found itself back in their lives.

When all Steve could bring himself to do was nod, Max couldn't help but press further, "And you're, like, totally, 100% sure it wasn't a bear?"

Peyton hadn't meant to scoff at the unknowing redhead. Because she fucking wished it was a bear. But she couldn't blame Max for hoping the same. Especially when she'd only learned the truth that day, yet to see any proof of the tales she'd been told.

"Shit, don't be an idiot! Okay?" Dustin interrupted before either of the elder teens could come up with a plausible response, "It wasn't a bear. Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home," Steve and Peyton exchanged stunned glances, another look of many they'd shared that night.

"Geesh," Max scoffed, getting to her feet, daggers in her eyes directed toward Dustin, "Someone's cranky. Past your bedtime?" without another word, the redhead pushed past the pacing boy to climb the ladder and joined the only person that seemed to want her there.

Head tilted, Peyton fiddled idly with the metal frame of the window as she shot a sarcastic question toward the agitated Henderson boy, yet to avert her gaze, "Who pissed in your Cheerios?"

Her comment was ignored by both Dustin and Steve, who simply added, "That's good. Just show her you don't care,"

"I don't," insisted the Henderson boy. But Steve seemed adamant about applauding the younger teen for taking his advice, sending a knowing wink his way, "Why are you winking, Steve?" he asked, earning an amused shrug from the aforementioned teen, "Stop," Although he didn't push further, the smug look on his face as he flicked the lighter closed once again had Peyton's eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Turning to lean against the cool metal wall behind her, apparently bored of staring out into the dark, empty junkyard, Peyton snapped, "Leave him alone, dude, it's bad enough your advice is a load of crap," It was Sidney and Parker that looked at one another this time, a silent exchange between knowing younger siblings of hotheaded older siblings.

"It's not crap!" defended Steve, which seemingly amused the blonde further. It wasn't as though he didn't have the body count to prove it. But that wasn't Peyton's point at all. Because if his advice truly was so amazing then why was he, once again, single?

"Sorry to burst your bubble, oh great one," there it was again, the sarcastic tone that drove Steve up the wall, "but girls like it when guys give a shit,"

He hadn't meant to get so irate at her attitude. As if he wasn't used to the constant berating, taunting him about how he was destined to die alone. It never meant anything to him before, why did he care so much about her opinion now?

"And your dating history is a prime example?" Steve's habit of letting his mouth run faster than his mind had gotten him in trouble with Peyton more than once. But this was the first time he'd sensed genuine disappointment in her eyes.

"Asshole," she muttered, making a point of slamming into his leg with hers as she pushed past him, knocking the bat that balanced against his knee to the ground.

"Hey, hey, hey," tone suddenly much softer, Steve almost tripped in desperation to get to his feet, instant regret for the words he'd uttered only moments ago, "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry," his hand met her arm, and unlike their moment in the junkyard, this time she did shove him away.

Opting for an irritated whisper, Peyton knew better than to raise her voice given their soon-to-be-life-or-death circumstances, "You know, maybe if your dick was as big as your ego, you'd be able to find yourself a girl and keep her," they were inches away from one another. Heated breath met Peyton's cheeks as Steve visibly tried to keep his cool. He hated the way she challenged him. Arms folded, brows raised, her words dangling before him like tackle. Unblinking, Steve's jaw tightened with anger, trying his best to ignore their proximity. He didn't have an answer for that. Not one he could let himself say in front of the kids, anyway.

Sidney stifled a chuckle as her hand covered her mouth, eyes wide at Peyton's brutal rejoinder as Dustin mouthed a short 'wow', averting his gaze from the situation entirely. Most amused of all, Parker opted for a simple whistle, starting high and ending low, somehow a metaphor for Steve's aforementioned ego.

It was unexpected that a cruel yet casual insult wasn't thrown back at Peyton right away. For the first time, Steve's attention flew elsewhere, peering through the gap in the ceiling before pointing at the whistling teen.

"Shut up," Unappreciative of the tone he'd taken with her little brother, Peyton's palm slammed into Steve's shoulder to deliver a warning shove.

