***

Sophie didn't want to let this happen -- Max at the wheel was a terrible idea. But someone had to check whether or not Steve was still breathing, and quite frankly, she had the medical experience.

Yes, Max was underage and should definitely not be driving them to the entrance to the underground tunnels, but they had few options left. She wasn't even big enough for it and they had to tape a brick to the gas pedal; it was certainly a bumpy ride. "Can you at least keep to the speed limit?"

She rolled her eyes, glancing up at the rearview mirror. "You said we had to get there as fast as possible."

"I know, but I don't wanna break more than one rule tonight." Steve's unconscious form weighed down her lap, and Mike wasn't that fond of his legs hanging in front of him. The car jolted again as Sophie tried to apply a cloth to Steve's wounds. "And it's really hard cleaning up the blood with this thing bumping up and down."

They'd stuck a few plasters on his head for his minor cuts and bleeds, but his lip was still busted and his eye was swollen. Dustin held an ice pack against his head, ensuring his head couldn't get any larger.

Max groaned, her hands clenching the steering wheel. "Can you stop complaining, please? I'm trying to concentrate."

"Go right," Lucas told her, flapping the map in his hands. It was doodled with countless lines, all leading towards a pumpkin patch near the lab. Or, as they referred to it, the main entrance to the Upside Down tunnels.

The trunk of the car was stacked to the brim with equipment. They'd loaded the leftover gasoline tanks from their trip to the junkyard and took empty bottles of alcohol from the Byers' house, along with some cloth in case they needed to make some Molotov cocktails.

Whatever couldn't fit in the trunk sat on their laps or by their feet. Admittedly, the kids thought Steve would be better if he were in the back as well, but Sophie and Dustin immediately disagreed.

It was a huge risk they were taking, but if it meant protecting the world from the Upside Down's wrath, then so be it. They could die in the process, yes -- yet it would not be in vain. The others would be alive and well, able to live without fear. Sophie just hoped they would be remembered for their good deed.

A light moan sounded through Steve's parted lips, his eyelids fluttering. His head shifted slightly as if waking from a long dream. Sophie looked down at her lap, slightly gasping. "Steve?"

"Is he coming to?" questioned Max.

"Keep that pressed, Dustin." She instructed the younger boy as she tilted Steve's chin towards her. "Steve?"

Slowly, he opened his eyes, his vision adjusting to the darkness. Steve glanced past Sophie, noticing the large can of gasoline in Mike's hands. His gaze shifted upwards to the person holding it, and he uttered. "Nancy?"

Of course, the first thing he thought of was his ex-girlfriend. Mike glanced over at the drowsy teenager, squinting at him.

Sophie brushed it off, pulling a lock of hair behind her ear. "Okay, he might have some brain fog."

He angled his head back, his eyesight rapidly improving. Steve stared up at the girl above him, focusing on her vibrant blue eyes. "Sophie?"

"Hey." A relieved smile grew on her face, her panic dissipating. "God, I really thought he might have beat you into a coma."

He touched the bridge of his nose, grunting. "No, don't touch it." Gently, Dustin pulled his hand away from his face. His gaze wandered, spotting the boy on his right. "Hey, buddy." He calmly shushed him, intending to keep him docile. "It's okay. You put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you put up a good fight, okay? You're okay."

She rolled her eyes. "Ignore him. You were amazing." Sophie turned his head back towards her, dabbing at his wounds again with the cloth. "He only smashed that plate over your head because he knew he was losing, okay?" She assured him, keeping her tone calm and collected. "But thank you for trying to protect us."

Lucas examined the map, occasionally peering out the window for road signs. "Okay, you're gonna keep straight for half a mile, then make a left on Mount Sinai."

Steve tried to sit up, his focus transferring to those in the front two seats. "What's going on?"

She put a hand on his shoulder, keeping him down. Sophie leaned over him, returning a fixed smile in an attempt to keep him calm. "We're just driving, Steve. It's fine."

He stared up at her, squinting. "You're not driving..."

He didn't sound incapacitated, which was a good sign. There was a chance that Billy didn't cause too much damage and Steve might have a good amount of his brain left.

But she didn't want to get him too worked up either. Sophie wanted to claim that this was just a hallucination, but like her family has said many times, she's a terrible liar. "Well, someone had to patch up your wounds, and I've been doing it since I was eight, so-"

"Who's driving?" Steve sat up the best he could, glimpsing past her. He spotted Max at the wheel, his eyebrows shooting up. The younger girl uncomfortably glanced back at him, watching him tense up. "Oh, my God."

"Steve, just relax. She's driven before." Dustin tried to assure him.

