---------------------------------------------
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE?" Robin spoke as the group moved down the stairs quickly. They had given Seb time to calm down, resulting in them having to move extra quick. "Not exactly." Steve answered, helping Seb walk lightly. "Not exactly, then what?" Robin asked quickly, Dustin turning around. "All you need to know is it's bad." He spoke, Seb nodding slowly. "Very bad." He added on, Robin staring at him. "Like 'end-of-the-human-race-as-we-know-it' kind of bad." Dustin nodded, Robin turning to him. "And you know about this how?" She snapped, scared at Dustin's choice of words. "Steve, where's your Russian friend?" Erica interrupted, Seb looking behind him. The Russian wasn't there anymore.
An alarm blared as the five stared at the ground where the Russian would've been. "Shit." Steve let out, Dustin's eyes widening when he let go of Seb, the boy about to fall. Grabbing his forearm lightly, Steve opened the door a little, seeing a bunch of soldiers surrounding the Russian. They all grouped before the door as Steve began to panic. Taking a deep breath, Seb regained his balance, standing up on his own. "Subject Seven is with them." The Russian muttered, the other Russians quickly looking up at Steve. "Halt! Halt!" One yelled, Steve's eyes widening at the guns. Slamming the door shut, he looked to the group. "Go, go!" The teen yelled, grabbing Seb as he ran past the group. Running lightly, he heard yells behind him. With Seb at the front, they moved into another room. A bunch of Russian scientists stared at the group as they piled in, Seb feeling very awkward.
"Quick, go!" Dustin yelled from behind, Seb leading Steve and the others down the side of a staircase out of the room. Steve pushed people out of the way as they led the group. "Subject Seven!" A Russian yelled, Nick stopping quickly. He recognised that phrase. It was one of the first Russian phrases he was taught. "Seb!" Steve yelled, shocked why the boy had stopped. The group moved past the teen, Dustin cursing when he met the large laser. "Holy shit!" Dustin shouted out, leaning as far away from the laser as possible. Robin did the same, Steve pulling Seb back with them. "Holy shit!" Dustin screamed this time, Steve pulling Seb the other way. "This way!" He yelled to the others, them following the duo. "Stop, Subject Seven!" The Russian yelled, Seb's eyes widening. They were coming for him.
"Sorry, Steve!" The younger boy yelled, blinking and making his eyes go red. "What-" Before the boy could reply, Seb launched a bunch of metal barrels towards the Russians moving to the side of them, Robin and Erica in front so they didn't see. "Go, go!" Steve urged, Seb's foot getting caught on one of the barrels. "Steve!" Seb yelled as he fell down, feeling someone grab his ankle. "Dustin!" He screamed, his breathing quickening as he watched the group enter a safe room.
Without him.
"Where's Sebastian?" Dustin asked quickly, rushing to the door to see a bunch of Russians crowding around Seb as he was on the floor. "Seb!" Dustin screamed, another Russian banging on the door. "Let go of me!" Seb yelled, looking towards the door. Making eye contact with Dustin, the screaming made neither boy hear each other, a lot of other Russians covering their view of the teen. Erica stood shocked. What just happened? "Shit!" Dusting let out, banging on the door. "Robin!" Steve yelled, asking for assistance that Robin gave him. Erica found a vent, opening it quickly. "Here!" Erica yelled, Dustin looking back to her. Helping her open it, he tried to slow down his breathing. This was bad. Very bad. They've got Seb. The Russians yelled outside, Dustin looking to the two teenagers.
"Come on!" He didn't want to lose anyone else. "No, get out of here!" Steve yelled, Dustin shaking his head as a tear fell down his cheek. "Steve, Robin, come on!" He yelled, getting into the vent halfway. "Go get some help! They've got Seb!" Steve yelled, Dustin staring at them. He was losing his two best friends... "What are you doing!?" Steve screamed, Robin looking to the younger teen.
"Go!"
"I'll come back! I promise!" Dustin yelled, quickly moving and closing the vent with him and Erica in it. Letting go of the door, Steve and Robin fell to the floor, Russians pointing guns at them. Seb's yelling was heard, Steve looking past the guards legs to see the young boy thrashing around in the guard's grip. He didn't want to go.
Eleven.
Hopper.
Dustin.
Scarlett.
Eleven!
––––––☆––––––
BILLY AND HEATHER STOOD AT THE FRONT AS THEY WATCHED THE MIND FLAYER MOVE TOWARDS THEM. "It's time." Billy let out, looking down. Scarlett screamed through her muffle, Heather staring ahead as if she were a porcelain doll. Crouching down, Billy undid the tie on Scarlett's mouth. "What the fuck is up with you!" Scarlett screamed, trying to get rid of the thought of an extraterrestrial monster being next to her, Billy cupped her jaw harshly. "When Seven gets one of ours, we get one of his." Scarlett was very confused. "Who's Seven?" She shivered out quietly, terrified. Billy never answered, standing up straight and nodding. The creature shrieked, Scarlett flinching before slowly looking to her right.