"Hey!"

"No, seriously, shut up!" sensing urgency in his tone, Peyton turned toward the closest window. When she turned back, Steve had pressed his finger to his lips, "Hear that?"

If she hadn't before, she certainly did now. An angered screech that pierced their ears and sank their stomachs. Somewhere close, hidden by thick mist, was Dustin's demonic pet.

"Yeah," clambering haphazardly toward the barred windows, Peyton and Steve had apparently forgotten about their hatred, sharing their lookout spot, cheeks almost pressed together as they stared out into the junkyard, "You see him yet?" she asked, eyes shifting from one spot to another at lightning speed for fear of missing its movement.

Steve's rapid eyes mirrored hers, head shaking ever so slightly as he replied, "No,"

"Lucas!" called Dustin, hands cupped at his cheeks to amplify his voice toward the gap in the ceiling, "What's going on?"

"Hold on!" the lookout replied, shouting in a way that made Peyton grimace. It wasn't as though they were trying to stay hidden from it, but the idea of some demo-creature knowing their exact location made her skin crawl,"I've got eyes!" his yell overlapped a low growl from the hungered beast, "Ten o'clock! T-Ten o'clock!"

Eyes following Lucas's direction, Steve was first to spot the black silhouette moving through the thick, eerie mist, "There," he pointed, his voice a mix of awe and dread. Sidney, Parker, and Dustin quickly gathered around the window, their faces illuminated by the pale light filtering in from outside. The monstrous figure paused momentarily, sniffing at the pile of raw meat laid out like an offering on the damp earth.

Dustin frowned, confusion creasing his brow at the creature's apparent disinterest, "What's he doing?"

"I don't know," replied Steve, his tone grave as he set his jaw, determination mingling with unease. He could feel the tension in the air thickening, pressing down on them like the mist outside.

"He's not taking the bait," Peyton chimed in, a frown deepening on her face as she glanced between Steve and the creature, "Why is he not taking the bait?"

"Maybe he's not hungry?" Dustin suggested, looking from one babysitter to the other, the doubt in his voice palpable. A brief silence set in at that idea. And though it seemed plausible, Peyton couldn't shake the feeling that wasn't the answer, knowing its hunger would never truly be satiated.

"Maybe he's sick of cow," Steve replied. The realization hit Peyton like a lightning bolt, illuminating a dark understanding that dawned on her far sooner than it did the younger teens. She knew exactly what Steve's plan was, maybe even before he did.

Always the goddamn hero.

Unblinking, Steve backed away from the window, regret swirling in his gut for the decision he was about to make. He met Peyton's gaze, the only one in the room to understand what he was about to do. She straightened from her position at the window, her eyes tracking him intently as he made a beeline toward the door, bat gripped tightly in one hand, lighter in the other. The image was stark and unsettling, a boy preparing for a confrontation he may very well not survive.

"Steve?" Sidney questioned, concern etching deeper lines into her youthful features at her brother's sudden impulsivity, "Steve, what are you doing?"

Dustin, watching him cross the room with a furrowed brow, echoed, "Steve?"

Turning quickly, he pointed the closed zippo lighter at the teens as he urged, "Just get ready," With a swift motion, he tossed it through the air. Sidney, her heart racing and hands trembling, caught the lighter haphazardly, her fingers fumbling with its cool metal surface as she watched her brother sliding the bus door open.

It came as a shock to them all when Peyton, with unexpected urgency, pushed past the bat-wielding teen and stood resolutely between him and the exit. "You're not going out there alone," she declared, her voice steady despite the fear tightening her chest.

"Peyton-" Steve began, but she interrupted him, holding up the crowbar she had gripped tightly. Her stance was unwavering as she watched him with raised eyebrows, challenging him to make her stay. Steve shook his head, his expression unexpectedly soft as he pleaded with the blonde, "Wait here," as she inhaled sharply to protest, he placed a gentle hand to her shoulder, his voice dropping to a soft whisper, "Please."

