Chapter Five: The Facts

"Code red, I repeat, code red. Does anyone copy? This is a code red, I repeat, a code red. Does anyone copy? We are innocent children and we are trapped under Starcourt Mall. The Red Army has infiltrated Hawkins and, if we are found, they will torture and kill us."

Lydia groaned tiredly as she listened to Dustin frantically repeating the same phrase for about the hundredth time. She rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn, arms stretching, almost knocking into an unsuspecting Robin. "Sorry."

They had been trapped in the elevator for approximately eight hours, according to the watch Steve kept incessantly checking. And with no viable escape option, Lydia's mind was starting to wonder how long they really would survive down there without food and water. Like, what if they had to resort to cannibalism? Who would they eat first?

"Hey." Steve stepped onto the boxes, calling up to Dustin through the hatch. "Gotta take it easy on that thing. Gonna drain the battery."

"The mall just opened," Dustin pointed out.

Steve pulled himself through the gap and the two began to argue about who was around to receive their code red.

Lydia leaned her head back against the wall and let it droop to the side, allowing her to make eye contact with Robin. "If we die here, I will kill you for getting me involved in this."

"That's not even possible."

"I'll find a way."

"You know, you're not even remotely threatening," Robin said. She leaned closer to Lydia. "Also, is it me or was I totally third wheeling last night?"

Lydia placed her hand on Robin's forehead and shoved her back. Her best friend snickered, looking up at the hatch. The bickering had finally stopped, but Robin had taken notice of something else.

"Uh, can you redirect your stream, please?" She shouted up.

Lydia's nose scrunched in disgust as urine began to trickle down the elevator shaft.
"Gross."

Robin started to get to her feet, but her attention landing on Erica, who had tried to pull the mysterious green substance from her backpack. "Hey, hey! Be careful, careful, careful! We don't even know what that is."

"Exactly," Erica replied. Robin snatched the jar away. "It could be useful."

"Useful how?" Lydia asked. "In what conceivable way is a jar of green...slime ever going to be useful to us?"

"We can survive down here a long time without food, but if the human body doesn't get water, it will die," Erica explained.

"Uh, I hate to break it to you," Lydia said, pointing at the container. "But this is definitely not water."

"No, but it's a liquid," Erica reminded. "And if it comes down to me drinking that shit or dying of thirst, I drink," she said, smiling sweetly at both of them.

Lydia shrugged. "Your funeral."

Robin passed the container to Lydia, who returned it safely into the backpack. As she looked back up, she noticed Robin creeping towards the elevator wall and pressing an ear up against it. Lydia frowned, sharing confused glances with Erica, until Robin turned back to face them, eyes wide.

"We've got company!" Robin called, rushing underneath the hatch.

Steve ushered Robin up, whilst Lydia quickly moved the boxes over for Erica to climb on. She helped to lift the younger girl until the others were able to pull her up.

Lydia stepped onto the boxes, placed both hands above the hatch and pushed down in attempt to lift herself up. Her head turned at the sound of the mechanical whirring noise, signalling the doors opening. With a further sense of urgency, Lydia tried again.

"Give me your hand," Steve instructed, his arm outstretching down the hatch.

She huffed in reluctance, but reached out to grasp it. Lydia held on tightly as Steve helped pull her to the top of the elevator. Once she was through, Dustin moved to close the hatch.

"Thanks," Lydia whispered, crawling to crouch beside Robin. Steve nodded in response, leaving the five of them to sit with bated breath as they waited for the Russians.

The elevator doors opened. Lydia peered through the small grated holes to watch. Two men stepped inside, conversing in Russian. Steve placed a finger over his lips, motioning for them to stay silent as they waited patiently for the men to leave.

Steve's eyes landed on the container that was, once again, in Erica's hands. He gave the girl an irritated look, prompting her to hand it over. Erica rolled her eyes and passed it to him.

After a short while, the men inside the elevator had picked up their boxes and left. Steve scurried back over to the hatch and lifted it open. He jumped down, landing with a light thud on the ground. Lydia shuffled forwards and followed after him.

Realising the door was closing again, Steve dived for it, jamming the container underneath in the nick of time. It left a small gap for them to crawl underneath, but it wouldn't hold for long.

Erica hopped down from the hatch and tossed her backpack towards them. Steve slid it underneath the door, motioning for them to go through. "Let's go!" Erica lay down, pushing herself through the gap. Steve frantically waved his hand, trying to prompt her to go faster. "Go. Go, go, go, go, go."

"I'm going!"

"Dustin," Lydia called, hurrying him towards the door.

He quickly crouched down, manoeuvring underneath. Steve placed a hand on his back, giving him a push. "Go, go!"

The vial began to buckle underneath the weight. Lydia dragged Robin's arm and rushed her through, leaving just her and Steve. The two of them shared a look as cracks started to form in the glass.

"Go," Steve told her. Not needing to be told twice, Lydia dropped to the ground, laying on her stomach as she started to crawl to the other side. "Jesus, Dolan! Hurry the fuck up!" He urged. Lydia felt a hands on her lower back guiding her forwards. But then the touch moved lower...

"Get your hands off my ass, Harrington!" She warned, smacking his hand away. Once she was through the door, Lydia rolled over, leaving space for him.

"I wasn't touching your ass!" Steve defended.

"Come on, Steve, let's go!" Robin urged.

He crawled underneath, sliding his legs through as the container started to give way. Lydia grabbed his arm, pulling him through before it completely broke. The two of them stumbled backwards as the glass shattered.

Lydia steadied herself, watching the sizzling green substance eat away at the ground. "Jesus Christ."

"You still wanna drink that?" Robin teased Erica. The younger girl narrowed her eyes, shooting Robin a hard look.

Steve brushed past Lydia, his presence reminding her of where his hands had been. She flicked the back of his neck, prompting him to whirl back around. "Ow! What the hell was that for?"

"Touching my ass!"

"I didn't touch your ass!"

"Yes you did!"

"No, I didn't!" He exclaimed, arms rising to convey his frustration. "Why would I want to do that?!"

"Uh, because I have a great ass!"

At the same time, Erica sassed back, "Because you have a crush on her." Lydia and Steve stared intently at one another for a moment before both realising what she'd said. Their heads snapped towards Erica, who simply shrugged. "Just stating facts."

"Oh my god, shut up, shut up, shut up!" Steve exclaimed in frustration. Erica smirked. He jabbed a finger in Lydia's direction. "And you, I did not touch your ass!"

"Totally did."

"Fine!" He gave in, throwing his hands up in defeat. "It was an accident!"

"Children, please," Robin interrupted.

"Holy mother of God."

At the sound of Dustin's voice, they all turned around, eyes landing on the endlessly long stretch of corridor ahead of them.

"Well, hope you guys are in good shape." Steve patted Dustin's chest as he moved past him. "Looking at you, roast beef."

A/N

Erica just stating facts fr