Raining Hellfire 2

Chapter 7: Part 1: Two's Company, Six Is A Crowd

"This isn't what I should be doing with my life."

Steve was muttering, unloading buckets of meat from the trunk of his car. Your new-made plan to take care of Dart was to lead it to the abandoned junkyard. That way, you had lots of open space to deal with the creature without anyone getting hurt. That was what you were hoping for, anyway.

You continue your silent streak, grabbing a pair of marigold gloves. After Steve and Dustin had found you standing alone in the darkness yesterday, you barely uttered five words to the boys. Another hallucination, another living nightmare that no one but you could see. Another terror that no one else could feel.

"Dustin! This is Lucas. Do you copy? Dustin?"

You could hear Lucas' voice blare through Dustin's radio, Dustin taking his chance to reply by stepping away from the car.

"Hey." Steve softly bumps your shoulder, grabbing your attention. "You've been quiet for a while."

You risk a glance at your hands, as if the burns were still there. But it had all been a dream. You hastily pull on the gloves.

"Just tired." You finally respond, swinging the bat over your shoulder and grabbing the gasoline.

You walked away before you let it all out and made him think you were crazy.

"Alright, let's go." Steve called to Dustin, grabbing a bucket and following you.

***

You led them onto the old rail track, calculating your pace so you could walk in front of them as they spread the chunks of meat along the trail. You'd rather not step in whatever meat Dustin had managed to get his hands on.

"All right, so let me get this straight." Steve breaks the silence, talking to Dustin while you continued walking ahead of them. "You kept something you knew was probably dangerous in order to impress a girl who who you just met?"

You discretely shook your head. Dustin liked Max. Normally, you'd be happy to hear that and root for him. But you knew Max. And you haven't missed how much time she's been spending with Lucas lately. Sadly, you knew Dustin didn't have a chance.

"All right, that's grossly oversimplifying things." Dustin responded, continuing with the trail.

"I mean, why would a girl like some nasty slug anyway?" Steve pondered. Weirdly enough, you would find it fascinating. If the slug was just a scientific discovery and not another blood thirsty monster wanting to eat you.

"An interdimensional slug? Because it's awesome." Dustin said, smiling.

"Well, even if she thought it was cool, which she didn't, I- I just... I don't know. I feel like you're trying way too hard."

"Well, not everyone can have your perfect hair, all right?"

You held in your laugh.

"It's not about the hair, man." Steve sighed, "The key with girls is just... just acting like you don't care."

This time, you couldn't hold in your laugh.

"What's wrong with my advice, huh?" Steve asked you with an irritated look.

"We like guys who don't care? Yeah right." You scoff. You'd been with someone who didn't care when you were younger and look how that worked out.

"What is Eddie like?" Dustin chimed in, looking to you as if you'd have every answer to his girl problems through your successful relationship with Eddie.

"He, uh..." You stumble over your words. "He was himself, I guess. He... he cared."

You look away from the boy, staring ahead while your eyes fogged. You truly had lost a good one. Wanting nothing else to do with the conversation, you swung your bat down to your side and trudged on, quickening your pace to gain some distance once again. But you weren't far enough that you couldn't hear them.