EVERYONE STOOD OUTSIDE, walking around and chatting about Dustin's little pet creature—Demogorgon.

"You're positive that's Dart?" Lucas asked, eyeing Dustin skeptically.

"Yes. He had the exact same yellow pattern on his butt," Dustin replied confidently.

"He was tiny two days ago," Max added, her face twisted in confusion.

Kat walked alongside Theo, both of them visibly exhausted but knowing there was nothing they could do about it. They had Demogorgons to fight—maybe even something worse.

Through all of this, Kat couldn't stop thinking about El and Hopper. A constant worry gnawed at her—they need to be safe. El was like a sister to her, and she had no idea what she would do if she lost her... or her dad.

"Well, he's molted three times already," Dustin explained.

"Malted?" Steve asked, looking completely lost.

"Molted," Dustin corrected. "Shed his skin to make room for growth, like hornworms."

Kat made a face of pure disgust. "Ew... why am I even doing this?" she whined.

"Stop whining, Kat, you're just tired," Theo remarked, earning a scoff from her.

"Anyways... when's he gonna molt again?" Max asked, bringing the conversation back on track.

"It's gonna be soon," Dustin said confidently, nodding as if reassuring himself.

"When he does, he'll be fully grown, or close to it," Dustin said. "And so will his friends," he added.

"Eugh, gross," Kat mumbled.

"Yeah, and he's gonna eat a lot more than just cats," Steve replied.

"Ew! Steve!" Kat scoffed, smacking him on the shoulder.

"I'm just telling the truth, sleepyhead!" Steve groaned, rubbing his shoulder in annoyance.

"Wait, a cat?" Lucas asked, causing Dustin to freeze in his tracks. His expression darkened. "Dart ate a cat?" he repeated in disbelief.

"No, what? No," Dustin stammered, trying—and failing—to defend himself.

"What are you talking about? He ate Mews," Steve said, making Theo and Kat nod in agreement.

"You told us that in the car," Theo added, earning a sharp glare from Dustin.

"Mews? Who's Mews?" Max asked, completely lost.

"It's Dustin's cat," Steve said casually.

"Steve!" Dustin yelled, feeling utterly betrayed.

"I knew it! You kept him!" Lucas squealed. Clearly Dustin wasn't the only one who felt that way.

"No! No. No, I... He missed me. He wanted to come home." Dustin looked completely defeated, and Kat felt somewhat sorry for him. It reminded her of the pet Turtle that she found on the road, she Kept it for a few weeks until Hopper noticed.

"Bullshit!" Dustin yelled. "I didn't know he was a Demogorgon, okay?" He threw his hands in the air in frustration.

"Oh, so now you admit it?" Lucas asked sarcastically.

"Guys, who cares? We have to go," Max said, clearly annoyed by their bickering.

Kat nodded in agreement. "She's right."

"I care! You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!" Lucas shouted at Dustin.

Kat rolled her eyes at their yelling, already feeling a headache coming on.

"So did you!" Dustin shot back at Lucas.

"What?" Lucas asked, confused.

"You told a stranger the truth!" Dustin accused, shining the flashlight in Max's eyes before lowering it.

Max scoffed. "A stranger?"

"Cut it out, guys! You're being immature. You're not in the third grade!" Theo groaned.

Kat nudged his shoulder, silently telling him it wasn't the time.

"You wanted to tell her too!" Lucas reminded Dustin.

Max stepped closer, her hands clenched in frustration, clearly irritated that Dustin had called her a stranger.

"Okay, but I didn't, Lucas, okay? I didn't tell her!" Dustin argued.

Kat suddenly turned around, hearing something strange. Steve did the same, his expression shifting.

"You hear that too, right?" Steve asked.

Kat nodded, staring ahead. She barely registered the ongoing argument as she stepped forward, shining her flashlight in the direction of the noise. Steve did the same.

As they moved further ahead, Theo took notice. "What are you guys doing?" he asked, making Kat glance back.

"Hey, guys," Steve called out to the group. They ignored him.

"Guys!" he yelled, his voice sharp.

