six. STANDOFF

DUSTIN tossed Steve the key and he undid the lock. He grabs the handles to the doors and flew them opened. The four looked into the underground basement, afraid that they'd see what Dustin has been chatting about.

Dustin shines the light into the basement and Steve notices.

"Let me see that." He grabbed the flashlight from Dustin's hand and the four proceeded to look into the entrance of the basement, but there was nothing.

"He must be further down there," Dustin proposes. "I'll stay up here in case he tries to escape." He adds. A hint of fear in his voice. Dustin already had to deal with this monster earlier. He didn't want to deal with it again.

The three teenagers stared at the young boy in disbelief. They all shook their heads and went back to looking into the dark basement.

Phoebe had to admit that she was scared. She doesn't know what to expect and she even more afraid of how Billy will handle what he witnesses.

She was scared to think if it was one of those Demogorgon's they fought against last year.

"Come on. Let's go down." Phoebe fearfully suggests. The two older boys nod. They left Dustin on the surface as requested while Steve and Billy walked ahead of Phoebe.

The three soon reached the middle of the basement and Steve turned the light on that hug from the ceiling. They glanced around and saw nor heard anything. Phoebe stayed close to Billy. Billy could feel her hand and grazing over his from how close she was. She was terrified which she had no idea why because she's fully capable of protecting herself and others.

"Guys, look." Steve calls. The two turned to him and see him holding a slimy and dripping wet shredded skin. As if there was some type of reptile skin.

"That's nasty." Billy says.

Phoebe scrunched her nose up in nausea. "it looks so disgusting." She comments. Phoebe turns her head a little more and sees a huge hole in the wall. As if something was breaking its way out.

"Are you guys okay?" Dustin contacts from up top.

"Get down here." Steve orders. Dustin listens and jogs down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, Steve showed him the slimy shredded skin. "Oh, shit." Dustin curses. Then steve pointed to the huge hole in the wall. "Oh, shit!"

The four made their way to the hole in the wall and stared into it. The circular hole was deep and looked as if it was on for a while.

"What the hell is happening? I don't understand what's happening here." Billy says, completely lost and a bit scared, which was not an emotion he enjoyed feeling.

"I'm pretty sure this thing is a Demogorgon." Dustin simplifies. Steve's and Phoebe's eyes widen. A bit shocked. This can not be happening again.

"Billy, it's a lot to explain and we can't do that right now. We need to figure out where this creature went. If it's out in the wild and if someone finds this or if they find this, it's all coming right back to us." Phoebe clarifies, stating facts. Steve and Dustin who she meant when she said They.

"We should tell Hopper." Steve reasons.

Phoebe shook her head, "we can't. I don't know where he is. He's missing and I was trying to find him, but I saw you guys and now I'm involved in this." she counters, "and I'm not going to leave you guys. Not when this crazy-ass creature is on the loose."

"Alright. We'll deal with this first and handle the Hopper situation later." Steve plans. The three nodded their heads in agreement.

They all headed back to Steve's car trying to come up with a plan. Dustin and Steve decided on gathering as much meat as possible and gasoline to capture and exterminate the Demogorgon.

The three managed to stay up the whole night. While Steve and Dustin were in the grocery story, Billy and Phoebe stayed behind in the car. That was when Phoebe decided to clarify a few things that were happening. Describing what a Demogorgon was and how they came here. She explains the upside-down to him and who Eleven was. She just didn't tell him that she was still alive, afraid that he might let it slip out to the others. She also didn't inform him of the fact that she has powers. Worried how he would react if and told him.

"Do to understand it a bit more?" She asked, a bit afraid of his reaction.

"Um, yeah. Kind of. I'm just trying to process this all because it's hard to believe." He tells her, honestly telling her how he felt.