Mike scoffed in response, his upper lip curling. "Yeah, in a parking lot."

"That counts." Lucas justified.

"Oh, my God!" repeated Steve, his tone sounding a lot more frantic.

"We're supposed to be keeping things calm!" Sophie raised her voice, glaring at the kids with a bulging gaze. "And Max stop going so fast -- I don't want him to move around so much. He's injured, remember?"

Dustin leaned over him. "They were gonna leave you behind."

His agitation was increasing by the second. "Oh, my God!"

"I promised that you'd be cool, okay?" A hollow promise, obviously. There was no way Dustin could have predicted how Steve was going to react when he woke up. It wasn't like he was going to jump on board with the plan in an instant.

His constant shifting wasn't helping things as Sophie continued to cleanse his face. "Steve, try to keep still."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What's going on?" As Max accelerated, the crew in the back were thrown back, Steve bashing his head against the padded seat. "Oh, my God! No!"

Her upper back collided with the seat, her head jerking back. Sophie grunted, huffing through closed teeth. "Max, what did I just say?"

"I don't know -- I wasn't listening." She replied, steadily raising the octave of her voice. "And I don't suppose you've noticed," Max clenched her hands, her nails digging into the padding, "but I'm kinda busy right now!"

Once he'd recovered from being tossed around like a ragdoll, Steve exclaimed. "Whoa! Stop the car -- slow down."

The dark-haired boy next to them snarled. "I told you he'd freak out."

Sophie glared at him with closed teeth, hissing her words. "No one asked for your opinion, Mike."

"Stop the car!" the older boy shouted. It was a miracle he was still talking properly.

She kept a firm hand on his shoulder, keeping him pinned to the seat. "It's fine -- we're almost there." She curved her head towards the driver's seat, dropping her sweet tone. "Aren't we?!"

"Everybody shut up! I'm trying to focus!" screamed Max.

"Oh, wait -- that's Mount Sinai," Lucas announced, frantically pointing outside. "Make a left."

Her head snapped towards him, her eyes wide. "What?"

"Make a turn left!" he reiterated.

Max twisted the steering wheel, the car swerving across the road and ramming into a homeowner's mailbox. It went flying with chunks of wood landing on the hood of the car. They all screamed, though Lucas' high-pitched squeak was the most prominent.

Sophie groaned, huffing through closed teeth. She put a hand on the driver's seat, leaning through the gap. "Max, I told you to drive his car -- not wreck it!"

"I'm releasing my anger. It's healthy!" she retorted.

"Yeah, and I respect that," Sophie declared, "but don't destroy public property while you're at it!"

"Jesus Christ, if you wanted me to be careful, then you should be the one driving!" Max looked up at the rearview mirror, glaring at Steve in the back. "We could have left him at the Byers' place, but no!"

"Well, I wasn't gonna leave him with Billy, was I?!" Out of the two, Steve received the worst beating; he was lucky to survive it. "For all we know, he could have a concussion, and if Billy woke up and saw him there-"

"- He'd probably try to kill him again," she finished, drawling a yell, "I know!"

Sophie hoped her brother would leave the house as soon as possible, instead of waiting for the others to return. If Hopper were to cross his path, Billy would be thrown in jail without a moment of hesitancy. She could tell that the Chief was the type of guy to prioritise the kids' safety over his own, which would mean his ruthlessness towards Billy would be on the extreme side.

If he knew what was best for him, he'd get the fuck out of there before it was too late.

Max revved the engine and began to go off-road, following Lucas' instructions. They collided with a sign for the pumpkin patch, knocking it over and breaking the wood beneath the car's wheels.

Finally, as they sped through the field of dead vegetation, the car stopped in front of a large hole in the ground. The sudden stop did not please Steve, banging his head against the padding again. "Ah -- hello!"

Dustin released an exasperated, "Whoa!"

Even Mike was impressed, staring wide-eyed at the driver's seat with a slack jaw. "Incredible." 

"I told you." She yanked the handbrake and turned the ignition key, switching off the engine. "Zoomer."

Lucas and Max climbed out first, shortly followed by Dustin, and jogged over to the trunk of the car. Before Mike could join them, Sophie grabbed his arm, her tight grip keeping him still. "If you don't let her in your little group after this," her stern expression unnerved a little, especially after seeing how she handled Billy, "I will come for you."

Mike gulped as she let him go, eyeing him as he got out of the car and joined the others. Steve's body shifted beside her, brushing the back of her arm. She glanced over her shoulder, watching him squirm as he attempted to get out as well.

She pulled him back, trying to keep him docile. "No -- Steve, stay in the car."

"No chance." He responded, sitting up again.

