Crush Culture [M.Wheeler]

[26] DART HUNT

"We gotta show him to Mr. Clarke." Lucas says as they leave the AV room to head to class. "No. What if he steals my discovery?" Dustin argues.

"He's not gonna steal your discovery." Mike assures, turning to look at the boy. "You know, I'm thinking about calling it Dustonious Pollywogus." Dustin adds, smiling proudly at the name.

"What do you think?" He asks Max. "I think you're an idiot." She chuckles. "You know, Max, I've been thinking that too! Glad to see someone finally understands me." Nori speaks up, giving the girl a high five.

"You know, when I become rich and famous one day, don't come back to me saying 'Oh, my God, Dustin, I'm so sorry for being mean to you back in 8th grade. Oh, my God." He imitates a teenage girl's voice, causing Nori to laugh.

"We sound nothing like that." She nudges him. "Maybe you should try and hear yourself for once, Tiny." Dustin shrugs.

***

At the end of the school day, Nori, Dustin, Max, And Lucas stood around Mr. Clarke, ready to show him the mysterious creature.

"This is the reason I was late for class." Dustin smiles, motioning towards the trap. "Pretty neat. These doors function?" Mr. Clarke asks, tapping on them.

"Well, Yeah, obviously. But it's not about that trap." Dustin states. "It's what's inside. Now, this very well may change your perception of the world." Dustin warns.

"Consider my interest piqued." Mr. Clarke nods. "Alright, first, lets just clarify that... this is my discovery, not yours." He states. "Dustin, Jesus! Just show him!" Lucas yells in frustration.

"Alright. I'm just trying to clarify—" Dustin defends. "Dustin!" Max says, annoyed. "Okay, Fine."

"Stop!" Mike yells, barging in through the door. "I'm really sorry, Mr. Clarke. It was just a stupid prank." He apologizes, taking the trap. "What the hell are you doing?" Dustin shouts.

"I told them to stop. We need to go. Now." He says to the others, backing out of the room. "Mike!" Nori speaks up.

"Right now. Right now!" He raises his voice, running away. Confuse, the others follow after him.

They speed into the AV room, and when a Max attempts to come inside, Mike closes the door. "Mike!" Nori scolds.

"Hello? Hello?" Max bangs oh the door. "Guys, come on. Can I come in yet?" She asks. "No!" Mike shouts.

"I don't understand." Dustin sighs. "What do you not understand?" Mike questions. "Will saw something that looked like Dart last year?" Lucas speaks up, raising his eyebrows at the boy.

"Kind of, but there was no tail." Will explains. "But then he heard it yesterday. The exact same sound." Mike adds. "Why didn't you tell us before?" Nori chimes in, worried eyes.

"I wasn't sure." Will says. "So, It's a coincidence." Dustin takes away. "Or not. What if when Will was stuck in the Upside Down, he somehow acquired True Sight?" Mike suggests.

"True Sight?" Lucas furrows his eyebrows. "It gives you the power to see unto the ethereal plane." Dustin informs. "Elaborate." The boy sighs.

"Maybe these episodes that Will keeps having aren't really flashbacks at all. Maybe they're real. Maybe Will can somehow see into the Upside Down." Mike says.

"So that would mean..." Nori trails off. "Dart is from the Upside Down." Mike concludes. "Then how'd he end up here?" She questions. "I'm not sure."

"We have to take him to Hopper." Lucas sighs. "I agree." Mike nods. "No. No way. If we take him to Hopper, Dart's as goof as dead." Dustin refuses.

"Maybe he should be." Mike fires back. "How can you say that?" Dustin yells. "How can you not? He's from the Upside Down." Mike argues.

"Maybe. But even if he is, it doesn't automatically mean that he's bad." Dustin continues defending the creature. "That's like saying just because someone's from the Death Star, doesn't make them bad." Mike compares.

"We have a bond." Dustin exhales. "A bond? Just because he likes nougat?" He asks in disbelief. "Mike, take it easy." Nori says softly.

"No, because he trusts me!" Dustin snaps. "He trusts you?" Lucas questions. "Yes, I promised that I would take care of him—"

Suddenly, Dart screeches, causing the trap to begin shaking. Slowly, they back away from the table. "Guys, what's going on? Come on." Max bangs on the door once more.

It continues to shake, until it tips over. Mike reaches for the microphone, holding it above his shoulder. "Don't hurt him." Dustin warns.

"Only if he attacks." Mike responds. "Just open it already." Lucas orders. Dustin carefully reaches for the button, then presses it.

Out comes Dart, at least two times bigger than before. "Holy shit." Lucas comments. Dart walks out, another pair of legs expanding from his body, leaving a gooey substance behind on the table.

It roars. "Oh, shit!" Lucas screams again. Mike takes the microphone, and as he is about to slam it onto Dart, Dustin pushes his hand away, causing it to hit the table.

Dart jumps down onto the floor, and as luck would have it, Max opens the door just in time for Dart to escape.

"What the..." she asks in shock, watching the creature scurry away. The boys and Nori run out to chase it, causing Dustin to trip and fall right on top of Max while Lucas falls to the side.

"Where'd he go?" Lucas asks. "What was that?" Max stands up. "Dart!" Nori explains. "What?"

"You let him escape!" Mike shouts. "Why did you attack him?" Dustin approaches Mike, grabbing onto his shirt. "Come on." Mike rolls his eyes, going to run after him.

"Don't hurt him. Don't you hurt him!" Dustin calls out after him.

***

Nori walks through the halls of the school, checking every corner for that small beast. "East is clear. No sign of Dart." Mike says into the walkie talkie. "Same here." Nori adds.

"West is clear, too. Will?" Dustin asks. "South is clear." He responds. "Lucas? Anything?"

"Nothing here, man." He says. "That's great. Just... great." Nori sighs.

After a few minutes of searching, Will's voice comes on the radio. "Guys... I found him." He says lowly. "Where?"

"In the bathroom by Mr. Salerno's." He responds. "Copy that." Mike nods.