Phoebe scoots a little closer to him and placed her small hands on both sides of his face. "I wouldn't lie to you, Billy. This is all very true and it's a really risky and terrifying thing to be a part of. I don't want to involve you in this dangerous world that I live in." Phoebe says, her green eyes gazing into his blue ones. She felt her eyes watering a bit. She honestly didn't want to put Billy's life at risk because anything could happen and if anything happens to him, she could only blame herself. She was really started to care for him, deeply.

Billy's whole body softens when he sees the true worriness in her eyes. He's never had someone care or worry so much for him. The more he got to know the young girl in front of him, the more he fell for her.

"Look, Phoebe, I'm going to be alright. I can perfectly handle and take care of myself." He informs, moving a bit closer to her, "plus, if something happens to you, who will be there to rescue you?"

Phoebe smiles softly at his words and decided to lay her head on his chest. He was a bit taken aback by back her sudden behavior, but he didn't dare to move. He enjoyed it.

"Wake me up when the boys come back out?" Phoebe says. She kept her eyes open until she felt his body move while he nods. She makes herself a bit more comfortable and soon finds herself in a deep slumber, Billy slowly joining in as well.

When Steve and Dustin returned back to the car, to see the two sleeping teenagers, they shook their heads and chuckled.

"You think she likes him?" Dustin wondered.

"Nah, I think he likes her." Steve corrects.

"Billy, having feelings?" Dustin scoffs. "Wanna make a wager?" He then suggests, with a wicked smile.

"Fine. If it was him who likes her AND asks her out first, you have to pay me five dollars and if it's the other way around, I'll pay you the five." Steve bet. He held his hand out and Dustin shakes it with an exciting smile.

"Deal."

​

[A FEW HOURS LATER]

THE two sleeping teenagers we're awoken when they felt the car come to a harsh halt.

"Wakey, wakey." Steve spoke catching their attention, "we're here."

"Where are we?" Phoebe looks out the window Wondering where they were.

"By the old junkyard. Hopefully, we can lure the Demogorgon with the pieces of meats we got here." Steve explains as he turned his car off. They all exit the car and Phoebe walks over to Billy and slaps his arm.

"Ow, what was that for?" He quizzes. Wondering why she hit him out of nowhere.

"You were supposed to wake me up, Dummy. Not fall asleep with me too." She answers. He rolls his eyes and walked to the back of Steves's car. Steve opened his trunk and pulled out two buckets of meat and a large can full of gasoline. He then takes his bookbag and shoves his bat full of spikes in it.

"Need help with anything?" Billy offers. Steve nods and asked him to get the two buckets of meat out. Billy does as he told and Phoebe went to grab the tank of gasoline.

"Dustin, let's go!" She calls out. She heard him talking to one of the boys over the walkie talkie they distributed through their party.

They made their way through the woods until they reached the train tracks. Steve and Dustin were ahead chatting while Billy and Phoebe stayed behind. The two older guys we're throwing the meat to the ground, hoping it would lure Dart out.

Billy and Phoebe weren't talking as much. It felt a bit awkward. That was when Phoebe started a conversation up. "Are you nervous?"

Billy turns to look at her. "Of what?"

"The creature? You about to finally figure out what this is and it's not a pretty looking creature. Also, it kills viciously." Phoebe states, wondering if she freaked Billy out by that last sentence. He always puts a tough front. She wants to see him become vulnerable or scared for once.

He showed no emotion, "nope." He simply answers.

"Not even a little bit?" She was trying to push it out of him. Phoebe knows that deep down inside, he has to be a bit scared or even worried at least.

"No, Pheebs." He replies, more firm this time.

"Wow. You're such a big boy. Not afraid of anything." She mocks, playfully. Billy chuckles a bit and shakes his head, "my hero."

"Well, I have to protect my princess from the big bad wolf." He joins. She giggles and looks over at him. She enjoyed seeing him smile and he adored hearing her laughs. Phoebe was the only person who can make him laugh or smile over the dumbest and cheesiest things. 

