chapter eleven , the pollywog

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Dustin Henderson ran to Kennedy Theroux's car Thursday morning, the fresh November hair nearly blowing off his hat. Kennedy sat in the driver's side, adjusting her lipstick when the Henderson boy slid into the passenger seat.

"Kennedy, I have a confession."

"This sounds like something for Church, not me." Kennedy joked. She slowly turned to Dustin, seeing an unfamiliar expression on his face. Kennedy let out a sigh, turning to look at Dustin. "What did you do?"

After crying in Steve Harrington's arms, Kennedy had fallen asleep on her couch. She woke up the next morning to Steve fast asleep in the guest room, and the two had gotten ready and went off their separate ways. They didn't speak much, the two of them unsure where their friendship lies.

"I have a new pet."

Kennedy blinked at Dustin Henderson. "Okay?" She shrugged, unsure why this mattered.

"He's in my backpack."

Her eyes widened in alarm. "What?"

"I know! I know!" Dustin shouted, "But I found it in my trashcan and I couldn't just leave it there!"

Kennedy shook her head wildly. "What kind of pet is it!? A raccoon!?" She hissed as she looked at the bag in Dustin's lap. The boy pressed his lips into a line, before pulling out his trap from his Ghost Busters costume. Kennedy frowned as he opened it. "What the hell is that, Dustin!?"

The creature was small and slimy. It was various shades of pinks, yellows, and greens. Kennedy shot back in her seat, waiting for Dustin to shut the trap. "I don't know! That's what I need your help with!" He exclaimed as he looked at the girl. "I need to go to the library!"

"I am so not having a living booger in my car!" She shouted as she pointed at the Ghost Buster's box in Dustin's lap.

"Don't say that! You'll hurt his feelings!"

Kennedy scoffed in disbelief. She looked back at Dustin's house, licking her teeth as she started the engine. "I hate you, you know that? If that thing gets out of its trap, I'm going to throw your ass out of the car. Do you understand me?" She hissed as she started backing out of his driveway.

The Public Library was reasonably empty considering it was barely seven in the morning when Dustin and Kennedy arrived. The teenage girl looked around the shelves upon shelves of books. Dustin was a few steps ahead, skimming the different books he'd need.

"Look for this one," Dustin hands Kennedy a note card with a title on it. The Reptiles and Amphibians of the Indian Sub-Continent. Kennedy frowned as she walked a few rows down, gazing at the different titles. Kennedy finds the book Dustin was looking for and pulls it off the shelf. Dustin grabs a book titled Eastern Reptiles and Amphibians.

The werewolf girl looks over Dustin's shoulder. "We think it's an Amphibian? Like a frog?" She asked as she looked at the other books on his list.

"I mean, it looks like one," Dustin said pointedly. Kennedy tilted her head as if saying fair point. The Henderson plucks a book titled Reptiles of South America off a shelf, and Kennedy grabs another book titled The Book of Reptiles and Amphibians. She starts making her way to the librarian, and Dustin picks out another book.

The librarian looks down at the pile of books. "Mr. Henderson, you know the rules. Five at a time." She hummed to the boy to Kennedy's left.

"Yep." Dustin looked over, "One, two, three, four, and five."

"Ten." Kennedy frowned as the librarian slowly pulled out a piece of paper. "You already have five books checked out."

Dustin looked at Kennedy, who scowled at him. She didn't have a library card, so she couldn't get the books for him. "My mistake. However," The librarian rose a brow at Dustin, "I am on a curiosity voyage, and I need my paddles to travel. These books," Kennedy blankly stared at the Henderson, who began to caress the books. "These books are my paddles."

Kennedy looked over at the librarian with a hopeful look. "Five at a time." The woman said. Kennedy narrowed her eyes.

"Are you shitting me?" Dustin threw up his hands.

"Excuse me?"

Dustin and Kennedy shared knowing looks. Kennedy looked over the woman's shoulder. Her eyes grew wide, "What the hell is that!?" She yelled. The woman whipped around, and the two grabbed the library books.

"Mr. Henderson!" The librarian shouted as the two teens ran for the exit.

"I need my paddles!"

