ZERO

CHAPTER TEN - FEELINGS SUCK

   Iris held her dad's hand as they drove to the Byers' home, listening to Hopper and John explain what happened. Bob, Joyces' boyfriend, was dead. Will wasn't able to be trusted, so he was constantly knocked out, and Hopper and John had almost died multiple times.

   In return, Iris and Steve (with interruptions from the kids) explained where they've been. By the time they were finished talking, they arrived at the Byers, the house being filled with drawings of the Mind Flayer's visions.

   Will was laid out on the couch, lying scarily still. Iris could feel the intense danger radiating off of him, wanting to pull Johnathan away from the boy, who was kneeled beside him.

   Instead, she let Nancy comfort him, half listening to Hopper attempt to call for backup. Iris sat with the kids at the table. When she saw Mike, she gave him a long hug, knowing he needed it. But now, all the kids sat in silence, completely unsure of the next move.

   "They didn't believe you, did they?" Dustin asked Hopper after he hung up the phone.

   "We'll see." Hooper said, but it was like he didn't even believe what he was saying.

   "'We'll see?' We can't just sit here while those things are loose!" Mike shouted. Iris put a hand on his shoulder.

   John emerged from the room over, a stern look on his face. "We stay here, and we wait for help."

   The two walked away, John going outside to smoke a cigarette, while Hopper went to see Joyce.

   There was a guilty, heavy silence in the room. Iris had moved, now sitting on a kitchen counter next to Steve, staring at her hands. Only now she realized they were stained red with blood. It was stuck under her nails, deep in her cuticles and in the lines of her palms. She wasn't sure if it was from her wiping her bloody nose from fighting, or demogorgon blood.

   She watched Mike's sorrowful eyes. Iris felt immense pity for him, knowing he was blaming himself. Recently, Mike did a lot of that.

   He sat up, walking over to the other side of the room. "Did you guys know that Bob was the original founder of Hawkins AV?"

   "Really?" Lucas asked.

   "That's the radio club thing they're in." Iris explained to Steve.

   "He petitioned the school to start it and everything. Then he had a fundraiser for equipment. Mr. Clarke learned everything from him." Mike went on, walking back over to the table.

   "We can't let him die in vain."

   "What do you want to do, Mike?" Dustin asked. "The chief's right on this. We can't stop those Demo-dogs on our own."

   "Demo-dogs?" Max interrupted.

   "Demogorgon dogs," Dustin moves his hands together. "Demo-dogs. It's like a compound,  like a play on words."

   "Clever." Iris nods her head.

   "I mean, when it was just Dart, then maybe-" Dustin starts.

   "But there's an army now." Lucas finishes. "Way more than Iris can handle-"

   "His army." Mike realizes.

   "What do you mean?" Dustin asks, not catching on right away.

   "His army. Maybe if we can stop him, we can stop his army, too." Mike explains, and the group look at each other in understanding. Steve and Max however, were still lost.

   Mike hands Dustin a picture Will drew. "The shadow monster."

   "That's what got Will on the field." Iris exclaimed, recognizing the creature right away.