Dove stared up at the narrow opening in the ceiling where Dustin and Steve had just disappeared. The flickering lights of the elevator cast long, eerie shadows, and the stale air in the cramped space only heightened the feeling of being trapped. She squinted as she peered up through the hatch, her voice tense. "Do you see a way out?"
A moment passed before Steve's face appeared in the hatch above, his expression grim. "No," he said, his voice echoing through the metal tunnel above the elevator. "Just more tunnel. No ladder, no nothing."
Dove sighed, her frustration mounting. Dustin's head popped back into view, his face partially illuminated by the faint glow of his flashlight. "Will you toss my bag up here?"
She grabbed the worn backpack from the floor and handed it up to him. He pulled it up with a grunt and immediately began digging through it, pulling out his walkie-talkie. "Hello? Does anyone copy?"
Steve let out a sigh, jumping down through the hatch, landing with a thud right in front of Dove. He stumbled as his feet hit the floor, almost colliding into her.
Dove took a quick step back, placing a hand on Steve's chest to steady him, though she barely had time to register the brief contact before stepping away. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just peachy," Steve muttered, rubbing his knees as he straightened up. "Looks like we're stuck down here."
Dustin's voice echoed from above. "I repeat. Does anybody copy? This is Dustin Henderson! An innocent child!"
Dove leaned against the cold metal wall, crossing her arms as the minutes dragged on. The air in the elevator grew thicker, the silence broken only by Dustin's relentless attempts to reach the surface. Each crackle of static after his call felt like a punch to the gut. No one was answering. Dove could hear the frustration mounting in Dustin, but she could also feel her own nerves fraying as the hours dragged by.
Steve paced back and forth, kicking at the occasional piece of debris on the floor. His frustration simmered just below the surface. "How long has it been?" he asked, glancing at Dove.
"Too long," she said, her voice low as she checked the time on her watch. "We've been down here for hours."
"We are innocent children trapped in a secret Russian elevator." Dustin's voice echoed through the room. "This isn't a joke." He added quickly.
Steve groaned, throwing himself onto the floor in an exaggerated motion of defeat. "We're gonna die down here," he muttered, throwing an arm over his eyes. "We'll starve. We'll run out of oxygen. This is it."
Dove rolled her eyes, though her irritation barely masked the knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. Ever since the elevator had plummeted down, she'd been fighting off the growing sense of dread clawing at her. She leaned back against the cold metal wall, slowly sliding down until she was sitting next to Steve. The floor felt unnervingly solid beneath her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were sitting in the belly of some mechanical beast, deep under the mall, with no way out.
"We're not gonna die," she said, though even to her own ears, the words didn't sound entirely convincing. "We'll figure it out."
Steve peeked at her from under his arm, his face scrunched up in disbelief.
"We've gotten through worse," Dove added, glancing over at him with a forced smile, though the memories of what they'd survived flashed through her mind—the Upside Down, Demodogs, and near-death experiences.
From across the cramped space, Robin let out a sarcastic laugh. "What could possibly be worse than this? We are literally stuck in an evil Russian elevator with no way out."
Dove and Steve exchanged a glance. They didn't need to answer. There were plenty of things that could be worse, but somehow this still felt like a whole new level of bad.
Dustin's voice cut through the moment, his tone filled with relentless determination. "Does anyone copy? This is a code red, I repeat, a code red. We are innocent children, and we are trapped under Starcourt Mall." His voice had taken on a melodramatic edge, and Dove sighed, listening to his nonsensical pleads with no one. "The Red Army has infiltrated Hawkins, and if we are found, they will torture and kill us."
"Hey," Steve said flatly, now standing on the table, his head poking through the hatch in the ceiling as he looked over at Dustin. "You gotta take it easy on that thing, man. You're gonna drain the battery."
"The mall just opened," Dustin shot back, his frustration palpable. "Someone could be in range."