༺❀༻

Kennedy walked down the hallway, walking past the gymnasium. "Kennedy!" The redhead whipped around, her eyes widening at the sight of an angry Nancy Wheeler. Kennedy looked around, half-expecting to see Jonathan or Steve nearby. There was nobody.

"Hi, Wheeler," Kennedy said with a frown as she watched the brunette. "Did you need something?"

"What the hell happened last night?"

Kennedy frowned, "What?" She asked in confusion.

Nancy gestured in the direction of the gym. "Steve just told me that all this stuff happened and that he went home with you," Nancy explained as she looked at the Theroux. "Is that true?"

What the hell was going on?

"Yeah, he drove me home cause something happened at the party. Byers took you home." Kennedy recalled, adjusting the strap of her backpack. "Why does it matter?"

"The way he said it, it sounded like-"

Kennedy groaned in disgust. "If you're implying I slept with Harrington, I didn't."  Kennedy waved off Nancy as she pushed her hair back. "Look, I don't know what went down with you two, or if you need to talk to someone other than Steve about your current problem, but I don't want to be involved with any of this." Nancy pressed her lips together tightly, looking at the gold necklace with the single pearl around Kennedy's neck. The Theroux gave a closed-mouth smile, grabbing the shoulder strap of her bag. She turned away from the Wheeler, heading down the hall. "Have a good day."

She didn't know what the hell just happened. Kennedy walked through the halls, rushing to her locker. She fumbled with the lock, trying to figure out why the hell Nancy thought something happened between her and Steve.

"Kenny? Do you copy?"

Kennedy jumped at the sound of the walkie-talkie in her locker going off. It never went off. Ever since the Upside Down situation, Dustin gave Kennedy an extra walkie-talkie just in case. She never used it, she never had a reason to. She usually saw Dustin on the days she babysat him or one of the other boys.

The girl grabbed her walkie-talkie, clicking the button. "Dustin?" She asked as she looked on either side of the hall to see if anyone was coming. It'd look weird to see Kennedy Theroux talking into a walkie-talkie. "What are you doing?"

"We need you at the AV club. In like, five minutes."

"Dustin, I have science class," Kennedy deadpanned as she turned to her locker.

"I don't care! It's about Dart!" Dustin exclaimed.

Kennedy frowned. "Who's Dart?" She asked in obvious confusion.

"The thing from my trashcan!"

"You named it?"

She could hear Dustin scoff dramatically. "Just be here! Signing off!" He shouted before the connection went dead. She looked down at the walkie-talkie, shaking her head as she started to shove it into her bag.

Kennedy gathered her things, figuring she'd call her grandma tomorrow and tell her why she's missing school. Diana would understand, for the most part. Kennedy had a lot going on, mentally. She was trying her best to help Will with his episodes, she was trying to figure out her appointments with the lab, she was trying to stay away from her old friends, and she was on the hunt for a new job as the kids likely wouldn't need her as a babysitter much longer. Hell, it started to feel like nobody needed her much anymore.

Perhaps she brought it upon herself. She isolated herself from the people who cared about her the most and focused on school and taking care of the kids who were already getting to old anyways. Kennedy didn't have anyone she really trusted. Not anymore. She didn't know if that was sad or not. Did she even need anyone? Did she have to trust someone?

"Hey." Kennedy jumped back as her locker slammed shut in front of her. Her eyes trailed to the arm, and her stomach sank. Billy Hargrove smirked down at her, wearing his gym uniform (aka shorts and no shirt). "Where'd you go last night?"

Kennedy tensed under his gaze. She hugged her books to her chest. "Home." Kennedy turned to walk away, but Billy side-stepped in front of her. She sucked in a breath, looking down the hall to see anyone. Maybe Nancy or Steve, even Jonathan, she didn't care. She just wanted to get the hell away from him.

"Listen, I'm sorry if I crossed a line last night," Billy started talking with his hands. He stepped forward, causing Kennedy to step back. "I was drunk and I wasn't thinking straight." Kennedy wanted to roll her eyes, but she refrained. "Could we try again?"

Kennedy slowly looked up, her eyes connecting with Billy's. She stood up tall and she inhaled deeply. "I have to go," She hummed, pushing past him. Billy's kind smile turned into a cold glare as he watched the girl storm off, rushing toward the closest exit.

