Adeline // Max Mayfield gxg story

7: The Mind Flayer

A little note before we get started: I skipped episode seven because it was all just Eleven's storyline, so chapter seven here is episode eight.

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asks Dustin as the group walks down the old train tracks. Max and Adeline were walking behind the three boys as they listened to their conversation.

"Yes," Dustin answers him. "He had the same exact yellow pattern on hit butt."

"He was tiny two days ago," Max butts in.

"Well, he's molted three times already," Dustin informs the girl in the back.

"Malted?" Steve asks, not understanding what the kids were talking about.

"Molted," Adeline corrects the older teen. "It means he shed his skin to make room for growth. Like hornworms."

"When's he gonna molt again?" Max asks Dustin.

"It's gotta be soon," Dustin answers, still looking ahead of him. "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 adds in half-jokingly.

"Cats?" Adeline asks.

"Dart ate a cat?" Lucas adds.

"No, what?" Dustin lies. "No."

"What're you talking about?" Steve asks, oblivious. "He ate Mews."

"He ate Mews, Dustin!?" Adeline yells to him.

"Who's Mews?" Max asks Steve.

"It's Dustin's cat," Steve answers, still oblivious.

"Steve!" Dustin yells to the older teen.

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

"No!" Dustin denies. "No... No I-- No. I--" Dustin stutters over his words. "He missed me, okay! He wanted to come home."

"Bullshit!" Lucas yells at him.

"I didn't know he was a demogorgon, okay!?" Dustin yells back.

"Oh, so now you admit it?" Lucas begins to argue.

"Guys, who cares?" Max tells them, trying to break up the fight. "We have to go."

"I care!" Lucas yells at the girl. Max steps back slightly, bumping into Adeline who clutches the girl's shoulder. "You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!"

"So did you!" Dustin yells before turning to Adeline. "And you!"

"What!?" Adeline and Lucas yell in sync.

"You told a stranger," Dustin points his flashlight in Max's face, "the truth!"

Max scoffs, stepping away from Adeline's hold. "A stranger?"

"You wanted to tell her too!" Lucas points out.

"Yeah, but I didn't okay?" Dustin pushes Lucas' shoulder. "I didn't tell her!"

"Guys, just shut up!" Adeline yells, making everyone's heads turn towards her. Adeline rarely raised her voice at anyone, and if they were honest, it kind of scared them.

"We all broke the rule of law, okay!?" Adeline continues. "So we're even! We're all even!"

Just then, Adeline hears a screech in the distance, the rest of the group hearing it too, making their heads turn to the noise.

The boys start walking towards the sound, Adeline staying back with Max who only clutches Adeline's hand in fear.

"No, no, no. Hey, guys, why are you headed towards the sound!?" Max yells to the boys. They all ignore her and continue forward. "Hello!? Shit."