Chapter Fourteen: Run

Max wasn't an awful driver, probably the best out of the conscious people in the car. It still wasn't enough to say she'd pass a driver's test. In fact, she'd be kicked out before she'd even gone down the first street.

Annie grabbed onto Steve's sleeve as Max sped down the road. This day has been all about testing her anxiety, and just how much she could take. It wasn't a lot before, and she was sure it was worse now.

There was heavy breathing coming from beside her. Annie turned her head and lifted the icepack on Steve's face to see if it was him. It was, and now it was time to explain.

He mumbled something at Mike, then moved his hand up to his face. "Oh, we don't want to do that," Annie whispered, replacing the icepack on his head and using her other hand, no longer gripping the jacket sleeve, and moved his hand away from his face.

Slowly, he moved his head to look at Annie. "Hey, Steve, you did okay. You didn't come out looking okay, but that's how you did. Just gotta be careful with your face for a bit." He moved his hand to the icepack on his forehead, moving it off.

"Okay, you're going to keep straight for half a mile, then make a left on Mount Sinai," Lucas instructed. Annie watched as Steve turned his head and was looking forward now at the passenger and driver.

"Uh oh, this won't go well," she thought.

"What's going on?" he asked, a bit slurred. Max glanced back at him, then quickly back to the road. "Oh my god." There it is.

Dustin came in clutch with the words to try and help. "Just relax. She's driven before," he said calmly.

"Yeah, in a parking lot!" Mike countered. He was still upset at the whole thing.

Annie reacher over and smacked Mike's arm. "Not helping!"

"It counts anyways!"

"Oh my god-"

"Well it's not like we were going to leave you behind, Steve, cause that was the other option," Annie mentioned. "We need you to be cool, please."

Then, the freak out started. Steve started yelling everything, from 'oh my god' to 'no' and 'stop the car.' Annie understood his panic, especially since Max was speeding up.

"I told you he'd freak out!" Mike accused, glaring at Dustin and Annie.

"Stop the car!" Steve yelled.

"Okay well I can't exactly blame him, it's not like we're going for a nice drive down by the beach!" Dustin yelled back. "He has reasons to be freaked out!"

Max had enough. "Everybody shut up! I'm trying to focus!" she yelled, looking into the rearview mirror to see them.

"Oh wait, that's Mount Sinai, make a left!"

"What?"

"Make- Turn left!"

Max took the car off to the left and ran straight into a mailbox, taking a vary hard left on Sinai. Everyone in the car screamed as she did so. Annie would've laughed at Lucas' scream in a different circumstance. Hell, she'd do it later.

Steve was leaning into Annie before the car straightened out and got back on the road the right way. "Oh my god!" he yelled.

"It's okay, we're gonna be okay," Annie said, holding onto Steve's arm for dear life. She really liked Max, like seriously, but never would she get into another car with her until she had an official state driver's license. Never.

They continued driving and Steve kept yelling, slowly getting back his pre-Billy functioning. They turned onto a field and Max hit the breaks just a few feet before the hole. Everyone snapped forward and back and Steve let out another yell.

"I told you. Zoomer." She removed the keys from the car and then it was go time. Lucas got out first, leaning his seat back so Dustin and Annie could get out. Max got out right after, moving her seat to allow Mike out.

They moved to the trunk and opened it to get their weapons and protection out.  Steve let out a grunt as he rolled out of the car. He got up and propped himself on the car door, yelling at everyone as they got ready to go in the tunnels. Yeah, Steve was going to be really mad, but they could be mad later.

As she walked by him, he managed to grab her arm and halt her in her tracks. "Steve," she said, sternly. He stopped his yelling and listened. "I know you're mad and that you want to keep us safe, and you can still do that. But we can't stay up here and do nothing when our friends need our help. So come with us and protect us down there. Please."

Steve paused, taking in her words. She didn't wait, though, and walked away to the others. Mike had the rope tied to the front of the car so they could get down and back up. When it was all ready, they made their way down and into the tunnels.

Max went down first, followed by Annie. She stayed by the redhead's side as everyone made their way down.

She shined her flashlight around the tunnels and took in how strange everything was. There were particles floating in the air and there were vines on the walls. The whole place just felt overly eery and shivers ran down Annie's arms.

Steve came down last, looking around himself and being totally weirded out. Mike, with his little makeshift map, said, "I'm pretty sure it's this way!"

"You're pretty sure or your certain?" Dustin asked. Steve moved, making his way over to Mike.

"I'm 100% sure! Just follow me and you'll know." He started to walk off, but Steve halted him

"Hey, hey! I don't think so. Any of you little shits die down here, I'm getting the blame, got it dipshit?" he asked, aiming the last part to Mike. He took the map. "From here on out, I'm leading the way. Let's go."

