CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: ALL OVER

THEY WERE ALMOST THERE WHEN STEVE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS. Max was driving while everyone except Lucas was crammed in the back with Steve lying on top of them. For as skinny as he looked, he was heavier than Daniel thought he would be.

Squinting at Mike as he slowly awoke, he asked, "Nancy?"

Daniel snickered, refraining from saying anything but still laughing at the expression Mike made. The Wheeler boy was holding a container of gasoline as they drove towards where the center of the tunnels was. Daniel wasn't particularly fond of this plan, but even he knew it was the best thing they had. Steve reached for his most likely broken nose, but Dustin chastised him.

"No, don't touch it," the boy reprimanded, pulling the teenager's hand away. The teenager turned to look at Dustin, who mumbled, "Hey, buddy..."

"Took quite the hit," Daniel muttered, "Or, well, quite the hits."

"It's okay, you put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you put up a fight," Dustin shushed and it took everything in Daniel not to laugh. He shouldn't laugh because his friend and his sister's almost-boyfriend just got the shit knocked out of him, but the aftermath, that being Steve's wild expressions, was weirdly hilarious.

Lucas gave directions to Max in the front seat, causing Steve to look up and realize who was driving. As any normal person would react, he asked, "What's going on? Oh, my God!"

"Just relax. She's driven before," Dustin chided, trying to get the boy to stop moving so he could keep the ice pack on his head. Daniel was kind of trapped as Steve was mostly laying on him, so he couldn't really move. Max sped up and Steve continued freaking out, everyone was talking over one another to Daniel just did what he did best and stayed silent. He was never really one to add on to pre-existing yelling, he hated yelling. He just grabbed Mike's hand that wasn't holding the gasoline and otherwise stayed still. After many rushed turns and lots of yelling, they stopped right in front of a hole in the ground. Everyone stumbled out of the car, Dustin and Lucas running to the trunk and pulling out what they were going to need. Everyone was handed a bandana and goggles.

"Mike, can you help me tie it?" Daniel asked, turning towards his boyfriend who already had his bandana on. Mike nodded and the curly-haired boy soon felt cool hands brushing against the back of his neck as the boy tied the piece of cloth. When he finished, Daniel asked in a whisper, "Do you actually think this is gonna work?"

Mike just shrugged, picking up the gasoline, "It has to."

He started to walk away, Steve asking, "Hey, where do you think you're going? Hey, what are you, deaf? We are not going down there right now. I made myself clear. Hey, there's no chance we're going to that hole, all right? This ends right now!"

However, no one was listening. Finally, Dustin said, "Steve, we get it, you're upset. But the bottom line is, a party member requires assistance and it is our duty to provide that assistance. Now, I know you promised Nance and Heather that you'd keep us safe. So, keep us safe."

Daniel watched as Dustin pulled out a backpack and Steve's bat. Under his bandana, he smiled. After a moment, he turned and followed Mike as they prepared to enter the pit. Standing right in front of it, he liked the idea less and less, but it was too late to back out now. No party member gets left behind, so he needed to be there. They climbed down into the tunnels one by one; Daniel going last right before Steve. Already terrified, he reached for Mike's hand, glad he could still feel the familiar warmth through the gloves they were both wearing. Even in the cold tunnels, he felt safe when he had Mike right next to him.

"Holy shit," Steve muttered.

"Yeah," Mike deadpanned as if this was some kind of regular hangout spot for him. Carrying on like usual, he said, "I'm pretty sure it's this way."

Dustin, representing Daniel's internal thoughts, asked, "You're pretty sure, or you're certain?"

"I'm one-hundred-percent sure. Just follow me and you'll know," the Wheeler boy instructed.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, hey, hey, I don't think so," Steve intruded, stepping in front of Mike and Daniel, who were still holding onto each other, "Any of you little shits die down here, I'm getting the blame. Got it, dipshit? From here on out, I'm leading the way. Come on, let's go."

"I'm honestly okay with that," Daniel admitted, wishing the goggles he was wearing weren't prohibiting him from sending an apologetic look to the boy next to him, "Sorry."

After a few minutes, they reached a center that branched off into multiple different tunnels.

"If anyone suggests splitting up, I swear to God," Daniel established. He had seen literally any movie and he knew that splitting up would never be a good idea. Ever.

"What is this place?" Max asked.

Thankfully, there was no need for splitting up as Steve seemed to know the way, motioning towards one tunnel and instructing, "Guys, come on. Keep moving."

However, they were disturbed when they heard Dustin yelling made curse words. They all turned and ran back, finding the boy stumbling around and falling.

"It's in my mouth! Some of it got in my mouth! Shit!" the boy whimpered, pulling his bandana down and coughing and wheezing. After an excruciatingly long moment, he looked up and said, "I'm okay."

"Jesus Christ, Dustin," Daniel muttered, holding a hand out and helping his friend up from the slimy floor. With this over, they tread onward.

Eventually, Steve shined his flashlight on an area and said, "All right, Wheeler, I think we found your hub."