Steve raised an eyebrow. "And what, you think Petey the Mall Cop is gonna rappel down here and save the day?" His tone dripped with sarcasm as he climbed the rest of the way onto the roof of the elevator.
"Why are you such a cranky pants?" Dustin huffed, his voice dropping just enough to mutter another jab that Dove couldn't quite hear.
Stevefrantically shushed her brother, his head snapping back down into the elevator. His eyes locking with Dove's for a split second before he quickly pulled himself back up, disappearing onto the roof again.
Dove ran her fingers through her hair, the weight of the situation settling heavy on her shoulders. She pushed herself up, pacing the length of the small space. Her eyes darted across the dull metal walls, searching for a solution, any solution. "Any luck?" she asked Robin, who stood near the control panel, tinkering with wires and buttons in a futile attempt to force the door open.
Robin glanced up and shook her head, her face tight with frustration. Before Dove could respond, a strange sound caught their attention—a steady stream of liquid splattering against the wall.
They both turned in unison, horrified to see the source of the sound. The stream was hitting the wall behind the shelves, the cause obvious and uncomfortably human.
Robin's face twisted in disgust. "Can you redirect your stream, please?" she called out, her voice tinged with both disbelief and irritation.
The stream veered to the side, and Dove could only shake her head in disbelief. The absurdity of the situation was not lost on her, but before she could say anything, a loud bang echoed through the elevator.
Whipping around, Dove saw Erica hammering the metal cylinder of green liquid against the rim of a barrel. Her expression was one of casual indifference, but the sight sent a jolt of panic through Dove.
"Be careful with that!" Dove exclaimed, rushing forward and snatching the cylinder from Erica's hands. "We don't even know what this is!"
Erica raised an eyebrow, undeterred by Dove's concern. "Exactly. It could be useful."
"Useful how?" Robin chimed in, crossing her arms over her chest, clearly not convinced.
"We can survive down here a long time without food," Erica said, smirking. "But if the human body doesn't get water, it will die."
Robin rolled her eyes. "I hate to break it to you, butthatis not water."
Erica shrugged, her smirk growing. "If it comes down to me drinking that shit or dying of thirst, I drink."
A distant mechanical whirring sound cut through the air, echoing ominously from outside the elevator. Dove's heart skipped a beat as she turned toward the wall. The strange noise sent a wave of unease through the group, silencing the banter.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Erica snatched the cylinder back from Dove's hands, but Dove didn't react, her focus now entirely on the faint sound coming from beyond the walls. She pressed her ear against the cold metal, feeling her pulse quicken as Robin mirrored her movements, listening closely.
The whirring grew louder, the sound vibrating through the metal walls, sending a shiver down Dove's spine. Her breath quickened as she realized the noise wasn't just ambient—it was moving toward them. Fast.
"Shit," she muttered under her breath, her wide eyes meeting Robin's as the tension in the room thickened.
Without wasting another second, Robin darted toward the table in the middle of the room, climbing up onto it in one fluid motion. She poked her head up through the ceiling hatch. "We've got company," she said, her voice tense as she hoisted herself onto the roof with Dustin and Steve.
Panic gripped Dove's chest, but she forced herself to move. She spun toward Erica, who had already started grabbing their things. Dove helped her gather their belongings, quickly tossing them up to Steve, who caught them with hurried hands. Dove pushed Erica toward the table, helping her climb up and onto the roof before Steve grabbed Dove's arm, yanking her up just as the doors below began to creak open.
Dove's heart thundered in her ears as she slowly reached down, carefully closing the ceiling hatch, her fingers shaking as she tried to be as silent as possible. The soft click of the hatch closing echoed ominously in the cramped space, but the group remained motionless, holding their breath.
Below them, two men in blue uniforms stepped inside, one of them lazily smoking a cigarette. Their voices filled the elevator, deep and rough, as they spoke back and forth in Russian. The smoke from the cigarette curled up into the air, snaking its way toward the ceiling where Dove, Steve, Robin, Erica, and Dustin crouched, low on the metal roof, praying they wouldn't be noticed.
