Steve dropped down into the tunnel first, landing with a soft thud as his feet sank slightly into the spongy ground beneath him. The dim light from above cast an eerie glow on him as he stood up, slinging his bat over his shoulder. With the swim goggles pulled tightly over his eyes and the bandana tied around his mouth like a makeshift mask, he looked both ridiculous and strangely heroic at the same time. He glanced around cautiously, his eyes scanning the area before he motioned for the others to follow.
One by one, the kids dropped down into the tunnel. Mike was first, his expression a mix of determination and nervous energy as he landed beside Steve. Then Dustin and Lucas followed, both landing with soft grunts as their feet hit the uneven ground. Dove stood at the edge, her heart pounding as she watched them descend. She gave Max a reassuring nod before the younger girl jumped down, stumbling slightly on the unfamiliar terrain.
Dove took a deep breath before dropping down herself, her feet sinking into the soft, damp ground as she landed. The tunnel was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was organic—alive, almost. The ground beneath her feet felt like wet, spongy earth, covered in a slimy residue that clung to the soles of her shoes. Tendrils of dark, twisted vines snaked up the walls, pulsating faintly as if they had a life of their own. The walls themselves were rough and uneven, made of a strange material that seemed to be part rock, part something else entirely—something that wasn't natural.
The air was thick and damp, carrying a foul, earthy odor that made Dove wrinkle her nose beneath her makeshift mask. Every breath felt heavy, weighed down by the humidity and the stench of decay that seemed to emanate from the very ground beneath them. A soft, rhythmic thrum vibrated through the tunnel, like the steady heartbeat of some unseen creature.
Faint beams of light filtered down through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating patches of the tunnel in an otherworldly glow. In the dim light, Dove could see strange, bioluminescent fungi clinging to the walls, casting a faint greenish light that flickered like a dying firefly.
Steve turned toward Dove as she landed, reaching out instinctively to steady her. His hand gripped her arm gently, and she met his gaze through the goggles, her heart pounding from both the descent and the unsettling atmosphere around them. She gave him a small nod, signaling she was okay, and he let go, focusing his attention back on their surroundings.
The tunnel stretched out in both directions, seemingly endless, the walls narrowing in places before opening up into larger caverns. The distant sound of dripping water echoed faintly through the passage, adding to the oppressive sense of isolation. Every sound seemed to carry, amplifying the feeling that they were deep underground, far from the world above.
"Holy shit.." Dove whispered, her voice barely audible beneath the bandana.
Steve nodded, his jaw tight as he took in their surroundings. "Yeah, it's not exactly a vacation spot," he muttered, his voice muffled by the fabric around his mouth. He glanced at the kids, who were all standing nearby, their faces tense with a mixture of fear and determination.
The tunnel was alien, unsettling, and unlike anything Dove had ever imagined.
Mike shined his flashlight down at the map he had drawn, squinting slightly as he tried to make sense of the twisting, uneven lines. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's this way," he said, pointing to their right.
Dustin raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure, or you're certain?"
Mike let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm 100% sure. Just follow me, and you'll know," he said confidently, starting to walk carefully through the tunnel.
Dove and Steve exchanged a quick glance and Steve sighed, shaking his head before surging ahead to the front of the line.
"Any of you little shits die down here, we're getting the blame," Steve muttered, nodding toward Dove before snatching the map from Mike's hands. "From here on out, I'm leading the way. Come on, let's go."
The kids glanced back at Dove, waiting to see if she would override Steve's sudden authority. "What?" she asked, realizing they were looking for her approval. "You heard him, let's go."
Reluctantly, the kids followed Steve as he took the lead, Dove taking up the rear to keep an eye on everyone. As they moved deeper into the tunnels, the air seemed to grow thicker, and the pulsing vines along the walls felt more alive, throbbing with an unsettling rhythm.
Steve came to a stop at a crossroads, his eyes flicking between the map and the tunnels stretching out before them. After a brief pause, he chose the path on the right, and the group continued forward. The eerie silence weighed heavily on them, the only sounds being the crunch of their boots and the faint, rhythmic hum of the tunnel itself.
