Dove pressed the last digit, the rotary dial clicking back into place as she held the phone to her ear. Her heart pounded as the line rang, each second feeling like an eternity. She glanced nervously over her shoulder, half-expecting guards to burst in at any moment, her body coiled tight with anticipation.
Finally, the click of the phone being picked up on the other end.
"Hello?" Danny's familiar voice crackled through the receiver, warm and a little sleepy.
Dove closed her eyes for a moment, relief flooding through her, but it was fleeting. She was in too deep now, and dragging Danny into this was the last thing she wanted. But she had no choice. "Danny," she whispered, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to keep it steady.
"Dove?" she could hear shuffling on the other end of the phone as Danny stood up. "Are you okay?"His voice had taken on an edge of concern.
"No," Dove sniffled, holding back the sudden urge to cry. "I'm in trouble, Danny. I need your help."
"Where are you?" Danny asked, his voice sharper than she had ever heard it.
"I'm.." She swallowed hard, glancing around the quiet lobby. "I'm at Starcourt. I—I should have stopped. I should have listened to you. I was so stupid." Her words came out in a rush, her breath shaky.
There was silence for a moment, the weight of her request hanging in the air. Then Danny's voice softened. "I'm on my way. Just hang tight. I'm coming, Dove. Don't do anything crazy until I get there."
"Thank you," Dove breathed, feeling both relieved and guilty all at once. "I'll see you soon. And Danny.. I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he replied quietly. "Just be careful."
Dove hung up the phone with a soft click, her hand lingering on the receiver for a moment longer than necessary. A tight knot of guilt twisted in her stomach. Danny had nothing to do with this, and now she was dragging him into the mess she had barely begun to understand herself. She leaned against the payphone for a moment, closing her eyes and letting out a shaky breath. She hadn't wanted to involve him, but there was no other option. They were running out of time.
As she pushed away from the phone, about to head back toward the theater, she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Dustin and Erica came barreling toward her, their faces pale and their breaths coming in frantic bursts.
"Dove!" Dustin shouted, skidding to a stop in front of her. His eyes were wide with panic. "Steve and Robin—they're gone!"
Dove's heart sank. "What do you mean they're gone?"
"They just—disappeared!" Erica added, her voice high-pitched with alarm. "One second they were sitting there, and then we turn around for two seconds, and poof! They're not in their seats anymore!"
Dove's mind raced. With Steve and Robin in their current state, there was no telling where they might have wandered off to—or what kind of danger they could be walking into. She cursed under her breath, her earlier guilt morphing into a surge of determination.
"Alright," Dove said, forcing herself to think. "We need to find them before the guards do. Let's go."
Dove, Dustin, and Erica rushed down the dim hallway of the theater, moving quickly but quietly as they began their search. They peered into each theater room one by one, but every time, they were met with nothing but confused moviegoers and flickering screens.
"They couldn't have gone far," Dustin muttered, frustration growing with each empty room they checked. "They're barely functioning as it is."
"They're probably just wandering around in their weird drugged-up haze," Erica added, though her voice carried a sharp edge of impatience.
Dove's heart pounded in her chest as they rounded a corner, reaching the restrooms. She paused, glancing at the signs above the doors. "Check in there," she said to Dustin, pointing to the boys' bathroom. "We'll check the girls'."
Dove and Erica pushed into the girls' bathroom, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead and casting a sterile, harsh glow over the tiled room. As soon as they stepped inside, they heard it—muffled laughter coming from one of the stalls.
Dove exchanged a glance with Erica before moving toward the far stall, where the sound of giggles grew louder. She reached the door and nudged it open, revealing Steve and Robin sitting on the floor, propped up against opposite sides of the stall, laughing with each other like they were sharing the world's funniest secret.
They looked up at Dove, their eyes widening in surprise, like they'd just been caught doing something they knew they shouldn't.
Steve blinked, his grin still plastered across his face. "Uh.. hey, Dove," he said, trying and failing to stifle another laugh. "We were just.. um.."
"Talking about the Muppets," Robin finished for him, her face flushed, still giggling. "Have you ever heard Steve's impression of Kermit the Frog singing Total Eclipse of the Heart?"
Dove pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a wave of exasperation wash over her. "Oh great," she muttered. "They're still high."
Steve's grin widened, still riding the remnants of whatever drugs the Russians had given them. "We feel great, actually." He let out another laugh. "Like, really great, like everything's.. less fuzzy now."
