CHAPTER FOURTEEN
She'll Only Come Out at Night

☾

THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE the bus had turned glacial. Wisps of fog crept out from the forest, extending shadowy fingers in the gaps in the windows that brushed against Steve's face. The breaths escaping his lips looked like misguided ghosts haunting the air. Beside him, Rhiannon was silent, scanning the junkyard, and Dustin was chewing his nails, his features twisting with fear.

In the darkness, Steve found the creature's silhouette. Dart was hovering at the edge of the clearing, his head aimed at the ground, mouth unfurling like the petals of a flower blooming. But he wasn't taking the bait. He wouldn't. Not like this, not without someone to lure him. Steve shuffled away from the window, taking his bat with him because, surely, he'd need it.

"Don't tell me you're thinking about heading out there," Rhiannon said as she watched him pry open the door.

"Just get ready," he said, tossing his lighter at Dustin, who stumbled to catch it.

"I'm going with you," she said stubbornly.

"No. There's no way you're coming."

Despite his reluctance, she was already joining him. "Watch me."

Steve rolled his eyes and blew out a puff of air onto his face, his hair moving like seagrass. "Do you ever listen?"

"If you think I'm letting you do this alone, you really do have half a brain."

Steve sent her a worrisome look, resting the bat on his shoulder. "It's safer inside."

Rhiannon tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "What, you think I'm not capable of taking care of myself?"

"I know you can, but I don't want you getting hurt."

"It's nice that you care, but stop trying to tell me what I should do when I can perfectly decide for myself." It was then she grabbed a pole with a sharpened edge from a junk pile on the ground, deciding it was a good enough weapon. "Besides, the longer we stall, the hungrier Dart gets."

He gave in, of course, because he knew there would be nothing he could say that was capable of convincing her. "But we stick together no matter what happens, okay?"

She nodded.

And so he walked out with her at his side, giving his bat a quick spin with a jerk of his wrist. The fog slithered across the ground in thick, gray clouds that swirled into the sky. All that could be heard were low chitters, a warning that danger was near. His heart was in his throat.

"Come here, buddy. Human tastes better than cat, I promise." He whistled, swinging his bat back and forth like a pendulum that would hypnotize Dart into coming closer.

About ten paces down, Rhiannon's eyes swept over the landscape, her head whirling around. "Uh, Steve?"

"Little busy here."

"Steve." The urgency in her tone got his attention. Her breath hitched. "We're surrounded."

Finally, Steve saw them. Demogorgons scattered across the junkyard, piling on rusty scraps and creeping out from the shadows. Dart had brought along some friends.

"Abort!" Dustin screamed.

The monsters stormed forward just as the pair ducked out of harm's way. Steve slid across the hood of an old car, twisting around to slam his bat into one of them. It released a wretched, agonized cry before Rhiannon whacked it with such force she sliced its head clean off, a streak of black blood splashing across her face.

He didn't have time to question how the hell she did that — not when more monsters were hurtling toward them.

Instantly, he took her hand and yanked her in the direction of their refuge, running fast, his blood pumping hot and quick in his veins. Their fingers laced together as she let him tug her along the yard. They narrowly avoided the trash on the ground, leaping over mounds of scrap metal, the monsters close on their trails.

Steve felt her wrench away from his grip at the last second as she pushed him into the bus, cranking the door shut and barring herself outside.

"What— What are you doing?" he demanded, frantically trying to shove the entryway back open. It wouldn't budge.

"I'll draw them away!" Rhiannon shouted from the other side, voice muffled and unsteady. "Keep the kids sa— oh, shit."

She was cut off by a Demogorgon's ugly, predatory shriek. Something smacked into the side of the bus, dented it with a large curve. The impact left the bus rattling. The kids wobbled on their feet, gripping onto the seats for purchase.

"Rhiannon!" Steve yelled, scrambling to salvage the entrance again. He looked into the gaps in the windows but couldn't see anything, couldn't see her. A spike of dread splintered through his spine. His mind was already flashing with images of every horrible thing that could happen to her.

"Is anyone there? Mike? Will? Anyone!" Dustin was screaming into his walkie-talkie. "We're at the old junkyard and we're going to die!"

There was a chorus of screams as a Demogorgon burst its claws through the door. Steve swung his bat down repeatedly, severing into its flesh. He was in the middle of crushing its face into a pile of mush when a thud came from above. The roof bowed over their heads, caving from the weight of something heavy.

Max shrieked as another creature peeked into the emergency exit, letting out a primal roar scraped from deep in its gut. Rows of sharp, serrated teeth lined the inside of its mouth.

Without warning, it was dragged away by... by something. Its growls ripped through the air — only to be cut off by a snap.

And then, there was nothing.

Silence.

"That was a close one, huh?" A head popped into the hole and Steve almost screamed — the kids did scream, loud high-pitched ones emptied from their chests — but it was only Rhiannon. "I'll be right back."