Peyton was taken aback by his sudden shift; his usual quips and insults replaced by a vulnerability that caught her off guard. His plea was so much more disarming than the usual animosity he had saved just for her. It stirred an uncomfortable pang in her chest. She had no solid ground to stand on. No excuse to be unnecessarily harsh. The impulse to snap at him, to tell him to shove his hero complex where the sun don't shine and follow him right through the door, faded away. Instead, she kept her cool.

Her protest came in the form of silence, her grip on the crowbar loosening slightly but never fully releasing it as she  tilted her body to the side, allowing Steve to get by. But her feet remained glued to the entrance steps. Her way of saying if things go south, I've got your back.

      The night sky loomed heavily above him as he exhaled, hot breath forming clouds that dissipated quickly in the chill. Bat clutched tightly in both hands, ready to swing, Steve made his way cautiously onto solid ground, his heart racing in rhythm with each step. Leaves crunched beneath his Nikes, the sharp sound contrasting with the stillness of the junkyard. He strained to catch a glimpse of the lurking creature, leaning to peer through the shattered windows of rusted cars.

On the sidelines, Peyton's teeth dug into her lips, a nervous habit, betrayed by her growing anxiety. Her stomach twisted, a tight knot of fear and adrenaline, as she gripped the crowbar tighter, readying herself to join him on the battlefield. Dread mixed with admiration as she watched Steve, his bravery both reckless and mesmerising.

With a steadying breath, he whistled, a soft sound designed to lure the monster toward him, swinging the bat from side to side with one hand, "Come on, buddy," he urged, the echo of his voice bouncing off the metal carcasses of the vehicles that surrounded them.

Inside the bus, the silence, thick with anticipation, shattered as Max hurried down the ladder from the roof, a high-pitched clanking of metal each time her foot hit the rungs, "What's he doing?" she asked, eyes wide with concern.

"Expanding the menu," Dustin replied, his voice laced with anxiety as he squinted through the grimy windows.

The group stared as Steve continued forward with caution, bat swinging low past his shins as he crouched slightly, trying to soften his feet against the crunching leaves, "Come on, buddy," he coaxed again, this time with a sing-song lilt that hung in the air like a challenge. A calculated distance from the beast, he raised his voice again, "Come on, dinner time!"

Peyton's breath caught in her throat as Steve's feet twisted into the dirt, mud scuffing up onto the pristine white of his Nikes, "Human tastes better than cat, I promise," he called out, his tone teasing yet dangerously bold. The thing growled hungrily, locking onto its newfound prey, a low rumble that echoed through the air.

Back on the bus, Parker shook his head in disbelief, wrestling with the conflicting emotions swirling inside him. He had his gripes about the 'King of Hawkins High', but he didn't hate him enough to want to watch him die at the hands of a demogorgon, "He's insane," Parker muttered, glancing in confusion when his eyes met Dustin's.

"He's awesome," the Henderson boy countered, a wide smile of admiration breaking through his own gnawing anxiety as he watched Steve with hero-worship in his eyes.

"He's dead meat," Peyton interjected, her voice low and strained, her gaze fixed on the back of Steve's head, pondering the unsettling fact that her statement was perhaps the most realistic of them all. The atmosphere in the bus thickened, everyone acutely aware of the impending doom, torn between appreciation for Steve's bravery and fear for his life.

He continued to stare at the beast, a weight of regret settling on his shoulders as he reluctantly kept its attention. Slowly, it prowled closer, predatory instincts honed in on him, clearly satisfied with its new human target. Yet another thing Steve had been right about.

The thing was sick to death of cow.

"Steve, watch out!" Lucas's urgent shout from above caught the attention of everyone below. His vantage point on the bus roof gave him a view that none of the others had, and his voice trembled with urgency.

"A little busy here!" snapped Steve, a hint of panic underlying his tone. He knew he couldn't look away from the creature, not even for a moment.

But Lucas refused to give up, his discovery too important to let Steve's words intimidate him, "Three o'clock!" he pressed, refusing to back down, his voice growing more frantic, "Three o'clock!"