Sophie yanked on his arm, holding him back. She remained calm, her tone gentle as if she was soothing a wild animal. "Hey, you're hurt. You need to rest."

"Don't pull my own bullshit on me." He rebuked her advice, slapping her hand off his arm.

This wasn't going to end well for him, so she kept persisting. "I'm serious, Steve."

"I'm fine-" But as he threw himself out of the door, his feet crossed one another and he went flying, falling flat on his face.

She wore a stony expression. "Clearly." 

His tumble probably opened some wounds again -- she couldn't say she didn't try to stop him. Sophie climbed out of her side of the car, shutting the door behind her. She walked over to the trunk, reaching inside and pulling out a tank of gasoline. As she put it on the floor, Max handed her a few more items she'd need for when they had to go underground.

"Guys..." The children ignored him, slipping welding goggles over their heads, gloves on their hands, and bandanas around their mouths. Steve leaned against the car, struggling to stand up straight. "Oh, no. Hey, guys." Mike strolled past, the gasoline tank swinging by his knees. "Hey, where do you think you're going?" But Steve's cries went unheard by the kids. "What are you, deaf? Hello?" 

Sophie placed her arm on the roof of the car, leaning towards him. "Just get back in the car. We won't take too long, I promise."

"We are not going down there. I made myself clear!" He yelled, the kids passing him by as Mike tied a long rope to the front of the car.

"Yeah, well, when you got knocked out," she wandered around to his side, "the position of primary babysitter was graciously handed down to me."

Steve scoffed, glaring at her. "You're not even eighteen-" he began, "- You're not even an adult!"

"So what? I'm still older than them," she gestured to the kids, who rolled their eyes in response, "and therefore, I have the high ground." She reasoned, folding her arms. "Besides, I'm pretty sure, out of the two of us, I'm the mature one."

"Hey, there's no chance we're going to that hole, all right?" Steve stormed past her. He snatched his backpack from Dustin's hands, the nail bat sticking out. "This ends right now!"

"Steve!" shouted Dustin, shutting the older boy up. "You're upset, I get it. But the bottom line is, a party member requires assistance, and it is our duty to provide that assistance."

"Hey, Dustin," Sophie stepped forward, peering out from behind Steve, "can you go help the others?"

The young boy nodded. "Okay." He grabbed the last few items he needed before walking away, leaving the pair to talk in private.

Sophie retrieved a scrunchie from her pocket, slipping it onto her wrist before pulling her hair back into a ponytail. "How are you feeling?"

He pressed his lips together, momentarily glancing off to the side. His face stung when he moved it a little too much, but he'd been in a few fights before -- he was used to it. "Like shit."

She twisted the scrunchie around her hair, drawing strands to tighten it onto her head. Sophie opened the car door, reaching into a pocket at the back of the seat. "Here," she tossed him a bottle of water, "you need fluids." 

Steve sighed before he started unscrewing the lid. "Thanks."

Her hands settled on her hips, watching him take a swig of water. "Is your head okay? Does it hurt much?"

He ignored her questions, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "Why are you letting them do this?"

"Because, for once, I am taking a stand." She told him. "I am tired of standing on the sidelines and feeling worthless -- like I have no power over the situations I get myself into." Running from her problems never helped things -- she understood that now. "But that changes tonight, okay?"

"You don't need to do this." His concern for her safety wasn't surprising, considering what he had done earlier. "I can't risk you or anyone else getting hurt. I mean, you've already been injured tonight!"

"Yeah, but I'm all bandaged up and I'm on a shitload of painkillers." It wasn't hurting as much as it was a few hours ago, and that was enough for her. Sophie raised her right hand, curling her thumb inwards. "How many fingers am I holding?"

He furrowed his brows, his gaze darting back and forth. "Four."

"You can come with us then." She replied, returning to the trunk of the car and reaching inside.

Steve stammered, stumbling a few steps forward. "What-?"

Swiftly, she interrupted him, presenting him with his backpack. "That's why I made sure to bring the bat -- you know how to use it." 

Sure, the girls had briefly used it, but that thing was heavy. Steve could swing it, he had the arms for it.

But Steve's firm stare remained, unwilling to take it from her hands. "Sophie..."

"Look," she lowered her arms, the bag resting against her knees, "this is the second time I've pulled you out of a bad situation, so you owe me one." Sophie forced the bag into his open arms, his head jerking back. She reached inside the trunk again, retrieving a pair of goggles and bandanas. "Either you help me look after those kids or you let them die down there." She told him. "What do you think is the best option?"

