Dove crawled through the narrow vent, her breathing shallow as she tried to ignore the sharp, stabbing pain in her chest. The cramped space made it hard to breathe, and her muscles burned with the effort. Ahead of her, Dustin was explaining the Upside Down to Erica, his tone far too casual for the severity of the situation. Erica's snarky comments shot back at him in quick succession, the two of them bickering as they moved through the ducts, but Dove barely listened. Her thoughts were elsewhere, on the urgency of their mission, on Steve and Robin—now captured by the Russians—and on the overwhelming exhaustion that tugged at her body.
Dustin finally came to a stop in front of her, and Dove blinked, realizing that they had reached a large, slowly spinning fan blocking their path. She watched through half-lidded eyes as Dustin leaned forward, fiddling with the wires and grumbling under his breath as he worked to shut it down. His fingers moved quickly, his brow furrowed in concentration, while Erica made some sarcastic remark about his technical skills.
The hum of the fan suddenly stopped, the blades slowing to a complete halt, and the silence that followed pulled Dove sharply from her thoughts. She snapped back to the present, her eyes focusing on Dustin as he glanced back at them triumphantly.
"See? I told you I could do it," Dustin said, flashing Erica a grin.
"Yeah, sure," Erica replied, rolling her eyes.
They continued crawling forward, the air growing colder as they went. Finally, after what felt like hours, the sound of distant voices faded away. Dustin stopped again, lifting a hatch just above them. He peeked through the small opening, scanning the area to be sure it was clear. After a moment, he nodded to the others. "Alright, we're good. Come on."
Dove followed him, her body protesting every movement as she climbed out of the vent and into the room beyond. She stood up slowly, brushing dust off her uniform, and took a moment to catch her breath before looking around.
The room was vast, cold, and sterile, illuminated by a stark white light that reflected off sleek metal walls. Rows of tall glass cylinders stretched out in front of them. Inside each of the glass chambers were more smaller glass cylinders, each filled with the same green liquid as the one from earlier. The devices were intricate, with wires and tubes snaking through the glowing fluid, their purpose unclear but ominous.
Cold mist swirled around the base of each cylinder, giving the room an eerie, otherworldly feel. The soft hiss of machinery filled the silence, and every surface gleamed under the artificial light. The air was frigid, and Dove could feel the cool metal grate beneath her boots as she stood there, taking it all in.
Her eyes followed the rows of canisters down the corridor, the endless repetition of the eerie glow making her stomach churn.
Dustin stood beside her, his expression a mixture of awe and fear as he, too, stared at the strange cylinders.
Erica, for once, didn't have a sarcastic comment. She just looked up at the towering cylinders, her wide eyes reflecting the light as she slowly turned her head, taking in the enormity of it all.
Dove's throat tightened as she swallowed hard, her eyes locking onto one of the small red electric cars parked at the base of the stairs. She hurried over and climbed into the driver's seat, her heart sinking when she realized there were no keys in the ignition.
"Did you seriously think they'd just leave the keys in there?" Erica's voice cut through the moment, her sarcasm returning in full force.
Dove shot her a quick glance, feeling a twinge of frustration but knowing she had a point. "I don't know, maybe?" she muttered, still hoping for a miracle.
"There's gotta be a spare," Dustin chimed in, hopping into the passenger seat and immediately tearing through the glove compartment, tossing papers and random junk aside as he searched. "They wouldn't just leave this here without a way to start it."
Erica rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically as she wandered off, leaving Dove and Dustin to their fruitless hunt. Dustin dropped to the floor, peering underneath the car as if he might find the keys hiding there, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Hey, Dustin!" Erica called from across the room, her voice echoing slightly in the large, sterile space.
"Yeah?" Dustin mumbled, now sifting through some clutter on a nearby table, hoping for something useful.
"How big did you say that Demogorgon was?" Erica asked, her tone almost too casual.
Dustin didn't look up, still preoccupied with his search. "Big. Nine feet or so. Why?"