She moved out of view before he could say anything. After a few impatient seconds, he climbed the ladder, much to the dismay of the kids begging him to stay, and found Rhiannon on the roof. For the first time, he got a good look at the young Demogorgons. They were dark, four-limbed, almost the size of a full-grown human, but that was where the comparisons stopped. The pack swarmed the bus, growling and scraping their claws at the barriers they had put up.

"Have you lost your mind? What were you thinking locking yourself outside? You could've died!" Steve scolded.

"Shut up and let me focus," Rhiannon hissed, but he was having a total breakdown.

The pack backed up as if to make room. Then one of them took a running start and leaped onto the bus. It was climbing the side, hanging there for a moment, when Rhiannon grabbed it by the neck and choked it unconscious. Like it was nothing.

Steve's grip on his bat faltered, hanging loosely by his side. He couldn't take his eyes off her, shocked by how eerily calm she was handling this. He was mesmerized too, stuck under some spell that must've been cast on him, because he barely noticed when the Demogorgons retreated, having been called back into the tunnels.

"Holy shit. That was crazy," he breathed out. "Rhiannon, that was insane."

She dragged her sleeve across her cheek, wiping off the monster blood. "Harrington, you need to relax. Take deep breaths. Mellow out. Okay?"

Now that he could see her better in the moonlight, he thought he saw... fangs? No. There was no way. He staggered away, but the heel of his sneakers caught against a ridge, making him stumble. "What... what the hell?"

"Let's just calm down," she said, holding her hands out in front of her.

"You just— and then you—" Steve stammered through shuddering breaths. He tried keeping his voice as calm as possible, but it came out all desperate and hoarse. "You have fangs. W-why do you have fangs?"

Rhiannon grimaced. "There's a small detail about me I might've left out."

His eyes were wide as saucers. "You're a werewolf!"

"What, no," she scoffed.

He had lost his mind. He finally lost it. "Oh-kay! What the hell is going on?"

She grew serious, swallowing thickly. "Steve, there's something I need to tell you. Promise me you won't freak out."

☾

Naturally, Steve freaked the fuck out.

And, sure, he'd seen worse. He'd fought Demogorgons before and whatnot, but his reaction to Rhiannon's secret seemed warranted. What else was he supposed to think, when the girl he'd been pretending to date had not only come back from the dead, but had tethered a demon to herself in the process? It sounded ridiculous when he thought about it, so 'what the fuck?' seemed like a reasonable reaction.

When they started the whole deal, the whispers about her lingered like leaves in the wind. Rhiannon might've been the girl with the perfect smile, but beneath the surface, she'd turned into an enigma. A mystery people wanted to unravel, a tragedy they needed to poke their noses into. It was why everyone had something to say, and why he received a different answer depending on who he asked. Some told him she moved through the halls like a god, others took one look at her and said that she'd hold a knife to his chest and bludgeon his heart to pieces just to watch him bleed out. No sugar, nor spice, and the opposite of everything nice. They begged him to heed the warnings. Watch out for that one, she'll chew pretty boys like you right up. If he wasn't so willing to run into danger, he'd flee from the trajectory of the blade in the slaughterhouse. But that just wasn't in his nature. He'd rather stick around until the end. Get himself killed in the process.

Maybe he should've fucking listened.

"You're being one hundred percent serious?" Lucas drawled, blinking slowly. "Like, you swear on your mom's grave?"

Rhiannon frowned. "I'm not doing that to my mom. But, yeah, I'm crazy strong and have super fast reflexes, and sometimes I can sense things going on far away."

Lucas shook his head in disbelief. "Demons can't be real."

"Are you saying she's lying?" Max accused, narrowing her eyes.

"Of course not, but it sounds crazy to me."

"You believe in interdimensional monsters, but you draw the line at demons?" Rhiannon replied, slanting him a deadpan look.

"Just out of curiosity," Dustin piped up, "say I had a cross and some holy water. Would you burst into flames?"

"Stuff like that doesn't work."

Steve furrowed his eyebrows, trying to understand. "Have you tried— I don't know... hiring an exorcist? It worked in the movie."

Rhiannon pulled a face. "Do I look like a little girl with my head spinning around, Steve?"

"Not yet you don't."

"First of all, I'd rather die again than have a face like she did. Second, what part of 'stuff like that doesn't work' don't you understand?" she said, sighing sharply. "Look, we're wasting time here. We should go find Dart."

And so, after deciding she made a good point, the group headed into the depths of the woods to find Dart and Co. Steve had so many questions he wanted to ask, but decided to save them for a better time as he silently fell into step with her. Overhead, the moon shone, a giant silver coin glittering in the sky. It was pitch black in that forest, but he was glad they had flashlights to expose the path to the train tracks. The kids walked a few paces ahead, giving them space.

