𓆩♡𓆪

    RUSSIANS CHATTER AMONGST THEMSELVES. How they haven't been caught is beyond Paisley. Erica claimed she saw the Comms Room so now they're sitting in the lion's den, behind something—Paisley can't tell, trying to get into said Comms Room.

    Robin's chest is against Paisley's back, her hand gripping Paisley's bicep. The brunette is trying to pretend like her touch isn't driving her bonkers in the best way possible as the door opens. A man walks out.

  "Let's go," Steve whispers. They all follow behind him and right into the room. Paisley nearly walks right out when she spots the man in the chair. They all stand with their hands out, confused as to what to do as the man stands up.

   To be fair, he looks as scared as Paisley feels.

   They're all paused, staring at each other. No one knows who will move first until the man reaches for his gun. "действовать осторожно! Tread lightly!" Robin repeats, pushing the kids and Paisley behind her.

   "кто ты? (Who are you?)" The man asks. Paisley furrows her brows. She failed her second year of Spanish so she doubts she could've ever learned Russian.

   Robin carefully steps forwards, "Silver cat.....silver cat," She repeats in Russian. Paisley only catches on because of the repeating fucking tape recorder.

   "я не понимаю (I don't understand)," The Russian furrows his brows. The three older teens glance at each other. "China?" Robin says in Russian.

  The Russian calls bullshit and immediately goes back for his gun. Steve panics and screams as he runs towards the man. He collides with the Comms but is quickly thrown off and thrown into the other Comm station.

  Steve quickly recovers but the Russian swings. Steve just barely misses it but it doesn't really matter because the man grabs him by the shirt and throws him. "Shit!" Paisley curses. She steps forwards to help but Robin and Dustin pull her back.

   Steve knocks the man off, grabs the phone and hits the Russian with it. He hits his head and bounces off of the Comm Station.

  The Russian falls to the floor in front of Paisley's feet. Steve pants, moving the hair from his face. "Dude!" Dustin yells excitedly, "You did it! You won a fight!"

   Paisley smiles, "Oh, shit! He's right!" Steve glances at the knocked out man and then smiles proudly. Dustin runs over to him to grab the keycard.

  "What are you doing?" Erica asks. "Getting us our ticket out of here," Dustin answers. Paisley walks over to Steve, "You alright?" Dustin and Erica continue to banter, complaining and sarcastic comments.

    Steve smoothes out his uniform, "I won a fight."

   "Jesus, yeah. You did. Doesn't answer my question, moron," Paisley insults him but looks him over for injuries still.

   Steve fixes his hair again, "I'm sure it'll all hit me like a train—"

  "Guys. There's something up there!" Robin points to the set of stairs behind her. They all run up the stairs and through the door to another set of doors.

  Their jaws drop. Russians are set up all around them. Lights flash as Paisley spots the goddamned gate. The red gaping hole in the wall followed by a laser non stop shooting into it.

   Paisley closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Holy shit," Steve whispers. Those who know what is going on can't tell if they're less terrified or more terrified than the two that have no idea what's going on.

    THE GAS PEDAL BENEATH Brooke's foot is pressed to the metal of Casey's car. The only way she agreed to get back in the car is if she was allowed to drive and after many curse words and insults, Casey let her.

   "Brooke, slow down! We're gonna end up in the hospital bed next to Driscoll!" Stella says as she grips the handle above her. Her life is practically flashing before her eyes. Danny is perfectly fine in the backseat, everyone in the family drives like this on the open road.

    Brooke had passed the other car awhile ago. The tires screech as she hits half a donut in the hospital parking lot. Their bodies fly forward. Seatbelts straining against their chests.

   Brooke puts the car in park with a smile full of adrenaline, "We're here!" Casey unbuckles the seatbelt and leans forwards to snatch the keys from Brooke, "Do you have a death wish?"

  Brooke snickers, "Do you?" She gets out of the car right as Nancy pulls in. The car full of kids stares at Brooke. "You're gonna kill them. My car on the way home," Nancy rolls her eyes at Brooke.

   Brooke getting her license is one of the worst things to happen to Indiana.

   Jonathan and Nancy stomp in the hospital, everyone right on their tail. "No, that is not mean. That is honest," The receptionist is talking on the phone as they walk in, "She won't find out. See, you're the only one that gone tell—Whoa, whoa, whoa! Excuse me!" The plan to just walk in has fallen flat as the woman stops them.

   "Where do you think you're going?" She asks. Jonathan and Brooke glance at each other. Years of lying means Brooke has mastered coming up with shit quickly. "We're here to see our grandma—again," Brooke nods at Nancy. The receptionist eyeballs the amount of people that have seemingly come to visit their grandma.

   "And—And this......this is our family," Nancy awkwardly smiles. The lady's eyes land on Lucas. Obviously one of them is not like the rest of them. Lucas smiles, "Extended."