It was only then that Steve straightened up, reluctantly averting his gaze in the aforementioned direction of three o'clock. His heart dropped when he spotted a second creature leaping atop a rusted car, its taloned feet crumpling the metal roof like tin foil. It let out a deep, hungry growl, and Steve realised with horror that he was now outnumbered.

Peyton's stomach sank like a stone in her gut.

They hadn't set a trap for the demogorgon.

The demogorgon had set a trap for them.

And this time, it wasn't alone.

Memories flashed through her mind of the last time they had faced a monster like this. It had taken four of them to defeat a single demogorgon a year prior. Fully grown or not, these creatures were going to eat Steve alive.

"Steve!" Dustin sprinted to her side at the bus entrance, panic contorting his face, "Abort! Abort!" he yelled, desperation spilling from his voice, knowing the odds were stacked against him.

Both beasts were ready to pounce, and Steve found himself caught in a frantic mental tug-of-war, his gaze darting between the two monstrous threats. Each creature radiated an unsettling hunger, their gaze fixated somehow on him despite their unsettling lack of eyes. It roared, its petalled mouth gaping wide to reveal rows of jagged, glistening teeth as it bounded toward him. Steve dove out of the way, narrowly evading the creature's jaws as he rolled over the hood of a rusted convertible. Just as he regained his footing, he felt a rush of air; heard the high-pitched scrape of claws scraping against the glass windshield as it leapt overhead.

The creature's screech echoed in frustration, a chilling warning of how close Steve had come to becoming its next meal. But he had little time to dwell on his narrow escape; almost instantly, the next creature pounced. Determination surged within him as he gripped the bat tightly, his knuckles whitening in anticipation.

This time, he was ready.

With a swift, practiced motion, he swung the bat with all his might, feeling the satisfying impact as it collided with the creature's side. The sound of cracking bone echoed in his ears, and the beast screeched in agony, its body sent flying through the air, momentarily subdued. Although pleased with his momentary victory, Steve knew he wouldn't be able to keep them at bay for long, their numbers ever-growing.

Overwhelmed at the sudden threat to Steve's life, Peyton couldn't take it anymore. Rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins, her tattered combats propelled her forward fight dominating over flight, as it always did.

"Peyton, don't!" Ignoring the desperate pleas from her brother, she sprinted toward Steve, heart pounding, just in time to swing the crowbar with all her strength. It connected squarely with the grotesque face of the predator, inches from Steve. The one that he hadn't seen. The one that, if not for Peyton's impulsivity, would certainly have killed him. He whirled around to meet her gaze, bat up high, ready to swing.

Wide-eyed and breathless, Steve's fearful eyes were too shocked to turn grateful. Before Peyton had the chance to process her actions, it dawned on her that Steve's focus hadn't stayed on her for long. His attention shifted, a flicker of panic contorting his features when he caught sight of something lurking behind her. The creature growled, its mouth peeling back into a menacing, starved snarl.

In a split second, Steve's swift movement knocked the wind out of the stunned girl, an instinctive tackle that saved them from the creature's lethal attack. They rolled beneath a heavy blanket of fog, a temporary refuge that obscured them from view, but would do little to mask their scent. Peyton held her breath, her knees and palms digging into the damp earth, Steve's mud-caked hands close beside hers, thankfully yet to lose his trusty weapon. They were both acutely aware of their proximity. Their usual banter, that would have ensued had they found themselves in such a position any other time, absent.

Relief surged through him, only to twist into frustration in an instant, "I told you to wait on the bus!" he exclaimed, his voice as sharp and accusatory as Peyton's glare. Because how dare he be so ungrateful she'd just saved him from his fate as a demogorgon's late-night snack?

"Eat me!" she snapped back, irony drenching her words, just as another demogorgon lunged toward them. In another fluid motion, Steve drew her closer, their bodies pressing together as he raised his studded bat high. With a fierce swing, he slammed it into the next attacker, using the momentum to roll them both over. Peyton grunted when they landed again, this time with Steve pinning her down. His expression was a chaotic blend of smugness and concern, an odd juxtaposition that made her heart race for reasons beyond the immediate threat.

"I'll have to get in line," he quipped, his tone light despite the danger surrounding them, earning a that's not fucking funny, Steve sarcastic smile from the girl beneath him as they scrambled back to their feet.

