𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 - 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

15. the mind flayer

STRAIGHT FROM LAST CHAPTER

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asked as they walked the same trail as earlier, only this time it was much, much darker. They also didn't know where exactly they were headed either. And they had no idea when one of those baby Demogorgon would pop up again.

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

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

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

"Malted?" Steve asked.

"'Molted." Dustin corrected him, "Shed his skin to make room for growth like hornworms."

"Bunch of nerd shit." Rue sighed.

"You sound like Erica." Lucas rolled his eyes at her.

"When's he gonna molt again?" Aubrey asked next.

"It's gotta be soon." he replied, "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 added, Aubrey frowned, remembering Mews.

"Wait, a cat?!" Lucas stopped Dustin, "Dart ate a cat?!"

"No, what? No." He lied.

"What are you talking about? He ate Mews." Steve said, oblivious. Aubrey elbowed him, shaking her head.

"Mews?" Rue questioned.

"Who's Mews?" Max asked as well.

"It's Dustin's cat." Steve continued.

Aubrey placed her hand on her forehead, in disbelief, "Are you stupid?"

"Steve!" Dustin yelled.

"I knew it!" Lucas hit him, "You kept him!"

"No!" Dustin replied, "No." he stammered, "No, I... No, I..." he swallowed, "He missed me. He wanted to come home."

"Bullshit!"

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

"Oh, so now you admit it?!" Lucas argued.

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

"I care! You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!"

"God, this stupid party!" Rue groaned.

"So did you!" Dustin yelled back at Lucas.

"What?"

"You told a stranger the truth." Dustin flashed his light at Max.

Max scoffed, "A stranger?"

"You wanted to tell her too!" Lucas protested.

"Yeah, but I didn't, Lucas, okay?! I didn't tell her!" Dustin went on, "We both broke the rule of law, okay?"

Aubrey stopped listening, turning her head to the right. She swears she heard something, she looked at Steve, he heard it too.

"Hey guys?" Steve spoke up, hearing the screeching again.

"Shitheads!" Aubrey yelled, catching their attention.

Everyone heard the screeching now, Aubrey started running towards it, Steve at her side, everyone following behind them despite Max's protests.

They finally reached the top of the hill, looking out on a good amount of Hawkins. "I don't see 'em." Dustin said.

Lucas put his binoculars on, "It's the lab." he said, "Aubrey was right. They were going back home."