   "I don't care who they are. You know the rules. Two visitors at a time," The woman sternly says. "Yeah, but—" Nancy starts but is very quickly cut off, "Two!" The woman throws up two fingers.

   Brooke sighs loudly. She really wanted to go up with Nancy and see what the hell is truly going on. "Brooke is supposed to come—"

   "Nancy, go, I'll wait down here," Brooke shoos her off. Jonathan glances at Casey and back at Brooke. She's like an unleashed, untrained dog when Casey is near her. "Worst comes to worst, we're already in a hospital so just—don't kill him," Jonathan points right at Casey who is struggling to find coins for candy.

  Brooke looks over her shoulder, "Hmmmm.....deal," She puts her hand out for her best friend to shake. It feels good to be annoying to Jonathan again. Months of feeling like they've been distant are gone the second they're put in life threatening situations again. They still trust the other with their life.

    Jonathan shakes Brooke's hand with a goofy smile and heads towards the elevator with Nancy. The Martel girl turns around and sees everyone spread out. Will and Danny giggling about something while Lucas, Mike and Casey struggle to get candy out of the vending machine. Stella standing on the wall next to it. Max and El sitting next to each other.

  She doesn't know who to speak to. Casey is definitely not an option but everyone just seems paired up. As per usual, Brooke feels alone in a room full of people and desperately missing Paisley, Robin and Steve.

  "Come on, you piece of shit!" Mike curses and smacks the vending machine, Lucas doing the same.

  The candy falls with a low vibration. Brooke whips her head at El who wipes the blood from her nose, turning away from Brooke as she does it so the older girl can't see the blood for a second longer. Mike and Casey awkwardly thank her as they pick up the free candy.

  "Brooke," El tugs on the girl's hoodie, "How's your.....hickey?" Thankfully she whispers the last part. Brooke smiles, "You know it doesn't actually hurt.....right? It's bruised because of something to do with the blood coming together. I don't know. Ask Casey or someone smart."

   "Brooke, you're smart," Max nods, pressing her lips together, "Would have been smarter to cover it."

   "Max, you're an ass," Brooke ruffles her hair and shoves her head gently. Max scowls and shoves Brooke back gently. It turns into an all out—gentle—shoving war mixed with giggles. El keeps side eyeing from her magazine, the Cosmo.

   "Max and Brooke get along well, huh?" Will whispers to Danny.

    The youngest Martel turns his attention away from Will's side profile to Max who is giggling with Brooke. Lucas pulls Max away from her and Danny shifts his gaze away. "She loves all of us—even Mike," Danny and Will giggle.

  Will feels bad suddenly. Danny is always next to him, checking on him, making sure nothing and no one hurts him. "You know, you don't have to sit with me. You can go bother El or Mike or something," Will nervously plays with his fingers. Danny shifts in the uncomfortable hospital seat, "Do you not want me here?"

  "I—I didn't say that. I do. You're my best friend—one of my best friends," Will smiles. Danny smiles back, ignoring that that's all they are, "Then, I'll be here until you tell me to fuck off, Will."

  The kids have walked away from Brooke. A smile plays on her lips watching them all be somewhat normal kids.

   Kids. It's kinda hard to forget that's what they are with the shit they've been through—the shit they're growing through. Casey carefully walks over with a bag of M&Ms, "Want some?" He says as the candy mixes color on his tongue. Brooke scrunches her nose, her smile falling, "Did you poison them?"

  "No, I'd be the first person they look at. Smart ex boyfriend? I'd be screwed!" Casey laughs. Brooke grudgingly puts her hand out without looking at Casey. He smiles, pouring a few into her hand.

   Brooke pops them in her mouth and tries to ignore the comfort she feels being next to Casey. Anger is an armor to some, Brooke being a part of that some. She's never fought to change it—at least not purposely, why would you wanna get rid of the only thing protecting you? Insults that always hide her feelings of wanting to cry and have answers.

   "You and Stella?" Brooke manages to get out, letting the armor off a bit unknowingly. Casey does a double take. The civil words and bringing up Stella surprise him completely.

   "You want the truth?" Casey asks, genuinely not wanting to hurt Brooke's feelings. Brooke swallows a candy, waiting for it to slide down her throat before talking.

  "Yeah, then I can tell you the truth," Brooke looks at Casey in the eyes. No narrowing or anger behind them. Casey glances at Stella and smiles fondly, "I love her. There's another truth," Casey pauses and when Brooke doesn't speak he continues, "I did love you. As a friend though, Brooke. A really close friend. We might not have worked as a couple, but we work as some badass friends," Casey smiles slowly, making sure it doesn't piss off Brooke.

   Brooke snatches the bag of M&Ms from Casey, "I like someone too," She says barely above a whisper. Acceptance washes over her. She got her answer—she knows he loves Stella, Brooke just really needed the confirmation. Casey doesn't answer, he nods for her to continue.