Surrounded from all sides, there was no use in fighting these things. They growled with a predatory hunger, ready to pounce at any moment. They crouched low, muscles coiling like springs, eager to give chase to the terrified teens who stood frozen in fear. The junkyard, a twisted landscape of rusted metal and debris, offered little comfort as the teens scanned the chaotic scene for possible routes of escape toward the safety of the bus.

"Steve, run!" yelled Sidney, her voice piercing through the suffocating silence, a shrill cry of worry and panic that jolted the frozen duo into action.

Steve grasped onto Peyton's hand tightly, feeling her pulse racing against his palm. "Come on!" he urged, determination flooding his voice as he dragged her behind him, their feet pounding against the ground as they sprinted back toward some semblance of safety. The demo-dogs, relentless and quick, followed closely on their heels, their snarls echoing in as they lunged hungrily, desperate to take a bite of the fleeing teens.

The younger teens yelled a chorus of names, their voices rising in frantic urgency, urging one another to hurry, to make it back to the bus in time. Each heartbeat felt like a countdown, the sound of their own breaths mingling with the growls behind them, as the threat loomed ever closer.

Steve made it through the door first, Peyton's hand still in his when her stomach dropped. A sudden sharp pain sent a wave of dread through her entire body. And she couldn't pull her second leg in. Forced to stop in her tracks, Steve's hand slid from hers as she remained trapped on the steps of the bus. Barely enough time to turn around, her outstretched palms stopped her face slamming into the metal floor when she was suddenly dragged down two steps by her leg. Layers of teeth tore through denim and flesh as she let out an ungodly scream of agony, twisting onto her back.

"No!" palms reddening from her tight grip on the handrail, the seconds it took for anyone to realize what was happening felt like hours. And although her boot drew blood when it slammed into the head of the beast, there was no unhinging its trapped jaw.

"Peyton!" bat shoved at the younger Newby, Steve's heart raced as he sprinted toward the seething blonde. He reached her just in time, grasping her arm firmly, feeling the tension in her muscles as panic coursed through her. With a swift motion, he wrapped his arm tightly around her waist, anchoring her against him to keep her steady amid the frantic movements and rising fear. Outside, he could hear the roars of their pursuers growing louder, more aggressive. More of them were coming, a relentless wave intent on eating their flesh. If they couldn't free her and slam the door shut, the chilling reality loomed large in Steve's mind: they'd all surely be dead.

Peyton started to feel weak from the pain, adrenaline not enough to prevent the feeling of sharp fangs scraping against bone. And Steve's failed attempts to pull her free only made matters worse. It wasn't until the hook of the crowbar collided with the thing's skull that it let go, turning to face its attacker with a bone-chilling roar.

Now outside of the bus, Peyton looked up to where her brother stood, helpless to do anything as her vision blurred from the white-hot pain in her leg. There was no doubt she was bleeding profusely, red trail painted along the floor in a jagged line when Steve dragged her from the exposed door. All she could hear were Lucas, Dustin and Max's yells for Parker to get the hell back inside before the door slammed altogether.

The demogorgons crashed into the shaking door, their guttural roars reverberating through the bus as they tried to break through. Parker leaped into action, adrenaline surging through him. He grabbed jagged pieces of scrap metal strewn across the floor, in a frantic attempt to barricade the flimsy door. Each tremor sent a jolt through his body, but he pressed his feet against it, muscles straining with effort as he fought against the relentless pounding.

"Are they rabid or something?" Max shouted, her voice tinged with panic as she pressed herself against the far wall. Her eyes were wide with fear.

Sidney, her fingers trembling, nervously tugged at her unruly brown hair, breaths coming in short, frantic bursts. Parker grimaced, kicking at the metal debris in a desperate attempt to deter the insistent attacks, "They can't get in!" she yelled, "They can't!" But suddenly, the bus shook violently, a bone-rattling tremor that sent them all crashing against the cold metal walls. Those still on their feet stumbled for cover, as the panel Parker had so hopefully secured crumpled beneath the talons of the ravenous creature.