Indeed they had. In front of them was a wide area accompanied by a plethora of tunnels stretching out in a million different directions. After they observed it for a moment, determining they were in the right place, Mike commanded, "Drench it."

They went to work pouring gasoline everywhere and anywhere. Even Daniel was helping, dumping his cannister as he walked. Finally, it was covered. They had to have saturated every square inch of that hub in gasoline.

"I am in such deep shit," Steve mumbled, clicking his lighter once they were safely in the tunnel that would lead them back to the entrance. Unsurprisingly, Daniel felt the exact same way. In anticipation, he clutched Mike's hand, squeezing so tight he thought he might break it. He tossed the light and flame was caught instantly, so bright they all jumped back. After a moment's hesitation in pure shock, they all turned and ran. At one point in their sprint to get away before the flames and monsters caught up to them, Mike tripped.

"Mike!" Daniel screamed, instantly tugging on his hand and trying to get him up. It was a miracle he hadn't fallen with him. He tried to get him up, but a vine had already latched onto him. Every boy joined him in pulling when finally Steve slammed his nail-filled bat against the vine on the ground until it split and let go of Mike. Daniel would have kissed him out of relief if they didn't really need to run. He definitely made a mental note to kiss the hell out of him as soon as they were safe. Right as they were ready to start running again, there was a growl.

Instantly, Daniel felt Mike's arm around him, pulling him close and away from the Demo-Dog.

The only person who didn't seem scared was Dustin. Mumbling, "Dart."

"There's no way," Daniel shook his head, scared out of his mind, "There's no way we're this fucking lucky, Dustin don't!"

Dustin, as usual, wasn't listening. Instead, he shushed them and stepped forward, "Trust me, please."

Daniel's heart stopped as he watched his friend get closer and closer to the creature. Dustin removed his goggles and bandana, saying something to the monster that they couldn't hear. After a moment, it snarled and opened its mouth and the boy shoved his face into Mike's shoulder, not wanting to watch whatever was about to happen. Thankfully, from what he could hear, Dustin did not get eaten, so that was a relief. Daniel gave up all hope when he turned and saw Dustin pulling out a Three Musketeers bar. Why had the boy even brought that? Miraculously, as Dustin dropped the bar, the creature was distracted and they were able to pass very quietly.

"Goodbye, buddy," Dustin muttered sadly, everyone stopped and watching him. Finally, they got moving again.

They were almost there when all of a sudden, the tunnels starting rumbling and all of the kids fell. There was the unsettling roar of a monster that sounded much larger than some Demo-Dog.

"What was that?" Max asked, stealing the words right out of Daniel's mouth.

"Whatever it was, it doesn't sound happy," Daniel mumbled, out of breath and sounding tired. He just really wanted this to be over. The monster roared again, except this time they could hear that instead of one collective roar, it was a group. a group of Demo-Dogs to be exact.

Turning towards the route behind them, Mike spoke, "They're coming. Run! Run!"

Daniel always thought he was good at following instructions. Him sprinting through these tunnels faster than he ever had before seemed to prove this. The rope and subsequent exit were in sight and Daniel could cry with how relieved he was. Ony by one, Steve lifted them up to the rope, helping them out. Daniel made it out with Mike right behind him. Although this wasn't quite over, the boy pulled the other into the tightest hug he could muster with how little energy he had. He would have gone in for the kiss too if not for the goggles and bandanas blocking his way. The moment was ruined when Daniel realized Dustin and Steve were both still down there. He watched in anticipation, him and the others ready to help pull them out. The monsters came crashing into sight and Daniel knew there was no time. He squinted his eyes tight as the monsters got closer to his friends, he wasn't ready to say goodbye. However, for the second time that night, death at the hands of these creatures was avoided. For some reason, the monsters ran right past the pair. After the initial shock hit, they all snapped back into motion and got Steve and Dustin out of the tunnels.

Now, now it was over. Pulling off his and his boyfriend's goggles and bandanas, Daniel pulled Mike in for a kiss illuminated by the glaring headlights on Billy's car. This, unfortunately, distracted them and they pulled apart, everyone staring at the unnaturally bright lights.

The lights finally dimmed and turned off and there was a heavy silence that told them what they all knew. Eleven had been successful. It was over. It was all over.

THE END.

( note! )

This is a thing I never thought I would see. I have only put the words "The End" on something that wasn't a social media fic on two works. And they were both complete and utter trash. This story, however, is something I'm genuinely proud of, which is shocking because I hate everything I do. As I typed those last words, my heart was beating a mile a minute and I can't believe I'm actually here. There's still an Epilogue where you guys will see the fate of Steve & Heather, Veronica & Nancy, and of course, Mike & Daniel. The Epilogue is going to tie up far more loose ends than this did, I promise! Thank you to each and every one of you that read and supported this story and thank you for appreciating this story! I know it's rare that I get this far with stories, so thank you for (mostly) sticking with me! I hope you liked reading this story and I promise there is so much more to come from me, but I think Mike and Daniel's chapter is ending and I hope you guys can continue to support me and my works even though these two got their happy ending. Thank you, for everything.