Robin nodded, her grin faltering slightly. "We threw up," She admitted, glancing at Steve before giggling again. "But honestly? Feel way better now. Like, so much better."
Steve waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, it's like, we got rid of all the bad stuff, you know?"
"Right." Dove sighed, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "Well, I'm glad you're having a good time, but we need to go—now. Can you walk?"
Steve gave a sloppy salute. "Ready when you are, babe."
Robin, still smiling, tried to stand but swayed slightly, steadying herself against the wall. "Yeah, I'm good," she said with a small hiccup. "Let's do this."
Dove stepped back to give them space, and Steve staggered to his feet with another laugh, using the stall for support. He looked at Dove, still grinning like a fool. "You know what? You're, like, the best."
Dove raised an eyebrow, her exasperation barely contained. "Let's just get you guys out of here, yeah?"
Robin stood, steadying herself next to Steve. "Yeah, we should.. we should totally get out of here."
They stumbled toward the door, Dove shaking her head in disbelief.
Dustin burst through the entrance, looking flustered. "Found them?" he asked, his eyes darting from Dove to Steve and Robin, who were still smiling like two goofballs.
"Yeah," Dove muttered, her voice dry. "They were having the time of their lives doing Muppet impressions in the bathroom."
Dustin looked them up and down, his face deadpan. "Of course they were."
Dove, Dustin, and Erica guided Steve and Robin out of the bathroom as they struggled to contain their giggles.
As the group entered the bustling lobby of the movie theater, they were instantly surrounded by a sea of people. Several movies had just ended, and the crowd was thick, with groups of people chatting and heading toward the exits.
They weaved through the crowd, heading for the doors, trying to move casually as Steve and Robin, still recovering from the drugs but admittedly doing much better than before, leaned on each other for support, giggling quietly. Just as they were about to reach the exit, Dove's heart sank. She spotted a group of men by the doors, standing rigidly as they checked IDs.
"Stop," Dove whispered urgently, grabbing Dustin's arm. They all froze, staring at the men for a split second.
"Oh, crap," Erica muttered under her breath.
They turned around slowly, hoping they hadn't been noticed, but before they could slip back into the crowd, one of the men lifted his head and spotted them. His eyes narrowed in recognition, and without missing a beat, Dove yanked Steve and Robin back into the crowd.
The group took off, weaving through the dense crowd, trying to avoid drawing attention. Heart pounding, Dove led them toward the mall's main courtyard. The soldiers' shouts echoed behind them. Panic rose in Dove's chest as they ran faster, their footsteps slapping against the polished tile floor.
They reached the escalators at the edge of the courtyard. Without thinking, Dove veered toward the divider between the two moving stairways, throwing herself over the metal rail and sliding down the smooth divider between the escalators.
Steve and Robin, caught in their hazy state, followed with more laughter than grace, their bodies bumping down awkwardly as they tried to stay upright. Erica, nimble and quick, had no trouble, while Dustin, slightly more hesitant, flopped over the rail and landed with a grunt but managed to follow.
They hit the bottom, scrambling to their feet and ducking behind the nearest cover—the counter of Hot Dog on a Stick. The smell of frying corn dogs and lemonade hit them, but they had no time to think about it. They crouched behind the counter, pressing themselves against the metal cabinets as their chests heaved from exertion.
"Okay, this is bad," Dustin panted, wiping sweat from his brow.
Dove's heart raced as she strained to hear over the pounding in her ears. Heavy boots thudded against the tile, the soldiers closing in. She could hear them barking orders in Russian, the sound of their radios crackling as they moved closer.
Then, suddenly, the footsteps stopped. Dove held her breath, silently praying they hadn't been spotted. But when she peeked around the edge of the counter, her blood turned cold.
One of the soldiers had rounded the corner, his rifle trained directly on them. His dark eyes locked onto Dove, his expression hard and cold. He barked something in Russian, and Dove didn't need to understand the words to know they were in serious trouble.
"Hands up," Dove whispered, slowly raising her hands in surrender. The others followed her lead, their faces pale as they lifted their hands.
The soldier stepped closer, his finger hovering near the trigger. It felt like the end. Dove's heart pounded in her chest as she looked around, desperately trying to think of a way out. But nothing came. They were cornered. This was it.