He was caught between a rock and a hard place. It certainly felt like his head had been struck by a rock, his skull pounding just above his temples. Steve groaned, hooking his arm under a strap and swinging the backpack over his shoulder. "I thought Billy was gonna be the death of me," he pulled the other strap over his other arm, "but clearly I was wrong."

"Well, at least I'm the good Hargrove in this situation." The only good one in her fucked-up family. The only one who hadn't given in to her hatred.

"I'd say stupid, but hey," he chuckled, "your brother's the bigger idiot."

"I know." The girl briefly smiled, her gaze shifting downwards. As he turned away from her, she grasped hold of his wrist, halting him. Steve glanced back, perplexed. "I'm serious, you know." She said. "I really appreciate what you did for me and the kids."

"Are you okay?" His sympathy was quite touching.

"I will be." Sophie released her grip on his wrist, wiping her hand against her jeans. She sighed, looking down. "Eventually."

As she handed him their makeshift facial protection, Lucas yelled from the other side of the hole where the kids were waiting for them. "You guys coming?"

"Yeah!" Sophie shouted back. "Go ahead -- we'll be right down!"

Max took the first leap of faith, too fearless for her own good. Seeing how quickly the boys were bested a girl, they soon jumped in after, one at a time. Although, it was a bit of a struggle since all three were trying to go in at the same time.

The pair approached the hole, leaning forward once on the cusp. It didn't look too deep for a pit leading to certain death. Then again, looks could be deceiving.

Sophie bit her bottom lip, hesitating. She quickly wrapped her bandana around her mouth, hiding her anxiety from Steve. "Do you wanna go first?"

"Sure." He slipped on his goggles and bandana, tying a firm knot at the back of his head. Steve crouched, grabbing hold of the rope. After taking a moment to breathe, he sprung off the ground, twisting in mid-air and jumping into the hole. Luckily, he managed to stick the landing, barely tripping over his own feet. Steve scanned his new surroundings, uttering. "Holy shit."

Mike shone his torch over a map he had drawn of their route through the tunnel. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's this way."

"You're pretty sure, or you're certain?" questioned Dustin.

"I'm one hundred per cent sure. Just follow me and you'll know." He responded.

Steve tilted his head back, peering through the gaping hole. His friend stared back, rubbing her gloved hands together. "Soph, you coming?"

She'd come this far -- Sophie wasn't going to let her anxiety stop her now. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and she lifted a foot, allowing gravity to take her. The girl jumped, though it seemed more like falling. Cool air rushed through her blonde locks, Sophie's hair flying above her head. 

Time appeared to slow down, her body taking forever to meet the earth below. It was like she was Alice falling down the rabbit hole, letting Wonderland take her away from the real world. She'd read the Lewis Carroll book a hundred times, always desiring to find a magic rabbit hole of her own. It was her way of coping, imagining an escape from her cruel reality. In a way, she finally found one -- only it was a rabbit hole to some kind of hell dimension instead of Wonderland. Perhaps Dart was this world's version of the white rabbit, leading them there.

Sophie opened her eyes, just as her feet collided with the ground. She stumbled, her body jerking back. A pair of hands firmly gripped her elbows, keeping her steady. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She straightened up, loudly exhaling. Sophie's hands rested on her torso, feeling a little winded. "How'd you land so perfectly with a head injury?"

"I'm just a natural." He remarked, smirking under his red bandana as he let her go.

The surface became her sky without stars, clumps of dirt replacing the dark clouds. Down below, the tunnels radiated an otherworldly tint of midnight blue. The walls seemed to vibrate, pulsing as if the earth was alive; it breathed as a person would and exhaled a faint hum into the tunnels. Large tufts of dust swirled around them, and she could see why they didn't want to breathe this stuff in.

Mike commenced their trek, glancing back and forth at the map and the path before him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey, hey!" Mike spun back, confused as Steve marched over, wagging his finger. "I don't think so."

"What?" he asked.

Steve looked down on him, unwilling to give him leadership in this situation. "Any of you little shits die down here, Sophie and I get the blame." 

Of course, he was dragging her down with him if something bad happened -- that's just what she needed. 

"Got it, dipshit?" Steve snatched the map off him. "From here on out, I'm leading the way! Come on, let's go!" he announced to the group. "Come on!" They followed him in haste, struggling not to trip over creeping vines and raised mounds. "Hey, a little hustle!"

Max caught up to Sophie, approaching her on her right. "God, he's so impatient."

"Well, this is a bit life or death, isn't it?" she commented, watching her feet as she stepped over a dark substance she was afraid to touch with bare skin.

"I guess." She tilted her head upwards, her tone of voice warm. "That was really cool, by the way."

Sophie returned a blank expression. "What was?"

