seven - mind flayer pt.1

Imogen was behind the rest as they walked through the abandoned train tracks. She was holding her bat and swinging it around since she was trying to fight her exhaustion.

As well with trying to evade from averting the attention of their guardian roles to conversating with Steve about their current situation.

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asked exasperatedly to Dustin," Yes, He had the exact same yellow pattern on his butt,"

"But he was tiny two days ago!" Max exclaimed

"Well, he's molted three times already"

"Malted?" Steve repeated in mistake

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

Imogen felt herself gag and lower her hands that were swinging the bat," I can't believe you kept him, Duffin, seriously—I try my best to look out for you, but—" She shivered," Please promise me that you will not be adopting any more unknown species"

Dustin looked back and sighed," I know, I promise"

"When's he gonna molt again?" Max asked

"It's gotta be soon. When he does, he'll be fully grown. Or close to it" Dustin explained," And so will his friends"

"He's gonna eat a lot more than just cats" Steve blurted out as they continued to walk.

"Hold on/Wait a cat?!" Lucas and Imogen said at the same time

"Dart ate a cat?" Lucas raised his voice slightly pushing Dustin back

"No, what? No" Dustin shook his head and looked to Lucas and then his eyes fell on his sister who narrowed her gaze at him.

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

Imogen's jaw dropped as she gaped, "What?!?!" She shouted

"Mews? Who's Mews?" Max furrowed her brows looking at the older male

"It's Dustin and Imogen's Cat," Steve told her

"Oh my god!" Imogen said through her breath while her brother exclaimed," Steve!!"

Lucas smacked Dustin's shoulder," I knew it! You kept him!!" Lucas said angrily

The three of them watched the two males bickering and Max groaned," Guys, who cares? We have to go"

"I care! You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law" Lucas argued over her voice

"So did you!!!" Dustin pushed Lucas back

"What?"

Dustin raised his flashlight and faced it to Max's face," You told a stranger the truth!!" making her move back and shake off the sudden light in her face as she scoffed," A stranger?"

"You wanted to tell her, too!!" Lucas retorted

Imogen had stepped next to Steve looking at him as they both sighed at the arguing. He was about to say something but they both heard noises coming from the distance in the woods. She reached over his arm that had the flashlight and lifted it to the woods as they both walked over to make sure they were not mishearing things.

"Hey Guys" Steve spoke, but his voice was drowned in their yelling

"GUYS!!!" Imogen shouted catching their attention making them look at her, she nudged her head to the woods as she turned back to it. She saw Steve walk forward and she followed after.

"No, no, no. Hey guys, why are you headed towards the sound?!" Max shouted behind them

They all reached the edge of a cliff, as Dustin furrowed his brows," I don't see them"

Lucas raised his binoculars to his eyes and lowered it after a moment," It's the lab"

Imogen's breath hitched," They were going back home" Her hands were shaking and Steve noticed it making him connect his own with hers. She peered up at him, both sharing the anxiety of how dangerous the night was going to continue.

They were in charge of keeping the three safe.

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"What are the chances he'll be as big as last time?" Imogen spoke up making them all turn to her," Remember how huge that creature was? We had no chance beating it—and I hate being a Debbie Downer, but unless we have flamethrowers or something, then we are genuinely screwed over"

"When did you become so negative" Lucas raised his eyebrow

"When I watched everyone nearly get eaten", Imogen said instantly, her hand was still interlocked with Steve who tightened it slightly in comfort.

As they came in view of the lab, Imogen saw two figures ahead of them and furrowed her brows recognizing the car.

"Hello?" Jonathan called out as Nancy looked at him like he was crazy," Who's there?!"

"Steve/Imogen?!" Jonathan and Nancy said together

"Jonathan" Imogen mumbled and Steve raise his eyebrow," Nancy?"

Jonathan looked at Imogen and saw the bat in her hand and her eyes followed his gaze, making her raise it," Ah, yeah, so I found out what you did with my bat, if we weren't in this current conundrum, I would have kicked your ass for ruining my bat Byers"

"What are you doing here?" Nancy walked forward asking him specifically and he shot the question back.

"We're looking for Mike and Will" She answered

Dustin's eyes widened," They're not in there, are they?"

"We're not sure," Jonathan said hesitant," Why?"

Before anyone could answer, the sound of the growling and screeching filled their ears making them all turn to the direction of the dark lab.

"That's why" Imogen mumbled but loud enough for them all to hear.

The group started asking a lot of questions, as the chattering got jumbled with them all talking over each other.

"We haven't seen Will—" Dustin announced

"I haven't seen him since..." Steve tried to think of the last time he actually saw the younger Byers.

Nancy and Imogen both seemed to notice the Lab lighting up from the distance pushed past the others," The power's back" both females said together.

It caused them all to run to the booth with the switches, and the first to reach there was Jonathan who kept pressing the button, and there was no luck.

Dustin then groaned," let me try!" "Hang on—"

"Let me try, Jonathan!!" Dustin pushed him back taking over the button pressing, and realization was only hitting them all," Son of a bitch!! You know what..." Dustin cursed as he continued to press the button. After a moment of continuously hitting it, the sound of beeping filled their ears.