Kat flinched at the sudden outburst, and Steve instinctively grabbed her hand in reassurance. "Sorry," he mumbled.

The others finally picked up on the noise, and Steve took the lead, pulling Kat along with him as they moved toward the sound.

Without hesitation, the group followed.

"No, no, no. Hey, guys, why are we headed toward the sound?" Max protested.

No one answered. She stood frozen in place—until Theo groaned and grabbed her hand, pulling her along.

They kept following the sound, the group remaining silent.

"I don't see him," Dustin finally spoke.

Everyone kept their eyes ahead.

"It's the lab," Lucas said, staring at the looming building in front of them.

Kat tensed at his words, glancing at Theo with a look that clearly said, I don't think I like this.

Steve noticed the way she stiffened and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. She looked over at him, managing a weak smile in return.

"They were going back home," Lucas added.

They cautiously walked towards the lab, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.

"Hello?" a voice called out. "Hello? Who's there?"

As the group stepped into view, Nancy and Kat locked eyes, both looking equally shocked.

"Steve?" Jonathan and Nancy said in unison.

"Kat?" Nancy added, her eyes shifting to her best friend.

Kat gave a small wave, a faint smile on her face. Relief washed over her—at least her best friends were alive.

"Nancy?" Steve asked, still processing the situation.

"Jonathan," Dustin echoed, his confusion evident. It was clear everyone was caught off guard by the unexpected reunion.

"What are you doing here?" Nancy asked, her tone sharp. But it wasn't directed at Steve—it was at Kat.

"We're looking for Mike and Will. Kat shouldn't be here—or Theo," Nancy stated firmly.

Kat frowned, taken aback. But as realization hit, she stayed quiet.

Steve sighed, giving Kat's hand another reassuring squeeze.

"They're not in there, are they?" Dustin asked, his concern growing.

"We're not sure," Nancy admitted, her voice quieter now.

"Why?" Jonathan asked.

Before anyone could answer, a distant screech echoed through the air—the unmistakable sound of Demogorgons.

They were in the lab.

THE GROUP HAD started bickering over who had seen who, but Nancy was no longer paying attention.

"The power's back," she announced, her eyes fixed on the lab.

Without hesitation, they all ran to the gate, with Dustin and Jonathan pressing the button to open it.

"Let me try," Dustin said, stepping in—only to be interrupted.

"Hang on—" Jonathan started, but Dustin shoved past him.

"Let me try, Jonathan!" Dustin insisted, pressing the same button Jonathan had been using.

Nothing happened.

He tried again. Still nothing.

"Son of a bitch! You know what..." he muttered, finally giving up in frustration.

After what felt like hours of waiting, the distant sound of a car reached their ears.

Max was the first to spot it. She stepped forward. "Guys," she said, drawing everyone's attention.

They all moved to stand beside her, only to flinch back as the car sped past them.

Another vehicle approached. This time, it was Kat's dad.

"Let's go!" Hopper called, motioning toward the back seats.

Kat's face lit up with relief as she rushed in with the others. Everyone scrambled inside, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Kat felt a weight lift off her chest.

Her dad was alive.

But one person wasn't.

Bob Newby had died. A hero.

EVERYONE STOOD IN Joyce Byers' home, exhaustion settling over them.

Will lay on the couch, his face pale and still. Jonathan sat beside him, murmuring quiet words, even though Will couldn't hear him. Nancy rested a comforting hand on Jonathan's arm, her expression filled with worry.

Across the room, Hopper was trying—and failing—to reach Dr. Owens, his frustration growing with each attempt.

Steve and Kat stood near each other, both lost in thought. Kat's gaze drifted to Jonathan, remembering the small crush she once had on him. But watching him now, seeing how naturally Nancy fit by his side, she realized that feeling had faded.

And as much as she hated to admit it, she felt something different whenever she was with Steve. It reminded her of what he had talked about when they walked along the train tracks—not something purely physical, but something deeper. Because every time Steve grabbed her hand, it felt like her whole world flipped.

VERA SPEAKS !

✧.* thank you for reading!! i'll post a part two later tonight for this chapter! ♡︎