𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞

Ⅸ 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒔

CHRIS HELD THE CHEMICAL BOTTOLES UP, READING OVER THE LABLES ONCE MORE. "Alright all the cleaning stuff is on my bed, I'll mix the colored bleach together so-" The phone suddenly rang and Chris looked at it confused. "-So we can stain the carpet. You start, I'll check this." Dustin nodded and ran to Chris's room.

Chris took a breath, calming her breath and grabbing her phone. "Hello, Henderson's house," Chris smiled, leaning against the wall.

"Hey Chris, it's Alex," Alex said in a rush, her breathing unsteady.

"Hey Alex, this really isn't a good time," Chris huffed quickly.

"No, no I uh, I get that," Alex agreed.

"Alex... are you okay?" Chris asked, standing straighter.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, I just wanted to check in," Alex promised. "I didn't see you yesterday.""Chrisanna!" Dustin screeched.

Chris cover the speaker of the phone as she yelled back, "Give me a minute!" Chris turned back to the phone. "I have to see what he wants, but I promise we'll catch up soon."

"Okay, I'll hold you to that," Alex laughed, her breathing steady again. "See ya, Chris."

"Bye," Chris smiled.

"Chrisanna Henderson!" Dustin screamed again.

"I'm coming, Jesus Christ!"

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DUSTIN PEDDLED FAT AND CHRIS FOLLOWED CLOSE BEHIND. Dustin skidded to a stop, dumping his bike on Mike's front lawn. "Wait here," Dustin ordered in a huff before running to Mike's door. Chris hopped off her bike, kicking the old stand up and watching her brother talk with Mr Wheeler. A minute later Dustin spun around finally done with Mr Wheeler.

"Any luck?" Chrisanna asked, picking up Dustin's bike. Her attention was torn away however when a car stopped in the driveway. "Harrington?" Steve stepped out of the car, a rose bouquet in his hand. He was muttering to himself, headed for the front door.

Dustin glanced back at Chris before he rushed over to Steve. "Steve," Dustin called. Chris rushed after him, dropping her bike on the ground. "Are those for Mr or Mrs Wheeler?" Steve looked at the two Henderson's in confusion before back down at the flowers.

"No-"

"Good," Dustin snatched the flowers from his hand heading for the car. Chris ran after him, opening the back door and Dustin headed for the front.

"Hey. What the hell? Hey!" Steve protested, standing his ground.

"Nancy isn't home," Dustin brushed off.

"Where is she?"

"Doesn't matter," Dustin huffed. "We have bigger problems than your love life. Do you still have that bat?"

"Bat? What bat?" Steve questioned.

"Steve," Chris insisted. "Please get in the car."

"Now?"

"No next week. Yes, now!"

Dustin and Chris took their turn in explaining their whole situation to Steve; Dustin keeping Dart, Dart eating Mews, locking Mews in the basement, and then finding Steve. The car stayed quiet as Dustin finished the explanation.

"Wait a sec. How big did you say it was?" Steve asked looking between the two Henderson's

"First it was like that," Dustin held his hand roughly ten centimeters apart. "Now he's like this." Dustin held his hands about forty centimeters apart.

Chris then moved over to sit in the middle seat resting her arms between the seats. "It's a meter long if you count the tail," Chris added, eyeing the side of Steve's face.

"I swear to God, man, it's just some little lizard, okay?" Steve tried to reason shaking his head.

"It's not a lizard," Chris instead defensively, running a hand through her hair.

"How do you know?" Steve asked looking back at her.

"How do I know if it's not a lizard?" Chris slightly taunted.

"How do you know it's not just a lizard?" Steve repeated annoyed.

"Because his face opened up and he ate my cat!" Chris snapped. Steve stuttered and finally nodded. "Sorry."

Steve parked the car in the Henderson driveway, and Chris's gaze focused on the front door. "What the-?" Chris cut herself off stepping out of Steve's car. "Miya? Alex?" Chris called, shutting the door behind her. The two girls whipped their heads around. Once the two realized it was Chris Alex ran to her, engulfing her in a hug. Miya jogged up behind her. "What are you doing here?" Chris asked as soon as Alex let go.

"I'm sorry, I've been lying to you and I shouldn't have. I have powers, that's how I know and I really want to help you," Alex said in a rush.

"Wha-What?" Chris asked her eyes snapped wide open.