Erica didn't respond. Dove glanced up from the car, her curiosity piqued, and caught a glimpse of Erica disappearing around the corner. Her attention quickly shifted, though, as something else caught her eye—a massive metal cage in the far corner of the room. Its thick bars were ominous, towering over the equipment scattered nearby. It was empty now, but the sheer size of it sent a chill down her spine.
Her heart thudded in her chest as she stood up, cautiously approaching the cage, her eyes darting from the bars to the rest of the room. Just as she reached it, Erica reappeared, holding something long and metallic in her hands. Dove's eyes widened as Erica drew closer.
Dove jumped back as Erica activated the device, the end of the rod lighting up with a crackle of electricity. A sharp, electric blue light flickered at the tip, sending sparks into the air.
"What the hell is that?" Dustin asked, wide eyed with a set of keys now in his hand.
Erica shrugged, looking entirely too casual as she examined the electrified baton in her hands. "A deadly weapon," she said matter-of-factly, turning it off and on again as she spun it around like it was no big deal. "Could be useful."
Dustin raised his hands in surrender, clearly not wanting to get zapped. "For what?"
Erica rolled her eyes, twirling the baton lazily. "What do you think? Taking down Commies. Saving your friends."
Dustin shook his head, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I thought you were more realistic than that,nerd. We don't even know where Steve and Robin are. And even if we did, there are a million guards between us and them, with way deadlier weapons than this thing." He gestured toward the shock baton. "The best thing we can do is get out of here, find help, and come back."
"And that's exactly what you're going to do," Dove said, stepping forward and snatching the shock baton from Erica's hands. She spun it once before gripping it tightly, her gaze serious. "Go and find Hopper. Get him back here as fast as you can. I'm going to find Steve and Robin."
Dustin's expression hardened as he turned to face her fully. "You're crazy if you think I'm leaving without you."
Dove's heart clenched at the determination in his eyes, but she couldn't back down now. "Dustin," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, "one of us needs to go home to Mom tonight. And I'm not leaving without Steve and Robin."
Dustin stepped closer, his jaw clenched in stubborn resolve. "Either both of us leave or neither of us do."
The room fell into a tense silence, Dustin's words hanging heavy in the air. Dove could feel the weight of his determination, and though her instincts screamed at her to argue, she knew she wasn't going to change his mind. She let out a heavy sigh.
"IfI let you stay," she said, her voice firm and serious, "you will doexactlywhat I tell you. Do you understand?"
Dustin nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, I got it."
"Good." Dove glanced around the room, her mind racing as she pieced together a plan. "Okay. Go grab some of that green shit. We're staging a prison break."
Dustin's eyes lit up as he nodded eagerly, rushing over to the canisters.
Dove gripped the shock baton tighter, her jaw set. This was it. They were either getting everyone out alive—or they weren't getting out at all.
The smell of burning metal filled the air as green liquid sizzled and hissed against the floor. Dustin crouched next to the hole he was burning into the ground, carefully pouring the glowing liquid from one of the canisters. The sound of the metal melting away was almost drowned out by the pounding in Dove's chest as she waited, tense, watching the hallway. Every second felt like an eternity, her body coiled tight like a spring, ready to launch into action. The green liquid bubbled fiercely, finally eating through the last layer of metal with a sharp hiss. The floor groaned under the strain before the piece of metal fell away, clanging loudly as it hit the ground below.
Almost immediately, the facility's alarms blared to life. Red lights flashed along the walls, and a loud siren echoed through the hallways, signaling the chaos they were about to unleash.
"That's our cue," Dove said, her heart thudding harder in her chest.
Without another word, she took off down the hallway, her legs pumping as fast as they could carry her. The baton crackled in her grip, its electric hum filling the air as she rounded the corner. Her blood roared in her ears as she spotted the door to the room where Steve and Robin were being held. Her breath came in quick bursts, but her focus was razor-sharp.