The men moved with mechanical precision, unloading box after box from the elevator. Dove's muscles tensed with each thud as the boxes hit the floor, her fingers digging into the rough surface beneath her. She exchanged a nervous glance with Steve, who was watching the scene unfold below them, his jaw clenched.
As the men unloaded the last of the boxes, Steve's eyes flicked up toward Erica, who was still clutching the strange metal cylinder. His eyes widened in realization. Before any of them could react, the elevator doors began to slide shut.
Steve acted fast. He lunged forward, snatching the container from Erica's hands and leapt from the roof, wedging the cylinder under the door just in time. The door stopped, caught by the container, but the strain was evident.
"Move, now!" Steve whispered harshly, his voice filled with urgency.
The group scrambled to follow, jumping down from the roof one by one. Erica crawled through, her small frame making it easier to slip past the barely-opened door. Dustin and Robin slipped under next, their bodies squeezing through the narrow gap as the metal began to groan under the pressure.
Dove's heart raced as she slid down, her hands grazing the cold metal floor as she hurried to the door. The cylinder beneath the door began to crack, a sharp hiss escaping from it as the pressure mounted. Steve was right behind her, his face twisted in concentration as they both scrambled under the door, just in time.
The moment Dove was clear, the door slammed shut with a deafening clang, the crushing force smashing the cylinder to pieces. A sickening hissing sound filled the room as the green liquid from inside the container oozed onto the floor. Dove froze, watching in horror as the liquid began to eat through the metal floor, sizzling and smoking like acid. Dove scrambled back as the green substance bubbled and hissed, the acrid smell of something toxic burning through the air. The floor sizzled where the liquid dripped, holes appearing in the metal like it was being eaten alive.
Steve's hand gripped her arm, pulling her upright with a look of shock on his face. "That was way too close."
"You still wanna drink that?" Robin quipped, leaning over the sizzling mess with Erica, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Holy mother of God," Dustin muttered from behind them, pulling their attention away from the floor. Dove followed his gaze, and her eyes widened in disbelief. Stretching out in front of them was a long and menacing hallway, illuminated by a series of cold, fluorescent lights embedded in the ceiling. The metallic walls, lined with industrial piping that ran the length of the corridor on both sides, gave the space a claustrophobic feel, as if the structure itself was closing in around them. Thick pipes in shades of gray, blue, and red snaked along the walls, their purpose unclear but hinting at something far more sinister.
The smooth, glossy floor reflected the pale light above, casting an eerie red and blue hue. The air was cooler here, sharp and sterile, carrying a faint metallic scent that clung to the back of their throats. The clean lines and precise, almost military construction of the space gave it a cold, lifeless quality.
"Well, hope you guys are in good shape," Steve said, pushing past Dustin, already walking toward the hallway. "Let's go, come on."
They trudged forward, every step echoing ominously in the quiet, the rhythmic clank of their footsteps amplified by the acoustics of the narrow space. The air felt thick, heavy with the knowledge that something bigger was lurking ahead. Dustin, however, seemed unfazed, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips as he looked around, clearly impressed.
Dove caught his expression and shot him a look. "Would you mind telling me exactly which part of our situation is funny to you?"
Dustin gestured grandly, his arms swinging wide. "I mean, you have to admit, as a feat of engineering, this is impressive."
Steve scoffed, glancing over his shoulder. "What are you talking about? This place is a fire hazard. No stairs, no exits, just an elevator that drops you halfway to hell."
"They're Commies," Erica said flatly, her arms crossed. "You don't pay people, they cut corners."
"To be fair to our Russian comrades," Robin chimed in, "I don't think this tunnel was designed for walking. They've built the perfect system for transporting that cargo."
