kidnapping our babysitter

. ✧ ・゜. +・o ✧

Perhaps having a thirteen-year-old drive her stepbrother's car wasn't the best idea, but there was no stopping them now. Gabe was squished in the backseat along with Alina, Mike, Dustin and an unconscious Steve, and was seriously wishing he'd taken up the offer to ride in the trunk. Lucas, who was navigating, was lucky enough to sit shotgun, and Max was driving, her knuckles turning white from how hard she was clenching the steering wheel.

They'd all realized at once that, in order to get to the hole leading into the tunnels, they'd have to drive there. And since they were all years away from getting their licenses, they'd had to decide if it was worth breaking the law. And, apparently, it was, and Gabe figured that after you were a fugitive hiding from government agents for a day, underaged driving was nothing. He still felt guilt squirming in his stomach, though, and prayed that they wouldn't be caught. It wouldn't even matter that much if they were—who were they going to report them to? Hopper? —but Gabe still wasn't interested in having that conversation.

Max wasn't a bad driver. Okay, she wasn't good—they'd nearly taken out several mailboxes and had gone over the curb a few times and driven on the sidewalks at least twice—but she hadn't managed to kill them yet, so that was always a plus. Even though Alina was sitting practically on his lap and Dustin's face was squished against the window. Even though Gabe was feeling more claustrophobic than he'd ever had in his entire life.

"Which way?" Max asked Lucas now, her jaw clenched. There was a new fire in her eyes, a fire that had sprung out after she'd jabbed that needle into her stepbrother's neck. Gabe was still impressed with that act of badassery even after almost an hour, and knew Billy had gotten what he deserved after hurting Lucas, Alina and Steve, who was still unconscious, ice pack to his head, blood still crusting his face.

King Steve. That was what Billy had called him. Mockingly, sure, but when Steve had come in, fists flailing, and saved Lucas from a possible beatdown, Gabe didn't think it was a lie. He just wished he'd had the courage to do something, to put this asshole in his place. But he hadn't. He'd been too afraid.

Funny, he thought. I can confront a Demodog with no problem, but a teenage boy halts me in my tracks.

"Left," Lucas instructed Max, constantly twisting the map in his hands. Max made a turn, and, as usual, everyone found something to grab onto as the car skidded across the road, backing over a curb. The motion nearly sent Dustin flying, and everyone else gasped as their stomachs lurched. Max regained control over the car and sent it back down the road smoothly, and that was when Steve let out a groan.

Gabe turned, watching him stir. He blinked blearily, his breath leaving him sharply, and he still looked a little delirious. Steve's eyes found the gasoline at their feet, and then rose to meet Mike's eyes. "Nancy?" he murmured through bloodied lips, and Mike turned to face him, looking incredibly offended. Gabe leaned forward, inspecting Steve, just as the older boy raised a hand to his nose. Before he could feel the extent of his injuries, however, Dustin grabbed his arm.

"No, don't touch it," he said gently, then smiled when Steve's eyes found his. "Hey, buddy, shh... shh..." he spoke to Steve like he was a child, but considering how loopy he looked, Gabe thought this might be the right option. "It's okay," Dustin continued. "You put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you put up a good fight. You're okay."

"Okay," said Lucas from up front, looking down at the map so as to continue instructing Max on where to go. "You're gonna keep straight for a half a mile, then make a left on Mount Sinai."

"What's going on?" Steve asked weakly, his words slurring together. He blinked his eyes again, and he seemed to be focusing a little more, as shown by the panic that immediately laced his voice when he noticed Max at the wheel. "Oh my God!" he looked like he was about to wet himself.

"Just relax, she's driven before," Dustin soothed, and Gabe suppressed a snort.

"Yeah," said Mike, "in a parking lot."

"She's doing okay now," said Alina, who hadn't spoken for the entirety of this ride. After Skywalker's part in taking revenge on Billy, she'd been reluctant to leave her cat behind, but they all assured her that he would be okay for a couple of hours alone. Gabe noticed that her face wasn't as pale as it had been before, but more sweat was beading on her forehead, and her cheeks had almost turned red. "I mean," she continued, "she hasn't flipped us off the road or something."

"Yeah," said Lucas, agreeing, as always, with the girl, "and a parking lot counts!"

"Oh my God," Steve said again. Dustin pursed his lips guiltily.

"They were gonna leave you behind," he explained quickly, as Steve's tenseness rose. "I promised that you'd be cool, okay?"

"Yeah, well, he doesn't look cool right now," said Gabe. "He doesn't look cool at all! And he's totally gonna tell everybody that we snuck out to do this. And, he might have a concussion or something! I mean, Billy really did hit him hard. What if—" he was going to say more, his mouth constantly running its course, when Steve's panic hit a whole different level.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." Steve's voice got higher and higher with each word. "What's going on?!"

Max gritted her teeth, and then floored the gas, sending them speeding forward, the surroundings of Hawkins a blur as they shot through the streets. "Oh my God!" Steve screamed again, sounding more like himself. "No! Whoa! Stop the car! Slow down!"

"I told you he'd freak out," snapped Mike, like they weren't in a car that seemed like it was going faster than a speeding bullet driven by a stubborn, determined teenage girl.

