Daisies || Max Mayfield

47: Bullet Run

El groaned as she balanced on her good leg, climbing into the backseat of the car. Mike, Will, and Lucas squished in next to her, so me and Max awkwardly found spots in the back. I slammed the door shut, setting my bag in my lap as the engine stalled.

Nancy sighed and turned the key again.

"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked as it stalled again.

"I don't-I don't know." She muttered. She tried twice more. "You can't be serious, come on!" The engine continued to stall.

"Didn't your mom just buy this car?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, I'm sure it's fine." 

"Did you leave the lights on?" Will asked.

"No!"

"Do we have gas?" Mike added.

"Yes!" She snapped, hitting the dashboard and turning the key again.

"Is the battery dead?" I supplied, peeking around Mike's head to see her.

"No!" She shouted, shaking the car as she turned the key yet again.

"Woah Woah Woah slow down!" Jonathan put his hand on her shoulder, opening his door. "Pop the hood."

"Don't you think that's a bad idea?" I asked.

"Quiet." Nancy groaned, climbing out as well. Jonathan picked the hood up, leaning out of sight.

"What happened?" Max asked, leaning next to the window, trying to see.

"I don't-"

A loud car revved its engine outside. Highbeams switched on, and I squinted through the window. Well all turned to stare at it in silence, only hearing our panting breaths.

Nancy threw the side door open. "Back in the mall! Go!"

"Come on go!" Jonathan opened the trunk, ushering me and Max out. I slid out, rushing over to El as Mike dragged her toward the doors.

"Go!" Jonathan shouted. 

I ran ahead of everyone, throwing my entire body into the door and holding it open. 

"Shit!" Max exclaimed, hitting the second door. "Automatic locks!"

"How are they automatic?" Mike replied, yanking on the door.

"Keycard-" I muttered, fumbling with my backpack. 

"What?" Max asked. 

"Keycard!" I repeated, pulling out the set of spare keys I'd taken from Steve's car. I found the card, swiping it against the small lock by the door. A loud buzzing sounded, and the door clicked open. I pushed it up, holding it again.

"Thank god-" Lucas said, high-fiving me on the way in.

"It must be an after-hours thing," Will explained.

"That's fucking stupid." I found the carabiner holding everything together and clipped it to my belt loop for later use.

"The ignition cable was gone." Jonathan explained.

"Whats that?" Mike asked.

"It's the thing that starts the car, Mike." Will muttered.

"Oh. We need to get Dustin then." Mike nodded to my bag.

"Right, sorry." I tossed him one of the walkies.

He wandered off, repeating "Scoops Tropp, do you copy? We're tapped in the mall and in need of emergency transportation. I repeat..."