The group sprinted through the winding back hallways of the mall, the overhead fluorescent lights flickering sporadically, casting long shadows on the walls. Dove had one hand clenched tightly around Steve's wrist, practically dragging him forward as he stumbled along behind her. He wasn't exactly resisting—if anything, he seemed entirely too pleased, a goofy grin plastered across his bruised face.
"You're holding my hand," Steve slurred, his voice soft and full of wonder. "This is the best day ever."
Dove groaned, glancing back at him with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "If you don't move faster, it's going to be your last day ever."
Ahead of them, Dustin darted around a junction, his head snapping back and forth to check for any signs of the Russians. "Clear!" he called out, motioning for them to follow.
At the same time, Erica was practically shoving Robin forward, her small frame surprisingly strong as she kept the older girl moving, her face a mix of annoyance and determination. Robin just giggled, her arms flailing slightly as she tried to keep up.
"Wee!" Robin said between bursts of laughter. "This is fun! Are we winning?"
"We're gonna lose if you don't pick it up!" Erica snapped, giving her another shove.
The group careened through another hallway, the sharp turns disorienting but necessary. The walls were marked with faded signs pointing to storage rooms and utility closets, a maze of indistinguishable corridors. Dustin led the way, his head swiveling constantly as they navigated the labyrinth of back hallways.
Finally, they reached the employee access door to the movie theater. Dustin skidded to a stop, pressing his back against the wall as he peered through the small glass window. Erica and Robin caught up, Robin nearly collapsing into the wall with a breathless giggle.
Dustin held up a hand, signaling silence as he listened carefully for any movement on the other side. The rest of the group fell quiet, their breathing heavy and ragged. The only sound was the distant echo of their pursuers, growing louder with each passing second.
"Clear," Dustin whispered, pushing the door open just enough to peek through. He glanced back at Dove with a sharp nod, motioning for them to move inside.
The group slipped through the employee access door, entering the dimly lit back hallway of the movie theater. The faint smell of buttered popcorn and the muffled sounds of dialogue filled the air. Dove led the way, her eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of the Russians, her grip still firm on Steve's wrist as he stumbled along beside her.
They reached the first screening room, the door slightly ajar. Dustin pushed it open just enough to peek inside, the bright light from the screen spilling out into the hallway.
"It's packed," Dustin whispered, glancing back at Dove.
Dove didn't hesitate, pushing the door open and motioning for the group to follow. "Good," she muttered. "We'll blend in."
Inside, the theater was alive with the sound of laughter and gasps from the audience, the premiere of Back to the Future in full swing. The glow of the screen illuminated rows of filled seats, people leaning forward, completely engrossed in the film.
Dove quickly scanned the theater and saw two open seats in the front row. She guided Steve and Robin forward, weaving through the rows with as much stealth as they could manage. Steve stumbled on a step, letting out a quiet laugh. Dove finally reached the empty seats, practically shoving Steve into one of them. Robin slid into the seat beside him, her legs tangling awkwardly as she dropped into the chair.
Steve, somehow, had 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." Dustin groaned.
"But we want 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."
Dove glanced around nervously, feeling the pressure mounting. They couldn't stay in this theater for long—not with the Russians 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 to rest on Steve's lap, chewing popcorn with a lazy smile. Steve, leaning forward with his elbows on Robin's 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." Dove's eyes scanned the rows, heart still pounding from their frantic sprint. She spotted three empty seats a few rows behind Steve and Robin and quickly motioned for Dustin and Erica to follow. They slid into the chairs as inconspicuously as possible, trying not to draw any attention. 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 need time to figure out how to get out of here."
She turned to Dustin, who was still fidgeting beside her. "You need to use your walkie. Try to get in contact with someone—anyone. Hopper, Mike, Nancy—I don't care who. Just tell them where we are."
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 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 yeah, I got it. If they start acting like idiots, I'll smack 'em."
Dove 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 moved quietly down the narrow aisle, her steps quick but measured. As soon as she stepped into the theater lobby, the sound of the movie muffled behind her, replaced by the low murmur of voices, the occasional laugh, and the hum of an arcade machine in the corner.
The lobby was dimly lit, the patterned carpet worn down from countless footsteps, and the air smelled faintly of buttered popcorn mixed with the metallic tang of the soda machine. Brightly colored posters advertising upcoming blockbusters lined the walls, their glossy surfaces catching the light from a buzzing neon sign that pointed to the concession stand. A small line of patrons waited at the counter, chatting idly as a teenager in a polyester uniform served popcorn and soda with the kind of half-hearted enthusiasm that only came with minimum-wage jobs.