Soon, the tracks lead to an open field. There was trashed or broken down cars and busses there. It was an open area. Much more easy to see and attack the Demogorgon.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, this will do." Steve speaks.

"Yeah, Dustin. This was a great choice." Phoebe joins, looking around the junkyard.

"Good call, little dude." Billy chimes. Sounding as nice as he could.

Dustin smiles. Proud of himself for making this choice and loving all the praise he was receiving from these teenagers he considered cool.

They continued to lay the meat out around the field. Soon emptying out the bucket completely. Leaving a pile of meat in the center.

"I said medium-well!" A voice booms. The four lift their heads up. Wondering who that was. They see Lucas AND Max standing not that far from them. Lucas was waving at them, happily and standing beside him with a smile.

"Why. The. Hell. Is my sister here?" Billy sneers. Their smile and excitement soon faded when they saw Billy becoming angry.

Phoebe grabbed Billy's arm and pulled him away from Steve and Dustin.

"Hey, " she whispers. Trying to get his attention but he was glaring at Lucas who was walking with Max towards the other two boys. Phoebe placed her hands on his face and forced him to look at her. "hey, relax." Her soft and comforting voice caused Billys boiling blood to cool down a bit.

"She can't be here, Phoebe. If anything happens to her while she now under my watch, I'm dead." Billy explains. Phoebe noticed a hint of fear in his voice which caused her to worry. Did he actually care for his step-sister or was there another thing scaring him?

"Billy, she's going to be fine. I'm here, Steve's here, and you're here to protect her and the other kids from anything that may happen. I've gone through this once and so have Dustin, Lucas, and Steve. We know how to handle these situations already." Phoebe clarifies, her hands sliding down Billy's muscular arms. In hope that her touch would calm him. It was slowly working and so were her words. "She's going to be fine. I'm not going to let anything happen to her or anyone else here."

Billy narrows his eyebrows, "no offense, Phoebe, but I'm the one who's going to be protecting everyone's ass. Maybe Steve as well. How will you? Are you like some karate girl or soemtning? Because the way you're saying that you going to protect everyone here makes it seem like it."

Phoebe laughs a little and shakes her head. "Billy, there are still some things you don't know about me, but you probably will not believe it, unless you see it." She informs, "now promise me that you're going to be chill with Lucas being here. I don't want no fighting or yelling or harsh words being thrown around. Okay?" Phoebe orders. She pleaded with her eyes for Billy to behave.

He releases a sigh, giving in. "Fine. I'll behave."

"Thank you." She wraps her arms around him for a hug. He was a bit shocked at first, but gave in to the hug. He did enjoy being closer to her then usual.

The two walked back to the others and Billy released another sigh. Except this one was long and dramatic. Phoebe glared at him.

Lucas shrinks down in fear as the build teenage not makes his way back to fhe group. Billy had a stern look on his face and Lucas glued his eyes to the ground. He holds his hand out and waited for Lucas to shake it. "Hey, kid." Billy deeps voice calls, to gain Lucas' attention. Lucas raised his head, and hesitantly and fearfully lifts his hand up to place it in Billy's large one. They shook hands and Max was beyond alarmed from what she was witnessing before her. The peace being created with the two boys. She looked over to Phoebe who gave her wink. Signaling that she has everything in control.

Maybe Bully does have a soft spot for Phoebe. Could he really possible have feeling for her? She racked in her brain.

"Come on. We have to start shielding the van and take cover. We're going to start losing light soon." Phoebe informs looking at the group of teens and preteens. They needed to get their plan together.

They all split up and started to gather up pieces of old metal, ladders, empty cans, to attach them to the open spots on the bus. Steve opened the gasoline can and made a trail from the pile of meat to the bus.

Max and Billy carried a ladder into the bus and had it as a way they can climb out and look outside.

When they finally finished, they made their way inside the bus. Steve closed the door when Phoebe was the last to enter.

