Bedeviled ⟠Chapter Nine
Stranger Things Werewolf AU
Summary: After a fateful accident, Steve Harrington and the Wheeler siblings are brought together when the accident leaves them with more than just scars.
Mike shivered as he wandered through the forest.
His school suspension, along with his grounding, was almost over. In the week he had been cooped up inside his home, twice he was able to sneak out successfully. The first time being the hangout that resulted in his argument with Will, the second time being a quick hangout at Lucasâs. However, Lucas lived right next door, so it wasnât very far.
This would be the third time sneaking out. Hopefully, he would be able to successfully sneak back in.
He wouldnât want his parents seeing him with blood staining his clothes.
His abilities were dimming. Logically, he knew it must have something to do with the moon being a tiny sliver in the sky. But what if that wasnât case? If this was really it, who would stand up to assholes like Troy Walsh? How else would he make it in Hawkins?
The past week had made him feel like an animal in a cage. Mike needed to break something. Feel something. He needed to remind himself of the power he, hopefully, wouldnât lose forever.
Mike felt the leaves crunch beneath his feet, but that was nowhere near good enough. He needed something challenging, maybe something that would put up a fight.
Thatâs when he spotted it.
He caught sight of a deer, uninjured, drinking from a pond, unaware of what was to come. Part of Mike hesitated, begged him not to do it. But it was just a deer, right?
After all, it was the new natural order.
Steve stood at the top of the stairs, building courage to ask his dad to borrow one of the cars.
In other circumstances, he would take the car without asking. It was something King Steve was prone to doing before his dad bought him his own car. Now, that car was totaled, and Mr. Harrington was on his sonâs ass.
Pivoting on the top stair, Steve was briefly stunned by the memory of knocking his father into their fireplace.
However, with his violent urges and supernatural hearing subsiding, Steve was feeling lucky.
He made it to the bottom of the stairs and into the kitchen. The usual Steve Harrington charm wouldnât work on his father, so he would need to approach with caution. Mr. Harrington was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the daily newspaper. Characteristically for the man, a woman wearing silk worked on brewing coffee.
âHey⊠Dad,â Steve began. âCan I ask you something?â
âWhat?â Mr. Harrington answered, eyes not leaving the newspaper.
âWould it be okay⊠if I borrowed the car tonight?â
The sinking in Steveâs heart marked defeat. âI have a date.â
Mr. Harrington laughed. âIs your friend finally putting out?â
In fury, Steveâs cheeks grew hot. âSheâs not that kind of girl!â
The woman making coffee turned around. âCome on, whatâs the harm in your son taking the car tonight?â
âIf you saw what the moron did with his car a few weeks ago, you wouldnât let him behind the wheel either!â
Steve stormed out of the kitchen. Hopefully, Robin didnât mind walking.
Nancy kept forgetting she didnât have as much hair to style as she wrapped it around her curling wand. Her fears of chopping her hair to her shoulders were diminished when she saw her new âdo in the mirror. Out of the many changes that have recently fallen upon her, a good change was refreshing.
She was adding the finishing touches to her homecoming look. Her purple, shimmery eyeshadow aligned perfectly with her pink, satin dress. With the amount of hairspray in the air, Nancyâs bedroom felt like a biohazard.
Suddenly, she heard a gasp behind her.
âYes?â Nancy asked as she turned around.
âYou look so beautiful,â Karen gushed.
Nancy smiled, unsure of how to take the compliment. âThanks.â
âYou look alright,â Mike commented from her doorway.
âIs that your way of complimenting me?â Nancy asked, with a hint of snark, prompting her little brother to shrug and walk off.
Suddenly, a knock was heard from downstairs.
âThat must be Jonathan,â Karen stated. âI better get down there before Mike interrogates him.â
After her mother had left the room, it hit Nancy that she hadnât noticed Jonathanâs arrival until he knocked on the door.
Maybe this werewolf thing was finally running its course. The only evidence she had to cover was the scar on her forearm, which she hid with a pair of long, white gloves.
Nancy applied lip gloss and smiled at herself in the mirror.
Mike stood between his parents and Jonathan with his arms crossed. Jonathan wore a brown suit and a red tie. The suit was a minimum, Karen noticed, as Jonathan didnât seem to put effort into anything else.