Her weight shifted closer to her stepsister, leaning in with a smile. "Pointing that gun at Billy."

"I didn't shoot him, though." It wasn't as if she wanted to anyway -- she was too much of a coward to pull the trigger.

"Yeah, but you still had the balls to stand up for us." Sophie wasn't the type, considering how gentle she was with everything. But it was now clear to everyone she had a hidden badass side that only came out in emergencies. "Then you drugged him and threatened to maim his balls -- it was awesome."

"I guess so." It was a little barbaric, but it was the only way to get him to stop. "But hey, you had the actual balls to try it, at least."

Max's features softened, and though Sophie couldn't tell under her covered face, it was clear that all animosity between them had disappeared. "I'm really glad you're my big sister."

Her words warmed Sophie's heart, her worries melting away momentarily. She found herself unexpectedly grinning, her cheeks glowing. "I'm happy I've got you as a sister." 

Ever since they started bonding, this was all she wanted out of her friendship with Max. Even if she lost a brother that night, she gained a sister in return. All she needed was for someone to understand her, and Max already knew her better than Billy.

They continued through the labyrinthian tunnels, wandering past the weird plants growing there and making sure not to grant them attention. If the others were right, everything around them was a living organism. It freaked Sophie out even more when she realised that's what they did every day, considering that every tree and plant is alive as well. It's something that sent shivers down her spine.

Upon entry to another cavern, the group looked up at the ceiling, acknowledging an abundance of pulsating flowers and vines. Lucas grimaced at the sight. "God."

"What is this place?" uttered Max.

Steve knew better than to stick around, guiding the others forward. "Guys, come on, keep moving."

The more time they were distracted by weird plants, the less Eleven and Hopper would have when it came to closing the gate. They moved along, one after the other, making their way through. It was difficult to remain calm when they were in such a rush.

Before they could continue, a scream that cracked in too many places resounded through the tunnels, and the group spun back around, noticing one of their party was missing. "Dustin!"

They raced back to the cavern, watching the boy stumble and trip as he tried to get out of there. "Help! Help! Help!" The kids gathered around him as he lost his footing, colliding with the ground. "Shit!"

"What happened? What happened?" Steve and Sophie clambered to his aid, the latter on her hands and knees beside Dustin.

"It's in my mouth! Some got in my mouth! Shit!" he whimpered, practically screeching into their faces. Dustin coughed, his throat tightening as his body tried to expel the strange matter.

"Hey, can you breathe?" Dustin could barely speak, the spores choking his lungs. The others backed away as if he had the plague, leaving only Sophie to help him. She patted him on the back, trying to help him breathe. "Does it feel like you're gonna throw up?"

He shook his head, rapidly. "No, no..."

Phlegm gathered at the base of his throat, its slimy texture was sickening to choke on. Dustin spat out chunks of saliva, attempting to soothe his dry mouth.

"Just try and get it all out, okay?" she raised her head, acknowledging the group. "Are you guys just gonna stand there and watch or...?" They didn't answer, instead shining their flashlights on Dustin and sharing a few glances with one another.

Luckily, his coughing fit ceased, ending rather anticlimactic as he stared up at the group, his gaze darting. "I'm okay."

Sophie kept her hand on his shoulder, shaking her head slightly. "You don't feel sick or...?"

"Nope." he sighed, exhaling warm oxygen that quickly turned to steam. Dustin beamed at his friends, assuring them of his health. "I'm all good."

Max huffed, lowering her flashlight. "You serious?"

"Okay, then." She released him from her grasp, patting her knees and sighed with relief. "Really thought we had a medical emergency on our hands."

"Very funny, man." Steve turned his back to the pair, leading the kids away from them. "Nice. Very nice."

"You guys are monsters." She grumbled before hooking an arm under his, helping Dustin back onto his feet. "Come on. Take some deep breaths -- in through the nose and out through the mouth."

He gathered himself, adjusting his posture. "Thanks."

"No problem." Sophie wiped her hands against her jeans, brushing the dirt off. "You got your gasoline tank?"

"Yep." He raised his arm, the container swinging in his hand. As they turned to follow the rest of the group, Dustin mentioned. "You'd make a good doctor, you know."

"I don't think I could handle the stress." Saving lives was a tricky business, and it would be too much pressure on a daily basis for someone like Sophie. She'd have to grow numb to death as well -- that's something she couldn't see herself doing.

They soon hurried along, catching up with the others as they trekked along the infected dirt path. Within minutes, a spacious area of the tunnel came into view, the group pausing by the entrance.

Steve checked the drawn map in hand. "All right, Wheeler." He lifted his head, assessing the space with a curious gaze. "I think we found your hub."

