Downside Up [W.Byers]

022

"Will." Mike whisper-shouts. "What?" He asks in annoyance. "Ask her to the snow ball." He glares at the boy. "No. It's not like that." Will shakes his head.

"Dude, you told me that she kissed you yesterday!" He argues. "On the cheek." Will corrects. "Cheek schmeek. I'm saying that you should go for it."

"Why do you care? You don't really like have Ruby around Anyways." Will questions. "Ruby's fine. I just.. She reminds a lot of el. I miss her. And I can't take her to the Snow Ball." Mike sighs.

"So ask her before you can't."

"Guys, we have to go warn the others, so I suggest you wrap up your conversation." Ruby calls. "This isn't over." Mike nudges will, smirking at him.

"Stop!" Mike shouts as they barge into the classroom. "I'm really sorry, Mr. Clarke. It was a stupid prank." He grabs the trap, holding it close to himself. "What the hell are you doing?" Dustin asks.

"We need to go." Ruby responds. "Right now." Mike adds. "Mike!" Dustin calls. "Right now!" He screams, running away.

Everyone follows behind him, leaving the confused teacher alone.

"Hello? Hello! Guys, come on. Can I come in yet?" Max asks as she bangs on the door. "Guys, cant we just let her in?" Ruby asks. "No!" Mike shouts.

"I'm going out then." She states, beginning to walk towards the door. "Not happening, sister. We need you." Dustin pulls her back. "I don't understand." Lucas states.

"What do you not understand?" Mike questions. "Will saw something that looked like Dart last year?" Lucas asks. "Kind of, but there was no tail." Will explains.

"But then he heard it yesterday. The exact same sound." Mike adds. "Why didn't you tell us before?" Dustin sighs. "I wasn't sure." Will responds.

"So it's a coincidence." Dustin states. "Or not." Mike replies. "What if when Will and was stuck in the Upside Down, he  somehow acquired True Sight?"

"The What now?" Ruby asks in confusion. "It gives you the power to see into the ethereal plane." Dustin explains. "Again- the what?" Ruby squints her eyes.

"Elaborate."  Lucas sighs. "Maybe these episodes that Will keeps having aren't really flashbacks at all. Maybe they're real. Maybe Will can somehow see into the Upside Down."  Mike theorizes.

"So that would mean..." Lucas begins. "Dart is from the upside down." Ruby finishes. Dustin sighs. "We have to take him to Hopper." Lucas states.

"I agree." Mike nods. "No. No way. If we take him to Hopper, Dart's as good as dead." Dustin defends. "Maybe he should be." Mike argues

"How can you say that?" Dustin shouts. "How can you not? He's from the upside down!"

"Hey. I'm not too fond of dart, but not everything from the upside down is bad. Even the Demogorgons." Ruby argues, thinking back to Faceless. "Don't listen to Ruby. She's delusional." Mike cuts in.

She scoffs. "Maybe. But even if Dart is, it doesn't automatically mean he's bad. Like what Ruby said." Dustin defends. "That's like saying just because someone's from the Death Star doesn't make them bad." Mike continues.

"I'm gonna go get some air." Ruby sighs. "Hell no." Dustin says once again, pulling her back. "We have a bond." Dustin responds to mike.

"A bond? Just because he likes nougat?"

"No, because he trusts me!" He yells. "He trusts you?" Lucas speaks up. "Yes, I promised that I would take care of him—"

Dustin is cut off by the screeching of Dart, startling them all. The trap begins to shake. Ruby grabs onto Will's hand, but as soon as mike notices, she pulls away.

"Guys, what's going on? Come on." Max calls. Mike grabs the microphone, holding it high. "Don't hurt him." Dustin says.

"Only if he attacks." Mike responds. Ruby holds out her hands, preparing to fight. "Ruby, watch it." Dustin warns, glaring at her. "What mike said." She nods. "Just open it already." Lucas orders.

Dustin reaches forward it. Dart falls out, already bigger than he was before. "He's grown." Ruby's eyes widen. "Holy shit!" Lucas mutters.

Dart walks out further, beginning to grow a pair of legs. "Oh, shit!" Lucas yells again. Ruby lights her fire, holding it ahead of her. Dart roars. Mike runs forward with the microphone, nearly hitting dart, but fails.

Ruby screams, shooting her fire at it, something she learned recently. Instead of hitting dart, she hits the wall, causing t to catch fire.

"Shit!" Dustin shrieks. Will grabs the fire extinguisher, blowing it out quickly. Dart runs away, and as if on cue, Max opens the door, letting him escape.

Max watches the small creature run out, then turns back to the others. "Ruby, your hand's on fire!" She shouts. The blonde's eyes widen as she puts out the fire, hiding her hands in her pockets.

"Where'd he go?" They shout. "What was that?" Max asks. "It was dart." Ruby explains. "You let him escape!" Mike yells.

"Ruby, What the hell was on your hands!" Max shouts again. "Long story. Tell you later." She shoves past her, running behind Dart.

"Will, come with me." Ruby grabs his hand, pulling him away. "You better find him and not make out the entire time!" Mike yells. "Shut up, Mike!" They both call back.