𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻.

fifteen.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑

edited.
3357 words.

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"You're positive that was Dart?"

Dustin rolled his eyes, pulling y/n along as they walked down the train tracks. "Yes, he had the same exact yellow pattern on his butt." Max spoke up, "He was tiny two days ago-" Dustin interrupted, over everyone's questions.

"Well he's molted three times already." He explained, Steve looking at him in confusion. "Malted?" y/n sighed, correcting him. "Molted." Dustin shot her a grateful look, continuing. "Shed his skin to make room for growth, like hornworms."

"When's he gonna molt again?" Max asked, y/n pondering her question. "Soon." She determined, Dustin nodding. "When he does he'll be fully grown or close to it. And so will his friends."

Steve nodded, "He's gonna eat a lot more than just cats."

Dusitn stopped walking, y/n frowning at the mention of Mews. Lucas stepped up, "Wait cat?! Dart ate a cat?" Dustin shook his head, obviously lying. "No? What? No." Steve shook his head in confusion, "What're you talking about? He ate Mews."

Max turned to the boy, "Mew? Whos Mews?" Y/N sighed, "Dustin's cat..." She mumbled, Lucas shoving Dustin's shoulder. "I knew it! You kept him!"

"No!" Dustin lied, at a loss for words. "No! No I- No I...He missed me, he wanted to come home." Lucas rolled his eyes, "Bullshit." Dustin tried to reason with him, y/n frowning. "I didn't know he was a demogorgon!"

"Oh so now you admit it?"

y/n shook her head, "We need to go-" Lucas turned to her, pointing a finger in her face. "No! You knew about this too! He broke the rule of law! You guys put the party in jeopardy!" y/n shrunk back, Steve shaking his head. "That's enough-"

"So did you! You told a stranger the truth!" Dustin argued, Max scoffing as she joined the argument. "A stranger?" Lucas shook his head, "You wanted to tell her too!" The three continued arguing, y/n turning to Steve.

She followed his gaze into the woods, the screeching becoming even louder. "Guys- Hey guys!" Steve called, the three turning to look at him. He said nothing, just continuing into the woods, y/n following.

"No, no, no, no. Hey guys, why are you headed towards the sound?" Max stayed in her place on the tracks as Dustin and Lucas ran after the two. "Hello? Hello?!" She sighed, rolling her eyes as she followed after the four.

They made it to a hill, overlooking Hawkins. "I don't see them." Lucas held up his binoculars, his breath falling short. "It's the lab. They were going back home."

y/n felt her stomach drop.

***

The group made it to a street, car lights attracting their attention. "Hello?" y/n heard a familiar voice call, her walk increasing to a run. She made it out of the brush, running towards Jonathan. He and Nancy looked at the group in shock.

"Steve? y/n what-" He hugged the girl, the two groups meeting. "What are you doing here?" Steve refuted the question. "What're you doing here?"

"We're looking for Mike and Will."

y/n looked up from her hug, her eyes wide. "They are...in there?" Nancy shook her head, "We're not sure." Jonathan looking down to the girl in confusion, "Why?" A screech came from the lab, echoing through the woods.

Dustin sighed, "That's why."

The group began to talk over each other, y/n looking up from their circle. "Power. The power." They turned, watching the building light up once again. Jonathan ran over to the gate, entering the booth. He pressed the button, nothing happening.