The door was already ajar, and through the crack, she saw a man in a heavy rubber apron standing over a table covered in medical instruments. His back was turned, completely unaware of the storm about to hit him.
Without hesitation, Dove kicked the door open, her boot slamming into the metal with a loudbang.The man in the apron spun around, his eyes wide with surprise, but Dove was already in motion. She lunged forward, the baton sparking violently as she jabbed it into his chest.
Electricity crackled through the air, and the man let out a strangled cry, his body convulsing as the shock hit him. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor, crashing into the tray of medical instruments and sending them clattering to the ground. The sound still echoed through the room as his body twitched one last time before going still.
Dove's throat tightened as she looked at Steve and Robin, tied back-to-back on metal chairs. Thick straps secured them in place, and Steve's face was a mess—his black eye swollen shut, dried blood smeared across his cheek and jaw. But he was alive. That single fact sent a wave of relief through her, but there was no time to dwell on it. She dropped to her knees beside him, hands trembling as she started working on the straps.
"Hey! Henderson!" Steve rasped, his voice hoarse but oddly cheerful. "This is nuts—I wasjusttalking about you."
Dove paused, blinking at him in confusion. "What?"
"Yeah," Steve continued, a wide grin spreading across his face as he squinted at her. "I was telling that nice Russian dude all about you. And now look—you're here."
Next to them, Erica had appeared at Robin's side, quickly working to loosen her straps. Robin let out a breathy giggle, her head lolling to the side.
Dove shot a glance over at Robin, trying to make sense of the situation. "What the hell is going on with you two?"
"I dunno," Robin said, shrugging as if it were the most casual thing in the world. "We were just chilling."
Dove worked faster, undoing the last of Steve's straps. He let out a long groan of relief as his arms fell free. "Oh, man, you're like.. really good at this. You ever untie people before? You've got, like, quick hands."
Dove shook her head, biting back a laugh despite herself. She helped Steve to his feet, though he wobbled like a newborn deer. "Alright, let's get out of here."
Erica undid Robin's last strap. The moment Robin's hands were free, she stretched out her arms like she was about to do yoga.
"Mmmm.. I feel great," Robin said, completely oblivious to the danger. She stood up shakily, bumping into Erica as she swayed. "I'm ready to run.. or maybe just lie down for a bit? You ever just wanna lie on the floor and look at the ceiling?"
Dove kept one arm around Steve, who was swaying heavily. His head lolled toward her, and he gave her a lazy smile. "You smell like.. flowers. Do you wear flower perfume? It's nice."
Dove's patience was wearing thin. "Come on, Steve, focus. You can thank me when this is over."
"I'm already thanking you," he said dreamily, leaning more of his weight onto her. "You're, like, my hero right now."
Ignoring him, Dove guided him toward the small red cart just outside the room. Dustin was already waiting there, his eyes wide with impatience as he gestured for them to hurry.
"Get in," Dove said, trying to push Steve into the back of the cart.
Steve stumbled in with a goofy grin.
Robin giggled from behind them, leaning on Erica as they made their way over. "Road trip!"
Dove's heart pounded as she helped Robin into the cart beside Steve. The two of them immediately slouched against each other, Robin letting out a contented sigh as if this was the most comfortable place in the world. Erica glanced at Dove, unimpressed.
"What's wrong with them?" Erica asked, her voice flat, as she gestured toward the giggling messes that were Steve and Robin.
"I have no idea," Dove muttered under her breath. She climbed into the back of the cart, casting one last glance at Steve and Robin, who were now mumbling incoherent nonsense to each other. They looked utterly useless in their current state, their words a jumble of confusion. Steve was halfway through a sentence about pancakes and Robin was laughing so hard she could barely sit up.
Dove turned her attention to Dustin, her voice firm. "Let's go."
Dustin didn't need any more encouragement. He jumped into the driver's seat and floored it, causing the cart to lurch forward with a jarring jolt. Dove braced herself against the metal railing in the back, gripping it tightly as they zoomed down the corridor. The cart swayed dangerously as it picked up speed, the sound of the small electric motor whining in protest.
