[4] The Vent

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The Next Day

We go out and spy on the Russian base again and see this guy open the elevator with a key card.
"Seems like that's the only way in." I say and Dustin looks at me and nods.
"That keycard opens the door, but unfortunately, the Russian with this keycard also has a massive gun. Whatever's in this room, whatever's in those boxes, they really don't want anybody finding it." Dustin explains to Steve and Robin
"But there's gotta be a way in." Robin says.
"Well, you know... I could just take him out." Steve says.
"Take who out?" Robin asks.
"The Russian guard." Steve says and I snort.
"What? I sneak up behind him, I knock him out, and I take his keycard. It's easy." Steve says.
"Did you not hear the massive gun part?" I ask him.
"Yes, Lizzy, I did. Hence why I would be sneaking." Steve says and me and Dustin look at each other.
"Ah, well, please tell me this, and be honest, have you ever actually... won a fight?" Dustin asks him.
"Okay, that was one time..." Steve says.
"Twice. Jonathan. Year prior?" Dustin says and o grin at him.
"Listen, that doesn't count." Steve says.
"Why wouldn't it? He literally beat the shit out of you." I say.
"You got a fat lip, crooked nose, swollen eye, a lot of blood..." Dustin lists and we all start talking over each other.
"That just might work..." Robin says and grabs all the tips.
"Hey! A third of that's mine!" Steve shouts.
"Yeah! I'm finding us a safe way there!" Robin shouts and runs off.

When Robin comes back she shows us this big blueprint of the mall.
"It is fascinating what 20 bucks will get you at the county recorders office." Robin says.
"Not bad." Dustin smiles.
"So, this is us, Scoops, ant his is where we want to get." Robin says pointing on the sheet.
"I mean, I don't really see a way in." Steve says.
"There's not, if you're talking exclusively about doors." Robin says.
"Air ducts..." Dustin mutters.
"Exactly. Turns out, this secret room needs air just like any old room. And these air ducts lead all the way... here." Robin says and Steve grabs a screwdriver and takes the gate off.
"Flashlight." Steve says and I hand him a flashlight.
"Thank you." He says and shines it inside.
"Yeah, I don't know, man. I don't know if you ca fit in here. It's, like... super tight." Steve says.
"I'll fit. Trust me. No collar bones, remember?" Dustin asks us both and I roll my eyes.
"Uh, excuse me?" Robin asks.
"He's got some disease. It's chrydo... something. Yeah I dunno. He's missing bones and stuff. He can bend like Gumbo." Steve explains.
"You mean Gumby?" I ask.
"I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo." He says cockily and I roll my eyes and stand next to Robin.
"Steve, just shut up and push me!" Dustin yells from the vent.
"Okay." Steve says sassily.
Steve grabs his feet and starts pushing in.
"Not my feet, dumbass. Push my ass." Dustin says.
"What?" Steve asks.
"Touch my butt! I don't care!" Dustin yells.
They both start shouting at each other when Erica starts ringing the bell.
"Ahoy, sailors! All hands on deck! Come on. Get over here and serve me some samples." Erica demands and me and Robin look at each other thinking the same thing.

"Yeah, I don't know." Erica says after looking on the vent.
"You don't know if you can fit?" Dustin asks her.
"Oh, I can fit. I just don't know if I want to." Erica says sassily.
"Are you claustrophobic?" Robin asks her.
"I don't have phobias." Erica chuckles.
"Okay, we'll, what's the problem?" Steve asks.
"The problem is, I still haven't heard what's in this for Erica."
We make her a bunch of icecream and give her a boat when she studies it.
"More fudge please. Go on." Erica grins. Steve huffs and walks off followed by me.
"I hate this." Steve says looking for the fudge sauce.
"It'll be worth it." I say.
"True American heroes." He says.
"American heroes." I smile.
"Hey, uh, what's going on with you?" Steve asks.
"What do you mean?" I ask him.
"After that power cut, you've been acting, like, really weird. Like more on edge." He says.
"It's nothing." I say and he raises his eyebrows at me.
"You can tell me." Steve says looking straight into my eyes. I sigh and look away.
"You'll think I'm crazy." I say.
"You are crazy." Steve says.
"What?" I ask him turning around.
"You know what, Hopper. I'm actually kind of impressed that a freak like you is such a slut. Trying to make out with me then the next minute having sex with Jonathan Byers." He says as I back away confused.
"Steve?" I ask. This all sounded too familiar. I remember that day at the cinema when he spray painted that I was a slut and said all those things to my face.
"You know what, I'm not even surprised that your mother left you, your dad left you. Even your sister left you. I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you, but your just a screw up and just going to end up like your father. A useless, lazy, alcoholic." He says and I start to get mad. Water was pooling up in my eyes and I turn around and punch him when he disappears into thin air.

I wake up and realise it was another vision. Steve's shaking me and I look around and then at Steve.
"Go to hell." I say and barge past him and give Erica her ice cream boat and she decides to do it.

At night, we do our plan. Me, Robin, Steve and Dustin go on the roof and wait for Ericas signal.

"Erica, do you copy?" Robin asks on the walkie talkie.
"Mm-hm. I copy. You nerds in position or what?"
"Yeah, we're in position. It's all quiet here, so you've got the green light."
"Green light. Roger that. Commence Operation Child Endangerment."
"Can we maybe not call it that?"
"See you on the other side, nerds."

We wait patiently for Erica's signal.

"All right, nerds. I'm there."
"Do you see anything?"
"Yeah. I see those boring boxes you're so excited about."
"Any guards?"
"Negative."
"Booby traps?"
"If I could see them, they'd be pretty shit traps, wouldn't they?"
"Thank you for that." Robin says and a few seconds later we see the elevator doors open.
"Free ice cream for life." Erica says.

We get in the elevator, closing the doors behind us and Steve opens up one of the boxes. We look inside and see these tubes.
"That's definitely not Chinese food." Steve says.
"Maybe you guys should, you know, stand back." Steve suggests and we all take a big step back. He opens one of the tubes and reveals this green, bubbly liquid inside.
"What the hell?" Steve asks.
"What is that?" Robin asks.
I go closer to Steve to get a closer look when the elevator rumbles.
"Was that just me, or did the room move?" Dustin asks.
"Booby traps." Erica says.
"You know what? Let's just grab that and go." Robin says taking the liquid off Steve and Dustin starts pressing buttons.
"Which one do I press, Erica?" Dustin asks.
"Just press the damn button, nerd." Erica says.
"Which one? I'm pressing the button, okay?" Dustin asks and stars pressing them all.
"Press open door!" Erica yells.
"I'm pressing open door!" Dustin yells and everyone starts speaking over each other when the elevator clangs.
It starts going down quickly and we all start to scream. I fall into Steve who catches me and holds me tightly to keep me from falling over.
"Holy shit!" I scream and he holds me tighter.

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