   "Steve," Brooke very quickly says. Butterflies flutter in her stomach at the mention but a small part of her is also fighting those butterflies. Some wings being snatched off only for them to grow right back. Chills from that night where he touched spark.

  Casey laughs a bit under his breath. He's not necessarily surprised she likes him, he's surprised Brooke can admit anything other than the amount of weed she's smoked. Casey would've thought Brooke would have to be tortured to get that information out of her.

   The lights flicker above them. Both the teens shudder a bit. Most likely undiagnosed PTSD makes their breath quicken. They catch eye contact with Stella across the lobby. "The kids," Brooke says, "The kids. Nancy and Jonathan—"

  "Where the hell are Nancy and Jonathan?" Stella asks, running over to Brooke and Casey.

    NO ONE REALLY HAS a chance to explain the havoc behind them. The blue light falls off their faces as Robin begins to panic.

   "I don't understand. You've seen this before?" Robin asks. "Um, kinda?" Paisley tries to ignore the increase in breathing. She feels like she might fall down the stairs, her mind is cloudy and her ears are slightly ringing. The others words are drowned out. She somehow gets to the bottom of the stairs, wide eyed and gripping her heart like it would actually help the panic.

   "Um, Steve, where's your Russian friend?" Is the next thing Paisley can just barely hear. It clocks into her head and she feels fingers wrapped around her arm. "Paise? Paise, we gotta go—" Robin manages to grab Paisley's attention as the alarm blares around them. Robin can feel how quickly Paisley's skin gets clammy. She's slightly paler when Steve runs to the door.

  Steve stares at the Russians that are running around the building. One of them catches Steve from across the room and they rush towards the door. "Shit! Go! Go!" Steve pushes his friends towards the door behind Paisley. In her panicked haze, Paisley's hand shakes when she swings it open. Blue and red lights lead them to another door. Right to the center—the people controlling the laser to the gate that has traumatized Paisley.

   They all slowly turn to the teens that don't belong in their operation. Sound gets louder in Paisley's head and the ringing is fully gone. The lights become brighter as Steve pushes Paisley forward. They run down more stairs. Dustin pushes a guard with a yell as more guards run after them in Russian.

   Paisley stops in her tracks when she reaches the end of the railing. The brightest light from the laser burns into her brown eyes. "Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!" Dustin curses. Paisley swallows hard. Her hands fall on Erica's shoulders to put her behind her.

   It's no secret Paisley isn't a big fan of horror or jump scares. She's paranoid most of the time, especially after the hell that has surrounded her for years now. She wants to say she's used this supernatural shit, just like Brooke, or Steve or Nancy or Jonathan is but she's not. Paisley becomes more and more terrified each time it comes back. Maybe they all feel that way, they're just better at hiding it.

  Scaredy cat. That's what Paisley had been called when she was kid, from both Jonathan and Brooke who are much braver than her, even if the two don't agree with that. Each of them have gone through similar or different things. Two of them had abusive dads, they protected their sibling their whole lives while Paisley has a dead mom. Parental issues essentially, just different types. But Paisley always thought they were stronger than her, better than in her in situations that need bravery. Just like right now and Paisley doesn't have either one of them next to her.

    All the teens seem to be lost in the horror that is this laser until Erica shouts, "Guards! Go!" Steve runs back, pushes a guard harshly and then once they reach the floor, more guards show up. Paisley pushes the bins next to over to at least give them a couple more seconds. They run at another random door but once they're in, the guards pound on the heavy metal door. Steve sacrifices himself by holding his body against the door as the guards only get angrier. 

   "P! Robin!" Steve yells for help. Paisley, without a second thought, rushes over to Steve, straining herself against the door. Steve can see the paling across her body and the sweat beading at her forehead but the slamming against the door is only getting harder and harder to contain. Robin looks around and waits for the kids to find a way out before running over to the two.

  "Come on!" Dustin yells. Paisley shakes her head, there's no way the kids will get out safe if they leave this door. "Go! Just get out of here!" Steve yells. "Go, come on, now!" Dustin calls out again.

   Paisley digs her heels into the door, "Dustin, go! Find help and keep Erica safe!" Dustin hesitates though, staring in worry at the older teens. "What are you doing? Go!" Steve yells.

   Dustin still doesn't move. "Go!" The three teens yell. "I won't forget you!" Dustin yells. With a panicked eye roll, they all yell again, "Go!" Right as Dustin closes the trapdoor, the three teens let out a small sigh of relief and the door is busted open.

    Paisley's back hits the wall. Guns are pointed right at them, yelling in Russian. None of them understand what they're saying, not even Robin but when all three are roughly picked up and tied at the wrists, they quickly understand.

   Paisley is yelling and cursing at the guards, not because they're hurting her but because they're hurting Robin and Steve. A punch is thrown across Steve's face and both girls yell. "No! Stop! Fucking stop!" Paisley kicks and curses but the guards do the same to her. A hard punch across the face.

   "Paisley!" Robin's voice cracks as Paisley's head falls weakly to the side.