༺❀༻

Mike Wheeler anxiously waited for Kennedy to come rushing down the hall. He stood outside of the AV club classroom, seeing the redhead. "Finally! You took forever!"

Kennedy sighed, "Sorry, I got held up." She mumbled as she followed the thirteen-year-old into the room.

Dustin Henderson smiled wide as Kennedy came in. "Oh, and this is Kennedy, our babysitter." Kennedy stopped at the sight of a small redheaded girl with the group.

"You have a babysitter?" The girl deadpanned, looking at the group.

"Hey, it's the only way Will's mom lets him hang out," Lucas explained as he shrugged. Will shrunk back, smiling at Kennedy.

The boy with a lisp rolled his eyes. "Kennedy, this is Max." Kennedy smiled kindly, thinking.

"You're Billy's sister, aren't you?"

Max tensed up. "Yeah, Do you know him?"

"Unfortunately."

The group began to listen to Dustin about the thing he discovered in his trash. He placed his Ghost Buster trap on the table, opening it to show the kids the strange creature inside. Everyone scrunched their faces in either disgust or fascination. "His name is D'Artagnan." Kennedy groaned in disgust as Dustin pulled it out of the contraption, holding it in his hands. "Cute, right?"

"D'Artagnan?" Mike looked over at his friend.

"Dart for short."

Max stood next to Will, Kennedy was at the head of the table, across from Dustin and next to Will. "And he was in your trash?" Max asked. She had never seen anything like it before. None of them have.

"Foraging for food." Dustin chirped, his eyes lighting up. "You wanna hold him?"

"No, no.

"He doesn't bite."

"I don't want to," Max's face scrunched as the small creature landed in her hands. "Oh, God, he's slimy!"

Max quickly moved toward Lucas, who held out a hand. "Ugh, he's like a living booger."

Dart landed in Will's hands and the boy tensed up quickly, "Oh, God!" He shouted in disgust as he moved his hands toward Mike.

Kennedy held up a hand. "If anyone puts that thing near me I will cut it in half." She threatened as she pointed a finger. Max didn't quite understand, but the boys knew Kennedy meant she'd cut it in half with her claw.

Mike looked at the pink and yellow creature, investigating it. "What is he?"

"My question exactly." Hummed Dustin. "Kenny, the books." Both Dustin and Kennedy pulled out the books they had gotten that morning. Mike slipped the animal onto the table, where there was a coil of a cord that Dart could sit in. Dustin began to explain his thought process. "At first, I thought it was some type of pollywog."

"Pollywog?" Asked Max. She, Mike, and Lucas all sat at the table or on the table. Will stood behind Mike and Dustin sat at the head of the table. Kennedy took the spot in between Mike and Max.

"It's another word for tadpole," Dustin informed. Kennedy hummed, not knowing that. "A tadpole is the larval stage of a toad."

Max held up a hand, "I know what a tadpole is." She muttered.

"All right, then you know that most tadpoles are aquatic, right?" Dustin opened up a book, pressing hard on the bind. "Well, Dart, he isn't. He doesn't need water."

Lucas Sinclair had his arms crossed as he shrugged. "Yeah, but aren't there nonaquatic pollywogs?" He pointed out.

"Terrestrial pollywogs? Yep. Two to be exact." Dustin took one of Kennedy's books, opening it to a book-marked page. "Indirana Semipalmata." He grabs a book he found. "And the Adenomera Andreae. One's from India, one's from South America. So how did one end up in my trash?"

Max spoke up, "Maybe some scientists brought it here, and it escaped?" She suggested.

"Do you guys see that?" Asked Mike. Everyone started looking over at Dart. "Looks like something is moving inside of it." Kennedy frowned, looking closer. Someone reached for the lamp, turning it to face Dart properly.

The small creature let out a small screech, causing everyone to jump back. Dart climbed over the coiled cords, running off the table. Dustin gasped as he caught his newest pet, "It's okay. It's okay. I got you, little guy." Everyone stared at Dustin with a scrunched nose. "I know you don't like that. It's okay."

Kennedy sat up straight in her chair. "Wait, reptiles are cold-blooded, aren't they?" She asked, causing everyone to look at her. "So why does this thing hate the sun?"