Dove's eyes scanned the space, her heart pounding as she searched for a phone. She spotted one tucked into the far corner, partially hidden behind a faded cardboard cutout of The Karate Kid. The sight of it made her stomach churn with a mix of relief and apprehension.
She approached it slowly, weaving through the clusters of people without drawing attention. The closer she got, the more her nerves flared. Her fingers slipped into her pocket, pulling out the folded piece of paper containing Danny's number. It stared back at her in his neat handwriting and for a moment, she just stared at it, the weight of what she was about to do pressing down on her like a vice.
Taking a steadying breath, she unfolded the paper completely and reached for the receiver. Her fingers felt oddly stiff as she lifted it and pressed it to her ear, the dial tone buzzing faintly as she punched in the numbers.
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.
"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. "Danny," she whispered, her voice lower than she'd intended, wavering slightly as relief and urgency collided. She swallowed hard, gripping the phone with both hands.
"Dove?" She heard shuffling on his end, followed by the scrape of a chair. His tone shifted, sharp and concerned. "Are you okay?"
She hesitated, biting her lip as the words caught in her throat. Her stomach churned with doubt, but the weight of their situation pressed down on her, leaving her with little choice.
"I.. I need your help," she said finally, her voice quieter than she'd meant it to be.
There was a pause, and when Danny spoke again, his voice was sharper than she had ever heard it. "Where are you?"
"Starcourt," Dove replied, her words rushing out. Almost immediately, she heard the unmistakable clink of car keys being grabbed, the sound amplified by what she guessed was a ceramic dish. Her stomach churned with guilt, and before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out.
"Danny, I'm sorry," she said, her voice faltering. "I should've listened to you. I should've stopped when you told me to—"
"Don't," Danny cut her off, his tone firm but not unkind. "You don't need to apologize. Not now. Whatever's going on, we'll deal with it."
"Danny, I—"
"Stay put," he interrupted again, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Don't go anywhere until I get there. Do you hear me?"
Dove swallowed hard, gripping the phone tighter. "Okay," she whispered.
"I'm on my way," Danny said, his tone softening slightly but still filled with urgency. "Just stay safe, Dove. I mean it."
The line went dead before she could respond, leaving Dove staring at the receiver in her hand. She set the phone back on its cradle, taking a deep breath to steady herself. 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 I 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. "They couldn't have gotten far," she said, her voice steady but laced with urgency. "We'll split up and search each of the screening rooms. Meet by the bathrooms in five minutes."
Dustin and Erica nodded, the tension in the air palpable as they scattered to their assigned tasks. Dove rushed into the nearest screening room, her eyes scanning every row of seats. People were engrossed in the movie, the flickering light casting shadows across their faces, but there was no sign of Steve or Robin.
When they regrouped in the hallway, it was clear the search had turned up nothing. Dustin shook his head, his expression a mix of frustration and worry. "No sign of them," he said, breathless.
Erica crossed her arms, scowling. "This is ridiculous. Where else could they have gone?"
Before Dove could answer, soft giggling broke the silence. The sound drifted from the girls bathroom, unmistakable and growing louder. The three of them froze, exchanging a quick glance.
"You've got to be kidding me," Erica muttered.
Dove exhaled sharply and pushed open the bathroom door, stepping inside cautiously. The bright fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, reflecting off the white tiles. The giggling grew louder, coming from the last stall.
Dove 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, a 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 stared at them, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find words. She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. "No, Robin," she said, her tone tight, "I can't say that I have."
Steve perked up, sitting a little straighter. "Oh, it's so good," he said, grinning. "Wanna hear it?" Without waiting for a response, he cleared his throat and broke into a nasally, off-key rendition.
Robin burst into laughter again, clutching her stomach.
Dove rubbed her temples, her frustration mounting. "You two," she said, her voice firm, "Up. Now. We don't have time for this."
Steve and Robin exchanged a glance before Steve pushed himself up with a dramatic groan. "Alright, boss," he said, leaning against the stall for support. "But you're really missing out on some quality entertainment."
Robin clambered to her feet, swaying slightly before steadying herself on Steve's arm. "Fine," she said with a dramatic sigh, "but only because you're scary when you're mad."
Dove's eyes flicked down to Steve's sailor shirt where a smattering of puke clung to the fabric, smeared across the front like an unfortunate badge of honor. She let out a sharp exhale and turned toward the sink, yanking a few paper towels from the dispenser and wetting them under the faucet.
When she returned, Steve was swaying slightly, his gaze distant. Dove held the damp paper towel out to him, waving it for emphasis. "Here," she said, her tone clipped.
Steve stared at her hand like it was some kind of foreign object, his bleary expression completely blank. Dove groaned, stepping forward. "For the love of—just hold still," she muttered, pressing the paper towel against his shirt and scrubbing at the stain.