So, they went. The kids followed closely behind them with all their gear in tact. Max and Annie walked next to each other. Annie looked down, seeing Max's empty hand swinging next to her. There were two things Annie could do in this situation: absolutely nothing and just keep walking, or she could make the bold move and take Max's hand. Maybe use the excuse she's scared (not a lie).

She didn't have to think for long, though, because Max reached out and grabbed Annie's empty hand. "Sticking together," she said, looking over at Annie. While neither girl could see the other's face, both were certain they were smiling. And they were.

Steve led the kids through the tunnels, Max and Annie making sure neither got left behind or tripped on anything. "So, that's Billy?" Annie asked, never having met the teenager before tonight.

Max snorted a laugh. "Yep, that's him. A shitty introduction, but it's not like there's much else to him," she answered in a light, joking tone. But Annie knew the underlying truth was sad and she deserved more than that.

"Well, at least you proved yourself to him," Annie said, shrugging. Max smiled under her bandana, somewhat glad Annie couldn't see her blush.

But then she remembered something. "Hey, are you okay? I know he threatened you, too, and I wouldn't blame you if if freaked you out."

Of course it freaked Annie out- she's terrified to ever go near Billy in the future. "Yeah, it scared me a bit. But I know that'd never happen. You and Steve would be in the way," she responded, moving her head to look at Max, smiling brightly.

Max couldn't see it, but she could definitely feel the smile coming off of Annie.

The group entered this one area, a larger and much louder area. "What is this place?" Max asked, using her flashlight to look around some, Annie doing the same.

"Guys, come on. Keep moving," Steve said and they followed him once more.

Annie was getting ready to strike up another conversation with Max when a loud scream echoed out behind them. The whole group turned to see Dustin fall to the ground, screaming and yelling out.

"Dustin!" Annie called, and they hurried to his aid. The kids surrounded him first, but Steve burst through demanding to know what happened.

"It's in my mouth! Some got in my mouth! Shit!" Dustin screamed, his voice breaking over almost every word. He sat up, took his bandana off his face, and started hacking, the others staring at him. They didn't know how to help and just hoped he'd be good.

After a second more of coughing, Dustin sat back and looked up at everyone. "I'm okay," he said in the calmest voice.

"You serious?" Max asked, and started to pull Annie to turn them back around.

"Very funny, man," Steve chided and turned back as well. "Nice, very nice."

"Jesus what an idiot."

They resumed their walking formation and kept going down the narrow tunnel. Max's hand had yet to let go of Annie's. They hadn't started up another conversation yet, but it was okay. The silence and knowing they were each there for the other was all they really needed.

"All right Wheeler," Steve started as the group slowed down. "I think we found your hub." The group looked around with their flashlights and saw how massive this space was. Annie looked up and saw the ceiling was even taller than the rest of the tunnels. Truly giant. There were even many other exits in the walls, possibly close to twenty.

"Drench it," Mike answered. Just as told, the group split up to different spots around the hub and poured out their cans of lighter fluid and gasoline. Annie and Max let go of each others hands, but stayed close to each other during the drenching process.

Annie did her best to avoid getting any on her clothes, not wanting to become part of the fire herself. It was hard, the way it splashed on the ground. "Careful, don't get it on you," she said to the group. Her voice echoed around the hub and she got varying replies.

Lucas sprayed the ceiling, too, just to cover all their bases. "We better run like hell once we're all done," Max commented to Annie. "Think you can keep up?"

The brunette rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Don't underestimate me, I am in sneakers after all," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh wow, we better look out then." They smiled and let out small laughs but were brought back to reality when Annie's can stopped spilling liquid. "Looks like you're out."

Annie dropped the can to the ground to add it to the fuel. "You might be soon, too," she commented and pointed at the can in Max's hands. The redhead looked and saw there was less and less gasoline coming out as she poured. "Means we better be ready."

Soon, everyone was running out and dropping their cans to the ground. The only one not left behind was a metal can. Steve had everyone gather behind him in front of where they came from. He coached low with the lighter in his hand, ready to go.

"All right, you guys ready?" he asked. He got all affirmative replies. Annie found Max's hand and gripped it, ready to start running.

"Light her up," Dustin said.

Steve flicked the lighter on and sighed. "I am in such deep shit." With that, he tossed the flame far into the hub. The thing lit up quickly and Annie felt the heat as if it were the middle of July at the beach. They sat and watched for a second, until Steve yelled for them to go.

