The sun was just starting to rise, casting a soft golden glow through the blinds as Dove and Dustin hurried around the kitchen, grabbing last-minute items before heading out the door for school. The usual morning chaos filled the air—backpacks being zipped, cereal bowls clattering in the sink, and Mrs. Henderson calling out reminders from the living room about homework and jackets.
Dove was packing her own bag when she noticed Dustin, huddled at the kitchen counter, looking unusually focused on something. His back was to her, and for a moment, she didn't think much of it. But then she saw the unmistakable shape of Dart, tucked inside Dustin's Ghostbusters trap.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Dustin, what the hell are you doing?" Dove whisper-shouted, rushing over to him.
Dustin jumped, quickly snapping the lid of the trap shut and giving her a sheepish grin. "What? Nothing. Just.. packing my lunch."
Dove folded her arms, narrowing her eyes. "You are not bring that thing to school, Dustin."
Dustin looked down at the trap, his grin fading but the spark of mischief still in his eyes. "Why not? I just want to show him to the guys. It'll be fine."
Dove groaned, rubbing her temples. "Dustin, we don't even know what Dart is. What if something happens? What if he.. escapes or something?"
"He won't," Dustin insisted, lifting the prop slightly as if to reassure her. "I've got him in here good. He's not going anywhere. Besides, it's just for one day. I'll bring him right back home after school."
Dove stared at him for a long moment, feeling her resolve weaken slightly. Dustin was always good at wearing her down with that look, but this was different. Dart wasn't just some new pet—he was something they didn't understand, something potentially dangerous.
But before she could say anything else, their mom's voice called out from the living room. "You two better hurry up! You're gonna be late!"
Dustin shot Dove a quick, nervous glance before grabbing his backpack and shoving the trap inside. "I promise I'll be careful," he said, his tone softer now.
Dove sighed, her frustration bubbling up, but there was no time to argue further. She slung her own bag over her shoulder and headed for the door.
As they walked out the door and toward their bikes, Dove couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that keeping Dart was a mistake. Something about it felt off, like they were tempting fate. She kept glancing at Dustin's backpack, wondering if the creature inside could sense what was happening.
The bell rang for lunch, and Dove quickly gathered her things, slipping out of the classroom and heading toward the library. She had one goal in mind: to find any books that might shed light on Dart and whatever strange world he might have come from. It was a long shot, but she felt a pull to try, a need to understand the creature that had disrupted her world in such an unexpected way.
As she made her way down the bustling hallway, she caught sight of Billy leaning against a locker, surrounded by his usual crowd. She kept her head down, hoping to slip by unnoticed. Just as she passed, she saw him lean in toward his friends, a smirk tugging at his lips as he muttered something low enough that she couldn't hear.
The laughter that erupted from his friends, however, echoed down the hall, following her as she quickened her pace, fighting the urge to glance back. She could feel their eyes on her, mocking, but she pushed forward, her focus locked on the library doors just ahead.
Once inside, the noise and laughter faded, replaced by the familiar quiet hum of the library. Dove let out a small sigh, finding comfort in the solitude as she walked toward the rows of bookshelves. If there were answers to be found, she'd start here.
She made her way to the science section, scanning the shelves for anything on reptiles, amphibians, or even cryptids. Her fingers brushed against the spines of the books, her eyes flicking over the titles—The Hidden World of Amphibians, Strange Creatures, and Unexplained Phenomena. None of them felt quite right, but she grabbed them anyway, stacking them in her arms as she headed to the nearest table.
As she sat down and opened the first book, a shadow fell across the page, and Dove looked up, startled to see Eddie Munson standing there with his arms crossed, a curious smirk on his face.
"Well, well, Princess," he said, tilting his head with a gleam in his eye. "Having lunch in the library again today?"
Dove rolled her eyes, fighting back a smile. "Didn't realize you were keeping tabs on me, Eddie."
"I keep tabs on everyone. Makes life more interesting," he replied, his gaze shifting to the stack of books on the table. "So, what's the latest obsession? Gothic literature? Some smutty romance?" He pulled out a chair and sat across from her, casually picking up one of the books. "The Hidden World of Amphibians?" he read, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Research," she replied simply, reaching for the book to pull it back toward her. "Not that it's any of your business."
Eddie's smirk grew, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Right. You're just brushing up on amphibians for fun, huh?"
She froze for a second, trying to keep her expression neutral, but Eddie caught it. He leaned back, crossing his arms with a look that was both curious and delighted.
Dove hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. When she was sure they were alone, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I, uh.. I found something. Last night."
Eddie leaned in too, his interest clearly piqued. "Found something? What, like an animal?"
Dove nodded slowly. "Yeah. Sort of. It's.. strange. Like, really strange. I can't figure out what it is, and nothing I've read is helping."
Eddie tilted his head, his curiosity growing. "What does it look like?"
Dove glanced down at the book in front of her. "It's.. small. Kind of like a slug, but with these stumpy front legs. And no eyes." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's.. I don't know. I've never seen anything like it."