âStill suspended?â Jonathan awkwardly asked.
âI go back Monday,â Mike answered.
âAhâŠâ Jonathan trailed. âHave you talked to Will lately?â
âNo,â Mike answered quickly.
Nancy came down the stairs, causing Karen to gush and run for their disposable camera.
âI just want one picture!â
Nancy took her spot next to Jonathan.
âYou look nice,â Jonathan complimented. However, Nancy couldnât help but notice a small quiver in his voice.
Karen approached the couple with the camera. âSmile!â She instructed as she held it up.
âWait!â Nancy called out. âIs the flash on?â
âWell, yeah, we want to see you, donât we?â Karen answered.
âCan you turn it off?â Nancy asked.
âWhy?â Mike interjected with a small, devious grin.
Nancy breathed. âItâll flush us out,â she lied. Â
âDisposables arenât known for their quality,â Jonathan stated.
Karen fiddled with the camera. âIf you insist.â
As she moved closer to her boyfriend for the picture, Nancy found that he had slightly shifted away. Despite this, Nancy remained smiling until the clicking of the camera had passed.
Picking up the pieces of her aching heart, Nancy took the lead. âLetâs go ahead and get to the school.â
The couple headed out the door without even reaching for the otherâs hand.
âHave fun!â Karen called out. After they were gone, she let out a sigh.
âHe never even gave her a corsage,â Mike pointed out, arms crossed.
Karenâs eyes lingered on the door. âTrust me, I know.â
Despite only going as friends, Steve still approached Robinâs house with a corsage in hand. Before leaving the house, he made sure to look his finest. With his grey checkered suit and styled hair, Steve had to let Hawkins High know that the former king had returned.
It took a while, but Steve finally made it to Robinâs house on foot. It didnât take long after knocking for her to answer the door. To Steveâs surprise, the Robin that answered the door wasnât wearing her usual baggy jacket and tied-up hair. Instead, she donned a black, long-sleeved dress and dark eyeliner.
âDonât laugh,â Robin quickly told Steve.
âNo! You look great,â he answered sincerely.
âSteve!â Robinâs dad called out from inside. âCome in!â
Her parents gushed as Steve entered and the two stood side by side. Robinâs parents knew about her being gay, so they never questioned the relationship between her and Steve. They were simply thrilled that their daughter had someone to trust, someone they could trust.
âStay here, let me get the camera!â Robinâs mom told them.
Her house was much smaller than Steveâs. It sat at one story, and wood panels lined every room but the kitchen. However, it never felt cold or unwelcoming. Steve sometimes found himself wishing he had grown up there instead.
âDo you guys have any plans after this?â Robinâs dad asked, trying to make small talk.
âNot that I know of,â Robin answered.
âI planned on having you home at a reasonable time,â Steve replied, seemingly impressing Mr. Buckley.
Mrs. Buckley came back from around the corner with a Polaroid. âSteve! Give Robin her corsage,â she instructed.
âOh my God!â Robin exclaimed as Steve pulled out bunches of white roses decorated with black ribbon. The camera flashed as he tied it around Robinâs wrist.
âDonât worry, you have to pin this one on my shirt,â Steve told her as he pulled out a smaller one to match, causing her to let out a laugh.
The camera flashed again as Robin pinned the flower on the left side of Steveâs chest. âThis is so goofy,â she told him.
Mrs. Buckley shook the latest polaroid and set it down on the table next to her. âOne more, posing this time!â She instructed.
Steve and Robin put their arms around each otherâs shoulders and smiled, letting go as soon as another flash from the camera went off.
âYou guys are so cute!â Robinâs mother gushed.
âThatâs strange,â Mr. Buckley commented, holding one of the developed photographs.
âWhat is it?â Robin asked.
Her dad handed over the picture. âLook at Steveâs eyes.â
Robin and Steve stared at the picture of him giving her the corsage. His eyes reflected the light, almost like a cat at nighttime.
âAww, this oneâs messed up too,â Robinâs mom complained, holding onto another photo.
âYou ready, Robin?â Steve asked, desperate to leave.
âWait! Before you go!â Mr. Buckley told them before disappearing around the corner and appearing again. âI donât expect you to walk,â he told Steve before handing him his car keys.