To meet a claw.
––––––☆––––––
"TWO WHOPPERS, EXTRA KETCHUP, LARGE FRY, PACK OF MARLBOLO REDS, ONE EXTRA-LARGE SLURPEE." HOPPER LISTED OFF WHAT HE GOT FOR ALEXEI FROM BURGER KING. The Russian watched Looney Tunes mindlessly, taking advantage of the angry cop. Putting a towel in his collar as if it were a napkin, Hopper slouched next to Joyce. "Burger King is nowhere near the 7-eleven by the way." Hopper added on with venom in his tone, Murray smiling tightly. "Never said it was." He seethed, Hopper ignoring him. "Let's try this again. Joyce." Hopper threw an empty burger wrapper on the table, the woman leaning forward. "Alexei, the generators, what are they powering?" Joyce asked, Hopper holding up a finger. "And tell him that we know it is not the Starcourt Mall, so he can stop selling us that crap." Hopper spat, Murray nodding.
Asking Alexei the same question in Russian, Murray added on the extra part. Alexei spat out his Slurpee, complaining. "This tastes like shit strawberry!" Alexei spat, Hopper tilting his head at the man's tone. "What'd he say?" The man asked, Murray turning to Hopper. "He says, 'it's strawberry.'" Murray shrugged, Hopper leaning forward lightly. "I'm sorry?" He let out, Murray awkwardly pointing to Alexei's drink. "His... Slurpee. He says it's strawberry." Murray spoke slowly, Alexei acting like a toddler as he wiped his mouth roughly. "So what?" Hopper shrugged, seeing no problem. "Hop, he did ask for cherry. I mean..." Joyce let out quietly, Hopper taking a deep breath. "Well, they didn't have cherry. They didn't have it." Hopper looked to Joyce, her shrugging. "And it doesn't matter, because it all tastes the same, okay?"
Joyce looked down, Hopper getting more and more furious with every sentence. "It's sugar on ice. You tell him that." Hopper pointed to Murray, him shrugging. "Tell him what?-" "You tell him that it all tastes the goddamn same!" Hopper interrupted, Joyce cringing awkwardly. "It's all the same. Sugar on ice. No difference." Murray summarised, Alexei looking at Murray. "You tell that stupid man it is not the same in the slightest, and I would like the cherry I requested." Alexei stated confidently, Murray nodding. "He respectfully disagrees. It's not the same at all, and he would like... cherry." He nodded awkwardly, Alexei chuckling at a funny scene on the Tv. "Oh, yeah? You tell him... he can forget it." Hopper spat, Murray sighing. "He says forget it. No cherry." Alexei glared at Hopper, the man chewing his burger with his eyes meeting the Russian's.
Shrugging smugly, Alexei looked back to the Tv. "No cherry, no deal." He let out, laughing at the Tv again. "He says, 'No cherry,... no deal.'" Murray spoke, Hopper nodding quickly as he leant forward in his chair. Smacking his lips, he made eye contact with Alexei again, the man nodding with a grin. He wanted cherry. He should get what he wanted for Hopper and Joyce to get what they wanted. That's fair. "Yeah." Murray let out, Joyce keeping her eyes on Alexei and Hopper as they both laughed sourly at one another. "Hm." Inhaling sharply, Hopper held his face. "No!" Getting up quickly, Hopper grabbed the front of Alexei's shirt, pushing him on the table. "Wait, wait, wait!" Murray stood up, Joyce yelling for the cop to calm down. "I'm not gonna hurt him!" Hopper informed the two, thrusting the man around the room. "What are you doing?" Joyce yelled, Murray staying near the door.
"Come on!" Murray yelled, Hopper dragging Alexei outside. "I'm giving him an opportunity to get his own damn... cherry Slurpee!" Shoving the Russian outside, Hopper closed the door on him, meeting Joyce and Murray. The latter stared at him incredulously, as Hopper had given Alexei his car keys. Well... Todd's car keys. "Jim, that man is an enemy of the state." Murray reminded, Hopper leaning against the door. "Yeah, who's been jerking us around for a full day!" Hopper reminded, Joyce sighing. "I get him his cherry Slurpee, then what? He wants a helicopter to charter him to his own private island. I have dealt with assholes like this my entire life. Yesterday in the woods, he could've escaped, but he didn't. He stuck with us. Why do you think that is?" Hopper asked Joyce, her very lost. "It's because... he's scared. He's scared. Not of us, of them." Hopper really believed he was right, Joyce sighing.