Just as the soldier opened his mouth to speak again, there was a suddencrackof impact. His head jerked forward violently, his body crumpling to the ground as the rifle slipped from his grip.
Standing behind him was Danny, gripping the handle of his handgun. He had knocked the soldier out cold. Without missing a beat, Danny tucked the handgun into his waistband with a fluid motion, like he'd done it a thousand times before, and bent down to grab the fallen soldier's rifle. With practiced ease, he hoisted the rifle up, his posture calm and steady as he held the weapon, his eyes sharp.
Danny gave her a quick nod, not wasting any time on explanations. "We need to move," he said quietly but firmly. "Now. Follow me."
Dove stared for a split second longer, processing how easily Danny had disarmed the soldier. He didn't just look confident—he looked like he'd done this before, as if handling weapons was second nature to him. The fluidity in his movements, the calm in his eyes, it was all so effortless.
Before Dove could think any further, Danny motioned for them to follow. "Let's go," he urged, his voice tight with urgency.
Ducking out from behind the counter, Dove and the others fell in line behind him. Danny led the way, his eyes scanning their surroundings with precision, the rifle steady in his grip. He moved with purpose, leading them through the mall's winding corridors, always one step ahead.
As they approached the law office, Dove couldn't help but steal a glance at him. The sight of him holding that rifle with such confidence sent a strange mix of feelings through her—relief, gratitude, and a tinge of curiosity. She had no idea what Danny's story really was, but right now, she was just thankful he had come when he did.
They reached the office, and Danny motioned for them to get inside. He glanced around once more, making sure the coast was clear, before following them in and quietly shutting the door behind him.
Dove's heart finally slowed down as the tension in her chest eased. For the first time in hours, they had a chance to breathe.
And they had Danny to thank for that.
As soon as they were inside the small law office, Danny set down the rifle with a softclankon the desk and rushed to Dove's side, concern etched across his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low but urgent, his eyes scanning her for any signs of injury.
Dove, still catching her breath, nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"What the hell is he doing here?" Steve's voice cut through the moment, sharp and annoyed. He stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking suddenly much more alert than he had been only moments before. His gaze bounced between Dove and Danny, his expression irritated.
Dove straightened, feeling a wave of tension ripple between them. "I called him," she explained simply, her voice calm but firm. "We needed the help."
Steve's eyes narrowed slightly, and before he could say anything, Danny turned toward him, extending a hand. "I'm Danny," he said, introducing himself, his tone friendly but cool. "You must be Steve." His eyes flicked over Steve's bruised and swollen face, and he grimaced with a hint of amusement. "You look like shit. What the hell happened to your face?"
Steve didn't move, barely glancing at Danny's outstretched hand. "Long story," he muttered, unimpressed, though his annoyance was evident in his tone.
Before the tension could rise any further, Dustin stepped forward, his voice breaking through the moment. "Alright, can we focus here? What the hell do we do now? The Russians are gonna find us any minute!"
Dove turned toward Danny, her mind racing. She knew Dustin was right. They didn't have much time. "We need to get out of the mall."
"But the only way out from here is through the food court," Erica said, glancing toward the glass doors. "You know, where the soldiers are."
The group moved cautiously toward the office's glass doors, peeking out into the wide, open food court. Several Russian soldiers were stationed nearby, scanning the area as they patrolled. Dove's heart pounded as she watched them. Getting past that many guards without being seen would be impossible.
Suddenly, the alarm of the show car parked near the food court went off, its shrill blaring cutting through the air. The car's headlights flashed as it shook violently on its display platform, drawing the attention of every soldier in the vicinity. The Russians moved toward it cautiously, guns raised, exchanging confused glances as they approached the car.
Then, without warning, the car lurched violently and was thrown sideways with incredible force. The soldiers didn't stand a chance— the vehicle slammed into them, sending all of them sprawling to the ground, unconscious, their weapons scattered across the floor.
"What the hell..?" Danny muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the wreckage in the food court.
Dustin grinned, his voice full of awe. "Eleven," he whispered.
Steve straightened, a faint smirk on his face. "Looks like we've got somerealbackup now."
Danny glanced at Dove, still trying to process what he had just witnessed. "I'll explain later," she promised, her voice regaining its urgency. "Let's go meet everyone else."