"There's the thing. Dart hates it. It hurts him." Dustin explained as he held the small creature in his hands.

"So, if he's not a pollywog or a reptile," Trailed off Lucas.

"Then I've discovered a new species." Dustin grinned excitedly.

Kennedy scrunched her face. "Oh, god, that thing is so gross," She mumbled as she looked away. The school bell rang, and the kids began to scatter. Kennedy stood up from her chair, grabbing her bag and books as she headed for the door.

"We gotta show him to Mr. Clarke," Lucas said.

"No! What if he steals my discovery?"

Mike walked alongside Lucas and Dustin. "He's not gonna steal your discovery." He deadpanned.

"You know, I'm thinking about calling it Dustonious Pollywogus." Dustin waved his hand as he looked over at Max and Kennedy. "What do you think?"

Max narrowed her eyes. "I think you're an idiot." She retorted.

"You know, when I become rich and famous for this one day, don't come crawling back, saying, oh, my God, Dustin, I'm so sorry for being mean to you back in 8th grade. Oh, my God."

Kennedy slowed down, "I'm gonna head back to school," Kennedy said slowly as she pointed. "I'll be back to pick you up," She pointed at Dustin, who gave her a quick nod and the girl started heading off in her own direction.

The young redhead looked over at the Henderson. He dreamily watched as his werewolf babysitter walked down the hall. "Don't tell me." Lucas, Mike, and Dustin looked over. "You have a crush on your babysitter?"

"Um, in my defense, she's totally hot!" Dustin exclaimed as he threw up his arm in Kennedy's direction.

"And badass," Lucas followed. The group of kids started walking down the hall, not seeing the anxious Will Byers disappearing down another hallway.

༺❀༻

Billy Hargrove knew Kennedy Theroux would be back by the end of the school day. So, he did what any normal person would do. He waited by her car.

Kennedy, on the other hand, had a complete 180 in her mood. For the most part, the day had been pretty good, she was happy to be with her friends, and was even excited to figure out what type of animal Dart was. But after the meeting with the kids, Kennedy got a migraine she couldn't get it to go away. She had even gone to the nurses all of last period and tried to sleep in the darkness.

It felt like something was squishing her brain and it was about to burst. Her eyes burned from the lights and her entire body felt like it was aching. So, when Carol and Tina joined the girl walking out of school, she felt like she was going to explode.

"So, how as it?" Carol asked as she looked over.

Kennedy was wearing light wash jeans, a cropped long-sleeve black and white striped top, and a denim jacket. She frowned, "How was what?" She asked.

"Sleeping with Billy Hargrove, obviously." Tina bursted with a grin. She bashfully leaned into Kennedy. "Was it everything you wanted and more?"

The Theroux was more than confused. "I didn't sleep with Billy." She mumbled as she adjusted the strap of her bag. Tina and Carol shared looks.

"That's not what he said."

Kennedy stormed right up to Billy Hargrove. He laughed as he leaned against the hood of his car, smoking a cigarette with Tommy Hagan. He watched the furious redhead come right at him. "What the hell is your problem?"

Billy looked over at Tommy before looking back at Kennedy with curiosity. "What's got your panties in a bunch?" He asked playfully as he put his cigarette between his lips. Kennedy scowled, ripping it from him and throwing it to the ground. Tommy mumbled in surprise as the girl stomped on the cigarette.

"Why the hell does everyone think we slept together at Tina's party?"

There was a crowd now. Scuffling students whispering quietly. They all watched Billy Hargrove and Kennedy Theroux, a pair who couldn't get enough of each other only a couple of days ago. Billy snickered as he shrugged his denim shoulders. "Cause we did."

Kennedy Dawn Theroux was absolutely fuming.

"The hell we did." She snapped bitterly. "I left you in the bedroom alone after I shoved you off of me!" She threw up a hand in disbelief.

People whispered, wondering who to believe. Tommy Hagan chuckled. "Come on, Ken. There's no need to deny it. We know you have a soft spot for the bad boys."