Steve stared at the keys, bewildered. âReally?â
âRobin told me about your car troubles,â he told Steve, causing Robin to blush. âJust fill it up with gas, thatâs all I ask.â
Steve closed his hand around the keys and smiled. âThank you.â
âHave fun! Be safe!â Mrs. Buckley told them before they headed out.
Steve and Robin practically sprinted out to her dadâs station wagon.
âYour dad is really cool,â Steve exclaimed.
âNever say that again,â Robin playfully scolded.
Steve and Robin approached Hawkins High. Jason, Chrissy, and others from the popular crowd were already waiting outside.
âLetâs go say hi,â Steve told Robin as they approached the school.
She couldnât help but notice the homecoming royalty sashes worn by Jason and Chrissy. âCan we make it quick?â Robin asked. âTheyâre not exactly my crowd.â
âItâll be fine, I promise!â Steve assured.
âHarrington!â Jason greeted before playfully smacking Steveâs shoulder. âWhat are you doing here?â
âIâm here with Robin,â he told Jason as he gestured to her. Robin gave an awkward wave in return.
âHey Robin,â Chrissy, who was under Jasonâs arm, greeted, prompting Robin to send another awkward wave.
âWell, itâs great to see you!â Jason told Steve. He then pulled out a carton of cigarettes from inside his suit pocket. âDo you want a light?â
Steve thought for a moment before answering. âSure, what the hell?â
âI thought you quit,â Robin reminded Steve.
âI can quit again,â he refuted, taking Jasonâs lighter and cigarette. Once lit, Steve slowly inhaled, letting the nicotine fill his lungs and calm his head.
Jason gestured his head towards the school. âCome on, letâs go inside!â
Just as Steve began to follow, Robin grabbed his arm and stopped him. âIâm not sure about hanging out with them.â
âItâll be fun!â Steve insisted. âI wonât let them do anything to you, I promise.â
Robin crossed her arms and trailed behind Steve, letting the bad feeling that she was in for a long night sink in.
Nancy stood by Jonathanâs side as he took pictures of approaching couples. She watched as others took the dance floor, watched as pairings came in wearing matching corsages and coordinated outfits. Meanwhile, her boyfriend was only there out of obligation to take pictures.
Maybe he would save a dance for her, just maybe.
âJonathan?â Nancy began.
âYeah, Nancy?â He answered, eyes focused on his camera.
âDo you think weâll be able to dance together later?â She asked.
âWeâll see,â Jonathan replied.
Nancy sighed. âOkay.â
She looked around, wishing she had someone to, at the bare minimum, talk to. Barb didnât have a date, so she decided not to come. How was it that classmates surrounded her, yet she didnât have many she could consider friends. Nancy was well-liked, but not outgoing or memorable enough to make an impression on people.
Nancy took in the environment, letting herself zone out while she stood by Jonathanâs side. Thatâs when she noticed Steve and Robin walking in alongside Jason, Chrissy, and other kids of that crowd.
Steve and Nancy locked eyes. While she wasnât ready to approach him, she remembered Steveâs words from outside her house.
Nancy settled by giving him a small wave.
Steve waved back, his heart fluttering inside his chest. God, she looked beautiful.
âGuys! The punch is this way!â One of the basketball players exclaimed, giggling.
Steve and Robin followed as their group made their way towards the snack table. In the center rested a bowl of grape punch, filled with flowers and fruit to make it fancy. In front of the table stood a metalhead with wild hair to match the stereotype.
âMove, freak,â Jason snapped as the group approached.
The guy turned around. Steve recognized him as Eddie Munson, someone who, a year prior, he mightâve pushed into the lockers.
But that was a year prior.
âExcuse me?â Eddie snapped.
Jason shoved him. âMove!â
Eddie stormed away, taking a quick drink from his flask. Robin quickly followed, and Chrissyâs eyes lingered with sympathy.
Steve stood with an ugly reminder of his past. âCome on, man, was that really necessary?â
Jasonâs eyes narrowed. âGone soft, Harrington?â
He didnât answer Jason. Instead, he watched as the other guys poured alcohol into the punch bowls. Luckily for them, Sheriff Hopper wasnât around for them to see.
