love me - stranger things²

[007] a cry for help.

"Shit." She murmured, wanting nothing more than to massage her aching neck, though, with her hands bound, there was nothing she could do. Robin began laughing lightly, though, to Steve and Jennifer, it sounded as if she were crying.

"I'm sorry." Robin calls out as Jennifer and Steve sigh once they realised she was only laughing. What were light chuckled turned into louder cackles. "I'm so sorry. It's just... I can't believe... I'm gonna die in a secret Russian base with Steve "The Hair" Harrington and Jennifer Lawson. It's just too trippy, man." She giggled out. Whilst Steve simply groaned in annoyance, Jennifer couldn't help but laugh along with Robin.

"It's not that funny." Steve murmured.

Jennifer was quick to disagree. "I mean, she's not wrong." She giggled. "You were a pain in my ass and now look where we are." She muttered, still laughing under her breath. 

Steve spoke, his voice slightly gravelly. "We're gonna get out of here, okay? Just- you gotta let me just think for a second." 

It was quiet for a few moments; a shared silence between the three of them. "Do you remember, um, Mrs. Click's sophomore history class?" Robin began, her voice now softer, still slightly scratchy. Steve shook his head softly, though, the two girls couldn't see it.

"What?" He breathed out.

"Mrs. Clickity-Clackity." Jennifer couldn't help but softly chuckle at the nickname. "That's what us band dweebs called her. It was first period, Tuesdays and Thursdays so you were always late. And you always had the same breakfast. Bacon, egg, and cheese on a sesame bagel. I sat behind you two days a week for a year. Mister Funny. Mister cool. The King of Hawkins High himself." She spoke softly. "Do you even remember me from that class?" Robin questioned. Steve's silence answered her question. "Of course you don't. You were a real asshole, you know that?" 

"Yeah, I know." He said; Jennifer stayed quiet, not having much to add to the conversation - the only thing she could think of was to agree that Steve was an ass. She thought quietly, remembering how different the boy was only a few years prior.

"But it didn't even matter. It didn't matter that you were an ass. I was still... obsessed with you. Even though all of us losers pretended to be above it all, we still just wanna be popular... accepted, normal." Jennifer couldn't help but feel her heart ache for Robin. 

Steve spoke up once again. "If it makes you feel any better, having those things isn't all that great. Seriously." He breathed out. "It just baffles me. Everything that people tell you is important, everything that people say you should care about, it's all just... bullshit. But I guess you gotta mess up to figure things out, right?" Steve finished. 

The girl that had been quiet for a while finally spoke. "I get what you mean." She murmured, mostly referring to Robin's words, Steve and Robin listening eagerly. "I mean, I'm friends with Nancy - I hung out with her in school. And I guess, she was popular in her own, good-girl kind of way." She thought for a moment before continuing. "But... I was never the forefront of anyones mind. I was never talked about, or thought about as an individual. It was always me and someone else."

Though Steve was quiet, he couldn't help but disagree with her in his head. "I guess, at one point, I just kind of accepted that. That I wouldn't be anyones first choice; that I'd be a second thought." She spoke softly. The three were silent for a few moments.

"I feel like my whole life has been... one big error." Robin spoke again, Steve and Jennifer chuckling, the two quickly agreeing with her. "At least it can't get any more messed up than this." They laughed. 

__________

THE THREE SPOKE SOFTLY TO ONE ANOTHER FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER UNTIL A BUZZER SOUNDED AND A DOOR OPENED, THE SOUNDS QUICKLY CATCHING THEIR ATTENTION. 

The Russian commander from earlier stood over them, three other men walking in behind him; one appearing to be a 'doctor' of sorts. "Where were you three going?" He questioned, a smirk on his face before he started clicking his tongue and shaking his head. They were roughly placed back upright, the man crouching in front of Steve. "Try telling the truth this time, yes?"

Jennifer rolled her eyes, assuming Steve had been asked the same questions as she was; only, he obviously received a much harsher treatment. "It will make your visit with Dr. Zharkov less painful." He noted, stroking Steve's cheek and grabbing at his chin, making the boy wince out in pain. He simply chuckled, turning to look at the doctor and softly nodded his head.

As the Dr. Zharkov walked over, Steve was quick to notice the large needle in his hands. "Wait a second. Wait. Hold on. Okay! Wait, wait, wait! What is that thing?" Steve cried out, Robin and Jennifer's ears perking up and their hearts racing. 

"It will help you talk." The doctor spoke simply. He grabbed hold on Steve's hair, pulling his head aside to gain better access to his neck.

"Did you even clean that thing?!" Dr. Zharkov was silent, sticking the needle into Steve's neck right at the base of his skull near his jaw - Steve immediately screaming out. 

"Hey, get away from him!" Jennifer called out, though, none of the Russians batted an eye. Once the man was finish with Steve and got the needle ready again, he wandered in front of Jennifer, staring at her for a moment. Jennifer simply stared at him for a moment, as soon as he was close enough, swinging her head forward and making contact with the doctors lip. The action made him stumble back, his bottom lip beginning to bleed. 

The Russian man stepped in front of Jennifer, the girl simply glaring at him, her breathing heavy, her eyes welling with tears. He silently gestured for one of the other soldiers; the other soldier then stepping forward and throwing a punch into her gut. Her body lurched forward in pain as she gasped for air, Steve and Robin calling out for them to stop. Another punch was thrown to the side of her face before he stopped, busting her lip more with her nose bleeding as well as a scratch on her cheek with blood dripping from it. 

Her face ached with pain, though, she kept quiet. "You had a pretty face." The commander spoke. "Shame we had to ruin it." He teased, though, his voice showed no ounce of any resentment or guilt. The other man grabbed onto her hair, pulling her head back as the doctor had done to Steve to get a better view of her jaw and neck. After regaining his footing, the doctor stepped forward.

"No, no, no. Please, I'm sorry. Please." Jennifer cried out as the needle was stuck into her neck, a few tears now falling down her cheeks as her bottom lip continued to tremble. Both Robin and Steve's heart rates accelerated, their hearts hurting for Jennifer - Steve's more so.

WORD COUNT: 1,635