"I swear, if I'm dying tonight because of you, I'm gonna haunt your ass so hard, Harrington!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah! I'm gonna go full Poltergeist and shit!"
"Then bring it, Graveswood."
"Challenge accepted."
***
In which after years of suppressing their...
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Chapter Seventy-Six: Into The Tunnels
(The Gate, Pt. 3)
***
If Rowan could rate Max's driving between her aunt's, Eddie's and Steve's driving, Rowan thought Max landed firmly somewhere between Eddie and Aunt Aco.
There's no way in absolute hell that Max was a driver like Steve, not with the way she's driving. But she drives slightly less recklessly than her aunt or Eddie do, which was a point to the small redhead at the wheel, who seemed very certain in her capabilities of driving. And yet despite her experience of being in a car with Eddie or Aunt Aco at the wheel, Rowan would be lying if she wasn't fearing for her life with how Max abruptly switches between acceleration and hard braking without warning, or the sharp, swerving turns she makes. Tyres screeching on asphalt accompanied the noise in her head, along with directions from Lucas, mumbled prayers from Cami about surviving, and her own barked directions in making sure they all get out of this alive.
Like now.
"Max, that's a corner, turn! TURN!" Rowan screeched, and Max obeyed, swinging the steering wheel hard, the car whipping around the corner, rubber squealing and Rowan, Cami, Mike, Dustin and Steve nearly flying out of the seats. Rowan braced one hand on the roof and the other on Steve as Max straightened and continued driving, Lucas guiding her to where they would enter the tunnels that, if the plan works, they would be setting on fire and run like hell out of there before they were ripped to pieces.
Panting, Rowan looked at the kids in the back and asked, "You gremlins okay?"
They nodded, and Rowan turned back to Steve, checking to make sure the wild turn hadn't damaged his already-injured head that was resting on her lap. He seemed to be okay—as okay as he would be with his face a mess of blood and bruises with colourful bandaids taped onto his injuries courtesy of Dustin and Cami—and Rowan knew her face didn't look any better. She carded her fingers through his hair, the strands soft under her touch, and with what she knew of Steve's hair secrets, what he did paid off, the act comforting her as much as she hoped it would comfort Steve. Worry still twisted her insides at how he was still unconscious, with only his chest rising and falling and the beat of his heart under her hand letting her know he was still alive.
As her fingers ran through his hair, Rowan felt a stir and heard a groan. Hope spiked in her and she whispered, "Steve?"
Steve didn't respond, eyes opening slowly as he gave another groan. He looked over to Mike and slurred, "Nancy?"
Rowan fought back a snort as Mike turned and gave Steve the most confused, offended look she ever saw him give, obviously displeased at being mistaken for his sister.
Steve turned way and lifted a hand to touch his face but Dustin pushed it down, murmuring, "No, no, don't touch it."
Steve's head shifted to look at Dustin, the cap-wearing boy smiling as he said, "Hey buddy. Shh, it's okay. You put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you and Rowan put up a fight. You're okay."