"It all comes into the mall like any old delivery," Dustin added, his tone growing more serious.
"And then they load it up onto those trucks, and nobody's the wiser," Robin finished, nodding.
Steve furrowed his brow. "You think they built this whole mall just to transport that green poison?"
"I know they did," Dove said, her voice carrying down the hallway. She glanced at Steve, her face etched with worry. "Not just for the green stuff, though. For something much worse. Something top secret."
Steve looked confused, his eyes narrowing as he tried to piece together what she was saying, but it didn't seem to click.
"Like promethium?" Dustin asked.
"What the hell is promethium?" Steve asked, clearly exasperated.
"It's what Victor Stone's dad used to make Cyborg's bionic and cybernetic components," Robin explained, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You're all so nerdy, it makes me physically ill," Erica muttered.
"No, no, no." Steve groaned, throwing his hands up. "Don't lump me in with them. I'm not a nerd, all right?"
Dove raised an eyebrow, casting him a sideways glance. "Your best friend is a thirteen-year-old. What exactly would you call that?"
Steve shot her a look, holding up a finger like he was about to make a point. "It is not my fault that your brother is good company, okay?"
"Why so sensitive, Harrington?" Robin teased, her grin widening. "Afraid of losing cool points to a ten-year-old?"
"No," Steve shot back, his voice rising defensively, "I just don't know jack shit about Prometheus."
"Promethium," Dustin corrected. "Prometheus is a Greek mythology figure, but whatever. All I'm saying is, it's probably being used to make something."
"Or power something," Robin added thoughtfully.
Dove's stomach twisted, Dustin's words hitting her like a ton of bricks, the pieces finally clicking into place. "Oh my God," she breathed, stopping dead in her tracks, the realization making her feel dizzy for a moment.
Steve turned to her, his face filled with concern. "What?"
Dove's heart raced as she looked at him, knowing she should tell him the truth right then and there, tell him everything she had uncovered at the law firm. She opened her mouth to speak, but her gaze shifted, catching the curious glances of Robin and Erica, who had both turned back and were now watching her closely. Robin's eyebrows were raised in suspicion, while Erica just stared, looking impatient.
Dove swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "It's nothing," she lied, her voice tight. "Let's just keep going."
Steve didn't seem convinced, but before he could press further, Robin and Erica turned and started moving forward again. Dove let out a quiet breath, knowing she had narrowly avoided a conversation she wasn't ready for. As Robin and Erica moved further ahead, Dove acted quickly, grabbing both Dustin's and Steve's arms, slowing them down just enough to create some distance between the groups.
Once Robin and Erica were far enough away, Dove looked between Dustin and Steve urgently, "It's a gate," she whispered.
Dustin frowned, stepping closer. "What are you talking about?"
"The Russians," she said, emphasizing each word, "are buildinga gate."
Recognition dawned on both Steve and Dustin's faces, the same look of dread spreading between them.
"How do you know that?" Dustin asked, his voice hushed.
"I broke into my boss's office," Dove explained quickly. "There was a binder—photos, drawings, schematics."
Dustin threw his hands up, exasperated. "And you didn't think to tell us this sooner?"
"Of course I did!" Dove hissed back. "It's all I've been thinking about, Dustin!"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So it's all connected?"
"Uh, excuse me," Robin's voice echoed ahead of them, snapping them out of their hushed conversation. "Is there something the three of you would like to share with the rest of the class?"
Before any of them could answer, static crackled through Erica's bag, and a man's voice echoed down the hall, speaking in Russian.
Dustin, Steve, and Dove rushed forward as Erica crouched down to grab the walkie from her bag. Robin extended the antenna, listening intently to the transmission.
Dove's heart skipped a beat. "It's the code."
Dustin nodded. "Wherever that broadcast is coming from—"
"It's close," Robin finished, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted between them, her expression filled with purpose. "And if there's one thing we know about that signal..."