Robin, who had been leaning heavily against Erica, perked up suddenly. "Oh, yeah! We puked!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening with the realization. "That's why we feel better now!"
Steve nodded earnestly, a crooked smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, yeah. Everything's.. less fuzzy," he said, gesturing vaguely before stumbling back a step, his balance still off.
Dove shot a hand out to steady him, her grip firm on his arm. "Great," she said dryly, crumpling the paper towel in her other hand. "Glad you're back to normal." She tossed the used towel into the nearest trashcan. "Can you walk?"
Steve gave a sloppy salute with his free hand. "Ready when you are, captain."
Robin, still smiling, swayed slightly and steadied herself against Erica. "Yeah, I'm good," she said with a small hiccup. "Let's do this."
As the group stepped out of the bathroom, Dove's heart leapt. The lobby was packed, moviegoers spilling out of multiple screening rooms all at once. The crowd moved like a sluggish wave, people chatting loudly and herding toward the exits in clusters. The air buzzed with a cacophony of voices and the distant hum of arcade games.
Dove tightened her grip on Steve's arm, trying to keep him steady as he swayed slightly. "Stay together, stay low," she said quickly, her voice firm. "We blend in with the crowd. No sudden moves. And for the love of God, do not draw attention to yourselves."
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, giggled quietly. Just as they were about to reach the exit, Dove's stomach sank. She spotted a group of men by the doors, standing rigidly as they checked IDs.
She froze mid-step, her hand still gripping Steve's wrist tightly. He wasn't paying attention and bumped into her with a soft groan, causing her to stumble forward slightly.
"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 pushed Steve and Robin back into the crowd, Erica and Dustin close behind.
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. Dove's heart seized in her chest as she pulled the gun from her waistband with trembling hands. The cold metal felt heavier than before, her pulse hammering in her ears as she tried to steady her breathing. The group had gone silent, the tension thick in the air.
A pair of footsteps approached, the sound growing louder with each step. They stopped just next to the counter. Dove's grip on the gun tightened, her knuckles white. Slowly, cautiously, she peeked around the edge of the counter—and her blood ran cold.
One of the soldiers stood there, his rifle trained directly on her. She recognized him immediately: the same soldier she had threatened with the acidic cylinder. His expression was hard, his eyes dark with a mix of fury and resolve.
Dove swallowed hard, her mind racing as she slowly raised her hands, the gun still clenched in one of them. The soldier's eyes flicked to the weapon, then back to her, his grip on the rifle steady as a grin spread across his face.
"Hello, Devotchka," he said in heavily accented English, his voice low and taunting. "You want closer look?"
Her breath hitched as the cold metal of the rifle barrel pressed directly against her forehead. The grin on his face widened, his confidence radiating like a challenge.
Dove's fingers twitched around the gun, her mind scrambling for a way out. Every instinct told her to fight, to move, but the sensation of the rifle's weight against her skull froze her in place. She glanced quickly at the others, who were all watching the encounter with wide eyes.
"Drop it," he ordered, gesturing to the gun in her hand. His voice was sharp, but there was a slight flicker of hesitation in his eyes—a lingering doubt from their last encounter, barely discernible.
Dove's heart pounded as she weighed her options. Running was off the table. Shooting him here would only draw more attention, and she didn't know how many others were nearby. Her mind raced as she glanced around for something—anything—that could give her an advantage.
Before she could come up with a plan, the soldier's taunting smirk was wiped clean as a sharp crack echoed through the air. His body crumpled to the ground, revealing Danny standing behind him, his handgun still raised. His chest was heaving, and his knuckles were white from how tightly he was gripping the weapon.
Without saying a word, Danny tucked the handgun into his waistband and crouched down to take the unconscious soldier's rifle. His movements were fluid, practiced—like he'd done this a million times before. Dove's breath caught, her surprise barely concealed as she watched him sling the rifle over his shoulder with ease, completely comfortable with the weapon in his hands.
Danny straightened up and met Dove's wide-eyed gaze with a sharp nod, his expression unreadable. He didn't waste time with explanations, gesturing for the group to follow him. "This way," he said firmly, his voice low but commanding.
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.
They reached the law 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.
The moment they were inside, Danny set his rifle down on the nearest desk and crossed the room in quick strides toward Dove. His eyes scanned her over, concern written all over his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low but urgent.
Dove waved him off, stepping back slightly. "I'm fine," she said, her tone clipped but steady. She immediately turned to the others, her eyes darting between them. "Everyone okay?"
Before anyone could answer, Steve's voice cut through the room, sharp and surprisingly steady. "What the hell is he doing here?"