The group moved quickly, slipping out of the office and into the now-vacant food court, their shoes squeaking against the tile floors as they rushed past the unconscious soldiers. Dove's heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she glanced down at the fallen Russians, their limbs sprawled at unnatural angles. It was a strange, surreal sight—the car, mangled from its sudden flight, engine smoking and headlights flickering weakly. They hurried past, making their way toward the bottom of the escalators where the others were already gathering.
As they reached the group, Dove felt a rush of relief wash over her. El was limping, her arm draped over Mike's shoulder for support, while Max, Lucas, Will, Nancy, and Jonathan followed close behind. Everyone looked worse for wear, dirty, tired, and bruised, but they were alive.
Dustin sprinted ahead, his face breaking into a grin as he caught sight of El. "You flung that thing like a Hot Wheel!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around El and Mike, pulling them into a tight hug. Despite the situation, laughter bubbled out of him, pure relief in his voice. "That was amazing!"
El, though weak, gave a small smile, leaning against Mike for support as she caught her breath.
Erica approached her brother, her usual tough demeanor cracking just a little as she spoke. "Lucas?" she asked, her voice carrying the faintest hint of excitement and relief.
Lucas turned to her, his expression a mix of surprise, confusion and irritation. "What are you doing here?"
Erica folded her arms, tilting her head toward the others. "Ask them," she said, gesturing toward Steve, Robin, Dove, and Dustin. "It's their fault."
"True, yeah. Totally true," Steve chimed in, raising a hand in mock surrender. "It's absolutely our fault."
"I still don't get what happened to that car," Robin said, frowning as she looked at the overturned vehicle.
Dustin grinned, pointing to El. "El has superpowers."
"I'm sorry?" Danny asked, still holding the rifle tightly, his face scrunched in confusion. His world had gone from disorienting to unbelievable in a matter of seconds. "Superpowers?"
Steve shot him a look, the annoyance clear in his tone. "Yeah. She threw it with her mind. Keep up."
Erica's eyes widened as she turned her gaze to El. "That's El?" she asked, pointing at her.
Robin, still catching up, furrowed her brow. "Who's El?"
Nancy stepped closer, her arms crossed as she took in the new faces. "I'm sorry, who are they?" she asked, gesturing toward Robin and Danny.
Robin gave an awkward smile. "I'm Robin. I work with Steve."
"She cracked the top-secret Russian code," Dustin added.
"Which is how we found out about the Russians," Steve continued, giving Robin a quick nod.
Danny stepped forward next to Dove, offering a polite but somewhat awkward wave. "I'm Danny. I work with Dove."
"He figured out that the Russians were behind Starcourt," Dove explained, still trying to wrap her mind around everything herself.
Jonathan looked even more confused now, glancing between them. "Russians? What Russians?"
Steve gestured at the fallen men scattered around them. "ThoseRussians!"
Max's eyes widened. "Wait, those were Russians?"
Erica gave a casual shrug. "Some of them."
Lucas still seemed lost. "What the hell are you guys talking about?"
"Didn't you hear our Code Red?" Dusitn asked, rolling his eyes dramatically.
"We heard it," Mike said, stepping forward with a frown. "But I couldn't understand half of what you were saying."
"Goddamn low battery," Dustin grumbled, shaking his head in frustration.
"How many times do I have to tell you about the low battery?" Steve shot back, clearly exasperated.
"Look, everything worked out, didn't it?" Dustin said, sounding defensive.
"Worked out?" Erica snapped. "We almost died!"
"Yeah, but we didn't, did we?" Dustin countered with a smug grin.
"It was pretty damn close," Steve muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Lucas, still trying to process everything, asked again, "Russians? As in working for the Russian government?"
Dustin turned to him, his voice rising with disbelief. "What is it that you are not comprehending? Am I not speaking English? We have a full-blown Red Dawn situation here!"
Before anyone could respond, Danny nudged Dove's arm gently, his face tense as he nodded behind them.
Dove turned, her eyes landing on El, who had stepped away from the group. Her face was pale, sweat beading on her forehead as she took a few shaky steps forward. Something was wrong. Dove's stomach dropped as she saw the strain on El's face, the way her eyes squeezed shut in pain.
"El?" Dove called, stepping toward her, concern tightening her voice.
El turned to look at Dove, her nose bleeding as she gripped the side of her head, her face contorting in pain. A sudden, wrenching gasp escaped her lips, and before anyone could react, her legs buckled beneath her. She collapsed to the ground, her body going limp.