Complicated - Steve Harrington

Seven

In the few moments that Mia felt the demagorgan try to take her away and most likely kill her, she realized she was all too ready to die and for no good reason. She didn't dare scream, she barely fought back, all she did was look down. She made eye contact with Steve as she was pulled through the hatch in the ceiling of the bus. His expression made Mia's chest tighten as he sprung into action. His bat flew past her, wacking the demagorgan in the face. The creature howled and scampered away, following his fellow demagorgans into the woods and disappearing.

Steve threw his bat aside and helped Mia down. Dustin, Max, and Lucas caught their breath, filled with terror as they sat down. Steve whipped away from Mia for a moment, making sure the beasts were gone. He turned back to her and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Jesus, Mia, I need you," Steve said with a smirk, pulling himself out of their hug. "You can't just go sacrificing yourself like that."

"Yeah, you do need me," Mia said confidently while hiding a grin. "Way more than you know." Steve leaned forward for a moment, he studied her face before pressing his lips to her. What felt like a split second went by and before Mia knew it, Steve was on to his next plan, while she was left shocked and confused, yet also elated.

Steve crept outside the bus. Mia, still gripping her metal rod, and the rest followed closely behind. They made it out and looked around. Low howls and growls echoed off in the distance, but the demagorgans were gone.

"What just happened?" Max asked.

"Where the hell did they go?" Lucas asked frantically.

"Did Steve scare them off?" Dustin asked.

"No," Steve quickly shook his head. "No way."

"They're going somewhere," Mia nodded.

The five rushed to grab their belongings. They packed up anything they could need and left the rest for scrap. Mia held on to her slime covered rod and was ready to leave. She wondered what her parents were thinking at that point. She had been gone for a full twenty-four hours with nothing but an excuse made up by her brothers. Even as they retraced their steps down the railroad tracks, Mia knew she wouldn't be home that night, though it hadn't dawned on her that she might never be home again.

"Are you sure that was Dart?" Max asked, as the young teens walked behind Mia and Steve.

"Yes, I'm sure," Dustin said. "I saw the yellow spot on his butt."

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

"He's molted Three Times already," Dustin said.

"Malted?" Steve asked.

"Molted," Dustin corrected. "Shed his skin to make more space for growth."

"When's he gonna molt again?" Mia asked.

"Gotta be soon," Dustin said. "Then he'll be fully grown or close to it. So will his friends."

"And he'll eat more than just cats," Steve grumbled.

"Wait," Lucas stopped everyone. "A cat? He ate a cat?!"

"What? No," Dustin lied.

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

"No he's didn't," Dustin told Lucas.

"Mews? Who's Mews?" Max asked while Lucas and Dustin argued.

"Dustin's cat," Mia said.

"Mia! Steve!" Dustin snapped.

"I knew it!" Lucas said pushing Dustin. "You kept him!"