↣ 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘛𝘰 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘣

"You're positive that was Dart?" Letting out a question, Lucas led the way along the railway track.

"Yes. He had the same exact yellow pattern on his butt." Dustin gave his response.

"He was tiny two days ago." Max said.

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

"Malted?" Steve questioned.

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

"Gross." Bailey says as he looked at them.

"When's he gonna molt again?" Max asked.

"It's gotta be soon. When he does, he'll be fully grown, or close to it and so will his friends."

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

"Wait, a cat?" After Lucas glanced over at Dustin, the group came to a halt, directly facing Dustin. "Dart ate a cat?"

"No, what? No." Dustin defended himself.

"What are you talking about?" Steve asked, completely unaware of what Dustin was trying to do. "He ate Mews."

"Mews?" Max repeated. "Who's Mews?"

"It's Dustin's cat."

"Here we go." Bailey muttered.

"Steve!"

"I knew it!." Lucas exclaimed. "You kept him!"

"No, I... No, I..." Dustin stutters. "He missed me. He wanted to come home."

"Bullshit!"

"I didn't know he was a Demogorgon, okay?" Dustin shouted.

"Oh, so now you admit it?" Lucas inquired.

"Guys, who cares?" Max interrupted. "We have to go."

"I care! You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!"

"So did you!" Dustin argued. "You told a stranger the truth!"

"You wanted to tell her, too!" Lucas scoffed.

They were left to their own devices as Bailey, fed up with hearing them bicker, kept walking away. As the clamour faded into the distance, the air became devoid of sound. Now he could consider any and all possibilities. He waited for a few moments before he perceived the sound of approaching footsteps. He pivoted to confront Steve.

"Steve wha.." He scowled at the man as a hand was placed on his mouth. They exchanged sombre glances before a piercing cry shattered the silence.

"Guys!" Steve yelled out.

As the screeching grew louder, everyone turned to see them. Max stayed on the railway track, hands on her hips, while Dustin and Lucas departed.

"No, no, no. Hey, guys," Max called out. "Why are you headed towards the sound?"

As they remained on the hill, gazing downward, Bailey took in the picturesque town below. "It's the lab." Lucas spoke as he looked into the binoculars. "They were going back home."

𐬽𐬼𐬽

Along with the others, Bailey began to make their way through the forest, holding his flashlight aloft. Bailey maintained a tight grip on his knife while Steve moved ahead of them as a precaution. Curious, they continued going after hearing what seemed like a voice.

Fearing for their safety, Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler were blinded when Bailey raised his lights. "Steve?" Nancy exclaimed, looking at him confused.

"Nancy?" Steve questioned as he lowered his flashlight.

"Bailey?" Jonathan glanced over to the lad with brown hair, who had just waved back at him, and murmured a hi.

"What are you doing here?" Nancy demanded walking over to them.

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked.

"We're looking for Mike and Will."

"They're not in there, are they?" Dustin remarked. Loud screeches were heard before anyone could respond, and that was their response. There was an imminent threat to anyone inside from the creatures that hide outside.

────────────────────────

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀

- Shorter chapter for today.

To all the people that have supported me closely- Tags: @norasnetflix @wrensofvizla @KleeAlise11 @kiesluverr

𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵e