002 - Steve Harrington

The Mind Flayer

We're on the railroad tracks following the Demogorgons. Steve and I lead the group while Dustin, Lucas, and Max follow closely behind.

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

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

"He was tiny two days ago." Max says.

"Well, he's molted three times already."

"Malted?" Steve questions.

"Molted." I correct him.

"Shed his skin to make room for growth like hornworms." Dustin finishes.

Steve and I point our flashlights around to keep look out. 

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

"It's gotta be soon, right?" I ask Dustin.

"Yes. 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." I mutter sadly.

"Cat?" Lucas says as he steps in front of Dustin, stopping him. The rest of us stop walking also as he continues. "Dart at a cat?"

"No, what? No." Dustin lies.

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

"Mews? Who's Mews?" Max asks him.

"It's Danielle's and Dustin's cat." 

"Steve!" Dustin yells at him.

Tears well up in my eyes at the mention of Mews. Steve notices and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. With my head down, he leads me away from the group. 

"I knew it! You kept him!" I can hear Lucas yell at Dustin.

"No!" 

"Yes, he did!" I yell back over my shoulder, tears now running down my face.

"He missed me. He wanted to come home."

"Bullshit!" Lucas yells.

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

The boys continue to yell as Steve starts to rub my arm.

"Hey." He says to me quietly. "You okay?"

Sniffling, I nod my head. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Thank you." I say looking into his eyes. 

He nods his head in reassurance. Slowly, he lifts his hand from my arm and to my face. Not breaking eye contact with him, he, cautiously, wipes a stray tear off of my cheek. Steve gives me a warm smile and I give him one in return. We continue to stare into each other's eyes, his hand now cupping my face. 

He is the first to break eye contact. 

"Stev-" I go to say quietly, but stop myself as I notice he's not paying attention.

I turn around to follow his gaze, causing his hand to drop from my face. He walks away from me to the edge of the tracks. I follow him to see what he is looking at. We can faintly hear noise in the distance.

"Guys?" Steve calls out to the group. They don't hear him over their constant arguing. "Guys!" Steve yells whipping his head around to get their attention. The three of them stop arguing. Turning back towards the path off of the railroad tracks, Steve grabs my hand and pulls me with him as we run down the little slope and through the woods.

"No, no, no. Hey, guys, why are you headed towards the sound?" Max calls out to us.

"Come on, Max!" I yell back at her.