ocean eyes ✧ Billy Hargrove

[ 029 ]

Daphne was jolted awake by the sound of Dustin's frantic voice, his shout cutting through the haze of her sleep. "Steve! What are you doing?"

Daphne blinked, groggy and disoriented, as she registered Dustin's panicked tone. "Hey Harrington, where are you going?"

Steve, standing by the bus door with that familiar cocky grin, tossed his lighter to Dustin. "Just get ready," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Then, without another word, he grabbed the bat with nails embedded in it and stepped outside.

Daphne groaned, shaking her head in frustration. "Such a dickhead."

She and Dustin watched from the window as Steve moved further into the junkyard. Max, curiosity piqued, hurried over to them.

"What's he doing?" she asked, her voice tinged with both awe and worry.

"Expanding the menu," Daphne replied dryly, her sarcasm barely masking her concern.

"He's insane," Max muttered. "I agree," Daphne said, her eyes never leaving Steve.

But Dustin, eyes wide with admiration, had a different take. "No guys, he's awesome."

Seconds later, Lucas's voice cut through the night. "Steve! Watch out!"

Steve didn't look back, his attention on the encroaching darkness. "A little busy here!" he shouted, gripping his bat tighter.

"Three o'clock! Three o'clock!" Lucas screamed, his voice cracking with urgency.

Steve spun around, and Daphne's heart dropped as she saw what he was facing. A pack of demogorgons, their grotesque forms low to the ground, moving like feral dogs, had surrounded him.

"Steve!" Daphne and Dustin screamed in unison.

"Abort!" Dustin yelled, but Steve was already swinging his bat, smashing it into the skull of the nearest creature. The demogorgon let out a piercing screech as it recoiled.

"Steve, you dumbass! Get back here right now!" Daphne's voice was a mix of anger and desperation.

"Steve, run!" Lucas shouted. "Hurry!" Max added, her face pale with fear.

Steve didn't need any more encouragement. He swung his bat at another demogorgon, creating just enough space to bolt back toward the bus.

The kids slammed the door shut behind him, barely managing to lock it as the demogorgons pounded against the metal.

"Oh shit!" Dustin exclaimed, eyes wide with terror.

"Are they rabid or something?" Max asked, her voice trembling.

Steve and Daphne worked quickly, grabbing pieces of scrap metal and debris to reinforce the doors. Every second felt like an eternity as the demogorgons continued to batter the bus, their screeches filling the air.

"They can't get in. They can't!" Lucas said, more to convince himself than anyone else.

But his words were a lie. With a final, ear-splitting crash, the door gave way, and the creatures surged inside. Chaos erupted as everyone screamed, the demogorgons' growls echoing off the metal walls of the bus.

"Fuck!" Daphne cursed, grabbing Max and dragging her behind a seat where the walkie-talkies were stashed. Dustin followed, fumbling with the radio as panic set in.

"Is anyone there? Mike? Will? God! Anyone?" Dustin's voice was shrill with fear.

"They don't have the walkie-talkies with them," Daphne said, her own panic rising. "They're at the lab! Will is sick and Mike, my mom and Hopper are with him!"

"Are you kidding me? Shit!" Dustin's voice broke as he realized their dire situation. "We're at the old junkyard, and we're going to die!"

"Stop screaming!" Daphne snapped, trying to keep her own fear in check. "They can't hear you. They're not home! It's useless."

"Shut up, Daphne!" Dustin shot back, his nerves frayed to the breaking point.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from the roof of the bus, freezing everyone in place. They looked up just in time to see one of the demogorgons, its grotesque face pressed against the window, watching them with cold, dead eyes. Max screamed, startled by its sudden appearance.

"Out of the way!" Steve yelled, shoving them aside as he faced the creature. He raised his bat, ready to strike. "You want some? Come get this!"

But instead of attacking, the demogorgon stared at Steve for a moment, then looked toward the outside. Without a sound, it backed away and disappeared into the night.

Daphne frowned, trying to make sense of what just happened. "Why did it do that? I don't think it got scared of Steve, honestly."

Steve, his breathing heavy, glanced at her. "This is not the right time, Daph. Don't you think?"

He cautiously opened the door, his bat at the ready. But when he stepped outside, there was nothing.

The demogorgons had vanished, leaving only the distant sound of a low growl, swallowed by the thick fog that had settled over the junkyard.

Lucas emerged from behind the seats, his voice shaky. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Max replied, still clutching her walkie-talkie.

Dustin, his eyes darting around nervously, tried to make sense of it. "Maybe Daphne's wrong, and Steve scared 'em off?"

Steve shook his head, unconvinced. "No. No way. They're going somewhere."

Daphne bit her lip, a knot of dread forming in her stomach. "But where?"

"I don't know," Steve admitted, the uncertainty clear in his voice. "But I think we should get out of here while we still can."

Daphne nodded, her agreement immediate. "Yeah, I agree."

They gathered their things quickly, their movements hurried and tense. Without another word they all left the junkyard behind, the eerie silence of the place still hanging in the air as they made their way into the woods.

The trees loomed tall around them, their branches casting long, twisted shadows in the dim moonlight. They walked in silence, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of night creatures.

Every now and then, they would glance around, alert to the slightest movement, but they kept moving forward, deeper into the forest.

The further they went, the more the tension began to ease, the oppressive feeling of the junkyard slowly fading away.

But none of them spoke, their thoughts heavy with what they had just escaped. They knew they couldn't let their guard down, not yet.

As they reached a small clearing, they paused to catch their breath, all of them taking a moment to listen to the quiet of the woods. The stillness felt almost comforting after the chaos they'd just left behind.