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***
Max sobbed as she packed her bags. The kids were still at school. She didn't know weather to pick them up or not. The ginger put her bags down, running to the phone. She dialed Mike's number. "Pick up, pick up. Goddamn it Mike!"
"Hello?"
"Mike! I need you to pick up the kids today!"
"Max what? Are you Crying? What's going on?!"
"No questions! Please, can you pick them up today?!"
"Max, I'm out of town. What's going on?"
"Shit," she said as she slammed the phone to the wall. She slid down, hiding her face in her knees. Everyone was at work or out of town. Max looked up, knowing what she had to do.
***
As Max was packing, the phone rang. She ran over to it quickly. "Hello? Mike is th-"
"Hello Maxine."
※ Max stood behind the social worker. She was scared out of her mind. "Max, stop hiding! Make yourself presentable or no one will want you!" The ginger nodded, standing next to the mean lady instead.
A middle aged man walked out of the car. He grinned, showing off his dirty teeth. They were either yellow or broken. He smelled so bad it made Maxs eyes water. He looked mean. Max would rather stay with the ruthless kids at school than go with him.
His hair, or what he had left, was a complete mess and his clothes were dirty with holes in them. He was big and scary. His boots would surely break her nose if he kicked her in the face. The mean social worker shook his hand. After a brief conversation between the two of them, he bent down to face Max. The ginger hid her face behind the social worker as she held her held, like a child would normally do with their mom.
He was so close to her face she could practically breathe in the alcoholic smell it gave off.
"Hello Maxine." ※
"You!"
"It's been a long time. You've grown up, such beautiful children and wife. A prefect little family of your own. That could've been us."
"You're sick!"
"Ah ah ah, don't use that tone with me young lady! I have your precious babies! I could do exactly what I did to you."
"Don't hurt them! Please!"
"They're so beautiful. Adele looks just like you."
"Let them go! What do you want!"
She could hear her children crying in the background. She sobbed loudly. "Please, I'll give you anything!"
"Anything?"
"Yes! Just don't hurt them!"
She heard shuffling, then a new voice appeared. One she didn't recognize. "Hello Maxine, this is Dr. Brenner."
She's heard that name before. Why was that so familiar? Suddenly, everything the boys had told her came rushing back to her. This was the man who abused her wife for twelve years!
"You fucking bastards!"
"Don't be like that. We hold you daughters life in our hands. One wrong move and well lets just say you'll have one child instead of two."
One? They didn't know about the others!
"What do you want from us!"
"Tell us where subject eleven is and we'll let them go."
"No! I would never tell you where she is! You will never hurt her again!"
"Tell us or else."
"You're fucking sick! You're a fucking scumbag! What's so important about her?! Huh! Why do I have to suffer because you abuse children?!"
"I'd watch your mouth young lady."
"Fuck you!"
Max could hear two children crying, then a gun shot, and then one child. She fell to the floor, crying her eyes out. "NO! Please, don't take my babies."
"Tell us where she is!"
Max sobbed loudly. Her heart ached. "I-i'll bring her to you."
***
Max walked into the school, going to the front desk. "Mrs. Hopper! We a-"
"Save it! I'm suing your asses so fucking hard! Don't you even dare try to say anything. It's unavoidable. I'm getting the rest of my children."
The secretary went to speak when Max cut her off again.
"Open your mouth one more time Linda and I swear to god I will watch them throw you in jail."
She quickly closed her mouth, typing a number on the phone. Max smiled, "have a nice day." She went and sat down on the plastic chairs.
A few minutes later, three kids were being escorted down to her. Bee ran up to her, hugging her tightly. She patted his head before picking up Winter. She walked them to the car, strapping Winter in her booster seat. "Mommy, where're Adele and Anne?" Maya asked curiously.
Max could feel the tears pricking in her eyes again. She swallowed them down, not wanting her children to see her crying. "Mommy has to go pick them up."
"Where are they?"
"Do you know where grandma Karen and grandpa Ted live?"
The kids all nodded, "that's where we're going."
***
With Max ignoring all the speed limits, they made it to Hawkins in a day. A cold chill ran down Max's spine as she stepped out of the car. She got the kids, and their bags as they all walked to the door. Max frantically knocked on the door. Ted answered, smiling at his daughter. "Max! We weren't e-"
"Hi dad, there's no time I have to go. Give mommy a hug kids!"
All the kids gave her a big hug. Max teared up as she looked at them. Will I ever see them again?
After she dropped the kids off at her parents house, she got into her car. Max looked at the picture of her friends, then her wedding picture, then her kids. Tears blurred her vision as she realized that she could end up dying. She drove to the lab quickly.
Max pulled out her gun from the glove compartment, making sure she had bullets, before taking a deep breath. She walked out to the car, walking inside the lab.