"It can reach the surface." Dustin said a grin spreading across his face.
"Let's go." Robin said, standing.
As the group continued down the narrow, dimly lit hallway, the faint sound of a vehicle began to echo from the distance. The low hum of an engine grew louder, sending a jolt of adrenaline through them all.
Steve, his senses on high alert, quickly raised a hand, ushering them toward a large metal storage container that was tucked away against the wall. They all scrambled behind it, crouching low and holding their breaths as the vehicle rolled past.
From their hiding spot, Dove could see the wheels of a small, electric cart zooming by. Two Russian soldiers sat at the front, completely unaware of the intruders hidden just a few feet away. The cart continued on its path down the hallway, disappearing around a corner.
Steve, peeking cautiously around the edge of the container, exhaled in relief. "Coast is clear," he whispered, stepping out from their hiding spot. The others quickly followed, moving as quietly as possible.
They turned the corner and suddenly, the narrow, cramped hallway opened into a massive, bustling room. Dove's eyes widened at the sight. The place was full of activity—Russian soldiers, scientists, and workers moved between different sections, some carrying crates, others engaged in hushed conversations. Overhead, metal catwalks crisscrossed the room, lined with armed guards. The hum of machines filled the air, creating a tense, industrial symphony.
The sheer scale of the room made her stomach churn. They weren't supposed to be here. This was way beyond anything she'd imagined.
"Get down!" Steve hissed again, pulling Dove down with him as they quickly ducked behind a red metal box. The cold metal pressed against Dove's back as she tried to steady her breathing, her pulse thundering in her ears.
They crouched low, keeping their heads down.
"I saw it. First floor, northwest." Erica whispered.
"Saw what?" Steve asked.
"The comms room." Erica stated.
"You saw the comms room?" Steve asked.
"Correct." Erica said.
"Are you sure?" Dustin asked.
"Positive." she said. "The door was open for a second, and I saw a bunch of lights and machines and shit in there."
"That could be a hundred different things." Dustin stated.
"Anyone have a better plan?" Dove asked.
Steve shook his head, sighing as he peered aroung the corner. "All right." he whispered, looking back at them. "We're gonna move fast, we're gonna stay low. Okay?"
Steve crawled out, staying as low to floor as he could and moving quickly to their left. They all followed him, hiding behind a large plastic drum, then another. A man in a white lab coat walked out of the door and Steve rushed toward it, just in time to catch the door before it closed. He ushered everyone inside, closing it softly behind them. Dove turned around to see a man in a Russian military uniform sitting at the console. Her heart dropped as he turned to look at them, standing quickly, his hand reaching for his gun.
"Tread lightly!"Robin exclaimed in perfect Russian, stepping forward.
"Who are you?"The man asked, also in Russian.
"Silver cat."Robin said pointing to herself."SIlver cat."
"I don't understand."The man said.
Summoning what little confidence she had, Dove stepped forward, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. She wracked her brain for any useful phrases she could remember from the law firm. Her tongue stumbled over the foreign syllables as she began, hoping she sounded even remotely professional.
"Hello!"Dove said, her voice unnaturally high."I... represent... the firm."She winced internally, knowing she was already in over her head.
The guard's eyes narrowed."Firm?"
Dove swallowed hard."Yes, uh.. client. Grigori. Important contract. Very.. confidential."She flashed a shaky smile, praying the guard wouldn't see right through her.
His frown deepened, and his gaze flicked between the group."What contract?"
Her mind blanked for a moment before she blurted out the only legal words she could think of."Um.. real estate.. arbitration. Also, taxes.. Not good."She hesitated, panic setting in as she realized she was running out of words."You want Cappuccino?"
The guard blinked, his confusion evident now."Cappuccino?"
"Yes!"Dove continued, nodding furiously."Cappuccino.. taxes.. all done!"Her laugh was shaky, her nerves fraying."We're leaving now!"
