Daisies || Max Mayfield

24: The Burn

"Okay, can someone please tell me what's going on?" Steve asked.

I slid out of the car after Mike, going to the trunk.

"Hello?! Guys!" Steve fell out the other side and then walked over to the back. "What're you doing?"

"Come on." Dustin handed him a bandana and another pair of goggles. "You need protection."

Max started unloading the gas cans, setting them in front of me.

"Uhh, no. There is not way we're burning those fucking vines-"

"Steve just do it." I said. I reached for the goggles, setting them on the car in front of me along with the bandana.

"Hairtie?" Max held on out to me.

"Oh, yeah, thanks." I took it, tying back my hair like hers. I then wove the goggles strap under my ponytail so they wouldn't fall off and pulled them over my eyes. 

I was met with an intense burning, all the bruises on my face acting up thanks to any pressure.

"Jesus fuck-" I muttered, taking them off.

"What?" She asked.

"The goggles hurt my face." I smiled.

"Oh."

I shook my head, tying the bandana over my nose and mouth. Sure, it hurt like a bitch, and I was crying, but I don't know what's in there, and I'm not gonna not wear a mask. I set the goggles down carefully over my nose and turned to everyone.

"Looks good." Lucas handed me a can of gas and my crowbar.

"Cool." I frowned, looking at the crowbar and can of gas. "Uhh, how do I carry both."

"You have two hands, use them." Steve said, picking up his bat.

"No, I can't Steve. Because I got fucking impaled." I held up my right hand, the one with the shit ton of bandages. It was nice, it hadn't bled through, and my fingers were normal colored again.

He rolled his eyes. "I can't carry it for you."

"That's not what I'm asking, I'm just saying my hand fucking hurts and I can't use it very well."

"Here." Max handed me a piece of rope and the switchblade from Troy's goons. "Cut some rope and make a strap." She picked up the two cans she had to carry, which had the rope stuck between both handles, and pulled them over her shoulders, like a bag.

"Oh." I did what she did, tying a large knot and then putting it over my shoulder.

"Shit." Steve dropped in first. He landed a little below us, then stepped back. He pulled out his flashlight and looked around, then looked back up at me. "Who's next?"

One by one, we all climbed down the rope Steve had tethered to a tree. I went last, handing him my crowbar first.

When I found my footing, I stopped to look around. The tunnels were shiny and blue, thanks to the flashlights everyone had. Mike was already walking away, and everyone was following in a line.

"Here." Steve handed me the crowbar, then waited for me to go.

"It's this way." Mike's voice had an echo to it, even though there shouldn't have been one underground.

"You sure?" Max asked.

"One hundred percent."

"Hey hey hey!" Steve pushed passed everyone to the front. "Look, I'm navigating. If you little shits die down here I get the blame."