This Demogorgon business wasn't new to Steve, not since last year, but it was always surprising the way things quickly switched between the normal and the supernatural. It was surreal that, just days ago, they'd been in her kitchen baking cupcakes and laughing — and now they were here. It didn't seem like these events happened on the same timeline, but he had to live with the fact that his life would change drastically every once in a while.

"You okay there?" she asked, tearing him away from his thoughts.

"Sure," he said, shrugging. "You?"

"Could be better. I ruined a perfectly good sweater." Her features scrunched up in disgust as she gestured at her clothes. "And I'm covered in this stuff."

"Here, take this," he said as he reached into his backpack and handed her a cloth.

"Not digging the Carrie look? I thought it was sexy."

"With that nasty slime? I'll pass."

She wiped her temple, looking miserable. "Are you sure you're okay? I know it's a lot to handle."

Frankly, he couldn't grasp the idea of an otherworldly evil having a hold on her, but it'd be cruel to cast her out for something she had no control over. Maybe he was naive to believe that there were morsels of good in everyone, that nothing was black and white. He didn't care.

"I guess it is hard to wrap my head around it, but... I don't know. It's not all him there, right? That should count for something. You're still Rhiannon to me," he confessed, "just a little different now."

She looked relieved. "That's an understatement."

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"What was I supposed to say— 'Hey, Steve, how are you? By the way, I think I'm possessed by a demon'?"

"That's one way to do it," Steve replied. He cracked a small, nervous smile when he noticed her amusement.

"I wasn't planning on telling you about any of this in the first place. The last thing I wanted was for you to think of me differently."

"I just watched you kill one of those things with your bare hands. That was..." he trailed off, searching for his words. "I've never seen anything like that."

"But I saw the face you made when you noticed the fangs. You were all like—" Rhiannon pointed her flashlight at herself and made an expression of abject terror, her eyes mimicking a flash of confusion and shock. Then she slackened her shoulders, returning to a neutral stance. "Like that."

He pressed his lips into a thin line. "I didn't make that face."

"You did. I'll prove it." Before he could ask what she meant, she flashed her fangs and leaned in close. "Boo," she whispered, soft as a plume floating in the air.

He flinched. Yeah, he still wasn't used to that, and it would definitely take some time before he was. "Why would you— Don't do that!"

Her smirk widened. "Did I scare you, Stevie?"

"God, you're annoying," he said, bumping her shoulder.

"But see? You proved my point," she said. "So if you want to stage a dramatic breakup where we give the best performances of our lives after this, I won't hold it against you."

"Are you kidding me?" Steve pinned her with a bewildered look, as if she'd just suggested they should take up shooting heroin as a hobby. "No. We're still in it together."

Rhiannon smiled, looking pleased. She was about to respond when Dustin and Lucas' voices overlapped through the trees. They lifted their flashlights at them, the bright beams slicing through the dark.

"Hey, hey, hey! What's going on here?" Steve demanded as he stepped up to them. The kids were too caught up in the heated exchange to listen.

"Everyone shut up!" Rhiannon yelled with an authoritative tone, the same one she'd use at cheer practice. The kids fell silent, sheepishly glancing at their feet before the boys mumbled a string of apologies. "Why are you screaming at each other?"

"Because he won't admit he broke the rule of law!" Lucas exclaimed.

"So did you!" Dustin yelled, pointing his flashlight into Max's face and starting another argument.

Rhiannon had to quiet them down again. "If you guys don't stop fighting, I'll tear your arms from your body and use them to beat some sense into you," she said with a crucifying glare.

Dustin crinkled his brows. "That's an oddly specific threat?"

"Well, I made it specifically for you. Must make you feel special."

Suddenly, animalistic roars echoed in the distance. They came from deeper in the canopy, spurring the group to follow the noise. Everyone except Max.

"Uh, guys? Why are you headed towards the sound? Hello? Hellooo?" Max called out. When she realized she was left behind and would have to fend for herself in the darkness, she went after them.

The sounds led them to the crest of a hill that overlooked the town. From their spot, they could see an outline of buildings in the distance. And then Hawkins Lab came into view, tall and imposing against the backdrop, submerged in darkness. The power was off.

"That's why those things left, isn't it? They were going back there," Rhiannon said.

"Back home." Lucas nodded. "It always leads back to the lab."

☾

Soon enough, the group was following Rhiannon on their search for the monster's trail. Her powers made it easy to find their target— bless those super senses — and near the lab, more and more trees were covered in a slimy substance that oozed down to the roots, harboring that signature scent of decaying flora. The tell-tale sign of the gate to the nether world being near.

With her at the front, Steve had moved to the end of the line so they could protect the kids on either side. Dustin, walking beside her, kept looking over his shoulder, disappointment heavy on his features. She followed his gaze and saw Lucas and Max walking together.

