𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, stranger things

Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer

('Chapter Seven: Lost Sister' is centered around El)

The group was walking down the old railway tracks, trying to look for Dart once again.

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asked Dustin.

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

"He was tiny two days ago," Max spoke up.

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

"Malted?" Steve questioned.

"Molted," Sam corrected. "Shed his skin to make room for growth."

"When's he gonna molt again?" Max asked.

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

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

Sam's eyes widened as she thought about when she heard her mother calling their cats name a couple days ago.

"Wait, a cat?" Lucas repeated, stopping Dustins' walking. "Dart ate a cat?"

"No, what? No."

"What are you talking about? He ate Mews," Steve said.

At that, Sam started tearing up.

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

"My cat.." Sam answered quietly. "He ate my cat?!" she faced Dustin, practically yelling.

"I knew it! You kept him!" Lucas yelled, pushing Dustin.

"Ah, so that's why you forced me to stay at his house," Sam pointed to Lucas. "So I wouldn't know you got my cat killed."

"No! No. No, I.." Dustin stuttered out. "He missed me. He wanted to come home."

"Bullshit!"

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

"Oh, so now you admit it?" Lucas cut in.

"Guys, who cares? We have to go," Max interrupted their argument.

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

Sam stepped back and next to Max, scared of getting yelled at again.

"So did you!"

"What?"

"You told a stranger the truth!" Dustin pointed his flashlight at Max's face.

"A stranger?" she scoffed.

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

"Yeah, but I didn't, Lucas, okay? I didn't tell her! We both broke the rule of law, okay? So we're even. We're even."