Making a 180, the kids sprinted back down the tunnel. Steve was in the back, then Dustin, Lucas, Max and Annie, and Mike. As they ran, Steve got up to the front and led the group through the tunnels, yelling the whole time to go faster.

As they ran through the tunnels, the girls pulled at each other to make sure they kept up. If one tripped, the other kept her off the ground to keep them moving. They hurried through the tunnel until there was a thud and a yelling behind them.

Annie stopped and saw Mike had gotten grabbed by something on the ground. "Mike!" she yelled, and ran back to where he was, pulling Max with her. Dustin, Steve, and Lucas followed behind.

The kids grabbed Mike and tried to pull him free. Steve grabbed his bat form his backpack and yelled, "Everybody back!" They all moved out of the way and he beat the slithering thing gripping Mike's leg until it broke free.

Mike was quickly picked up off the ground and everyone made sure he was okay. "Guys, we gotta go!" Steve called.

A growling noise from behind Max and Annie made them all turn around and come face to face with a demo-dog. "Shit!" Annie cried, and Steve grabbed his sister.

Dustin was in front of the group now, arms out protectively. "Dart." Annie looked at Dustin as if he were insane- this was Dart? How did he know that? But, it seemed to stay calm. Calm enough that Dustin started taking steps forward.

"Dustin, no!" Annie whisper yelled.

"Dustin get back!" Max added on, along with the others.

Instead of listening, he shushed them. "Trust me, please," he begged. They shut up.

Dustin moved forward and removed his bandana mask from his face. Dart got closer, too, but didn't seem hostile or on attack mode. "Hey, it's me. It's your friend Dustin," he said to the monster before him. When he crouched down, Annie nearly lost it. "It's Dustin, all right? You remember me? Will you let us pass?"

Dart screeched in response, the others jumping and Steve holding his bat out further. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the storm cellar. That was a pretty douchey thing to do," he said. Then, he reached back and pulled his backpack off and in front of him. "You hungry? Yeah?"

"He's insane," Lucas whispered, but a bit too loud. The others shut him up quickly.

"I've got our favorite. See? Nougat." Annie saw the 3 Musketeers bar in his hand just before he brought it back down to open it up. Dart scooted even closer, intrigued by the candy. She almost felt sorry, knowing Dustin really did have a connection with Dart. Dustin continued to talk to Dart as if he were a dog, adding to Annie's aching heart.

As Dart ate the candy, Dustin waved the others through. "Let's go," Steve whispered and the group carefully moved on in their journey. Everyone stopped to make sure Dustin followed behind, and the boy put his backpack back on as he stood up to leave.

Dustin replaced his goggles and looked at Dart one last time, who even looked back him before continuing his eating. "Goodbye, buddy."

This was hard, and Steve knew it. "Let's go, let's go," he urged, hoping to get them out of there before Dustin decided to get sentimental and emotional.

The group ran through the tunnels, hopping over things that stuck up from the ground. Annie still held Max's hand as they ran and she felt like they were going to make it, they might actually get away with this.

Then the ground shook, sending them to the ground. Annie let out a yell as she fell, landing hard on her back and barely stopping herself before her head made contact with the ground.

Then there was roaring. "What was that?" Max asked, helping Annie back up off the ground. Everyone turned around towards the sound and could only think one thing: demo-dogs.

"Run!" No need to say it again, they continued their sprint down the tunnel just a few more yards until they got to the rope. "There!"

Once they got right under it, Steve started hoisting people up, starting with Max. Once she was up, Annie went. Max grabbed her hand once she could reach and helped pull her the rest of the way out of the ground. Lucas was next, and both girls helped to pull him up and out. When Mike popped up, they all three managed to hoist him out.

"Steve, Dustin, come on!" Annie yelled down as the ground rumbled. The demo-dogs were coming, why were they just standing there? "Come on!"

Steve took a defensive position and Dustin curled into himself. The others were screaming and yelling scared for their lives. Annie couldn't do it, she didn't want to watch them die when they were mere feet away from coming out.

Right as she thought impact was going to hit, they ran past. Not a single demo-dog hesitated in it's run, just kept going forward- zooming right by Steve and Dustin.

"Eleven."

No one moved for a second until Max finally said, "Let's get them out!"

Quickly, Steve helped get Dustin up and out, with the kids pulling him the rest of the way, then they all helped to get Steve out. That took everyone. But they all got out and sat on the grass for a second, all wondering what was next for them.

Just a minute later, the lights on Billy's car turned on. "The hell?" Annie asked. They got brighter and brighter, to the point where she was shielding her eyes and turning away from the brightness.

And then, it went dark again.

A/n: there you go! The danger is over (for now). Y'all should totally come back tomorrow for the next chapter ;)