"I take it she doesn't like you back?" she said, pointing her flashlight at the twigs scattered across the forest floor.

"Is it that obvious?" Dustin huffed gloomily.

"Sure. Besides the fact that you were acting like she killed your grandma."

He frowned. "I was following Steve's advice."

"His advice is the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Rhiannon scoffed. Dustin gave her an expectant look, so she said, "If you like someone, you pay attention to things about them. You notice what they like, show them you do care."

"It doesn't matter anyway. She clearly doesn't feel the same way," Dustin replied, gesturing behind him.

"Then it's not the end of the world. You'll have lots of time to find The One. Just be a kid now." She patted his shoulder. Dustin soaked in the words, offering an appreciative nod.

As if she was qualified to give dating advice when she had lied to her ex-boyfriend and gotten herself into a mess beyond her wildest imagination.

When they finally reached the perimeter of the building, Steve moved to the front and swatted away the shrubbery until they could see the iron gates. They walked toward the security post, hearing the sound of incoming voices. From the main road leading into the lab emerged two figures — the last people Rhiannon would have expected to find here.

"Steve?" Nancy and Jonathan said with equal expressions of confusion.

"Nancy?" Steve said.

Jonathan looked at her. "Rhiannon? What're you doing here?"

She shrugged. "Long story. What about you guys?"

"We're looking for Mike and Will," Nancy said.

"They're not in there, are they?" Dustin asked, nudging his head at the lab.

"We're not sure," Nancy said, her eyes landing on Rhiannon as she frowned. "But we think Hopper might be."

The same guttural shrieks from earlier rattled through the lab's interior and into the night sky. Rhiannon's stomach coiled. Her dad was in that place with those things. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if something bad happened to him.

Which was why she began mapping out a plan in her head. There were — what, ten, fifteen Demogorgons in there? No. Definitely more than that. Too many to fight alone. Think, Rhiannon, think. Maybe if she caused a distraction with loud noises, she could draw their attention away for enough time to scour the building. It seemed doable. So while the group was distracted with conversation, she melted into the shadows, slipping away to the barbed fence.

Steve noticed her absence almost instantly. "Hey," he called out as he caught up with her. "Where are you going?"

"You heard her. My dad might be in trouble," Rhiannon said calmly, though her heart was going haywire in her chest, pummeling into her ribcage.

"What are you gonna do— you're not seriously thinking of heading in there without a plan?"

"Uh, I have a plan."

"You don't have a plan."

"I have a plan!" Just then, the lab's lights flickered on. The dull, gray building before her jutted upward like a tombstone. Rhiannon swallowed her fear. "The power's back."

Steve gave her a deadpan look. "You can't punch your way through the Demogorgons, Rhiannon."

"I'll find a way in, draw them away while I look for my dad. Worst case scenario... I-I don't know. I can fight."

"It's too dangerous. That place is probably crawling with those things. Even if you take out a few, there's too many of them."

"What if something happens to him and I stood here and did nothing?" She tried sidestepping him, but he seized her arm and reeled her to safety. She tore out of his grasp, her eyes sharpened into a glare so incendiary it could burn a house down to ashes. "Get out of my way, or else I'll make you do it."

"Then I guess you'll have to make me," Steve said as he looked down at her, clenching his jaw.

"Steve," Rhiannon spat, her voice harsh. A warning sign. "Move. You don't understand."

"Hey, look at me." Steve dragged his hand up from her arm and planted it onto her shoulder, firm and reassuring, the side of his thumb pressed against the crook of her neck where her scar began. The gesture was enough to tug her out of her spiral of thoughts, to ground her. "I bet he's already finding a way out right now. This is Hopper we're talking about."

"You don't know that for sure." She didn't like how small she sounded, how weak. Her throat felt scratchy.

"We'll wait it out here. If nothing happens in the next five minutes, I'll go in with you. And before you say anything, I'm not taking no for an answer."

"It'd be really stupid to run into danger with me."

"Yeah, well, if you think I'd let you do this alone, you really do have half a brain," Steve said, echoing her words from earlier.

Honestly, he was infuriating. How did she manage to find a decent boy? In all the experiences she'd had with boys, they'd been fucking terrible. But not Steve Harrington. He wasn't so bad. He wasn't bad at all.

She mulled it over for a second, weighed her options. And then, accepting defeat, she said, "Okay. We'll wait."

"Okay," Steve repeated with a nod, his eyes roaming her face. She wondered if he would be able to feel her pulse by moving his finger just a little over her scar, if he'd feel the bray of her heart pumping blood through her body, thick like black molasses.

A part of her liked the warmth of his touch, the way his fingertips burned into her skin. But the moment was fleeting because he had drawn away the next second.

author's note.
the secret's out!! and steve still wants that cookie sooo bad 😭