For a moment, it seemed like the guard might let them go. His grip on the gun loosened slightly, his posture softening. Relief flooded through Dove. They were going to make it out. The guard's eyes narrowed with suspicion, his hand reaching for his gun.
Dove froze, her stomach twisting into knots. The guard began to pull his weapon free, his face dark with anger.
Steve charged forward with a yell, slamming into the guard with all his weight. The two of them crashed into a table, sending metal equipment clattering to the floor.
The guard threw Steve off him with a growl, sending him stumbling back. Before Steve could regain his footing, the guard lunged forward, swinging a punch aimed directly at his jaw. Steve reacted just in time, leaning back and narrowly avoiding the blow.
In a flash, the guard grabbed a fistful of Steve's shirt and yanked him forward, slamming him into the control console. Steve crashed into it with a pained grunt, the metal edge digging into his ribs.
The guard seized Steve's shirt again, preparing for another hit, but Steve wasn't about to let it happen. He lashed out with his elbow, driving it hard into the guard's gut. The impact made the guard stumble back, clutching his stomach with a sharp exhale of breath.
Steve, panting and desperate, glanced at the control console. His hand shot out, grabbing the microphone and swinging it with all his strength, the heavy base connecting with the guard's head. The sharp crack echoed in the room.
The guard's body twisted from the impact, his head whipping to the side as he spun around. He collided with a nearby table, his head hitting the edge with a sickening thud. The guard slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Steve stood there, panting hard, his chest heaving as he ran a shaky hand through his sweat-dampened hair. His knuckles were white from the tight grip he still had on the microphone, his entire body buzzing with adrenaline. He let the microphone slip from his fingers, the metal base clattering loudly against the floor. His breath came in shallow, uneven bursts, the tension slowly easing from his muscles as the reality of the fight set in.
"Dude!" Dustin's voice cut through the stunned silence, loud and full of awe as he pointed at Steve with wide eyes. "You did it! You won a fight!"
Steve blinked, still in a daze, then looked down at the guard, a shaky laugh escaping his lips.
Dustin rushed forward, already moving with purpose as he crouched down beside the guard and started rummaging through the man's pockets. His fingers closed around a keycard, and he grinned triumphantly as he held it up.
"What are you doing?" Erica asked, crossing her arms as she eyed Dustin with suspicion.
"Getting us our ticket out of here," Dustin replied, the excitement in his voice unmistakable.
Erica raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You want to walk all the way back? Seriously?"
Dustin shrugged, taking a step toward her, his grin widening. "Well, we can hang out for a little bit, relax, maybe have a picnic."
"Have a picnic?!" Erica shot back, incredulous. "We came here for the radio, remember?"
"This plan is way better! If I knew Steve could knock out a Russian, it would've—"
"Hand me the duct tape," Dove interrupted, her voice steady but her eyes locked on the soldier lying unconscious on the floor. She held out her hand toward Erica without breaking her gaze from the guard.
Erica rolled her eyes but dug into her bag, pulling out a roll of duct tape and slapping it into Dove's waiting hand.
"Dove, what the hell are you doing?" Steve asked, still breathless, his brow furrowing in confusion as he watched her work.
Dove didn't even look up as she reached for the guard's shirt, starting to unbutton it with swift, precise movements. "I'm getting us out of here," she said matter-of-factly.
Steve blinked, watching in disbelief as Dove began stripping the guard of his uniform, leaving him in nothing but his underwear. She set the neatly folded clothes aside, then ripped a long piece of tape from the roll with a loud tear and quickly bound the soldier's wrists together. Then she moved to his feet, wrapping the tape around his ankles, making sure it was tight enough that there was no way he could move if he woke up. She dragged the unconscious man over to the wall, propping him up against it. The guard's head lolled to one side, completely unaware of his current predicament.
"What do you mean, getting us out of here?" Steve's voice was laced with confusion as he watched Dove stand and grab the uniform.