âPass me a cup,â Steve told the group. He took a quick drink from his cup. The drink was undeniably strong, but he told himself he would be careful. After all, he had to drive him and Robin home; he couldnât afford another car accident.
âIâm gonna go find Robin,â Steve told the group before taking off.
He found Robin sitting on the bleachers next to Eddie.
âHey, is everything okay?â Steve asked.
Robin stared at Steve for a few moments before answering. âGo hang out with your friends.â
âWhat are you talking about?â Steve replied, bewildered.
Eddie brought himself to his feet. âAnd thatâs my cue to leave,â he commented before walking away.
Robin turned her attention back to Steve. âThose guys are assholes!â
Steve sighed. âI mean, they can be, but once you get to know them-â
âIâve known them for 12 years!â Robin argued. âTheyâre assholes!â
Steve didnât find himself in anger. Instead, he grew slightly amused. âYouâre jealous!â
âWhy in the hell would I be jealous?!â
âBecause I have other friends.â
Robin stood, meeting Steveâs level. âDid you come here tonight to relive your âglory daysâ?!â
âNo!â Steve argued, agitation bleeding into his voice.
âYou absolutely did!â Robin snapped.
âI have a lot of shit going on right now, canât I have fun for one night?!â
Robinâs eyes stung, but she didnât let the tears break through. âI really thought you changed.â
She stormed off, leaving Steve alone. Her words cut deep, but he quickly shook them off. He would think about it later, but he also desperately needed a night away from werewolves and asshole fathers.
Steve wove through the dancing crowd to join the others.
Nancy waited patiently for the line of eager couples waiting to have their pictures taken to die down. When it did, she knew she had to take her opportunity.
âDo you want to dance?â Nancy asked.
âI think I need to wait here,â Jonathan told her. âYou know, in case someone wants their picture taken.â
âJust one dance!â Nancy begged. âPlease?â
As Nancyâs fingers grazed Jonathanâs arms, he flinched. Between this and him moving away from her in their picture, it wasnât coincidence.
She felt as if her heart stopped. âYouâre scared of me,â she said without thinking.
She stepped back, letting the emotions soak in. Between the night they made out in his backyard and the night she ran out of his house, Nancy already knew. However, she needed to confirm it, put it in the air.
âIâll be in the bathroom,â she told Jonathan in a voice barely above a whisper. She didnât dare look him in the eye before leaving.
On her way to the bathroom, Nancy mentally contemplated her next move. She contemplated calling Barb to come pick her up, but she also knew that she shouldnât let one fight define the entire night. Nancy didnât want to be one of those girls who cried in the bathroom at their school dance.
But dammit, she was hurting.
Tears almost began falling from Nancyâs eyes by the time she made it outside the bathroom. However, faint cries coming from inside stopped her in her tracks. She thought about turning around and walking the other direction; after all, this was none of her business.
Unfortunately for Nancy, her heart was too big to let it go.
She slowly crept inside, the cries from behind the stall suddenly stopping.
âHello?â Nancy called out.
âAre you okay?â Nancy asked.
She noticed the white heels from underneath the stall and made way to the door.
âAre you okay?â Nancy asked again.
âIâm fine,â the girl sniffled.
âChrissy?â Nancy asked.
Chrissy finally opened the stall door. It was an image of irony: the homecoming queen with red eyes and mascara-stained cheeks. âIâm okay, really,â she insisted.
âYou have makeup on your cheeks,â Nancy pointed out, prompting Chrissy to wipe her hand across her face.
The homecoming queenâs eyes turned to the ground. âJason and I got into a small fight, thatâs all.â
Nancy sighed. âTrust me, my boyfriend and I arenât exactly getting along either.â
Chrissy made her way past Nancy and to the sink.
âDo you need help cleaning up?â Nancy asked.
Chrissy shook her head. âNo, thatâs okay.â
Nancy watched as the head cheerleader desperately tried to fix her ruined makeup. âWell, Iâm here if you need anything.â
âThis might sound weird, but can you keep this conversation a secret?â Chrissy asked. âPlease?â
Nancy nodded, understanding. âOf course,â she assured Chrissy before making her way out of the bathroom.
âWait, Nancy-â Chrissy called out just as Nancy made it to the door.
The homecoming queenâs gloomy, blue eyes pierced sincerity. âThank you,â Chrissy told Nancy.