Kennedy snapped her head at Tommy, "The hell is that supposed to mean?" She bitterly asked. She watched as Carol Perkins waved a photo in the air. A photo everyone had. The Theroux narrowed her eyes as she walked over, snatching the photo from her best friend's hands. It was Kennedy and Jonathan. A photo the Byers himself had taken over a year ago when they first started sleeping together. Kennedy realized they must have gotten it from Jonathan's old camera, or maybe from his bag along with the prints from Steve's party. A year. They had been holding these photos away for a year, waiting for the perfect time.

"First Jonathan, then Tommy, then Billy, and then Steve," Carol listed off as she waved her hands. "Who's next, Ken? Your math teacher?"

"What? I didn't sleep with Tommy, Billy, or Steve," Kennedy whipped around to look at the group, making eye contact with some of her friends. She could tell who believed her and who didn't by looking at their eyes. She felt sick. Overwhelming tears brimmed her eyes as she looked at Tina, Vicki, and Carol. How could they do this to her?

Billy stood up, walking toward the redhead. "Look, I'm sorry I was a little rough last night," There were whistles in the crowd as Kennedy looked over. "But did you really have to go home with Harrington?" He asked as he tilted his head.

What?

The Theroux frowned in confusion as Billy began to talk. "Carol told me she saw you get into his car. I was confused and all, as I've been told you don't even like the guy. But then Tommy was telling me how the guys been tryna get into your pants for years." Kennedy clenched her jaw as Billy looked her over. His eyes felt dirty as they scavenged every part of her. "So, tell me, Ken." Billy stood up straight, towering over the redhead. "Did he?"

Kennedy met his gaze. Billy waited for her to tremble, but she didn't even bat an eye. "No. He didn't." She snapped coldly. "Not that it's any of your business anyways," Kennedy went to walk around the Hargrove when suddenly he grabbed her wrist. The redheaded teen has whipped around and shoved into his car. Her back pressed against the cold metal as Billy pushed against her. People gasped and whispered.

"It is my business, Kennedy. You are my business." He sighed as he looked up at the sky, listening to the mumbles from their classmates. "I guess I should've listened to the warnings." Kennedy's glare met his cocky smirk. "Kennedy Theroux, the town slut." Kennedy swung her hand as he spoke. The palm of her hand cracked against his face. Everyone gasped in shock as the Californian's head snapped to the side.

"Fuck you." She said through gritty teeth as she shoved him. Billy stumbled, watching as something changed. She wasn't crying anymore. No, she wasn't even sad. She was angry. She was pissed. Billy fell into the hood of his car as Kennedy shoved him again. "Fuck. You!" Kennedy swung her first, colliding with his jaw. Everyone gasped and cheered as Kennedy began to hit him repeatedly.

He could've sworn he saw her eyes turn yellow.

"Ken! Kennedy, stop!" Tommy Hagan grabbed Kennedy's wrist, but she shoved him back with an indescribable strength. He stumbled across the crowd, falling into Carol and Tina. Kennedy swung her fist again, not holding back from destroying Billy Hargrove.

Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers came running through the crowd. "Kennedy!" Nancy shouted as she looked around in alarm. Jonathan ran in, wrapping his arms around her waist. Nancy pried Kennedy's hands off Billy, the three of them stumbling away. Kennedy's claws dug into Jonathan as she tried to get him off. "Kenny, stop!" They didn't step in to save her. The two of them knew Kennedy could handle herself. No, they were saving Billy and the people who watched. They didn't want anyone getting murdered.

The Theroux stopped her flailing. Her hazel eyes met Nancy's and she began to look around in confusion. Everyone looked at her in shock. They hadn't seen the eyes or the claws. Just a very angry teenage girl. A flame of rage as she let out everything she'd been holding back on Billy. Well, at least some of it. Kennedy sucked in a breath as she was put on the ground by Jonathan. She looked around at the brooding eyes, and she could hear Billy groaning as he slid onto the pavement. Vicki Carmichael ran to his aid.