Steve, who had been humming tunelessly, suddenly bolted upright. "Slow down!" he yelled, his voice cracking as he clutched the sides of the cart like they were in some high-speed chase.
Robin, equally disoriented, gave him a sloppy side-eye. "Yeah, what is this, like, the Indy 500?" she slurred, throwing her hands in the air like she was on a roller coaster.
Steve blinked, his face serious for all of two seconds. "It's the Indy300," he corrected.
Robin rolled her eyes dramatically. "No,dingus, it's 500!" she shouted back.
"It's300!" Steve insisted, his voice rising as if it were a matter of life and death.
"Let's say a million," Robin said with a giggle, laughing at her own joke as if it were the funniest thing in the world. Steve's laughter followed, both of them leaning against each other in fits of giggles.
Dove sighed, rubbing her forehead. "How much longer?" she shouted toward Dustin, who was too focused on steering to notice the chaos behind him.
Dustin turned briefly to answer her. "Almost there—"
His words were cut off when the cart collided head-on with a stack of metal barrels, sending them flying in all directions. Dove felt herself lurch forward uncontrollably, sprawling right into Steve's lap with a thud.
"Well, hello there," Steve said, raising an eyebrow at her with a crooked smile.
Dustin whipped around, panic etched across his face. "Are you guys okay back there?"
Dove scrambled to sit up. "Fine," she muttered, quickly climbing out of the cart. She surveyed the hallway ahead—there was no way they could take the cart any further. "We'll have to run from here." She turned back to Steve and Robin, who hadn't moved an inch since the crash. "Let's go!"
Robin and Steve fumbled over each other, laughing as they tried to get out of the cart, their limbs tangled and coordination completely shot. They tumbled to the floor in a heap, both of them still giggling uncontrollably as they staggered to their feet.
They reached the elevator, and Dustin scanned the keycard, the doors sliding open with a softding.Somewhere along the way, Steve and Robin had found a flat red cart—probably used for moving equipment—and Robin was pushing it toward the elevator, Steve standing on top of it like a surfboard. They careened into the elevator, Robin barely able to stop in time as Steve struck a ridiculous pose, arms outstretched for balance.
Dove rolled her eyes, stepping into the elevator and slamming the 'door close' button. "Unbelievable," she muttered as she began to remove the Russian uniform, happy to be back in her clothes again.
Robin suddenly yanked the cart out from under Steve, sending him sprawling onto the floor. He landed flat on his back with a dramaticthud, staring up at the ceiling before bursting into laughter.
"Wipeout!" Robin declared with a grin, throwing her arms up in victory. She plopped down on the edge of the cart, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, clearly pleased with herself.
Dustin crouched down next to Steve, frowning as he placed a hand on his forehead. "He's burning up," he said, glancing back at Dove with concern in his eyes.
"You're burning up," Steve shot back, still giggling as he tried—and failed—to push Dustin away. His coordination was completely off, his hand flopping weakly against Dustin's chest.
Dustin pried open one of Steve's eyelids. "His eyes are super dilated," he said, his frown deepening. "What the hell did they do to them?"
Dove let out an exasperated sigh. "They're high," she stated flatly, the realization sinking in. "Of course."
Dustin tapped the side of Steve's face gently, trying to get him to focus. "Steve, are you drugged?" he asked, his tone serious.
Steve scoffed, his tone turning mock-offended. "How many times do I have to tell you,Dad? I don'tdodrugs. It's just marijuana." He punctuated his point by tapping Dustin's nose with his finger, a cheeky grin on his face.
Dustin groaned. "This isn't funny, Steve. I need to know what they did to you. Are you gonna die on us?"
Steve's grin widened as he poked Dustin's nose again. "Boop."
Robin, who had been sitting on the cart, glanced over, her expression far more serious than before. "We all die, my strange little child friend," she said with a faraway look in her eyes, twirling her hair. "It's just a matter of how.. and when."