Everywhere they looked, there would be another hole leading down a tunnel separate from the others, running right under the pumpkin patches. It certainly matched Will's drawing on his version of the map.

Determined to finish this once and for all, Mike said. "Let's drench it."

Those with gasoline tanks unscrewed the caps and began to pour their contents onto the barely shifting floor, vines recoiling. Lucas sprayed the walls with flammable substances, ensuring that everything would burn. This place was gonna light up like the Fourth of July, a spectacle leading to the demise of some unworldly creatures.

They didn't stop until the last drop of gasoline dripped out from its tanks, landing in the centre of the hub. Once all preparations ceased, they returned to the tunnel they came in through, standing on the edge.

Steve crouched to the ground, Dustin copying his action as the older boy whipped out his lighter. "All right, you guys ready?"

Mike nodded. "Yeah."

"Ready," Lucas affirmed.

"Ready," repeated Max.

Dustin was practically brimming with excitement, emphasising his vocabulary as he often did. "Light her up."

This was the craziest shit she'd ever done, but it was all gonna be worth it in the end. "Let's burn this mother fucker to the ground."

He flicked his lighter open, turning back to the hub, panting. "I am in such deep shit."

With a firm click, a small flame sprouted from within the metal. Steve tossed it into the cavern, and the second it touched the ground, a raging fire consumed the place. Flames spread from the centre outwards, igniting the living vines that screeched and howled in agonising pain. They flailed around, wiggling in the air and struggling against the scorching heat.

It was one way to kill Steve's old smoking habit, he had to admit. "Go -- let's go! Go!" He nudged the kids, guiding them back through the tunnel. They broke into a run, speeding through with little hesitation. "Let's go! Let's go!"

Dustin bounded along, watching his step. "Oh, my God. Oh, my God."

They just kept running -- no point in looking back. Steve checked the map, scanning their surroundings. "Hey, this way!"

There was no time to ask questions, they had to keep moving. Stopping to breathe would mean certain death in their case.

As they darted to and fro, following Steve's every move, Mike's leg caught on something. The young boy tumbled to the ground, feeling a vine tie itself around one of his legs. "Help! Help! Help Help!"

The group raced back to help him, the kids grabbing onto the upper half of his body. They tugged him back, but it was no use; the vine was persistent. "Steve, pull him out!"

"Everybody back! Everybody back!" Steve raised his bat and struck it down on the vine. The thing screeched like a living creature, writhing uncontrollably as Steve swung at it again. A third strike finally caused the vine to retreat, releasing Mike from its slimy clutch.

Lucas yanked his friend to his feet, patting him on the shoulder. "You good?"

"You okay?" asked Dustin.

And though Steve was concerned as well, his main objective was getting everyone out of there unharmed, which meant they had to keep moving. "Guys, we gotta go! We gotta go now-!"

A harsh roar drew their attention away from him, the group spinning around to find a lone demodog had appeared. It blocked their path, standing firm as it faced them off. Steve placed a hand on Dustin's shoulder, ready to pull him back and attack.

"Dart." Dustin realised, recognising the yellow spot on his back. He stepped forward, leading to a chorus of complaints from the others. "Trust me, please."

The creature must have beaten its brothers and sisters to it. Perhaps it was eager to finish what it had started in Dustin's backyard, and the young boy was stepping right into Dart's trap.

"Hey. It's me." His fingers grasped the rim of his bandana, pulling it down to reveal the rest of his face. Then, he removed the safety goggles from his eyes, making himself vulnerable to an attack. "It's me. It's just your friend, Dustin." He knelt on the ground, beckoning the creature. "It's Dustin, all right?" Despite some hesitancy, Dart crept closer. "You remember me?"

It chittered softly in response, its lips pulsing as it raised its eyeless head towards the young boy.

"Will you let us pass?" he requested.

The creature snarled, its face shooting open. Rows upon rows of sharp teeth covered every inch of its mouth, having grown more in the last twenty-four hours.

The group huddled together, leaning into one another as they observed the pair in fear. Steve held a taut stance, unyielding against the monster.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the storm cellar." As if the monster understood, Dart closed its face, listening to their old friend. "That was a pretty douchey thing to do." 

Sophie, in thought, disagreed with his comment, seeing as how Dart was going to kill her if Dustin hadn't locked them away in time.

"You hungry?" He began to remove his backpack, keeping his pace slow to avoid startling the creature. "Yeah?"

"He's insane," Lucas stated, only to be shortly reprimanded by his friends.

"Shut up," Steve said, trusting that Dustin knew what he was doing. He'd still hate to see the kid's flesh being ripped from his bones, but Steve understood that any sudden movement could set the creature off.

