𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐄! ✽ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

40

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋 wailed into the night as steve stepped down from the bus. if sheridan hadn't already bitten her fingernails to nubs, she would be doing so now. tears pricked at her suede-blue eyes and pressured her sinuses; the tip of her nose tingled. she wasn't exactly sure what she'd do if she had lost steve. and she really didn't want to find out.

dustin shut the door behind steve, dani watching his every move intently. the harrington boy glanced around wearily. he held the nail bat a few inches away from his body. they could all hear the god-awful noises of the otherworldly animal. "that thing sounds like my stomach after taco tuesday," sherrie spoke under her breath. dustin gave her a disgusted glare.

steve's whistling centered the pair's attention back on him. "come on, buddy," he coaxed, the bat swinging from side to side as he continued into the midst of the mist. sheridan sighed.

max quickly trudged down the ladder. "what's he doing?!" she inquired. she almost sounded angry, like steve was foiling the plan.

"expanding the menu," dustin replied.

"oh my god, don't say that! i don't want my best friend to be that thing's dinner!" sheridan roared. her voice broke and had almost blown her cover. max and dustin exchanged muddled gazes.

"human tastes better than cat, i promise," steve persuaded outside. a tear trickled down the older, red-haired girl's cheek, which she promptly wiped away. her eyes widened as dart let out a low growl.

"oh god, i don't think i can watch," dani moaned. she handed over the lighter to dustin and clasped her hands over her eyes.

"he's insane," max affronted. a smile grew on dustin's face.

"he's awesome." beneath her hands, dani's lips were curved into a smile, as well. she liked that he was beginning to take a liking to steve.

though, the night had grown too quiet for sherrie's liking. she parted her fingers to take a peek, only to notice two more demogorgons surrounding him. "oh my god!" the girl bellowed. she leaned forward and gripped the chicken wire at the window.

"steve, watch out!" lucas screamed from the top of the bus. he had the creatures in his sight, as well.

"a little busy here!" steve hollered in response.

"three o'clock! three o'clock!" lucas insisted. with a second to spare, steve glanced over his shoulder. he nearly dropped the bat as another demogorgon hopped up onto a car roof. it was at his eye level.

"steve!" dustin yelled as he made way for the entrance. the boy heaved the door open. "steve! abort! abort!"

against dustin's wishes, and his own better judgement, steve had turned his back to the bus. sheridan buried her face in her hands again. "my best friend's gonna die, my best friend's literally gonna die," she whispered to herself. her body jolted upon feeling a gentle hand on her back. she opened her eyes to find that it was max. she shot her a swift smile.