𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 | ʳᵒᵇⁱⁿ ᵇᵘᶜᵏˡᵉʸ

XIII ⋆ mind flayer

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chapter thirteen
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     The drive to the Byers' house wasn't long, but it definitely felt like it was.

     Even when everyone was inside and able to rest for the first time in hours, there was a certain thickness to the air.

     Arabella didn't know Bob, but by the way that those around her mourned him, she could tell that he was a good guy.

     Watching Jonathan talk to an unconscious Will reminded Arabella of her mother, and how she and Laura hadn't seen her in a worrying amount of time. Despite her mother's lack of good parenting and care for her children, Arabella did feel guilty for leaving her alone with no explanation. She knew that her mother did care for her, but had trouble showing it.

     So, Arabella stuck by her younger's sister's side, as a way to compensate for her failure to be there for both her family members.

     Chief Hopper, which Arabella would have never guessed to be involved in this, was on the phone with God knows who requesting backup.

     From the way Hopper was yelling impatiently, Arabella could guess that the call wasn't going well.

     Arabella and Laura sat near her friends in the kitchen. Dustin paced the room and Mike, Max, and Lucas sat at the circular dining table.

     It occurred to Arabella that Mike was speaking to Hopper and that things were not going well, but Arabella wasn't listening. She was drowning her worries with music. She had found a walkman and started listening, not minding what songs were playing.

     Music had always been a way for Arabella to escape and after the night that she had, this felt like the only cure to the overwhelming thoughts in her head.

     Arabella sat on a pillow on the floor next to her sister, who also didn't seem interested in the conversation happening a few feet away.

     As Laura's head tilted slightly more down, Arabella grabbed her hand. Looking back up at her sister, Laura flashed Arabella a small smile, to let her know that she was alright.

     Arabella forced herself to smile back. She went back to listening to her music and fidgeting with her hands.

     Arabella began to think about the one that she knew would always distract her from the negatives, Robin. Arabella was quickly brought back to reality, however, when the girl next to her said something.

    Arabella looked up, suddenly interested in what was going on.

     "Demo-dogs?" Laura and Max said at the same time.

     "Demogorgon, dogs," Dustin said with a pause in between each word. Arabella watched as he continued to explain what demo-dogs meant even when it was clear that everyone understood.

     "It's like a compound. It's- it's like a play on words-"

     "Okay," Max said, her eyes wide.

     Dustin looked back down and continued. "I mean, when it was just Dart, maybe..."

     "But there's an army now," Lucas said, and Dustin immediately followed his statement with "precisely."