Everyone turned to look at Steve, who stood rigid near the desk, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. He suddenly seemed stone-cold sober, his gaze locked on Danny with an intensity that made the room feel smaller.
Dove sighed, stepping forward before things could spiral further. "I called him," she said firmly, her tone making it clear she wasn't in the mood to explain herself further.
Danny, unbothered by the hostility radiating from Steve, stepped toward him with an outstretched hand. "Danny," he said, his voice calm but carrying a hint of lightness.
Steve's eyes flicked down to Danny's hand but didn't move to take it, his jaw tightening.
Unperturbed, Danny tilted his head, his gaze dropping briefly to Steve's bruised and swollen face. "You know," he said with a faint smirk, "I was going to say you look better than I expected, but.. that'd be a lie."
Robin snorted loudly from the corner, earning a glare from Steve.
Danny shrugged, letting his hand fall to his side. "Just trying to break the ice," he said, still wearing that faint smirk. "But hey, I get it. Tense situations. Lot going on. I'm just here to back you up, man."
Steve crossed his arms tighter, his jaw clenched. "We don't need backup," he said flatly. "We've been handling things just fine without you, man."
Danny raised an eyebrow, glancing again at Steve's battered face, but Dove cut him off before he could say anything more. "Steve, enough. Danny's here because I asked him to be. If you have a problem with that, we can talk about it later. Right now, we've got bigger things to deal with. Like how the hell we're getting out of here."
"The only way out from here is through the food court," Erica said, glancing toward the glass doors. "You know, where the soldiers are."
That silenced the room. One by one, they crept toward the window, peering out cautiously. The food court was crawling with Russian soldiers, their movements methodical as they swept the area. A few stood in tight clusters, murmuring to each other in low voices, while others checked behind counters and overturned tables.
Dove's mind raced, her heart pounding as she tried to come up with a plan. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for anything that could give them an edge. They didn't have the weapons, numbers, or time to confront them head-on.
Suddenly, a piercing car alarm shattered the tense silence. The group flinched, turning sharply toward the source of the noise. Dove's eyes widened in alarm as she realized the sound was coming from the sleek show car parked prominently in the center of the food court.
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 vehicle.
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 some real backup now."
Before anyone could react, Dustin bolted for the door, his excitement overriding any sense of caution. Dove turned to Danny, whose face was frozen in a mixture of confusion and disbelief. His eyes were glued to the scene outside—the overturned tables, the smoking car, and the soldiers scattered on the floor.
"What the hell just happened?" Danny finally asked, his voice low and disbelieving.
Dove placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft but urgent. "I promise I will explain everything, but right now, we need to move."
Danny nodded slowly, though his expression made it clear he wasn't even close to processing what had just happened. Dove gave him a reassuring squeeze before stepping toward the door, her focus already shifting to the group outside.
As they reached the others at the bottom of the escalators, 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.
Nearby, Max spotted Dove and immediately left Lucas's side, weaving through the chaos to reach her. Without hesitation, Dove pulled her into a tight hug, wrapping her arms protectively around the younger girl. Max clung to her, her breaths uneven.
"Dove," Max said, her voice trembling as she pulled back slightly, looking up at her with wide, frightened eyes. "The Mind Flayer has Billy."
Dove's heart sank, her hands still resting firmly on Max's shoulders. "The Mind Flayer?" she asked, her voice low but urgent.
Max nodded quickly, her words spilling out in a rush. "It's back. It's—it's all gross and fleshy, and it's taking over people, like it did with Will last year. It's inside them." Her voice cracked on the last word, and her hands gripped Dove's arms tightly.
Dove's stomach twisted, her mind racing as the weight of Max's words hit her. She forced herself to stay steady, for Max's sake, even as a chill ran down her spine. "Okay," she said, her voice firmer now. "Okay, don't worry. We're gonna help Billy. He'll be fine."
Max sniffled and nodded into her shoulder, gripping Dove's shirt tightly, obviously having held this back for some time. Lucas had caught up by then, placing a reassuring hand on Max's arm as his worried gaze shifted between her and Dove.
Robin's voice broke through, cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. "I still don't get what happened to that car," she 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. "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 nod. "I'm Danny. I work with Dove."
Steve crossed his arms, his tone dry as he interjected, "He kind of just showed up."
Dove shot him a sharp look, her voice cutting through the tension. "After I called him," she corrected, her words pointed. "And then he stopped a Russian from shooting me in the face."
Steve visibly shrank back at that, his posture stiffening as guilt flickered across his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Jonathan stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "Wait, Russians? What Russians?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Steve gestured at the fallen men scattered around them. "Those Russians!"
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?" Dustin 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.