Peyton cried out, pain jolting through her as her leg slammed into the hard floor. She knew the pressure Steve was applying to it was life-saving no matter how much the pain he caused made her want to punch him in the face. Guilt washed over her as she glanced toward the panicked kids, knowing it was her job to protect them, cursing herself for being unable to do so.

"Shit!" yelled Dustin, quickly hauled out of the way by Parker, who had once again found Peyton's crowbar. With an animalistic yell, he swung it down, the metal striking the thing over and over, each impact a desperate attempt to buy them time.

Meanwhile, Dustin scrambled to find his headset, frantically pleading into the microphone. "Is anyone there?" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "Mike? Will? God! Anyone!"

Amidst the chaos, Steve remained by Peyton's side, eyes darting around the shaking bus. He felt an overwhelming urge to join the fight, to protect them all, but the thought of leaving Peyton filled him with dread. His eyes were on her once again, brow furrowed at her worsening condition. Her leg was on fire, pain radiating through her entire body like pins and needles.

"Hold on, okay?" he tried to soothe her, one hand pressing firmly on her wound while the other cupped her cheek. Her cries had softened, but not in a way that reassured Steve in the slightest, "We- we gotta stop the bleeding," he urged, but Peyton's vision was blurring, the world spinning around her as her head drooped, a heavy weight of exhaustion pulling her down, "Hey, hey, Peyton! Look at me!" he begged, lifting her head to meet his gaze, "Look at me!" and she really tried, brows knitted in concentration as she fought through the dizziness, "You're gonna be okay, alright?" But as blood pooled beneath her leg, her faith in his words began to falter.

Another talon ripped through the metal beside Max's head, creating jagged lines in the side of the bus. She screamed, stumbling backward into Sidney, "Oh, shit, oh, shit!"

"We're at the old junkyard!" Dustin shouted, his voice a blend of fear and frustration. "And we are going to die!"

A tense silence settled in, thick with dread, before heavy footsteps thudded ominously above them. Max's eyes widened in horror as she slowly turned her gaze upward, heart racing at the sight of dents forming in the bus's roof.

Peyton, sensing the urgency, forced herself to shuffle until her back was straight against the leather seat, "Steve, go," she strained, her voice pained yet demanding, knowing he was their best hope for survival. He shook his head, torn between his instincts and the unyielding need to stay by her side. And then, as if drawn by their terror, the beast loomed through the gap, its monstrous head filling the space, roaring in tandem with Max's terrified scream.

"Peyton-" he began, but she cut him off, fierceness igniting in her eyes.

"Go!" she yelled, anger and pain swirling together, her nails digging into the torn leather seats as if they were the only thing keeping her grounded. Finally, after a moment's hesitation, Steve nodded, gripping the trusty bat once more as he crossed the bus, urgency launching him forward.

"Out of the way!" commanded Steve, glaring defiantly at the creature, "Out of the way!" standing firmly at the bottom of the ladder between them and the creature, bat raised high, "You want some? Come get this!" Hot, rancid saliva dripped from the creature's jaws, splattering onto his face, but he stood his ground.

A loud growl from outside caught the beast's attention, and it turned its grotesque head toward the noise. For a heartbeat, there was stillness, and then it backed away, leaving Steve in a tense standoff, bat still raised, unwilling to drop his guard just yet. The entire bus trembled as the creature leapt from the roof, an unsettling relief washing over them as its growls and screeches faded into the distance.

Caught up in his determination to protect the kids, Steve passed by Peyton without a glance, sliding the bus door open slowly, the creaking sound cutting through the heavy air. As he stepped outside, a fleeting glimpse of a demo-dog speeding away caught his eye, his face contorted in confusion. Just moments ago, those creatures had been hell-bent on devouring them. Now, their attention was elsewhere.

The others filed out behind him, cautiously peering into the junkyard, their eyes wide with uncertainty. Parker clutched the crowbar tightly, knuckles white with fear.

"What. Happened?" questioned Lucas, frightened yet frustrated emphasis hanging on each word.