Eddie's brows furrowed as he processed the description, leaning back in his chair. "A stumpy legged, eyeless slug," he repeated slowly, sounding as intrigued as he was perplexed. Eddie drummed his fingers on the table, thinking. "Maybe it's a mutant or, like, something out of one of those sci-fi horror flicks. Like Alien."
Dove rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I'm really hoping it's not something Alien level. The last thing I need is for it to start growing and, you know.. bursting out of people."
Eddie chuckled, leaning forward with a gleam in his eyes. "Tell you what, I'll help you look. I've got some books on weird stuff back home—cryptids, supernatural creatures, that sort of thing. Might be worth a shot."
Dove's eyes widened slightly, surprised by his offer. She hadn't expected Eddie to take her seriously, but here he was, offering to help without hesitation. "You'd do that?"
Eddie grinned, his teasing tone returning for a moment. "What, you think I'd leave you hanging after that description? No way. I'm all in."
Dove smiled, the tension in her chest easing a little. "Thanks, Eddie."
Eddie nodded, pushing back his chair and standing up. "No problem, Princess. I'll grab the books tonight and bring them by tomorrow. We'll figure out what your little slug monster is." With a wink, Eddie disappeared through the doors, leaving her alone with her stack of books and, oddly, a renewed sense of hope.
The final bell rang, and Dove rushed down the crowded hall, weaving her way toward the middle school. Her heart pounded as she reached the bike racks, her eyes scanning frantically, but Dustin wasn't there. A flicker of panic rose in her throat, tightening her chest. He was always there waiting for her—always.
Dustin had promised to be careful with Dart, but careful wasn't exactly her brother's strong suit. She just hoped she could catch him before anything went wrong.
Abandoning her bike, Dove entered through the middle school doors, her mind racing as she considered where he might be. After a moment, she steeled herself and headed toward the only place she could think of: the AV room.
The hallways were quiet, echoing with the distant sounds of cleaning staff and the last stragglers packing up their things. As Dove turned the corner, she spotted a girl with bright red hair sitting on the floor outside the AV room, her back against the wall, a frustrated look on her face. She was fiddling with her backpack straps, foot tapping impatiently against the linoleum.
Dove approached cautiously, her eyes flicking between the girl and the closed AV room door. From inside, she could hear muffled voices, though the words were too faint to make out.
The girl looked up, noticing her approach. "Hey," she greeted, her tone casual but a little wary. "I'm Max."
Dove nodded, offering a small smile. "Dove. Is Dustin in there?"
Max rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Yeah. They won't let me in because apparently, I'm not part of 'the party.'" She raised her fingers in exaggerated air quotes, irritation clear in her expression.
Dove turned to the door, giving it a sharp knock. "Dustin," she called out, trying to keep the impatience out of her voice. "What's going on in there?"
From inside, she could hear a series of panicked whispers, punctuated by the sound of someone swearing under their breath. "Dude, what's your sister doing here?" someone muttered urgently.
A beat later, Dustin's voice rang out, though a little too cheerful to be convincing. "Uh, nothing! We'll be out in a second!"
Max let out a dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes before pushing herself to her feet. "Alright. That's it," she muttered, pulling a paperclip from her backpack. Dove watched in surprise as the girl expertly bent the clip and began picking the lock on the door. "If they won't let me in, I'll let myself in." With a quick flick of her wrist, the lock clicked and the door swung open with a creak.
No sooner had the door opened than a slimy, dark shape bolted out from inside the room, skittering across the floor with surprising speed. Dove's eyes widened as she recognized Dart—only he wasn't quite the same as before. His body had grown noticeably, but the most startling change was the addition of two strong, muscular back legs that propelled him forward in leaps.
In the chaos, Dustin collided with Max, knocking her to the ground as he scrambled after Dart. "Where did he go?!" Dustin yelled frantically, his head whipping around as he searched for any sign of the creature.
Max dusted herself off as she stood up and looked at them all with wide eyes. "What was that?"
"Dart!" Mike yelled back at her, his voice filled with urgency. "You let him escape!"
"Why did you attack him?!" Dustin yelled at Mike, who ignored him and ran down the hall. "Dont hurt him!" Dustin yelled after his friend. "Don't you hurt him!"
The group immediately split up, scattering in different directions to search for Dart. Dove's heart pounded in her chest as she hurried down the hall, her mind racing with the possibilities of what could happen if they didn't find the creature soon. Dart had grown back legs. A change like that in only a few hours was impossible. Or so she thought.
Dove quickly slipped into an empty classroom, her eyes scanning the dimly lit space for any sign of movement. The rows of desks stood still and undisturbed, casting long shadows in the dim glow from the overhead lights. She moved cautiously down the aisle, her heart pounding as she strained to listen for even the slightest sound.
Crouching down, she peered under the desks, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dart's slimy form. But there was nothing—only the empty spaces and the dull hum of the fluorescent lights. She swallowed, her pulse quickening with each passing second.
Dove straightened up, brushing her hands on her jeans and letting out a frustrated sigh. Just as she turned to leave the classroom, she heard the sound of footsteps pounding down the hallway. She stepped out and saw Dustin sprinting toward her, his face flushed with urgency.