"You can have him." Everyone's eyes turned to Kennedy, who wiped Billy's blood off her hands. Kennedy ripped from Nancy's grip, looking at Carol. "I'm the slut, right?" Nancy and Jonathan shared wary looks, watching Kennedy get closer and closer to her group of friends. The Perkins girl raised a brow. "Because you cheated on Tommy with the entire basketball team, but as soon as he makes a move on me, I'm the slut, right?" Carol shrunk back, and for the first time Carol seemed truly afraid. Kennedy hums as she stands back, looking over at Tommy. "Well, if liking sex and kissing boys makes me a slut, then so fucking be it." Nancy's jaw dropped as Kennedy grabbed Tommy Hagan by the face, pressing their lips together harshly. The crowd gasped and cheered as Kennedy Theroux humbled Carol Perkins. The two queens of Hawkins High fighting for the title of #1. So far, Kennedy was winning. The boy didn't seem to fight back either, putting a hand on her waist as he kissed her. Kennedy shoved him away, stepping back from the crowd. She smiled wickedly as she flicked off everyone, turning to her car.

Nancy and Jonathan stood by each other. "What the hell just happened?" Whispered Nancy.

"I don't know." Jonathan looked over as someone looked at the printed picture. He grabbed it from their hands, him and Nancy looking down at it. Their eyes were wide and their faces turned red as Jonathan quickly folded up the photo, putting it in his bag. But there was no use. Everyone now knew that Kennedy Theroux had slept with Jonathan Byers, and they now believed she had slept with Billy Hargrove, Tommy Hagan, and Steve Harrington.

And apparently, Kennedy didn't care.

Max Mayfield sat outside of the AV Club classroom. She could hear the group of boys inside, rambling about something related to Dart. She repeatedly banged on the door, but they told her she couldn't come in.

Will Byers was sure he had seen a Dart-like creature before. In the Upside Down.

"Will saw something that looked like Dart last year?" Asked Lucas Sinclair as he and his friends circle the AV club table.

"Kind of, but there was no tail," Will explained softly.

Mike spoke up, "But then he heard it yesterday. The exact same sound." He countered.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Asked Dustin, who still had his small creature in the Ghost Busters trap.

"I wasn't sure."

"So it's a coincidence."

Mike countered, "Or not." Everyone looked at him. "What if when Will was stuck in the Upside Down, he somehow acquired True Sight?" He suggested to the group.

"True Sight?"

"It gives you the power to see into the ethereal plane," Dustin explained quickly to Lucas.

The Sinclair, who was obviously unsure how this made any sense, waved his arm. "Elaborate."

"Maybe these episodes that Will keeps having aren't really flashbacks at all." Mike Wheeler suggested. "Maybe they're real. Which would explain why Kennedy is suddenly in them."

Dustin waved his arms wildly. "Wait, what?" He exclaimed as he looked at the Byers boy.

Will shifted anxiously. "When I'm having flashbacks, I can only hear one thing. Kennedy." He mumbled. "She's talking to someone, or she's humming. But last night, she was yelling for me. Like she was stuck there too." He explained to Lucas and Dustin. Will felt sick as he remembered whatever he experienced last night while trick or treating.

Mike chimed in again, steering the conversation away from his nervous friend. "Maybe Will can somehow see into the Upside Down." He offered the idea.

"So that would mean,"

"Dart is from the Upside Down." Mike finished Lucas's sentence. The statement settled in the air between the four boys for a moment. Dustin wasn't sure, but the answers made sense.

Lucas Sinclair sighed. "We have to take him to Hopper." He informed them.

"I agree."

"No way. If we take him to Hopper, Dart's good as dead." Dustin argued.

"Maybe he should be dead." Countered Mike.

"How can you say that!?"

"How can you not!? He's from the Upside Down!"

Dustin shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. But even if he is, it doesn't automatically mean that he's bad." Dustin pointed out as he gestured to the container with his new friend inside.

Mike practically gawked at Dustin. "That's like saying just because someone's from the Death Star doesn't make them bad." He exasperated.

"We have a bond." Dustin said softly, turning his shoulder.

"A bond? Just because he likes nougat?"

"No, because he trusts me!"

Lucas furrowed his brows in confusion. "He trusts you?" He asked slowly.

"Yes, I promised I would take care of him." Dustin exclaimed, shutting his mouth when Dart began to screech inside the small box. Everyone backed away, eyes wide.

Max pounded on the door. "Guys! What's going on? Come on," She huffed in annoyance, turning to see Kennedy walking in her direction. "You!"