"He's scared of that seven-foot-tall Russian freak who could've killed him just as easily as us. Smirnoff knows that if he runs back to his comrades without a scratch on him, they're gonna think that he spilled his guts." Murray and Joyce let Hopper finish, the man being happy for once. "So, whether he likes it or not, we... are the best chance he's got. I'll give him thirty seconds before he comes knocking on that door-" A car revving sounded, Joyce's eyes widening. "I believe he has started the car, Jim." Murray spoke quietly, Hopper ignoring the two. "Hopper." Joyce complained a little. "You know, testing us. He's just calling my bluff." Hopper shrugged, Murray and Joyce watching Alexei drive away slowly. "I believe he is now driving away." Scoffing, Hopper shook his head. This made Joyce scoff too, pushing the man out of the way.
The three adults rushed outside to see Alexei stopping at the gate before sighing. Hopper smugly smirked at the two as Alexei reversed back, muttering in Russian before giving Hopper the car keys. Joyce and Murray watched him walk inside as Hopper was confused. "I'm sorry, what did he say?" Hopper asked Murray quietly, "He says he likes strawberry, too." Murray was shocked, Joyce rubbing her forehead.
––––––☆––––––
"SO, THEN SEB SET FIRE TO THE HUB WITH HIS POWERS SO WE DREW THE DEMODOGS AWAY. THEN EL COULD CLOSE THE GATE." DUSTIN TOLD ERICA THE STORY. "But now, for some insane reason, the Russian's appear to be trying to open it," Dustin attempted stopping a fan. "which just destroys everything we risked our lives for." Dustin explained, Erica humming. "By 'we', you're including Lucas?" She asked, Dustin nodding as if she were stupid. "Yes, of course." He spoke, going back to the fan. "So, all that shit you told me, Lucas was there?" She confirmed, Dustin nodding. "My brother, Lucas Charles Sinclair?-" "Yes!" Dustin was fed up with Erica, already stressed about the Russian's having Steve and Robin, never mind Seb. He was already panicking with them having Seb, as the boy had powers of course-
"I don't believe you." Erica shrugged, Dustin turning to her. "Wait so you believe everything about Sebastian, El and the gate and the Demodogs and the Mind Flayer, but you question your brother's involvement?" Dustin asked, Erica nodding. "That's correct." She spoke, Dustin shrugging. "Makes total sense." Dustin went back to the fan, Erica sighing. "You need help with that?" She asked, Dustin shaking his head. "No." He answered, Erica looking to the older boy. "I mean, it's taking a while, so-" "Yeah, no shit, Sherlock." Dustin interrupted. "All right, so if we don't find a more efficient method to stop these fans, we're never gonna find help, and your buddy that can mind-move things is screwed. Along with the ice cream ones." Erica was fed up herself, Dustin quite surprised. "Yeah, with that attitude they are, Jee-zus!" Dustin let out, struggling with the fan.
"I'm just being realistic. I mean, we've made it about point-three miles in nine hours. Then we had to walk three hours down that tunnel, so I'd estimate ten miles back to the elevator, which should take us approximately twelve-and-a-half days." Erica went on, Dustin staring at her. "Along with that Nick guy having powers, it might take like nine days or something." Erica shrugged, Dustin tilting his head. "Did you just do all of that in your head?" He asked, Erica shrugging smugly. "I'm good with numbers." She shrugged, Dustin struck. "Holy shit. You're a nerd." He summed, Erica's face dropping. "Come again?" She warned, Dustin leaning forward. "You... are... a... nerd." He spoke slower, a grin on his face, Erica holding a finger up. "Okay, you better take that back, nerd." She spat, Dustin shrugging. "Can't put the truth back in the box." Dustin spoke, Erica furious.
"But it's not the truth." She corrected, Dustin nodding. "Let's examine the facts, shall we? Fact one: you're a maths whiz, apparently." Dustin spoke, Erica shrugging. "That was a pretty straightforward equation-" "Fact number two: you're a political junkie." Dustin let out, Erica shaking her head. "Just because I don't agree with Communism as an ideology-" "Fact number three: you love My Little Pony." Dustin interrupted again, holding up her backpack. "And what does My little Pony have to do with this?" Erica snatched her bag back, Dustin looking up. "Ah, let's recall the ponies' latest adventure, shall we? The evil centaur and team Tirek turn Applejack into a dragon at Midnight Castle, and then Megan and the other ponies have to use Moochick's magic to defeat the rainbows of darkness, saving them from a lifetime of enslavement." Dustin recalled,
"All the pink in the world can't disguise the irrefutable fact that centaurs and castles and dragons and magic are all standard nerd tropes." Dustin shrugged, Erica letting him finish. "Ergo, My Little Pony is nerdy. Ergo, you, Erica, are a nerd." Dustin let out smugly, Erica shrugging. "And how do you know so much about My Little Pony?" Erica asked, Dustin shaking his head. "Because, I'm a nerd. Also, I watched it with Sebastian last week." Dustin muttered, electricity crackling. The fan powered down, stopping completely.
"Let's go... nerd."
---------------------------------------------
This one was very long... and a lot happened lol
[2535 words!]
Hope you enjoyed!
Byee!