They all sat on the bus, waiting for Dart's appearance. It was pitch black outside and fog started to come in. Lucas grabs his binoculars and made his way up the ladder to look outside to see if Dart was around.

"So you really fought one of these things before?" Max quesions, looking at Steve and Phoebe. The two nodded their heads, still praying that it wasn't a Demogorgon. "And youre, like, totally 100% sure it wasn't a bear?" She then asked as well.

"Shit. Don't be an idiot. Okay? It wasn't a bear." Dustin spat. Max flashed him a surprised look and Phoebe felt Billy's body tighten beside her. "Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home." He says. Max shakes her head and stands up from her seat.

"Sheesh. Someone's cranky. Past your bedtime?" Max looks at Dustin one last time before she made her way up the ladder to join Lucas up top.

"What the hell was that, Dustin?" Phoebe quizzes.

"What? I took Steve's advice. In not caring." Dustin replies, with his hands up.

Phoebe look at Steve, "really, Steve? Teaching Dustin your douche bag ways?"

"Hey, he asked for my advice and I gave him what I know." Steve tells her.

Phoebe scoffs, "Well your advice is horrible. It may work for high school girls in Hawkins High, because all they care about is popularity, but it's not going to work for preteens. These girls actually have feelings."

"Hey, and the next time you talk to my sister like that, I'll break you neck." Billy warns, pointing his index finger at Dustin.

"Okay. Okay." Dustin quick replies, not wanting to get on Billy's bad side.

All of a sudden, a loud screeching sound echoed throughout the dump. Everyone in the bus hurried to their feet to look out the small open parts of the window they left uncovered.

"You see him?" Dustin asked Steve.

"No."

"There's so much fog." Phoebe states, squinting her eyes to try a get a clear view.

"Lucas, what's going on?" Dustin shouts to Lucas who was up top with Max.

He looked through his binoculars to see if he could find Dart. "Hold on!" He shouts back. He continue to look, hands shacking a bit and breath hitched. He hears growling and looks to where it was coming from. "I got eyes! Ten o'clock! Ten o'clock!" He stutters, his high pitch voice cracking.

Everyone looked in that direction and tries to look for him.

"There." Billy points for Phoebe. She looked to see where his finger was pointing. Billy couldn't clearly tell what it was because of fhe fog. He really on saw a dark figure. It honestly looked like a dog, but he didn't want to doubt Phoebe's words. She wouldn't just lie to him for the fun of it.

"What is he doing?" Phoebe wondering, her voice shaky.

"I don't know." Steve responds, "but he's not taking the bait. Why is he not taking the bait?" He then questions, becoming a bit worried.

"Maybe he's not hungry?" Dustin bids.

"Maybe he's sick of cow." Steve said. Phoebe and Billy looked over to him, knowing exactly what he meant by that. Steve back away from the window and Dustin turn to look at him wondering what he was thinking.

Steve moved around and the three watched him.

"Steve? Steve, what are you doing?" Dustin interrogates.

Steve grabbed his bat and hold the lighter to Dustin. "Just get ready." He tossed the lighter to him and went to leave the bus.

Phoebe grabbed his wrist, "you think I'm going to let you go out there by yourself?" Steve chuckles at the teasing girl and nods for her to come with him.

"Wait, Phoebe. Let me go. You-" Billy speaks but Phoebe cut him before he could continue.

"It's fine, Billy. Trust me." She says, looking in his blue eyes with a kind smile. He nods and watches her and Steve leave the bus.

"Don't worry about her. She'll be fine." Dustin comforts, patting Billy's back.

Steve and Phoebe made their way out of the bus and immediately heard the chittering of the creature. Dustin closed the bus door behind the two as they walked towards the sound. Steve was twirling the bat in his hands and whistling for the creature's attention.

"Come on, buddy." Steve calls.

On the inside of the bus, Max made her way down the ladder to look out the window with the others.

"What are they doing?" She asked.