The teenage girl sighed, "There you are," Kennedy walked closer, "Your brother left you here. Want me to drive you home?" Kennedy tilted her head, "Why are you sitting out here?"

"They're talking about Dart, or something. I don't know. But they won't let me in!" Max exclaimed with annoyance. Kennedy rose a brow, slowly looking over at the AV club.

"Then we can let ourselves in," Kennedy suggested with a honey-thick smile. Max didn't understand. "Scoot back." Max pushed her heels against the tile. Her skateboard moved enough so Kennedy could stand in front of the door. "Listen up, Dweebs! Either you open the door or I do!" Kennedy was silent, waiting for a reply. There was nothing.

Kennedy sighed, moving to push herself into the door. "Wait." Max slid across the floor to her backpack, grabbing a paperclip. "Let's not break the school."

The teenage redhead smiled as she took the metal wire from the younger redhead. "I like you, Mayfield." She hummed as she turned back to the locked doorhandle.

Inside, Mike grabbed the microphone for the radio, holding it above his head. Inside the Ghost Busters box, Dart squelched loudly as he turned it on its side. Dustin pointed aggressively in Mike's direction. "Don't hurt him," He snapped.

"Only if he attacks."

"Just open it already!" Lucas huffed.

Dustin clenched his jaw as he reached for the handheld button. Everyone stepped back, unsure what would happen. The Ghost Busters trap opened. Dart was bigger now. He was more green than he was pink, and the yellow spots on his lower half were bigger. His arms were bigger and so was his tail.

"Holy shit," Lucas said in obvious disgust.

They watched in shock and confusion. Dart stumbled out of the box, letting out screeches. His stomach was moving. Dart moved his body side to side until suddenly two hind legs bursted from his sides. Everyone shouted and shot back as liquids were now on the table. This thing was morphing, changing. It let out a loud screech, and Mike swung his mic.

"No!"

Dustin lunged himself at Mike. Dart tumbled off the table and on to the floor, scurrying away. Kennedy sighed as she swung open the door, opening her mouth to scold the boys when a small green and slimy creature ran past her shoes. "What in the hell-" She was cut off by Dustin practically tackling her to the ground, bring Max with them.

"Where'd he go?" Shouted Lucas. Mike and Will ran out, looking in every direction.

Max pushed herself up, "What was that?"

"Dart!" Mike exclaimed.

"What?"

The Wheeler snapped his head at Max. "You let him escape!"

Kennedy groaned as she pulled Dustin off of her. "I opened the door, asshat." She said as she stood up.

"Why did you attack him?" Dustin added, shoving Mike's shoulder.

"Come on," Mike huffed before running down the hall.

Dustin stood next to Kennedy. "Don't hurt him." He warned before pointing his finger in Mike's fleeing direction. "Don't you hurt him!"

Kennedy let out a loud huff. "I'll go this way. Use the walkies if you see anything." Kennedy pointed at the group, walking down the hall. "Lucas, you're with me."

"What? Why not me?" Whined Dustin.

"Because I'm cooler." Lucas chimed before sticking out his tongue, rushing in Kennedy's direction.

༺❀༻

Kennedy walked down the hall. They had been there for a while now, searching the entire school time and time again in search for Dustin's missing creature. Usually, Kennedy would hate it. She didn't really love spending her free time with twelve and thirteen-year-olds. But today, she really needed it.

Sure, Dustin Hendersons crush was annoying and the boys's bickering was overbearing. Their nerdy talk was boring and made her want to sleep for hours. But it was comforting, in a weird and twisted way. They were outside of her drama. There was no Billy's, no Nancy's, no Jonathan's, and no Steve's. There was no lingering eyes that wondered if she was going to snap and eat them (though sometimes Mike had that look when she got upset). There was no underlying gossip and intentions behind their words. They were just kids.

Kids who apparently hunted down mysterious creatures.

"Guys..." Will's voice came from her walkie-talkie. "I found him."

"Where?" Asked Dustin.

"In the bathroom by Mr. Salernos."

"Copy that." Mumbled Mike.

Kennedy pressed the red button. "I'm right outside, I'm coming in."