"Dove!" he called, skidding to a stop in front of her. He caught his breath, barely containing his excitement. "Will found Dart! He's in the bathroom near Salerno's."
Dove's eyes widened, and without another word, she followed Dustin as he sprinted down the hall, his sneakers squeaking against the linoleum floors. They rushed past rows of lockers, their feet pounding as they neared the bathroom at the end of the hall.
When they burst through the door, Dove's heart sank.
The bathroom was empty.
There was no sign of Will anywhere—just the faint dripping of water from the sinks and the eerie stillness of the bathroom. The fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow, making the shadows seem sharper, more unsettling. Dustin's face fell as he scanned the empty room, his hands shaking slightly with a mix of frustration and fear.
"Where is he?" Dustin whispered, glancing around in confusion. "Will said he was here."
Dove frowned, her eyes narrowing as she stepped further into the room. She moved cautiously toward the stalls, her heart hammering in her chest. She reached for the first door, pushing it open to reveal nothing but empty space. Steeling herself, she moved to the second stall, then the third—both empty.
Finally, she approached the fourth stall, her hand hesitating on the door for a split second before she pushed it open. Her breath caught as she spotted Dart, huddled in the corner near the base of the toilet. His slimy skin glistened in the dim light, and he seemed to be shivering slightly, his body tense and wary.
Dustin stepped up beside her, carefully scooping Dart into his hands. The little creature wriggled in his grasp, but didn't resist. Dustin glanced at Dove, his face pale and tense.
"We can't let the others see him," Dustin whispered, his voice low and urgent. "They'll freak out. Mike he'll.. he'll try to hurt him."
Dove's brow furrowed, her mind torn between trusting Dustin and the reality of the situation. She could see the desperation in her brother's eyes. Dart wasn't just some creature to him—he was important. Special.
"Dustin.." Dove hesitated, but before she could say more, Dustin pulled off his baseball cap and quickly tucked Dart underneath it. The creature squirmed for a moment but then stilled, hidden beneath the hat.
"Please, Dove," Dustin implored, his voice soft but filled with emotion. "I can't tell you everything, but I need you to trust me."
Dove stared at her brother for a long moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She could see the worry in his eyes, the way he held onto Dart like he was protecting more than just a strange creature.
Finally, Dove sighed, giving him a small nod.
Just as they turned to leave the bathroom, the door creaked open, and Mike, Lucas, and Max appeared in the doorway, their faces filled with worry and anticipation.
"Where's Dart?" Mike asked, his eyes darting between Dove and Dustin.
Dustin, his face the picture of innocence, shook his head. "I don't know. Not here. Maybe Will has him."
Mike let out a frustrated groan, looking into each stall. He stopped. "Where is Will?"
The tension in the air was palpable as the group left the bathroom, still reeling from the search for Dart. The relief Dove had felt at finding the creature was quickly overshadowed by a new realization—Will was missing.
"Will!" she called, her voice carrying down the empty corridors. But there was no answer. Her heart pounded in her chest as her mind raced, wondering where he could have gone.
As she rounded a corner, Dove nearly collided with Joyce Byers, who was rushing down the hallway in the opposite direction, her face pale and drawn with fear.
"Dove! Have you seen Will?" Joyce asked frantically, her eyes wide, her voice trembling with barely contained panic. She grabbed Dove's arm, her grip tight, as though she could pull the answer from her. The look in Joyce's eyes wasn't just fear—it was something darker, something more haunted, like she was bracing herself against some invisible force.
"We'll find him," Dove said, though her voice wavered with uncertainty. She tried to sound reassuring, but the pit in her stomach told her otherwise.
Suddenly, Lucas pushed into the hallway from outside. "The field!"
As they got closer, Dove's heart pounded in her chest. Will wasn't moving. He stood there, eerily still, his eyes wide open but unfocused. His body was rigid, and his lips were parted slightly as though he were trying to say something, but no sound came out.
"Will!" Joyce cried as she reached him, grabbing his shoulders and trying to shake him out of whatever state he was in. "Will, honey, it's Mom! Sweetie, wake up!"
But Will didn't respond. He didn't even blink. His eyes stared blankly ahead, glassy and distant, as though he were trapped in some kind of nightmare. Joyce shook Will again, her voice growing more desperate. "Will! Will, wake up! Can you hear me?"
Dove stood back, watching in stunned silence. Her heart ached for Joyce—the fear in her eyes, the desperation in her voice. But as Dove looked at Will, at his stillness and vacant expression, a cold chill creeped up her spine, landing at the base of her neck. This wasn't a seizure. Dove wasn't even sure it was something medical.
This was something else entirely. Something.. darker.
She glanced around at the others, taking in their expressions. There was worry, fear, but a strange lack of surprise in their eyes, as though they'd seen this before. All except for Max, who looked just as unsettled as Dove felt, her gaze darting between Will and the others, as if trying to piece together a puzzle without a reference image.
It was then that Dove realized: they all knew something—something she didn't. And whatever it was, it had them all holding their breath, as if waiting for something that was lurking beneath the surface to reveal itself.