"I don't know," Max stammered, glancing around the desolate landscape. Sidney frowned, her brow furrowing as she surveyed the scene, trying to piece together the puzzle.

"Steve scared 'em off?" she suggested, though uncertainty laced her words. The Harrington boy shook his head, his bat resting on his shoulder.

"No..." he shook his head, "No way," turning to face the group with a determined fire in his eyes. "They're going somewhere."

⠀ ⠀Inside the bus, Peyton felt useless. She couldn't just sit there. Wait to be saved by Steve Harrington yet again. She grunted as she forced herself to her feet, managing to drag herself the short distance from the floor to the bus entrance. Hand slipping from the metal handle, Peyton would have fallen to the ground entirely if Parker and Sidney weren't there to catch her.

"Shit!" hissing through her teeth, Peyton's groans were both in pain and frustration. Steve waved the younger teens away with urgency.

"Woah, woah, woah!" he gripped the blonde tightly, placing one of her arms over his shoulder as the other supported the small of her back.

On a good day, Peyton's pain tolerance was through the roof. But it felt as though her leg was being held together by her gym socks. Besides, there was something about being in Steve's arms that shattered the walls she'd so desperately tried to keep from falling. Helpless to do anything but feel, her once seemingly sealed tear ducts opened to send hot tears leaking down blood-stained cheeks, "Is it bad?" winced Peyton, trying not to hyperventilate as Steve slowly lowered them both to the sit on the steps of the bus.

"No, no, no, okay?" Steve's lie although blatant was much appreciated by the terrified teen, "It's- it's a graze alright? Just a graze..." The more he stared the more obvious his lie became. Not only in the horrified face of the babysitter but the surrounding children too. Parker had since situated himself by his sister's side, gripping her hands to try to do something, anything, to distract her, "There's just... a lot of blood," Peyton's eyes squeezed shut, her laboured breaths filling the silence of the usually loud junkyard.

"Y-you have..." Every word was a struggle, her focus interrupted by the pain overwhelming her entire body, "You have... to make a tourniquet," confusion turned to desperation in an instant, with Steve's blood-coated hands still tightly gripping the gaping wound.

"I- I- I don't know how to do that,"

"Steve," Sidney began, now knelt on the ground beside her brother, she began to remove her belt just as Parker offered up the checkered shirt, almost matching his sister's, that had been adding an extra layer of warmth beneath his fleece-lined jacket.

"Use this first," he instructed, jacket now lying on the floor as he gripped his sister's hands once again. Lucas, Max, and Dustin had situated themselves at the entrance of the bus, they knew that all they could do to help was keep on the lookout for any more deadly monsters.

"Okay..." Steve nodded, unraveling the shirt as he tried to remember exactly what Peyton had done when wrapping his hand barely an hour ago, "Okay..." gently, he lifted Peyton's leg, wincing with every pained whimper she stifled, he brought the back of the shirt to her shin, crossing the sleeves and winding them around her leg before starting a knot, pausing when he was about to pull, "This... this is gonna hurt, okay?"

Peyton nodded, knuckles whitening from the iron grip she had on her brother's hands and if it hurt, he dared not let it show, "Okay..." she sniffled, her voice a weakened whimper.

"Okay?" repeated Steve, louder this time. Somehow successful in psyching both himself and Peyton up for the oncoming wave of pain as he twisted the now bloodied fabric into a tight knot.

"Okay!" screamed Peyton, words turning into a pained screech through gritted teeth. Screams turned to cries turned to weakened sobs, her tears painting streaks of black lightning down her pale cheeks.

"I know, I know, I know," Steve soothed, teary-eyed at the necessary pain he had caused her. Sidney's belt was next, placed just above the wound just below her knee, to complete the DIY tourniquet, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." whispered Steve, each struggled cry stinging his chest. Once he'd pierced a new hole through the belt, tightening it as much as he could, Steve seemed satisfied with his work, hand brushing lightly against Peyton's knee, "Alright, that feel tight?"

Eyes still squeezed shut, Peyton stifled out an, "Mmhmm," as she nodded, yet to release Parker's hands.

