𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 | stranger things

fifteen

Steve led the way as they walked back along the train tracks, their flashlights lighting up the path in front of them. Wren had the hood of her jacket pulled over her head, her anxious eyes darting around for any sign of the monsters that had just tried to kill them only minutes ago.

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

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

"He was tiny two days ago," Max stated.

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

"Malted?" Steve frowned.

"Molted," Wren corrected, pushing her glasses up on her nose. "It's when an animal sheds their old feathers, hair, or skin to make way for new growth. The real question is when is he going to molt again?"

"It's gotta be soon," Dustin said. "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 muttered.

"Wait, a cat?" Lucas went in front of Dustin, blocking his path. "Dart ate a cat?"

"No," Dustin lied. "What? No."

Wren frowned. "You just told me and Steve yesterday that Dart ate Mews."

"Who's Mews?" Max asked.

"It's Dustin's cat," Steve said.

"Was Dustin's cat," Wren mumbled.

"Steve, Wren!" Dustin snapped.

"I knew it!" Lucas yelled. "You kept him!"

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

"Bullshit!"

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

"Oh, so now you admit it?"

"Guys, who cares?" Max intervened. "We have to go."

"I care!" Lucas jabbed a finger at Dustin. "You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!"

"So did you!" Dustin shined his flashlight in Max's face. "You told a stranger the truth!"

Max scoffed. "A stranger?"

"You wanted to tell her too!"

"Yeah, but I didn't, Lucas, okay?!"

Wren heard screeching in the distance. As the boys continued to argue, Steve stepped forward to investigate the noise. He called to the others, their arguing coming to a halt. He raised his bat before walking in the direction of the noise, Dustin and Lucas quickly following.

"No, no, no— Hey, guys, why are you headed towards the sound?" Max asked. She exchanged an uneasy look with Wren before hurrying after them, the smaller girl following close behind.

They walked through the woods and reached an opening. Wren took out her binoculars and took a look around. She spotted Hawkins Lab; the lights were flickering like crazy.

"It's the lab," she told them, lowering the binoculars.

"They were going back home," Lucas said.

"Home?" Max frowned.

"They originally came from the lab," Dustin explained. "There's a gate to the Upside Down in there."

"Come on, little weirdos." Steve motioned for them to follow him as he continued through the woods.