𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃, max mayfield

008

THE MIND FLAYER

MAX, BREYA, DUSTIN, Lucas and Steve decide to walk through the woods after their encounter with the pack.

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asks.

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

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

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

"Malted?" Steve questions.

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

"Well, when's he gonna molt again?" Breya asks.

"It's gotta be soon. When he does, he'll be fully grown, or close to it. And so are his friends." Dustin answers.

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

"Wait, a cat? Dart ate a cat?" Lucas turns to Dustin.

"No, what? No." Dustin denies.

"What are you talking about? He ate Mews."

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

"It's Dustin's cat."

"Steve!" Dustin yells.

"I knew it! You kept him!" Lucas points at Dustin.

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

"Bullshit!"

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

"Oh, so now you admit it?"

"Guys, who cares? We have to go." Breya tries to break the fight up.

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

"So did you!"

"What?"

"You told a stranger the truth!"

"A stranger?" Max scoffs.

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

"But I didn't, Lucas, okay? I didn't tell her!"

As the kids continue to argue, Steve hears something in the distance. He begins slowly walking towards the sound, shining his flashlight into the woods.

"We both broke the rule of law, okay? So we're even. We're even."

"No, no! We're not even. Don't even try that. Your stupid pet could have ate us for dinner!"

"That was not my fault!"

"Hey, guys?" Steve calls.

"He wasn't gonna eat us."

"Oh, so he was crawling to come say hello?"

"Guys!" Steve yells, turning back to the kids.

The screeching noise continues again, catching their attention. Steve continues towards the noise, Lucas and Dustin following after him.

"No, no, no. Hey, guys, why are you headed towards the sound?" Max calls after them. 

"Hello? Hello? Shit." Breya yells, no response.

Breya grabs Max's hand and they reluctantly follow after the other three. They continue through the woods until they reach a clearing. Fog still covers most of Hawkins, making it nearly impossible to see much.