She slipped the oversized jacket over her shoulders, rolling up the sleeves and adjusting the fabric so it sat somewhat snug. It was far too baggy, but after a few more tugs and adjustments, Dove managed to make it work. The pants were another struggle, but she tightened the belt as much as she could, cinching it at her waist.
Dustin's eyes lit up as he realized what she was doing. "Wait.. you're going to impersonate a Russian soldier? That's your plan?"
Dove smirked, adjusting the oversized cap onto her head and tucking in her hair. "Got a better one?"
Steve stared at her, still processing everything. "You're crazy," he muttered, though there was a hint of admiration in his voice.
"Yeah, well," Dove said, patting the front of the uniform and taking a deep breath, "someone's got to get you out of here alive."
"Guys." Robin's voice broke the moment, sharp with urgency as she appeared behind them from a darkened doorway. Her eyes were wide, and she pointed toward the stairs. "There's something up there."
Dove exchanged a glance with Steve, and the group moved in sync, silently climbing the staircase. At the top, they carefully opened the door, slipping out onto a narrow catwalk. The space they entered was bathed in an eerie blue light, the air thick with the low hum of electricity. Every step felt weighted as they pressed forward, the windows lining the catwalk revealed a sight that confirmed what Dove had already feared.
Beyond the glass, a massive room sprawled out before them, filled with high-tech equipment and thick metal beams. In the center of it all was a colossal machine, pulsing with blue light. It hummed with an unsettling energy, a long stream of electrical bolts surging from its core and shooting out toward a swirling, glowing mass on the far wall. The energy beam crackled with terrifying power, its white-blue tendrils lashing out like lightning, illuminating the entire chamber in a menacing glow.
Workers in hazmat suits moved around the machine, adjusting dials, securing equipment, and monitoring displays. Some stood by crates, communicating over radios, while others stared intently at the machine's core as if expecting it to do something even more terrifying at any moment.
At the far end of the room, the glowing mass twisted and writhed, pulsating with a red hue that seemed to bleed into the blue light surrounding it. It wasn't just a light—it was something alive, something otherworldly. The group couldn't look away as the red mass seemed to stretch, its edges sparking with flashes of energy. Each pulse seemed to distort the very air around it, creating a hazy mirage of power.
"What the hell is that?" Robin muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned closer to the glass, her face pale under the blue light.
"It's a gateway," Dove said softly, her eyes narrowing. "They're opening a gate."
"To where?" Robin asked, her voice laced with unease.
Steve, Dove, and Dustin glanced between each other with knowing looks.
The machine roared to life again, and the beam of energy intensified, slamming against the glowing red mass, which responded by expanding, its edges flickering with flashes of violent red light. It was like watching a storm being born—chaotic, volatile, and immensely dangerous.
From their vantage point, they could see more clearly the lengths the Russians had gone to in constructing this monstrosity. The machine looked menacing from up here—its thick metal plating, intricate wires, and rotating sections moving in unison as if unlocking something forbidden.
Dove's heart raced as she scanned the room. They were dangerously close to this experiment. The pulsing red and blue lights reflected off her face as she turned to Steve and Dustin.
"We need to go," she said, her voice steely. "We need to warn the others." She turned around and started down the staircase.
"I don't understand," Robin panted, rushing down the stairs alongside Steve. "You've seen this before?"
"Not exactly," Steve replied, his voice tight as they bolted down the staircase.
"Then what, exactly?" Robin asked, exasperation creeping into her tone.
"All you need to know is it's bad." Dusitn said,jumping the last two steps, landing hard but keeping his balance. "Like end-of-the-human-race-as-we-know-it kind of bad,"
Robin shot him a disbelieving glance. "And you know about this how?"
"Um, Steve?" Erica's voice piped up from the rear of the group, a note of alarm in it. "Where's your Russian friend?"