A moment of solidarity hung between the girls before Nancy exited the bathroom.
Steveâs head began to grow hot, but the night was still young. He needed to dance, force his challenges to disappear for just a few hours. Just one more drink, he wasnât feeling anything from the alcohol anyway.
As he began to make his way to the snack table, âTime After Timeâ by Cyndi Lauper vibrated through the speakers.
âSteve?â A voice behind him called out. He turned around to face a girl in the grade below him.
She let out a wicked grin. âIâll be great once you dance with me.â
Normally, Steve would be charmed, but he knew that this girl couldnât fill in for Nancy. However, his head began to throb, and he needed to feel normal. He took her hand and led her to the floor.
From across the gym, Nancy stood against the wall, watching the couples slow dance. She didnât want to feel self-pity, but God, she couldnât help it. Maybe she should call Barb to come pick her up.
Suddenly, Hopper frantically approached her. âNancy!â
Her stomach dropped; had she done something wrong? âYes, Sheriff?â
âDid you drink the punch?!â
Nancy furrowed her brows. âNo?â
âDo you know if Steve did?!â
âWhatâs going on?!â Nancy asked.
Hopper scanned through the crowd. âThe punch was laced.â
âLaced?! With what?!â
He continued to scan, not answering.
âLaced with what?!â Nancy pressed.
âIâll explain later!â Hopper insisted. âDo you know where Steve is?!â
âWe have to find him,â Hopper told her. âCome on!â
Nancy followed as he made his way to the bleachers.
As he slow danced with Tina, Steve began to feel seriously wrong. The throbbing in his head had turned into a vicious ache, and his senses began to tune up.
âShit!â He snapped as he quickly brought his hand to his forehead.
âSteve?â Tina asked. âAre you okay?â
He shook his head, trying to physically shake the pain. âIâm fine.â
As quickly as he lied, another sharp pain made its way to behind his eyes. Steveâs grip around her waist tightened. Her heart was beating loud against his ears.
âSteve?!â asked again, her tone a mix between worried and terrified.
He looked down, feeling his eyes burn their unnatural shade of gold. âIâm sorry,â he told her before letting go and taking off.
Nancy and Hopper stood on top of the bleachers, examining the crowd. It didnât take long for them to notice Steve frantically pushing his way through.
âThere!â Nancy pointed.
âShit!â Hopper exclaimed. âCome on!â
Robin was sitting directly outside the gym with some other band kids when Steve came rushing past them. Instantly, she knew something was very wrong. Suddenly, their earlier argument didnât seem to matter.
âSteve!â She called out, catching up to him.
He finally stopped to lean against the lockers in an empty hallway. âSteve!â Robin called out again.
He stopped to face her, desperately trying to catch his breath. Robinâs heart skipped a beat, she didnât think she would ever get used to his yellow eyes.
âSomethingâs wrong,â he panicked. âSomethingâs really wrong.â
âMore than usual?!â Robin frantically asked.
Steve let out a cry of pain.
âWhat happened?!â Robin pried, desperate for answers.
He felt something sharp moving beneath his fingertips. âI need to get out of here,â he strained. âDonât follow me!â
âWAIT!â Robin called out as she watched Steve take off down the hall. She felt so hopeless, so useless. She needed to do something, but what?
âROBIN!â A voice called out from behind. She turned around to see Nancy and Hopper heading her direction.
âItâs Steve!â Robin cried.
âStay here!â Hopper demanded Robin before taking off in Steveâs direction.
âIâm coming!â Robin argued.
âNo!â Nancy told her. âIt could be dangerous!â
âHe wonât hurt me!â Robin insisted.
Before Nancy could stop her, Robin took off. âShit!â Nancy let out before following the others.
At the other end of the hall began a trail of blood and fingernails.
Nancyâs stomach twisted; finding Steve would be easier than she thought.
Steve made it to an empty bathroom, upstairs, at the other end of the school. He prayed that nobody would walk in.
He practically stumbled to the sink. His hands were already covered in his own blood. He felt every bit of pain as claws emerged from fingers, pushing out his human nails. Steve breathed heavily, using any last bit of hope and desperation to bring himself back. He would never be able to explain it, but he could feel his soul, down to his bones, dripping away.