Will turned around as the door opened, seeing Kennedy walk in. The two of them looked into the stall. Had Dart gotten even bigger? He hid in the corner by the toilet, letting out low sounds. Kennedy scrunched her face, wondering how they were going to catch this strange creature.

"It's okay," Soothed Will. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

Kennedy looked down, seeing the creature. It opened its mouth, letting out a loud screech. Will shoved Kennedy back, dropping his walkie as he ran. "Will!" Kennedy shouted, dropping her bag and running after the young boy. She had priorities, and they weren't Dart.

Almost as soon as Kennedy stepped out of the bathroom, she stumbled into Will. The two of them were surrounded by familiar black vines and cool dark air. Will shook violently, Kennedy's hand on his arm as she looked down the stairs. That shapeless shadow came creeping around the corner.

"Go! Go! Go!" Kennedy shouted, pushing Will down the hall. The two of them ran for their lives. For once, neither of them had to worry about where the other one was. Will didn't go off screaming in Kennedy's direction this time. Because they were right next to each other.

Kennedy ran behind Will, hoping the black mass would take her first before it got to the young boy. She repeatedly looked back, seeing the darkness overtake Hawkins Middle School's hallways. Will ran faster, adrenaline and fear shocking him into speed.

Meanwhile, Mike, Max, and Lucas ran into the bathroom to see their friend Dustin hanging by the bathroom stalls. "Where's Dart?" Asked Mike.

Dustin shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Not here." He lied. Unknownst to his friends, Dart was hiding under the Hendersons hat.

"What?"

Max waved her arms as Mike looked in every stall. "He said by Salernos, right?" She asked, wondering if maybe they had heard wrong.

"Yeah. Maybe Will and Kennedy have him." Dustin suggested to his friends easily.

Mike looked over, noticing the absence of his best friend and the babysitter. "Where are Will and Kennedy?" He asked, looking down at Kennedy's bookbag on the floor next to Will's walkie-talkie.

The outside of the middle school wasn't much better.

Will ran, his mind racing as Kennedy was close behind. He just wanted this nightmare to end. He thought about this morning, when his moms new boyfriend Bob drove him to school. He talked about some nightmare he had with a clown, and how he got the nightmares to stop.

"Only this time, I didn't run. I stood my ground."

Kennedy breathed heavily as she watched Will slow his running. "Will, what are you doing!?" She shouted as she grabbed his shoulders. Will slowly turned around, panting as he looked over Kennedy's shoulders.

The girl turned around, her and Will stepping back at the sight of the familiar large mass that had been tormenting Will for so long. A recent nightmare that had been following Kennedy on and off the last year. Will's hand latched onto Kennedy's for dear life as he remembered all that Bob told him.

"I said, Go away. Go away!"

Will inhaled sharply as he shakily spoke. "Go away." Tears ran down the boys face. Kennedy tried to pull him along, to get him away. But Will wouldn't budge. He was sick of the running. He was sick of being afraid all the time. He wanted to be left alone.

"Go away!"

The creature swarmed over them, getting closer and closer. Kennedy clenched her jaw tightly, putting herself in front of Will protectively as she looked up. "Go away!" She shouted, hoping whatever idea Will had conjured up would work. Her eyes turned yellow as she let out a loud growl. The monster's right (her left) arm swarmed into a shape, coming in their direction.

"Go away!" Will was screaming, sobbing as he repeated himself.

Kennedy roared as the swarm of black mass came towards her. She didn't know what she was expecting, but it wasn't whatever swarmed around them both. It was like a tornado had swallowed them into its mass. Kennedy snarled, gasping as something grabbed at her wrists. Kennedy frowned, tugging. It was like black vines had grabbed at her wrists, tugging her backward.

"Will! Run!" Kennedy shouted as she looked across the small space they were now trapped inside of. Will froze in fear as a black shadow slid into his mouth. His nose. His eyes. His ears. Kennedy's eyes widened in horror as the black shadow seemed to soak into Will, its shapeless form covering his face. "Will!" She screamed as she tried to pull away. She screamed as the vines snapped her down. Her back hit the ground in a harsh movement. She shouted in pain as vines wrapped around her legs, her waist, her throat. She screeched for Will, tears forming as she tried to pull away. She wanted so desperately to pull away and save Will.

"Easy peasy."

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