Dustin suddenly halted, his eyes widening as his flashlight illuminated something on the ceiling. "What the hell is that?" he whispered, staring at a large, pulsating pustule hanging just above them.
Dove's gaze followed Dustin's, her flashlight landing on the grotesque mass. The pustule was swollen and translucent, bulging with sickly yellow light that seemed ready to burst. The surface quivered, and without warning, it ruptured, releasing a stream of large, white particles into the air.
"Shit!" Dustin screamed, stumbling back in panic. His feet slipped, and he knocked into Dove, sending both of them crashing to the ground.
"Help! Help!" Dustin yelled, wiping frantically at his face.
Dove's heart raced as panic gripped her chest. She scrambled forward on all fours, watching as Dustin flailed, his voice hoarse with fear. "Dustin!" she cried, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
Mike rushed back to them, his voice filled with alarm. "Dustin!"
Steve pushed through the group, his bat at the ready. "What the hell's going on?!" he demanded, eyes darting between Dustin and the strange particles still floating through the air.
Dustin was on all fours, his bandana mask pulled down, coughing violently. "It's in my mouth! Some got in my mouth! Shit!" he gasped, spitting frantically on the ground.
Dove crawled forward, her mind racing as she grabbed Dustin by the shoulders, forcing him to stop moving. "Dustin, look at me!" she yelled, grabbing his face with both hands. "You're okay." Her voice was steady, though fear gnawed at her insides. "You're okay." She tried to convince herself just as much as she was convincing him.
Dustin coughed once more, his breath still ragged, but he managed to catch himself, nodding shakily. "I'm okay," he whispered, finally calming down as he wiped his mouth.
The others stood nearby, mumbling under their breath about Dustin being an idiot. One by one, they turned and continued down the tunnel, leaving the siblings to recover.
Dove let out a shaky breath as she stood up, pulling Dustin to his feet. "You good?" she asked, her voice soft.
Dustin nodded, his face pale. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good."
After a few more minutes, the tunnel finally opened up into a vast, eerie chamber—the hub. The air was thick with more of those white particles, drifting lazily around them like large, otherworldly snowflakes. The space was massive, the ceiling stretching high above them, covered in the same pulsating vines that seemed to crawl over every surface. In the dim light of their flashlights, the hub looked like the heart of something alive, something ancient and malevolent.
Mike was the first to step forward, his steps cautious as he pulled out a weed sprayer filled with gasoline. "Let's do this," he said quietly, spraying the thick liquid onto the vines that covered the walls and floor. The scent of gasoline quickly filled the air, mixing with the foul odor of decay.
One by one, the others followed Mike's lead, grabbing sprayers from their packs and dousing the hub with gasoline. The liquid soaked into the vines, dripping onto the ground in oily streams. Every corner of the room was covered, the slick surface glistening in the beam of their flashlights.
Dove emptied her gas can, the acrid scent of fuel heavy in the air as she joined the others at the entrance to the tunnel. Steve stood beside her, wiping sweat from his brow with a grim determination etched across his face. He pulled out his lighter, glancing at the group as he flicked it open, the tiny flame casting flickering shadows on the tunnel walls.
"Everyone ready?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with urgency.
They all nodded, their faces pale and tense in the dim light. Steve gave one last look at Dove, and when she nodded back, he turned toward the hub, his eyes narrowing in resolve. He threw the lighter into the center of the gasoline-soaked chamber.
The explosion was immediate, a burst of flames erupting in the heart of the hub, consuming the vines and tendrils in a flash of heat and fire. The oxygen in the room seemed to vanish, sucked into the inferno, and the roaring flames illuminated the space in a fiery glow. The temperature spiked, and Dove felt the searing heat against her skin as Steve's voice cut through the noise.
"Go! Go!" Steve yelled, motioning for them to move.
The group didn't hesitate. They sprinted down the tunnel, retracing their steps with desperate speed, the oppressive heat of the fire nipping at their heels. The tunnels seemed to close in on them, the walls twisting and pulsing with life as if reacting to the fire raging behind them.
Mike ran just ahead of Dove, his flashlight bouncing in his hand as he stumbled over the uneven ground. Suddenly, his foot caught on something, and he hit the ground hard with a grunt. "Help!" he screamed, his voice full of terror.