"Great, that's comforting," Dustin muttered under his breath before looking at Dove. "What do we do?"
Dove knelt down next to Steve, grabbing his chin gently and turning his face toward hers. "Steve, I need you to focus. Did you tell the Russians anything? Are they going to be waiting for us when we get upstairs?"
Steve blinked slowly, his eyes still unfocused and a goofy grin still plastered across his face. "I could focus on you all day," he said with a sly smile.
Dove rolled her eyes, her voice flat. "Focus, Steve."
Steve squinted as if trying to remember. "I told 'em you and Hopper knew about their secret hideout. And that you were gonna come and shoot 'em in the face. Which, by the way, is badass."
Dove stared at him, her stomach dropping. "Youtoldthem that?"
Steve smiled lazily, completely unaware of the gravity of his words. "Yup. So.. can we stop at the food court? Because I could really go for a hot dog on a stick."
Robin's face lit up. "Yes! Hot dog on a stick! I'll take two."
Dove buried her face in her hands for a moment, letting out a long sigh. "Great," she muttered. "That's just great."
The elevator lurched to a stop, the doors sliding open with a soft chime. Dove felt her heart pounding in her chest as they stepped out into the empty loading dock. The cool evening air hit her face, a welcome change after the oppressive heat of the underground complex. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but she knew they weren't safe yet.
"Oh my god," Robin gasped dramatically, spreading her arms wide. "You guys taste that?" She grinned, inhaling deeply as if she were tasting the air itself. "I cantasteit!"
Dove shook her head. Robin and Steve were still loopy from the drugs, and keeping them focused was like herding cats. As they moved toward the exit leading to the parking lot, she tried to keep them moving, hoping they could make it out without further incident.
But then, Dustin froze beside her, his eyes widening. "Uh, Dove..."
She looked up, following his gaze, and saw them—a group of armed guards pouring through the gate leading to the parking lot. They were moving fast, weapons drawn, scanning the area as they fanned out. One of the guards spotted them, yelling in Russian and surging toward them.
"Shit," Dove hissed. "Run!"
The group bolted back toward the mall's entrance, shoving Steve and Robin through the doors as quickly as possible. They stumbled forward, still disoriented, with Steve giggling as they ran. "Why are we running?" he asked, half-laughing as he tripped over his own feet.
"Wee!" Robin yelled, her eyes wide with excitement.
Dove shoved them forward, herding them through the doors as fast as she could. Once inside, the group hurried through the dimly lit back hallways of the mall, their footsteps echoing off the tiled floors. Dove's heart was hammering in her chest as they zigzagged through the corridors, trying to find an escape route.
They rounded a corner and found themselves in front of the entrance to the mall's movie theater. Dustin, breathing heavily, rushed forward and grabbed the door handle, pulling it open just enough to peek through. He glanced both ways, scanning the empty hallway beyond before turning back to the group. "All clear," he said, waving them forward.
They slipped into the hallway of the theater, keeping low as they passed the posters advertising various movies. The muffled sound of dialogue drifted through the walls from the screening rooms. Dove's pulse was racing as they walked, trying to stay as quiet as possible despite the chaos of the situation.
The first theater door they came to had a glowing sign above it:Back to the Future.Without hesitation, Dove pushed the door open and motioned for everyone to follow her inside. The theater was nearly full, with the audience engrossed in the movie playing on the screen. Marty McFly was racing around Hill Valley, but Dove's focus was entirely on the task in front of her.
"Go, go!" she whispered, hurrying them down the aisle. She spotted two empty seats in the front row and quickly pointed to them. "Sit there. Now."
Steve, somehow, had somehow managed to find a bucket of popcorn—where he got it, Dove had no idea. "These seats are too close," he whined, squinting at the screen as if it were burning his eyes. "I can't see anything from here."
"Then don't watch the movie." Dusitn groaned.