"Expanding the menu." Dustin simply answers. Billy felt his heart ached, worried that something terrible is about to happen.

"Come on, buddy. Come on, buddy. Come on. Dinner time." Steve looks around while Phoebe walked beside him, looking around as well. Ready for anything. "Human tastes better than cat, I promise." He taunts.

Through the fog, the two can start to see the Demogorgon.

"They're insane." Max said.

"They're awesome." Dustin cheers. He idolizes the two and how fearless they are.

The fog was soon clearing a bit with the wave of Steve's bat. Phoebe looks and sees the Demogorgon there. She then starts to feel a terrible pit in her stomach. As if there's something much worse was coming their way.

"Somethings wrong." She speaks. Steve looks at her with his eyebrows narrowed.

"Guys, watch out!" Lucas screams.

"A little busy here!" Steve yells back.

"Three o'clock! Three oclock!" Lucas pierces. The two teens turned that way and see three more Demogorgon's coming to them. Phoebe gasped and Steve quickly pulled her behind him. They were completely surrounded.

"We have to get them back inside!" Billy exclaims. He and Dustin ran to the bus door and open it. "Guys, get back inside!" Billy orders.

"Abort! Abort!" Dustin cries.

It was too late. The Demogorgon flashed up to them with their faces opening up and screeching. Phoebe quickly lifted her hands up and waved them; causing a few of them to whisk away from them. Steve flipped the hood of a car and smashed his bat into the face of one.

"Come on, let's go!" Steve grabbed Phoebe's hand and pulls her towards the bus.

"Phoebe! Steve! Hurry!" The four shouted. Then two quickly jumped into the bus and Dustin closed the door beside them.

"What the hell are those?!" Billy questions, helping Phoebe off the ground.

"Are they rabid or something?" Max quizzed.

"No, they're demogorgons!" Phoebe answers, her blonde hair getting tangled in her face as the bus shakes around.

"They can't get in. They can't get in!" Dustin repetitively says. Steve picks up a piece of metal and holds it against the door to stop the Demogorgons from coming in.

The kids were screaming while the teenagers tried to remain calm. The bus continued shaking and Phoebe finds herself holding onto the Billy to keep herself steady. His arms wrapped around her securely as the kids held on tightly to the seats of the bus.

Out of nowhere, a Demogorgon finds its way inside the door and Steve tries to beat it to death with his bat.

Dustin grabbed his walkie-talkie and yelled into it, "Is anyone there?! Mike? Will? God, anyone!" The bus kept rocking side to side. "We're at the old junkyard, and we are going to die!" Dustin continued. Phoebe grabbed the kids and decided to move them to the back of the bus. Away from fhe door.

Suddenly, there was a thud on the top of the bus. It was sounding until it stopped on the hole of the top of the bus where the ladder poked out of.

Max's scream pierced everyone's ears as she stood face to face with the Demogorgon.

"Move! Get out of the way!" Phoebe yells, pushing all the kids away from the ladder. Billy helped her as well since they weren't listening. Steve walked to the hole and stuck his bat in the Demogorgons face.

"You want some? Come get this!" He taunts the Demogorgon, gripping the bat tightly in his hand. Getting ready to attack. The Demogorgon face opened as it screeched in Steves's face, but it unexpectedly stops and it's face closed back up. Its attention was brought to something else. The Demogorgon jumps off the bus, causing it to shake once more.

They all released a sigh of relief when it became quiet. Hoping that this was over.

"Is everyone okay?" Phoebe questions, looking at the kids and brushing her hair out of her face. The three nodded their hands and she sighs happily. They all then decided to leave the bus, carefully. Wondering where they went or what caused them to leave so fast.

"What happened?" Lucas asked.

"I don't know." Billy and Max both said together.

"Steve scared 'em off?" Dustin offers, but Steve shook his head no.

"No. No way." He turned to them all with that bat over his shoulder. "They're going somewhere."