Dove skidded to a stop, her flashlight beam landing on a thick vine that had wrapped itself tightly around Mike's ankle, constricting like a serpent. The vine pulsed, the tendrils tightening with every second.
"Mike!" Dove cried, falling to her knees beside him, her hands fumbling to pry the vine loose. She yanked and twisted, her fingers slipping against the slick surface, but it wouldn't budge. Panic gripped her chest as Mike's screams grew louder, his eyes wide with fear.
"Dove, get back!" Steve's voice boomed from behind her.
Dove scrambled backward just as Steve swung his bat with all his strength. The bat connected with the vine in a sickening crack, the impact sending tremors through the ground. Again and again, Steve brought the bat down, hacking at the vine with fierce determination. Finally, with one last powerful swing, the vine snapped, releasing Mike's ankle with a grotesque squelch.
Steve offered his hand to Dove, pulling her to her feet, his grip strong and steady. For a brief moment, their eyes locked, the tension between them palpable in the dim light of the tunnels. The silent connection hung between them like a thread, ready to snap at any moment.
But the moment shattered as a familiar, chilling screech echoed through the tunnel.
Dove's heart froze in her chest as she turned to see Dart standing at the end of the tunnel, his grotesque form illuminated by the flickering light of the flames. He had grown even larger, his sharp, flower-like mouth gaping open as he snarled, his eyes fixed on them with predatory intent.
The group stood frozen, the weight of Dart's presence pressing down on them like a suffocating force. The air was thick with tension, and Dove's grip tightened on Steve's arm as she stared at the creature that blocked their path.
"Dart," Dustin whispered, his voice trembling as he took a cautious step forward. His eyes locked on the creature standing just a few feet away, its grotesque form looming in the dim light. Everyone behind him tensed, their fear palpable as they realized what he was doing.
"Dustin, no!" Mike yelled, his voice panicked, but Dustin shushed him, not taking his eyes off Dart. The creature let out a low snarl, its flower-like mouth opening slightly as it took another step forward.
"It's me," Dustin continued, his voice soft but steady. He pulled down his mask and lifted his goggles to his forehead, exposing his face to Dart. "It's just your friend. It's Dustin."
Dustin crouched in front of Dart, and Dove's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. She gripped Steve's arm tightly, the fear building in her chest as she watched her little brother get dangerously close to the creature. She clenched her teeth, silently willing Dustin to be careful.
"You remember me?" Dustin asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Dart stepped forward, his snarling mouth only inches from Dustin's face now, the rows of sharp teeth glistening in the dim light.
Dustin swallowed hard, trying to keep calm. "Will you let us pass?" he asked softly.
Dart's mouth opened wider, revealing the endless rows of jagged teeth, a low growl vibrating through the tunnel. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Dustin stammered, raising his hands slightly in a placating gesture. "I'm sorry about the storm cellar. That was a pretty douchey thing to do." He eased his backpack off, unzipping it slowly. "You hungry?"
From inside, he pulled out a slightly squashed Three Musketeers bar, quickly unwrapping it. "Look, I've got our favorite. See? Nougat," he said, holding the candy bar out carefully.
Dart's eyes flickered to the chocolate, and he leaned forward, sniffing the air. Dustin set the bar down on the ground in front of him, watching as Dart's sharp teeth bit into it, chewing hungrily.
Dustin glanced over his shoulder, frantically motioning for the group to move forward. One by one, they edged past Dart, their movements slow and deliberate. Dove's heart hammered in her chest as she slipped past the creature, its form towering beside her. She clenched her fists, willing herself to stay calm.
Dustin was the last to move, standing carefully as Dart continued eating the candy bar. He didn't look back as he followed the group, leaving Dart behind.
They finally made it back to where they had first entered, the rope they had used dangling lazily from the ceiling. Relief washed over them, but it was short-lived. The ground beneath them rumbled violently, shaking like an earthquake. Everyone stumbled, their eyes wide with fear as the monsters' roars echoed from behind them.
"Go! Go!" Steve shouted, his voice sharp with urgency. He grabbed Max by the waist and lifted her up, pushing her toward the rope. Max scrambled up, and Steve quickly moved on, lifting Lucas and then Mike as the tremors intensified.
