The headlights of the van flickered weakly through the trees, catching glimpses of torn branches and smears of blood on the ground. The air still crackled with leftover electricity from the Upside Down creature you’d just managed to kill — if you could even call it that. Everyone was covered in mud, sweat, and a hint of terror.

“Okay,” Robin panted, bracing her hands on her knees, “so, I’m just gonna say it — I never, ever want to see anything with more than four legs again.”

“Technically,” Dustin started, adjusting his broken flashlight, “it had six, but the appendages near its head could’ve been—”

“Not helping, Henderson!” Robin snapped, though she looked seconds away from laughing.

Eddie leaned against a fallen log, twirling his nail-studded bat like it was part of a rock show. “Man, I’m not saying I’m a monster-hunting expert or anything, but that thing looked like it came straight out of Ozzy’s nightmares.”

Steve exhaled hard, dragging a hand through his messy hair, his shirt torn open at the shoulder. “We should head back before more show up. These things usually don’t travel solo.”

You were quiet, leaning against the van with your arm clutched to your side. The adrenaline had faded, leaving behind a dull ache and a streak of blood seeping through your jacket. Steve’s eyes caught it immediately — of course they did.

“Hey,” he said, walking toward you, his tone sharper than usual. “You didn’t tell me you were hurt.”