"I've got our favourite." Of course, he brought snacks. For an adventure like this, Dustin was bound to get hungry, and he still had some Halloween candy left over. "See?" His mouth widened into a grin, lightly shaking a Three Musketeers bar in front of Dart. "Nougat."

The creature's interest peaked, and that was before Dustin started to open the candy bar. It must have appreciated a varied diet.

"Look at that. Yummy." Dustin, removed the wrapper, placing the bar on the ground. "Here, all right?" Blinded by its hunger, Dart could not refuse, dipping its head to digest the food offered. "Eat up, buddy." He waved his hand, gesturing for the others to sneak past. "Come on.  Come on."

Hoping Dustin had the situation under control, the group complied, steadily making their way past the horrifying creature. Sophie tried her best to keep her injured leg away from it, knowing all creatures from the Upside Down treasured the scent of fresh blood.

"There's plenty. I've got more." He seemed to have grown quite a collection of that specific candy bar brand, scattering them on the ground. As he predicted, Dart began to scarf them down, seemingly thanking his owner with a light nod. 

It appeared that, somehow, the pair did share a special connection. Perhaps Dustin's kindness had affected a small part of the hive mind -- if only he could do the same for the others. 

He scooped up his backpack and slipped his goggles back on, making his way around the demodog and leaving them be. "Goodbye, buddy." Dustin pulled the bandana over his face and walked on, lowering his voice and gesturing to the group. "Let's go. Let's go."

They continued, sprinting through the tunnel as fast as they could. Everything looked the same, it was hard to tell the difference between one cavern and another. 

But despite their short time together, Sophie trusted Steve's instincts. "Come on -- let's go! Let's go!" Just then, a low frequency began to emit from the walls, growing louder by the second. Then, the caverns started to shake, halting the group in their tracks. "Jesus!"

Sophie held onto the wall, her hand narrowly missing a squirming vine. "Is this an earthquake? Do you get earthquakes in Indiana?!"

Max stumbled onto her feet upon hearing the roar of a monster from up ahead. "What was that?"

Another one echoed behind them, followed by the sound of wet paws clambering at the walls. "They're coming," Mike yelled. "Run! Run!"

They could no longer mind where their feet would land, seeing as how the whole tunnel was distracted by the conflagration in its hub. The kids and teens sprinted around the corner, dead set on finding the exit.

Their fire plan was a success -- the only problem was getting out on time. "Let's go! Let's go!"

"Come on, Mike! Move!" Dustin squealed. "Move, Mike!"

"There! There!" Lucas spotted the rope a few metres ahead.

"Let's go! Go, go, go, go, go! Let's go!" Steve sounded like a panicked cheerleader. "Come on! Come on!" He wrapped his arms around Max's thighs, hoisting her upwards. She grabbed the rope, hauling herself out of there.

"Keep going, Max!" Sophie shouted from below.

The next kid was Lucas, his ascent aided by Max on the surface. Mike followed shortly after, going as fast as they could.

However, when Dustin was the next to go, an amalgamation of furious monsters shrieked behind them. Their heads snapped back, the natural glow of the tunnels forming their shadows on the wall. "Shit!"

As Steve raised his bat again, Sophie's eyes landed on the younger boy, recognising the danger he was in. "Sorry, Dustin." 

She bent her knees, her arms curling around Dustin's torso. The teenage girl yanked his feet off the ground and spun him around, practically throwing him up the rope. The kids helped from above, using their combined strength to pull him out of there.

"Go!" The shadows drew nearer, knowing the monsters would soon follow. She grabbed hold of the rope, ready to leave herself when her gaze met Steve's backside. He didn't falter, not for a second. "Steve!"

He didn't look back, gesturing with his arm. "Go on -- go!"

Her grip loosened, the colour draining from her face. "Steve, you can't fight them yourself! I'm not leaving you behind!" 

She could hear Max calling her name from above, begging her to leave. But Sophie couldn't let him fight this battle on his own -- it was suicide.

Like the vines, Steve was unrelenting. "Just get out of here!"

Adrenaline spiked, her heart racing as she marched over to the defiant teenager. "Not without you!"

His eyes widened, his head snapping towards her. "Sophie-!"

The first creature came bounding around the corner, heading straight for them. Sophie's limbs trembled, her knees going weak. Steve attempted to retain his composure, but as more started to appear, he knew it was too late -- they were done for.

He put an arm around her back, ensuring the demodogs didn't drag her away from him. Her fingers gripped the hem of his jacket, pulling him closer. She buried her head in his chest, fully expecting the rip and tear to come swiftly. Sophie hoped it wouldn't hurt too much.

