Mike didn't know how long the gag was shoved down his throat. He heard voices, but he was unable to make a noise loud enough to get his attention. Mike heard Chief Hopper's voice, but he couldn't make out what he was saying.
Finally, two people entered his room. They ripped the gag out. To Mike surprise, they also untied him. They dragged him out of the cell. It was his first time seeing where he was kidnapped. It looked like a typical Hawkins home. Though, the artwork was strange to him. He could've sworn he saw Vecna in one of the paintings.
Mike was shoved into a bathroom. "You have five minutes," someone said. Now that he thought about it, Mike didn't know how long it had been since the party. He saw sunlight coming through the windows. Twelve hours could've already past. When Will went missing, he remembered hearing how those first twenty-four hours are the most important when someone goes missing.
Mike did his business in the toilet. Something in the bathroom caught his eye. It was a razor sitting on the edge of the bathtub. Mike was quick to grab it. He finished up his business. "I'm done," Mike called.
One of the men who dragged him here opened the door. Mike lunged at him, cutting his cheek with the razor. The man stammered back, holding where Mike cut him. Mike ran towards the front door. The cult members were quick to chase him, but Mike was too quick. He was already out.
"Kind of weird how missing or dead people follow you guys everywhere," Troy stated.
The party had showed up to the search. They were going to look around the area that Mike was taken from. A few people from the previous night's get together were there. However, several were still sitting in Hawkins's police station due to charges of underage drinking. Sadly, James Dante and Troy Walsh were not.
"Yeah," Max said. "It's weird."
"Weird, or intentional?" Troy asked.
"Careful," Jane threatened. "You look like you're about to pee."
"I'm just saying what everyone is thinking," Troy laughed. "You six always seem to be at the center of everything bad happening in Hawkins."
"My mom says it's because they play Dungeons and Dragons," James added. "They're apart of some demonic cult, like that Eddie guy."
"Excuse me," Chief Hopper said. "I need to talk to our star witness."
"We were just making small talk," Troy said.
"Leave that to the police," Jim said. "Remember, you're out on bail. What was that mixture you drank last night?"
That caused the two bullies to walk away. "Find me after the search party," Jim whispered. "I searched one of the cult leader's homes."
"Did you find anything?" Lucas asked.
"Yes," Jim whispered. "I think they're worshipping Vecna."
Another police officer got everyone's attention. He explained the plan, but the party couldn't really pay attention. They thought Vecna was a secret that only a select few people knew about. Now, there was an entire religion around him?
The search party soon began. The group was silent for a few minutes. Some people called Mike's name, like that was going to do anything. "How does Vecna have a cult?" Dustin whispered.
"He has a way of getting into people's minds," Max whispered. "It's not impossible to assume he can manipulate people into following him. It's probably some apocalypse cult."
"Yeah, but that doesn't explain what Mike has to do with any of this," Will whispered.
Mike kept running. He didn't know how long he had been running, but he couldn't stop. His feet hurt from the non-stop movement. He felt like he could collapse at any moment. Mike assumed it was now mid-morning.
"He went this way," a voice yelled. Mike knew he couldn't run forever. They'd catch up at any moment. However, he couldn't give up hope just yet. He needed to keep going.
Mike found himself in a familiar place. It was the remains of Castle Byers. Mike came here a few times while the Byers and El lived in California. Mike never knew what caused the destruction of Will's fort. Mike assumed nature at first, but it had already survived so much.
I should leave something, so Will knows I was here. Mike took off his right shoe. He left it at the entrance of the fort. Then, Mike took off running again. He saw a road in the distance. Mike began to run in that direction.
It took several minutes, but he got to the road. He saw a car coming. Mike waved his arms. Mike thanked his lucky stars that the car stopped in front of him. The woman driving the car rolled down the window. "Can I help you?" the woman asked.
"Help me," Mike pleaded. "I've been kidnapped."
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Mike Wheeler," Mike answered.
"Wheeler?" the woman asked. "Don't you mean Creel?"
Oh, great. She's a cultist too. Before Mike could run, he felt something prick his neck. Mike collapsed, revealing Lisa to be standing behind him. "Next time, keep better track of the vessel," the woman said.
"I will," Lisa mumured.
"Vecna won't be happy if the transfer doesn't go through," the woman said.
"No one knows that more than me," Lisa responded.
"I'll see you at the base," the woman said. "I was just on my way there. Praise Vecna. The Upside Down will rise again."