A mirror sat in front of hiim, but could he bring himself to see what he was physically turning into? Heâd seen the looks from others. That alone told him everything.
Steve let out another, strangled cry as his gums began to tear apart. He could hear the roots of his teeth cracking as something sharp emerged in their place. The taste of copper filled his mouth as he spat out a mixture of blood and teeth.
Now, he knew he had to look. That morbid, curious part of him would never let him ignore it. Gripping the sides of the sink, Steve faced the mirror. A pair of golden eyes stared back, completed with fangs now replacing his top and bottom canines. He was aware of the mental changes-
âSteve!â A manâs voice called out.
âSteve!â Another voice called out.
Without thinking, Steve locked himself in one of the stalls and positioned himself on the floor.
âI told you to stay away!â The man yelled.
âIâm not leaving him!â Robin argued.
Steve wanted to yell, beg them to run away and never look back. However, he knew his voice would be strangled, something inhuman.
It was draining faster now.
Steve needed to hold himself back. But God, did their heartbeats begin to drum.
âRobin!â Another voice begged.
âDonât go in there!â She continued.
Without listening, Robin ran inside the menâs restroom. âSteve!â She cried, practically throwing herself in front of his stall.
To him, her voice was beginning to warp into something he didnât understand. He rested his head against the wall, feeling every bit of physical pain that came with what he was turning into.
In a swift move, Hopper physically pulled Robin out of the bathroom.
âSTAY. HERE.â He commanded, freezing the teenage girls in their places. âDonât let anyone come in!â
Slowly, Hopper made his way back into the bathroom until he reached Steveâs stall. Nancy crept in, watching as he pulled a syringe out of his pocket.
âSteve?â Hopper asked, doing his best to remain calm.
âPleaseâŠâ Steve begged, his voice struggling to sound coherent.
âSteve,â Hopper calmly began. âI need you to unlock the door.â
âI can help you!â Hopper told him.
A few seconds passed until the door clicked.
âGood,â Hopper assured him. âStay still, alright?â
Hopper reached out and slowly pushed open the stall door.
It wasnât long until Steve lunged and knocked Hopper off his feet, the syringe flying out of his hand.
Nancy watched in horror as the former king of Hawkins High violently thrashed at the townâs Sheriff, doing everything he could to get even a small taste of blood.
She felt her eyes burn; she had to do something.
From outside the bathroom, Robin heard a mixture of growling, yelling, and crashing.
âSTEVE! STOP!â She heard Nancy beg.
Thatâs it, she couldnât just wait outside anymore.
Robin ran inside, gasping at the sight in front of her.
The Sheriff was on the ground, a bit bloodied but nothing critical.
Nancy, now yellow-eyed, was using all her strength to hold Steve back.
His face was physically twisted into something unrecognizable. He had fangs so long, so sharp, that he could barely shut his mouth. His messy hair hardly covered his pointed ears. The sounds that came between his lips were something that Robin knew no human could make.
âSteve?â She asked, tears beginning to sting.
Robinâs stomach dropped. Her best friend was no longer behind those eyes.
She couldnât will her legs to carry her away. He was so swift, so fast. Pushing Nancy off him, he raised his hairy, clawed hand, ready to strike. Robin shut her eyes, bracing herself for what was to come.
Thankfully, it never did.
Nancy tackled him to the ground, growls emerging from her own lips.
Hopper pulled himself up. âThe syringe,â he told Robin.
âHuh?â Robin shakily asked.
He pointed to the needle on the ground. âThe syringe! Hand it to me!â
Robin picked up the syringe from the ground next to her and tossed it to Hopper.
Suddenly, the human part of Steve began screaming. Letting go of Nancy, he crumbled to the ground.
To everyoneâs horror, the bones in his arms began to break on their own.
With Steve down, now was Hopperâs chance.
In a quick move, he grabbed Steveâs hair, steadying him, and jabbed the needle into his neck.
Just like that, Steve went still.
The others watched, waiting for the next move.
âSteve?â Hopper asked.
Suddenly, Steve practically crawled to the toilet and let the contents pour from his stomach.
Instinctively, Robin ran to his side and brushed his hair back, letting him throw up without worrying about it getting in the way. His ears were still pointed, but fangs and yellow eyes aside, his face had formed back to normal.