"Good, okay?" thumb wiping away her tears, he praised, "Good job, good job," Peyton appreciated his praise for her bravery, thankful for this much gentler side of Steve she'd never seen before, "Can you stand?" finally allowing her eyes to flutter open, Peyton took a shaky breath before she tried to speak again.

"Yes," seething as she forced herself to rise. Her adamant reply was more an act of self-encouragement than an assurance to anyone else.

"Sid, you take this, okay?" urged Steve, arm outstretched to hand her the nail-studded bat with a firm grip.

"What?" she asked, panic noticeable through her trembling voice. With sympathy in his eyes, Steve couldn't let himself come to reality with the fact he'd just asked his little sister to hold a deadly weapon. It wasn't as though he had any choice.

She was part of the fight now.

And he had to help Peyton, urgency in his tone when he explained, "In case they come back,"

Sidney nodded, a mix of fear and resolve in her expression, "Okay," She took the bat, tight grip on the handle as she stared around, the sinking feeling that danger could find them at any given moment. Then, Steve turned to Parker, his brow furrowed with concern.

"You got her?"

"I got her," with one arm draped around Steve's shoulder, the other around Parker's, Peyton's good leg took the rest of her weight. The other swung just above the ground, yet to take any pressure for fear of the pain it would cause

"Alright, come on," she'd almost fallen completely with the first step, Steve's arm falling to her waist to support her, happy to take as much weight as he could, "Easy, easy, easy," the next step was, in fact, easier. Determination mixed with stubbornness as Peyton groaned through her teeth. Steve's words continued to reassure her, "Alright, I gotcha, I gotcha,"

The trio moved slowly, each step a silent pact of support. Sweat beaded on her forehead, a wave of pain rushing through her body every time her foot grazed the ground, "Keep talking..." she pleaded, breath catching in her throat, "Just- just keep talking to me,"

Steve nodded, brows knitted in concern, immediate understanding for Peyton's desperate need to be distracted, "Wanted to one-up me, huh?" he teased, "Tired of me telling everybody I saved your ass, you gotta almost die saving mine?"

Peyton grimaced out a half-smile, "Go big or go home, right?" she joked, relief washing over Steve that if her leg wasn't, at leats her sense of humor was still intact.

"You're pretty much a certified badass now," he added; the breathless girl huffed out a thankful laugh.

"Only now?"

"I guess you kicked ass last year too," teased Steve, trying his best not to grimace at every pained grunt that escaped Peyton's lips.

"She kicked your ass, I know that much," added Parker, brow raised at Steve as a playful smirk appeared on his lips, "How's that nose of yours, Harrington?" under different circumstances, Steve would have had an entirely different rejoinder for the younger Newby. But he knew what Parker was doing. And it wasn't trying to get a rise out of him. 

"Better, thanks for asking," Steve shot back sarcastically, rolling his eyes yet unable to suppress a small smile. As they continued to navigate the uneven ground, Peyton stumbled, eyes closing as her grip tightened on each of the boys' shoulders.

"Shit!" but their worry prevented any feeling of anger for the momentary pain she'd caused in digging her nails into their skin, "Sorry!" she groaned, forcing herself to stand straight, "I'm sorry, sorry, I-"

"No, hey, no," Parker shook his head, rejecting the apology in an instant, "I got you, okay? Anything this god-awful town throws at us, right?" Parker echoed her words from earlier, catching her eye with a tearful smile, "Together,"

Peyton nodded, determination coursing through her veins, "Together," With renewed strength, Peyton planted her foot on the ground. Concentration contorting her face, she allowed each breath to wash over her slowly, as though every long exhale would expel her pain with it. Each step became a testament to her resilience, a reminder that no matter how heavy the burden, she would never be left to carry it alone.

hi!

an update in an acceptable amount of time? omg who is she?

i hope u liked this one! my first properly action packed chapter !! this was so much fun to write u have no idea !! it's why it's so damn long lmao

next chapter coming soonish i hope! i have some uni stuff to focus on that i should probably prioritize over this book but i just love steyton so damn much 😅

ty for reading and voting
and commenting it really does make my day!

<3