"But we watch to watch the movie!" Robin protested.
"Then watch the movie!" Dove snapped, her voice low but forceful.
Someone from a few rows back leaned forward and angrily shushed them.
Dove apologized turning her attention back to Steve and Robin. "Whatever you do, do not move." She said.
Dove glanced around nervously, feeling the pressure mounting. They couldn't stay in this theater for long—not with the guards looking for them.
Dustin crouched down beside Dove, his breath still ragged from the sprint through the mall. His eyes darted around, scanning the crowded theater, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's the plan now? We can't stay here. The Russians are probably swarming the place."
Dove swallowed, glancing over at Steve and Robin, who were still giggling at the screen, seemingly oblivious to the fact that their lives were in danger. Robin had her feet kicked up on the seat in front of her, chewing popcorn with a lazy smile. Steve, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, was squinting at the movie, trying to make sense of it through his drug-addled state.
"I know," Dove whispered back, her voice tense. "But we need to lay low for a minute." She motioned to a few seats farther back, where there were three empty chairs. "Come on. Let's sit over there."
Dustin nodded, and he, Dove, and Erica quietly slipped into the empty row. The worn fabric of the theater seats squeaked slightly as they sank into them. It felt strange, sitting in a dark, air-conditioned theater watching Back to the Future after everything they'd just been through.
"It's official," Dustin muttered, leaning back and catching his breath beside Dove. "I am never having kids."
Erica, who had been watching the screen intently, turned to them, her expression impatient. "What's the plan? We can't just sit here watching movies."
"Lay low. Cool down for a second," Dove said, her mind racing as she tried to formulate the next steps. "We don't know where the guards are, and we're going to need time to figure out how to get out of here."
She turned to Dustin, who was still fidgeting beside her. "Get on your radio. Try to get ahold of everyone—Mike, Nancy, anyone. We're gonna need all the help we can get."
Dustin nodded, pushing himself out of the seat and slipping quietly toward the exit, disappearing into the dimly lit hallway.
Dove leaned back, rubbing her temples. Her brain felt like it was spinning in a dozen directions at once. The guards were undoubtedly searching for them. She didn't know how long they had before someone thought to check the movie theater.
Steve and Robin were laughing again. On the screen, Marty McFly was dancing awkwardly at the high school dance, but Dove could barely focus on the movie. She glanced over at them, her eyes narrowing. They were still completely out of it, their giggling breaking the tension of the otherwise hushed theater. A few people turned their heads, clearly annoyed at the disruption, but neither Steve nor Robin seemed to notice.
Dove sighed and turned to Erica. "I have to make a phone call," she said, her voice low but serious. "Watch them. Make sure they don't go anywhere."
Erica, clearly absorbed in the movie despite the chaos around them, nodded without looking away from the screen. "Yeah, I got it. If they start acting like idiots, I'll smack them."
Dove couldn't help but smile at Erica's bluntness, though the situation hardly warranted humor. She stood up slowly, glancing around the theater one last time to make sure no one was paying too much attention to them. Most of the audience was transfixed on the movie, their faces illuminated by the bluish glow from the screen. It was strange to see so many people so relaxed while Dove felt like her entire body was wound up tight, ready to snap.
Dove slipped out of the row, careful not to draw too much attention as she made her way toward the exit. The dim theater lights flickered against the floor, casting long shadows as she hurried toward the lobby. Her heart raced, knowing time was slipping away.
In the lobby, the quiet buzz of the concession stand seemed out of place with the chaos brewing outside. Dove quickly scanned the area, her eyes landing on a payphone tucked into the corner. She rushed over, her fingers brushing against the small crumpled piece of paper in her pocket.
She fished it out, unfolding the wrinkled scrap. The number was smudged, the ink barely legible from being folded and refolded so many times. She didn't know the number by heart, but it didn't matter.
Her fingers shook slightly as she punched in the digits, the cold metal of the payphone pressing against her ear. She could only hope the person on the other end would pick up.