𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐄! ✽ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

51

𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍, sheridan and steve were stuck to each other's side like glue. they both guarded the group from the back; steve was persistent in leading the way, figuring it would be both quicker and more efficient safety-wise, but dani always knew how to talk him down. plus, she wanted the kids to have this moment. it was their idea, it was only fair that they take charge.

sentiments of "woah"s and "holy shit"s scattered amongst the six of them as they continued their trek further into the dimension. the cavernous walls were plastered in those vines and that disgusting goop. "keep it movin'," steve hollered as the kids slowed in a large opening. it was a circle in the midst of the tunnels, entrances everywhere they looked. both steve and sherrie's brows dipped as they watched dustin stop in the middle. his head was tilted directly above him. "dustin, what the hell are you doing?" steve questioned as they neared him. the pair followed his gaze to the ceiling, which is where they noticed a pulsating mass. it was flesh-colored and had dark veins that tethered it to the top. there was also a dark star shape in its center.

"oh my god, it looks like a chocolate starfish!" steve and dustin's face crumpled in disgust at sheridan's joke. and as they glared at her, the mass expelled a heaping of the same particles that floated in the air around them; almost as if it had heard dani. the three of them ducked down instantly, using their arms to defend themselves. "oh my god!" the girl shrieked. beside her, dustin rolled over on the ground in the fetal position.

"help help help!" dustin pleaded, his voice cracking. as steve bent down to help sherrie, she shoved his hands off of her and pushed him towards the young boy.

"are you alright?!" steve inquired over dani's coughing.

"it got in my mouth, it got in my mouth!" dustin screeched. he got on all fours and mirrored sheridan in her coughing, attempting to wretch out anything that may have infiltrated his system. once her own coughing had ceased, sherrie flicked the particles from her sweater, bandana, and goggles. she peered down at dustin and shone her flashlight into his eyes. "...i'm okay. i'm okay." steve sighed, his hands on his hips and his back turned on the two.

"alright, alright," dani groaned. as she helped dustin up from the ground. she patted him on the back as they continued their journey.

a few feet ahead, they encountered another ovular opening, only this time on a much grander scale. towards the middle were what appeared to be carcasses or bodies of some sort. "think we found your hub, wheeler," steve called out.

"let's drench it," mike demanded. steve and sheridan stood back and watched as the kids doused the dimension in gasoline from their tanks and sprayers. they all dispersed into separate areas, leaving every inch of the place soaked. once they had emptied their carriers, the four gathered in a group behind the two older teens.

"alright, you guys ready?" steve asked as he degloved one of his hands. everyone responded with a chorus of "yes"s as the brown-haired boy nabbed dani's silver lighter from his jacket pocket. sherrie watched as dustin affectionately peered at steve. a smile grew on her face, under her bandana.

"light 'er up," dustin affirmed. after locking eyes momentarily with the young boy, steve flicked the lighter open and glared out into the void ahead of them. sheridan placed her hand on his shoulder from behind him. she gave him a gentle squeeze, as a reminder that she had his back—and that she always will.

once steve felt the girl's touch, the lighter sparked, a flame igniting. suddenly, he threw the lighter far ahead of the group. steve tugged his glove back on, shielding himself from the vibrant orange glow of the fire. suddenly, the veins began to shrivel up and wave in, what sherrie only assumed could be, pain. "go, go, go!" steve shouted. instantaneously, mike, lucas, max, and dustin turned and ran back down the tunnel from which they came. steve waited to follow after dani.

the six ducked into tunnels and hopped over the large vines that coated the ground. "oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," dustin whined. as the group continued running back to the entrance at the pumpkin patch, sheridan and steve watched as mike tripped and came crashing to the ground.

"help! help!" the wheeler boy cried. the three ahead of him turned back while steve and sherrie were just approaching him. dani noticed one of the vines twirling around his ankle.

"everybody step back!" the girl commanded. she took her nail bat and heaved it above her head. she swung it at the ground, striking the tentacle. and again. and again. she had sliced the lifeform in half. mike wriggled free and stood with the help of the group.

"you good?" lucas questioned.

"guys, we gotta go, we gotta go now!" dustin sputtered. from just ahead of them came that spine-rattling noise, that of which belonged to the creatures that called this dimension home. sheridan instinctively raised her bat into the air. dustin pushed to the front of the group, his arms extended to his sides to brace them. both dani and steve's brows dipped as they watched him go head-to-head with one of the demodogs. steve placed a gloved hand on dustin's shoulder. "dart?" he questioned. sheridan's eyes widened. the small creature opened its face slightly, omitting a quaint snarl. as steve and the rest of the kids protested, dustin shushed them. "trust me. please," dustin begged. his gaze was fixated on dart as they both stepped toward one another. "hey... it's me, it's me. it's just your friend, it's dustin," he cooed as he shedded his bandana and goggles. "it's dustin, alright? you remember me?" he bent down to dart's eye level—if he had eyes. "will you let us pass?" dani jolted as dart's face flowered, a shriek bellowing from his body. "okay, okay. i'm sorry. i'm sorry about the storm cellar. that was a pretty douchey thing to do."

"what the fuck is happening?" sherrie whispered aloud. mike, lucas, and max shushed her.

"you hungry? yeah?" dustin continued, reaching behind him into his bag. "i've got our favorite," he smiled behind the three musketeers bar. "nougat!" he fumbled with the plastic wrapper as dart closed in on him. the curly-haired boy placed the treat on the ground between him and the creature. "eat up, buddy," dustin whispered affectionately. he then began to wave his hand. sheridan gave max a gentle nudge, signaling for her to lead them out of the tunnels. dustin continued his conversation with dart and unraveled more three musketeers for him. dani waited for the three kids to tread lightly out of the tunnels before following them, with steve in tow. the group waited just behind dart. and as he mowed down on the decadent chocolate and nougat, dustin watched with teary eyes. "goodbye, buddy," he muttered solemnly as he slipped his goggles back over his eyes. he pulled his bandana up and over his mouth and readjusted his backpack before joining the rest of the group.

"you're a genius, kid!" sherrie praised quietly.

✽