"He was always going to freak out," said Gabe reasonably, "we kidnapped him!"

"Stop the car!" Steve yelled again.

"EVERYBODY SHUT UP!" Max's voice was the one that stopped any further argument and sent them all into silence. "I'm trying to focus!"

"Oh wait," Lucas said quickly, apparently having not realized that Max's instructions to shut up didn't apply to him, "that's Mount Sinai! Make a left!"

"What?"

"Make a turn left!" At Lucas's instruction, Max twisted the steering wheel frantically, trying not to miss the turn, and succeeded in crashing right into a mailbox, sending it right off its post. Everyone let out a cry as it flew into the air, and the car bounced and shook as Max tried to control it, sending the passengers in the backseat flying into each other's lap. Alina's face thudded into the seat in front of her and she came out with a bloody nose, and Mike's elbow knocked into Gabe's ear, making his head spin. Everyone's screams got louder and louder as the car sped down the road, faster and faster, and for a hazy moment, Gabe thought that this was going to be the end. How sad would that be?

"THIS ISN'T GOING TO LOOK GOOD ON AN AUTOPSY!" Alina yelled, clutching onto Gabe, who was now the closest to her. All seven teenagers in the car screamed and cried out as the car bounced and swerved, pleading with any higher force that this would end, that they would survive this absolute catastrophe they'd managed to get themselves into.

The car spun across the field, and Max managed to hit the breaks right before they went flying into the hole Hopper had dug. Everyone gasped for breath, their hearts racing, miraculously making it out alive, and for the most part, uninjured. "Whoa," breathed Dustin, his chest heaving.

"Incredible," said Mike, in awe at the fact that they were all still alive.

"I told you," said Max, her breath heavy as well. "Zoomer."

They all spent a few minutes in the car, just catching their breath, before clenching their jaws, knowing what they had to do. They all piled out of the vehicle, stretching their legs gratefully, Alina pinching her bloody nose, and Lucas popped the trunk. All of the party members immediately began pulling out bandannas, goggles, whatever they had to protect themselves from the toxic nature of the Upside Down. Gabe found himself wearing a bandanna and a pair of ski goggles, the others dressing in equally ridiculous getup. The six of them unloaded the trunk, ignoring Steve, who was leaned against the car, each of them grabbing some gasoline.

Alina's arms shook, and she ended up spilling some, but at the others' inquires, told them she was okay. That couldn't be further from the truth. Sweat was spilling down her head, and there was a faint burning sensation in the center of her chest, stinging every time she breathed. She knew exactly what it was. Knew what they were doing to him.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Steve asked Mike, who was preparing by the hole leading into the tunnels. "What are you, deaf? Hello?"

All of them ignored Steve, preparing for their journey. They started lowering a rope down into the entrance despite the injured teen's protests, Alina's chest burning more and more with each passing second. Everything started to get woozy again, and for a split second, she felt the burn of heat all over, like a wall of fire, saw a blurred ceiling and heard the cries of people miles away. Then she shot back into herself and resisted the urge to throw up.

Why am I here? Why did I come with them?

"Hey!" Steve yelled again. "There is no chance we're going to that hole, all right?"

Alina flexed her palms, letting the adrenaline course through her. It hurt, whenever she did, and she could feel the resistance at the back of her mind, but the fact that her abilities had come back was a good thing. When she used them, it was finally her in control.

The nosebleed wasn't bothering her either; she got them all the time. Having abilities was a grueling business, unlike what was shown in media. Alina hadn't forgotten the time she'd passed out in the AV Room, nor the many times her face had been speckled with bruises from overuse. She hoped it wouldn't happen in the tunnels. She already had enough on her plate.

Finally, Steve seemed to have enough of the party's ignorance. He slammed one hand down on the hood of the car. "This ends right now!" he shouted, causing a couple of heads to turn. Alina looked to him, and for a moment, she forgot his name. One second. But it was when she knew it was getting even worse.

"Steve!" Dustin spoke through his bandanna, his voice slightly muffled. "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." As he spoke, the others began to head to the hole leading into the tunnels, Mike trailing the rope behind him. Alina followed, the only one with her hands free—she'd given her can to Gabe, who'd insisted he'd be able to carry it. It made sense, anyway, so she was able to use her abilities at any time, and Alina didn't want to spill anything else, anyway.

Dustin continued talking. "Now, I know you promised Nance that you would keep us safe. So keep us safe."

He offered him the bat. Steve took it.

Alina turned back as Steve grimly followed her. The plan would be to order themselves once they got into the tunnels themselves. She would be up front, the best line of defence, and the others would follow, giving her directions. She wasn't so sure it was a good idea to have her lead this mission, but she couldn't say no.

Literally and figuratively.

And at that, Alina slipped away a little more.

. ✧ ・゜. +・o ✧

a/n: it's the line!! from the summary!! it only took forty-four chapters to get to it lmao!! wow!

anyway i'm actually really scared for the next few chapters, and i just hope they make sense or whatever. i mean they make sense to me but i feel like there's a few things i need to tweak lol. hopefully it'll all come together alright though. y'all are not ready for what happens in the tunnels oml. 

'till next time!