He flushed the toilet and sat on the ground, leaning against the stall door. Robin positioned herself next to him.
Steve brought his hand to his mouth and winced.
The other three stood guard.
Instead, he spat his fangs into his hand, his human teeth had taken their place again. He dropped the mix of blood and teeth into the toilet. Steve leaned his head back against the stall, purple vomit and blood staining his mouth.
Hopper handed him a paper towel. âHere, kid.â
Without saying a word, Steve wiped his mouth.
Nancy wished she could help, but leftover adrenaline still coursed through her veins. Luckily, her eyes no longer burned, but she still wrapped her arms around her like a shield. âWhat happened?â She breathed.
Hopper sighed and rubbed his eyes. âThe punch was laced with wolfsbane,â he told them.
âWolfsbane?â Nancy asked.
âIt forces you to change,â Hopper explained. âThen, it kills you.â
âLike⊠rabies?â Robin asked.
Hopper ignored her comment. âSteve wouldâve been dead if it werenât for the foxglove,â he informed them, holding up the now-empty syringe.
Steve winced again, watching his claws be pushed out by his human nails.
âHow do you know?â Nancy asked.
âKnow what?â Hopper questioned.
Nancy gestured to their surroundings. âThis.â
Hopper signed. âIâve known about this shit for years. I figured out you, your brother, and Steve the night you guys were attacked.â
âIs there a cure?â Steve asked, the first words to come from him since changing back.
Hopper nodded. âYes.â
âWhat is it?!â Nancy asked.
Hopper faced Nancy. âHave you, your brother, and Steve come see me as soon as you can.â He turned to the others. âGo ahead and get out of here, Iâll clean this all up.â
âBut, what about the cure?â Steve asked.
âI will tell you guys when Mike is also here,â he told them. âNow, go.â
Nancy didnât bother checking how she looked before leaving the bathroom. She probably looked like a mess, but at that point, it didnât matter.
She slowly made it back to the dance. She had forgotten about the other kids; they were very, very lucky nobody came to the upstairs bathroom.
Ignoring concerned looks from her peers, she found herself peering inside the gym. In the distance, she saw Jonathan, still sitting by his camera.
A tear escaped from her eye. Why did she settle?
Slowly, she made her way to the phones, planning on calling Barb to pick her up.
Steve drove Robin home, mainly in silence. He had a lot to think about during his time behind the wheel. He didnât like driving anymore, and he especially didnât want to drive after the incident at the dance. But what other choice did he have?
He tried to not think about what had just happened, but God, everything about it was unbearable. The pain, physical and mental, was too much for anyone to handle. Is that what happens during full moons? How could he go through that once a month for the rest of his life?
But the worst thing wasnât the fear nor the pain. The worst thing was the fact that he almost struck down Robin without a second thought.
Whatever the cure may be, he was willing to go to great lengths to obtain it.
Steve pulled into Robinâs driveway and put the car in park.
Robin stared in front of her. Despite what had just happened, she was still pissed at him.
âAre you okay?â She asked, eyes not moving from the windshield.
âI will be.â Steve replied.
She let out a sigh and reached for the door.
âYou were right,â Steve found himself telling her.
Robinâs hand stopped, hovering above the handle. She turned to Steve. âRight about what?â
She knew the answer, but she needed to hear him say it.
âThose guys didnât care where I was,â he told her, a voice barely above a whisper.
Robin continued to stare, waiting for his next line.
Tears pricked his eyes. âYou were the one who found me, and IâŠâ Steve stopped, an image of Robinâs fear as he raised his clawed hand conjured in his mind.
She sat there, watching as a tear ran from his eye. Robin had never seen Steve cry before, yet here he was, crumbling before her.
Steve faced her. âIâm so sorry.â
The night of anger vanished as Robin pulled him in, wrapping her arms around his body as he fell apart.
The past two weeks flooded to the surface, now unable to stop. He couldnât say it out loud; he had to be brave. Someone had to be. Inside, however, he was scared out of his mind, and he had been ever since the night of the accident.
However, as he cried in his best friendâs arms there was one thing he took solace in.
Status, friends, they come and go. But there was one thing in life that he was certain would stay the same. He would always have his Robin.
(Divider by @hereindreamlandpng)
