𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐬 {𝐒. 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧}

Chapter 10- Promise

A LOW GROWLING INTERRUPTED Olivia and Mike's conversation, making them both jump.

Olivia and Steve were both on their feet in an instant.

"Dustin, what is it?" Steve walked over to the ladder leading to the skylight. Olivia could only see Max's red hair from the angle she was at.

"Hold on!" Dustin shouted. Olivia moved to stand beside Steve, staring up at the night sky above them. The growling became louder, getting closer to the bus than Olivia was comfortable with.

"I've got eyes!" Dustin shouted suddenly. His binoculars were pressed up against his face as he looked out at the sea of fog surrounding them. "Ten o'clock! Ten o'clock!"

Steve moved to the window, crouching to get a better look at through the tiny opening in between the metal reinforcement. "There."

"Holy shit," Olivia breathed. For once, the curse rolled right off her tongue. Her eyes widened in awe and horror as she watched a small, slimy, dog-like creature creep its way into the clearing across the junkyard.

"What's he doing?" Mike stood next to the two teenagers, staring at the creature.

"I don't know," Steve said, narrowing his eyes.

Low chittering echoed around them, and Olivia felt chills run down her spine.

"Wait," Max said from above them. "You sure that's not a dog?"

"Do you see it's face?" Mike scoffed, glaring at her. "Why are you even here if you don't believe us?"

"I believe everything Dustin has told me," Max insisted. "Why don't you go back to bed if you're too grumpy to interact with people?"

"Shut up!" Steve barked over his shoulder.

The demogorgon circled around the pile of meat rather slowly, as if examining it. After a moment, it didn't give it a second glance.

"He's not taking the bait," Mike said, sounding scared. "Why is he not taking the bait?"

"Maybe he's not hungry?" Olivia suggested weakly.

"Maybe he's sick of cow," Steve grunted. He leaned over and grabbed his spiked baseball bat, moving towards the door.

"Steve?" Dustin leaned down through the skylight. "Steve, what are you doing? Steve?"

Steve ignored him, leaning sideways to crank open the door when Olivia stopped him.

"Wait," Olivia grabbed him, feeling a sudden pang of fear. "What are you doing?"

"Someone has to get that thing," Steve said. There was nothing but confidence and bravery in his eyes, and Olivia took a moment to admire it before speaking again.

"Well, I'm coming too," she insisted. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing the cuffs on her arms.

"Are you kidding?" Steve scoffed. "After everything that happened last night? No way. I'm not letting you take anymore risks."