"Hey!! I got it! Dustin chuckled as he smiled making Jonathan who was in the booth with him run out," I got it" Dustin repeated but lower

"Jonathan, Nancy," Imogen spoke up," You two go, we'll wait here" They both looked at her and nodded quickly getting in the car and driving towards the lab.

She leaned her back on the booth behind her, as she battled the anxiety that was forming.

"Hey" Steve sat next to her as she slowly slid down," Immy, hey" He repeated noticing her breathing getting out of order. It was all hitting her finally, the entire day was all falling down on her.

The junkyard was haunting her. The creature she saw that was as small as a lizard, that was the size of a canine.

It was giving her flashbacks of the horror they experience back at the middle school. Her breathing was not getting any better, and only making her throat and chest burn. Steve had experienced her panic attacks before, and he always calmed them.

It had been years, but the memory was still fresh in his mind, and everything he always had done was now resurfacing. He didn't have a stereo so he sucked up his pride, and started to sing her favourite song," You're Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world. She took the midnight train. Going anywhere"

The younger teens all looked at Steve hearing him sing lowly to her, and they all kept silent only noticing that he was trying to comfort Imogen.

"Strangers waiting, Up and down the boulevard, their shadows searching in the night" Steve started the chorus, and Imogen found herself going along, but in a slower and mellow tone," Streetlights, people. Living just to find emotion. Hiding somewhere in the night"

Dustin smiled and then nudged Lucas," Working hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill" He sang loudly but more upbeat and Lucas grinned following after him," Payin' anything to roll the dice. Just one more time"

Both boys looked at Max, as she shrugged her shoulder continuing," Some will win, some will lose. Some were born to sing the blues"

Steve and Imogen turned to the teens, as they sang the final part of the first chorus," Living just to find emotion. Hiding somewhere in the night"

Imogen felt her anxiety slowly go away as she looked at Steve, and then smiled," Don't stop believin"

"Hold on to that feeling" Steve continued and then all of them sang the last of the second chorus," Streetlights, people ohohohhhhhh~!"

They all ended together and then laughed," Oh god we all should start a band" Imogen spoke up as Steve helped her off the ground.

"Mike and Will are going to be so bummed we did that without them" Lucas teased

"Yeah" Dustin nodded," I bet they will be jealous"

Max took a moment to understand why they were keeping positive and she smiled, feeling so grateful that the boys had decided to approach her. She was glad to be a part of this group now she just needed to wait for the other two to hopefully accept her and she would really be glad about living in Hawkins.

While they were all talking, she heard the found of tires screeching on the road, making her walk forward," Guys" They all looked at the two speeding cars, and Imogen pulled her to the side while Steve grabbed Lucas and Dustin.

Jonathan's car passed them, but Jim's van stopped next to them," Let's go!" He motioned his hand as they all scrambled inside.

"Come on, let's go! Let's go!" Each of them shouted to each other.

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"I'm sorry, bud" Jonathan ran his hand in Will's hair, while he was lying unconscious on the couch," I should have been there," He said in a weak tone. Imogen who was sitting next to him rubbed her hand on his back.

"Hey, don't cut yourself short Jonathan," She said softly making him frown," I should have been there Imogen" He looked at her as his eyes glistened.

She raised her hand to his cheek," Nancy told me a little about where you went, and honestly" She looked at Will as she held his hand, "Will would be so proud of you Jonathan; you were helping find justification for Barb. I bet once he hears about it—He'll be bragging to the boys"

"I heard a little about what you went through" Jonathan mumbled and then peeked behind him to Steve and Nancy who were standing awkwardly away from each other.

"How are things with him?" Jonathan asked and she peered at Steve," Complicated—Messy" She then shifted back facing him," You and Nancy?"

"For once—Good" Imogen chuckled kindly," Finally about time Byers, goodness that took a while" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively making him push her slightly," Oh god you are gross"

"Oh, shut up" She shoved him back as they both laughed.

"I miss this" Jonathan mumbled and Imogen closed her eyes for a moment," Yeah" she agreed

"Why did we mess it up?" He questioned as she fiddled her fingers," Because we are stupid teenagers, and we do stupid things"

"Did you tell him? about—" She watched his gaze shift to her torso

"Yeah—or well, that bitch Carol did...We didn't actually talk about it entirely"

"Well you should, because it's clear that you both are still madly in love with each other" Steve slightly heard that part and held back a smile.

Imogen looked at Nancy and locked eyes with her and nodded her head to come over, as she stood up.

Once she passed her," That's your job now, Good Luck" She whispered as the older Wheeler smiled at her gratefully as she walked over to Jonathan.

"Sam Owens. Dr Sam Owens" Jim said angrily on the phone, as Imogen walked past him after Steve walked over to the kitchen.

"I don't know how many people are there! I don't know how many people are left alive!!"

Imogen walked over to her brother who was standing at next to the table the boys and Max were sitting at. She pulled him in her arms, as she placed a kiss on the top of his head.l as he wrapped his arms around her torso.

Jim slammed the phone on the receiver frustrated," They didn't believe you, did they?" Dustin said.

He turned slowly," We'll see"

"We'll see?" Mike repeated," We can't just sit here while those things are loose!!" He raised his voice aggressively

"We stay here, and we wait for help" Jim stated as he walked away.

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