Dove's heart lurched in her chest, her eyes darting around the room. The pile of duct tape lay on the floor in front of them—empty. "Shit," she hissed under her breath.
A loud, piercing alarm rang out, echoing through the corridors and answering Erica's question. "Shit!" Dove repeated, panic seizing her as she ran to the nearest door and peered through the narrow window.
The sight outside made her blood run cold. The nearly naked Russian soldier she'd tied up was crouched down, gesturing wildly to half a dozen other soldiers. Their heads snapped toward the door as one of them barked an order, their gazes locking onto her through the glass.
"Shit! Go!" she screamed, her voice breaking as she spun on her heel, dashing back toward the others.
They tore back up the stairs, adrenaline pumping through their veins, their footfalls heavy and frantic as the soldiers outside began shouting. As they reached the top, the door burst open and they spilled out onto the catwalk, but they weren't alone. Several Russians turned from their stations, alerted by the commotion, their eyes narrowing in suspicion. The sound of boots hitting the floor behind them told Dove they had even less time than she'd feared.
Steve ran ahead, Dove close behind, as they charged left through another door, slamming it shut behind them. Their lungs burned from the exertion, but there was no time to slow down. The door rattled as the Russians reached it, but the group kept moving, sprinting down a steep staircase that led them deeper into the bowels of the facility.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in a wide-open chamber, dominated by the monstrous machine they'd seen earlier. The platform they stood on was high above the main floor, the mechanical hum of the machine deafening now, and there was nowhere to go but forward—or back the way they came.
Steve skidded to a stop at the edge of the platform, cursing under his breath as his eyes scanned for an escape route. "This way!" he shouted, motioning to the right. He charged ahead, shoving a startled Russian soldier out of the way. The man stumbled, his arms pinwheeling before he toppled over the railing, disappearing into the glowing abyss below.
Dove's heart pounded in her ears as they raced down another set of stairs, barely keeping up with Steve's breakneck pace. Behind them, the Russians were shouting again, and more soldiers were rushing toward them from every direction. Steve veered right, ducking under a low-hanging beam, and tipped over a stack of metal barrels. The barrels clattered loudly to the ground, rolling across the floor and crashing into the legs of the soldiers giving chase. The distraction gave them a few seconds of precious time.
"Keep going!" Steve yelled, his voice strained.
They bolted across the room, darting through another door. This one led into a storage room, packed with crates and metal shelving units. Steve slammed the door behind them, his shoulders heaving with the effort as he pressed his body against it to keep it shut. The door rattled violently as the soldiers pounded on it from the other side, their voices rising in anger.
Dove's eyes frantically scanned the room, looking for any way out. Her heart leapt when she spotted a metal hatch set into the floor on the far side of the room. "There!" she shouted, running toward it and dropping to her knees to yank it open. Cold air rushed up from below as the hatch creaked open, revealing a narrow passage beneath.
"Erica, go!" Dove urged, helping the young girl climb into the hatch. Erica hesitated only for a second before disappearing into the darkness below.
Steve grunted as the door buckled under the weight of the soldiers trying to force it open. "Robin, help me!" he called, and Robin rushed to his side, bracing herself against the door with her back. Together, they pushed with all their might, but the door wouldn't hold much longer.
"Get out of here and get help!" Steve shouted, his voice edged with desperation as he looked at Dove, who was still kneeling by the hatch.
Dove's breath caught in her throat. She stared at Steve, her mind racing. She didn't want to leave him, not like this. But there was no time. Dustin was already halfway through the hatch, his small frame slipping into the darkness.
"What are you doing?!" Steve shouted, his voice filled with frustration as he locked eyes with her. "Go!"
Dove hesitated for one more heartbeat, then nodded. "I won't forget you!" Dustin's voice echoed up from below as he ducked into the passageway, followed closely by Dove.
She gave Steve one last look, her chest tightening as she saw the resolve in his eyes. Then she pulled the hatch closed above her, plunging them into the dark