Dove twisted around, her heart in her throat as the shadows of the monsters appeared on the tunnel walls. They were coming. Fast. Steve's grip tightened on his bat, his jaw set in determination as he pushed Dustin and Dove behind him.
Dove grabbed Dustin, pulling him into a tight hug as the first Demodog rounded the corner.This is it,she thought, her heart racing. She could hear Dustin's breath quicken in her arms, but there was nothing more they could do.
The Demodog snarled, its claws scraping the ground as it barreled toward them. But at the last second, it veered off, brushing against Dove's legs as it ran past.
Dove's eyes widened in shock, barely able to comprehend what had just happened.
More Demodogs appeared, an entire army of them flooding the tunnel. Steve wrapped his arms around both Dove and Dustin, trying to steady them as the creatures charged by, the sheer force of their speed threatening to knock them off balance. Each one flew past them, but none attacked.
As the last Demodog disappeared into the darkness, Steve's grip loosened, his breath coming out in heavy, ragged gasps. "What just happened?" he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.
"El's closing the gate," Dove replied breathlessly, still clutching Dustin close.
"Okay, let's go," Steve said, snapping back into focus. He grabbed Dustin and hoisted him up, pushing him toward the rope. Dove was next, her hands raw and shaking from the effort. She hauled herself up, her feet scrambling against the tunnel's uneven walls as the kids above grabbed her arms, pulling her the rest of the way to safety.
The air outside felt fresh, crisp, like a breath of relief as she reached solid ground. Her heart was pounding, the adrenaline still rushing through her veins. Dove's eyes darted to the edge of the tunnel where Steve stood, still below. Her heart skipped a beat as the ground beneath them rumbled again, and the walls of the tunnel groaned ominously.
"Come on!" she yelled, her voice cracking as she dropped to her knees by the opening.
The tunnel below seemed to close in around Steve, the walls trembling as the air filled with the distant sound of growls and screeches from the Demodogs. His face was pale, sweat pouring down his brow as he gripped the rope, his feet slipping against the dirt walls as he fought to climb up.
The rope swung wildly, Steve's weight straining it as he pushed off the crumbling dirt. Dove's breath hitched in her throat, her hands reaching out desperately.
She leaned down, her hands grasping at his forearms as he neared the top. She could feel the raw strength of his grip as his fingers dug into the dirt, but it wasn't enough. The earth beneath him shifted again, another violent tremor causing the tunnel to close in just a little more.
Dove's heart slammed against her chest, a wave of desperation washing over her. "I've got you," she gasped, pulling at Steve's arms with everything she had, her muscles screaming in protest.
Steve's face was tight with concentration, his jaw clenched as he fought against the exhaustion and fear. His legs kicked against the wall, dirt crumbling beneath him.
Her fingers tightened around his wrists, the sharp pain of his nails biting into her skin a reminder that she couldn't let go. The tremors in the ground grew stronger, the rumble below more insistent, but Dove pulled harder, her entire body straining against gravity as she tried to haul him up.
The rope jerked violently, sending her sliding forward slightly, but she dug her knees into the dirt, refusing to let go.
Just as it felt like the ground would give way beneath her, Steve managed to kick his legs up and grab onto the lip of the tunnel. Dove pulled with all her strength, her heart pounding in her ears, until finally—finally—Steve's chest cleared the edge.
Dove let out a strained sob of relief, adrenaline surging as she shifted her grip and pulled harder. Steve's breath came in ragged gasps as his body dragged over the lip of the tunnel, his legs still dangling dangerously below.
With one final heave, she and the others yanked him up onto solid ground. Steve collapsed beside her, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. Dirt covered his clothes, his face streaked with grime and sweat.
Dove fell back onto the grass, her chest heaving as the cold night air filled her lungs. Her arms were trembling from the exertion, but she didn't care.
For a moment, they all sat there, panting heavily, staring at each other in stunned silence.
Dove was the first to laugh, a breathless, shaky sound that quickly spread to the others. One by one, they all joined her, the relief washing over them like a wave.
"We did it," Dove said, a wide smile breaking across her face despite herself. "We actually did it."