"There's a flower slug in your cellar and Alex has powers, that's how she was able to see it," Miya repeated slowly, making it easier for her to understand. "She's sorry for lying to you and just wants to help."

"Excuse me, what?" Dustin asked, walking up and standing by his sister.

"I know you don't have to trust me, but I want to help you," Alex sighed.

"Look okay, you can talk later, but let's get this over with," Steve sighed holding a baseball bat that had been filled with nails.

"Where did you get that from?" Chris squeaked, watching Steve swing it around.

"As I said, we can talk later, but for now..." Steve gestured to the cellar and the girls nodded. Steve tossed Alex a flashlight and the group walked to the cellar.

Alex pointed the flashlight at the cellar doors but no one moved to open them. "I don't hear shit," Steve pointed out turning to the left at Dustin, Miya and Alex.

"He's in there," Dustin promised, Steve looked to the right and Chris nodded. Steve smacked the bat onto the doors, the loud sound echoing through the night. He only waited a second before hitting it harder against it. Steve sighed turning to Dustin shining the torch in his eyes.

"All right, listen, kid. I swear if this is some sort of Halloween prank-"

"Steve, I promise it's not a prank," Chris reassured. Steve sighed pointing the torch in Chris's face making her wince.

Alex flicked her fingers and the torch went out making Steve sigh. Steve looked back at her, watching as Alex swiped a small drop of blood from under her nose.

"You got a key for this thing?" Steve spoke finally caving in. Dustin handed Steve a key from his pocket. Steve held the torch out. "Alex, can you turn it back on please?" Steve asked. Alex nodded flicking her fingers again. "Chris." Steve unlocked the doors and gestured to the cellar. Chris and Steve knelt on the floor flinging the doors open. Chris and Steve looked down the stairs Steve took the bat into his hands. Alex leant behind them shining the flashlight down the stairs, Miya and Dustin copying. Chris looked over her shoulder taking the light from her grip.

"Let me see that," Chris said in a hushed voice, pointing it against the floor.

"He must be further down there," Dustin figured, his voice also quiet. "I'll stay up here in case he tries to escape."

"Good, you weren't going down anyway," Chris agreed, standing up.

"We'll stay here with Dustin," Alex spoke also nervous, a grip on Miya's hand.

Steve took a step down, nodding at Chris in encouragement. Chris sighed through her nose and started to descend the stairs. Steve and Chris walked down the stairs staying close as possible as Chris shone the light around. "Be careful please," Steve whispered in her ear-tickling the hairs on her neck. Chris walked carefully to the light hanging in the middle of the room.

"You too," Chris said quietly, barely making out Steve's figure in the dark. Chrisanna pulled on the light switch barely illuminating the room. Chris looked around, looking for any scratch marks.

"Chris," Steve called quietly. He stood next to her using his bat to lift a large slimy sheet of flesh. "What is that?" he whispered turning his face to look at her. Chris looked at Steve with a shocked expression on her face.

"It's Darts skin," Chris spoke taking his hand and lighting it better with the torch. "He shed again." Steve looked past her to a corner. Chris turned as well following his gaze, holding her hand out just in case anything happened.

A large hole was carved into the side of the concrete cellar, slime dripping from the edge and vines growing from the tunnel inside. Chris stepped closer to it but Steve grabbed her hand. "I won't touch it," Chris promised. Steve nodded and let go of her hand, letting her walk closer to examine the tunnel.

"Chris? Steve?" Dustin called out softly. "...Chris? Guys, what's going on down there?" Dustin looked up at Alex before back down the dark basement. "Chris-"

Chris walked back to the stairs pointing the flashlight at the small group making them jump at the sudden light in their eyes.

"Get down here now," Chris ordered moving the torch from their eyes. Slowly they piled down, sticking close to each other. Once they got to the bottom they stopped to stare at the skin on the end of Steve's bat.

"What is that?" Alex asked gripping Miya's arm.

"Dart," Dustin concluded. "The flower slug," Dustin explained.

"Oh, shit," Alex gasped pulling at her hair.

"But wait, there's more," Chris joked lightly, moving the torch to look The other followed the light to the large hole in the wall, covered in the same slime as the shredded skin.

"Oh, shit!" Dustin yelled. The group crouched in front of the hole. Dustin just continued reaping curses and sentences of disbelief, while Alex and Miya's breathing increased.

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❝ there's a calm in my 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 ❞