"Sophie!" Max screamed, close to tears. The kids peered through the hole, watching in horror as...

... Nothing happened.

To their shock, the herd of Demodogs barely acknowledged their existence, running past them. They were everywhere, climbing the walls and digging at the ground to increase their speed. The teenagers' legs wobbled as the creatures knocked into them, yet they did not attack. For beings that gorged themselves on human flesh, there would be no reason to ignore free food.

Something else was going on. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with the group; they were just in the way. They were going after a much bigger meal.

The Demodogs raced through the caverns, soon vanishing into the far distance, leaving the pair unharmed and alive. 

Still, they held onto each other for dear life, unsure whether or not they were safe. Her jaw went slack, her horrified expression faded as she met Steve's wistful gaze. The more she looked into her eyes, the more her fear melted away into nothingness, knowing they would keep each other safe.

She broke the longing stare with a few rapid blinks, releasing her grip on her jacket. Her arms slid down her torso, reaching the pockets of her jeans. Sophie scratched the back of her neck, looking away. "We should, um..."

"Yeah." He swallowed, taking a step back. Steve threw his head back, peering at the relieved kids through the hole. "You guys okay?"

"Just about," Dustin answered, returning a little thumbs-up. His breathing came out in small bursts as he sat back on his knees, glimpsing up at the sky.

Max pressed her palms against her head, pulling back her hair. "God, you almost gave me a heart attack!"

Sophie chewed the inside of her cheek as her eyes locked with Steve's again, the young man asking. "You want a boost?"

A slow, small smile appeared on her face. "Sure."

She shuffled closer, brushing loose strands of hair off her face. Steve's hands landed on her waist as she inhaled, deeply. "Ready?"

His warm breath wafted against her face, his lips metres away from hers. She wondered if he was considering it, kissing her -- Sophie definitely was. Her head bobbed, lighting nodding. "Yeah."

Sophie leaned in, her eyes falling to his mouth. Before they could intertwine, he hoisted her upwards, breaking her out of her lovestruck daze. Her eyes widened before she latched onto the rope, nearing the surface. She clawed at the dirt, her nails scraping as she climbed out of the hole, returning from the hellish version of Wonderland. It did make her wonder what the real Upside Down looked like. Of course, with the Gate being closed, she would never get to see it. Not that she wanted to, obviously.

Once she could taste the bittersweet November air on her tongue, Sophie knew she was safe. They had all survived within an inch of their lives, and hopefully, they were never going to do it again.

She nearly lost her footing when her younger sister came crashing into her. "I'm okay. I'm okay." 

She'd never seen Max this vulnerable before, the sisters solidifying their bond by letting each other in. "Don't ever do that again."

Sophie giggled, water building in the corner of her eyes as she stroked Max's hair. "I'll try not to."

Behind her, she could hear Steve grunting as he pulled himself out. Dustin offered to help, but the teenager was adamant about doing it himself. Sure, the kid had gained his approval, though Steve found it awkward for a kid to be helping him.

They were alive. They were actually alive, and Sophie felt like smiling. To survive a beating was one thing, but to survive another dimension was a whole new feeling.

"All right." Steve sighed, putting his hands on his hips as he congratulated them. "Good work, team."

The headlights snapped, drawing their attention away from the hole. The light seemed to glow brighter, to the point where they were forced to cover their eyes. The bulbs buzzed loudly, their wires fizzing as an electrical charge, more powerful than anything, raced through the filaments.

It didn't last too long, the headlights burning like the sun for only a few moments. Then, they began to dim, the annoying buzzing ceasing for good. It was finally over. Not just for them, but for everyone involved.

"She did it," Mike uttered, his lips twitching into an amazed smile. "El closed the Gate."

Sophie angled her head to the right, meeting Steve's eyes once again. At that moment, both knew their lives would never be the same -- they were intertwined.

***

This is Sophie fully realising she has the hots for Steve. On the other hand, Steve's a little clueless about his feelings towards her.

Tried to get this out before Christmas, but it's my fault for writing chapters that are over five thousand words. That's something I really need to work on.

Anyway, I saw the Stranger Things play and it was fantastic. Like, the actors actually come into the audience. I was up in the dress circle and we had, like, people in hazmat suits come along and detect radiation off audience members. Also, the whole reason Brenner's interested in the Upside Down is fucking hilarious. I'm seeing it again this month as an anniversary thing for this fic since I released it almost a year ago.

If you enjoyed this chapter, I would love it if you left a vote or a comment. Thank you so much for 13k reads. I honestly wasn't expecting to get this far within a year of writing this fic, so thank you for all the love and support you've given over the last several months xx

- Alice.