Just friends?

Chapter 30 : It Worked

"Why can't you ever just listen to me?" Steve argued as we ran side by side in the tunnels. 

"Do you really wanna do this right now?" I snapped at him. 

He rolled his eyes and continued running. 

"Keep moving!" He shouted at the kids. 

The ground started shaking again. We were caught off guard and we all hit the ground. I fell on my stomach and Steve fell right on top of me. 

"Steve...can't...breathe." I spluttered. 

"Shit! Sorry!" He said quickly and got off. He helped me up. 

"What was that?" Max said as she got off the ground and turned around to help Dustin. 

"I don't know." I replied. 

There were several loud growls that came from behind us. We all turned and flashed our flashlights down the dark tunnels. We saw the shadows of incoming Demo-dogs.

"They're coming." Mike announced. 

No one moved. 

"Run! Run!" I shouted and pushed them all behind me. 

"Let's go! Let's go!" Steve shouted. 

"Come on, Mike!" 

"Move, Mike!" The kids yelled as we started sprinting down the tunnels. 

"There! There!" Lucas shouted as the rope came into view. 

"Come on! Let's go!" Mike shouted to hurry everyone as the growls grew louder again. The tunnel started rumbling the second we touched the rope. 

Steve and I put our hands together and were lifting the kids out of the tunnel. Once Max was outside, she helped pull the kids up so that the pushing would be easier. 

"Guys! Move faster!" I shouted when the rumbling started again. 

Once Dustin had gone through, it was just me and Steve. 

"Go. I'll meet you up there." I said. 

"No. You're going first. Let's go." He said and kneeled down. 

"No. Steve, I swear to God. Get out. I'll be fine." 

"Sofie, I am going to throw you up there myself. Let's go!" He shouted at me. 

"Guys! Come on!" The kids yelled from outside. 

There was growling and the ground started shaking again. We both fell from the force and heard the growling getting closer. Extremely close. We both scrambled onto our feet and looked at each other. We could hear them they were right around the corner. 

"Sofie! Steve!" The kids shouted and reached for us. 

The shaking got more aggressive and we stumbled towards each other. My powers weren't enough to hold off so many of them. I looked over my shoulder down the tunnel and back at Steve. 

"I'm sorry." We both blurted. 

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me for dear life as we waited. 

I kept thinking and thinking. I didn't want to die with regrets. 

"I love you, Steve." I whispered. 

"I love you too, Sofie." He whispered and kissed my head. 

The Demo-dogs had rounded the corner and were running towards us. He squeezed me tighter once they were a few feet away. My heart rate increased when I felt one touch me. I squeezed my eyes shut, but nothing happened. 

"What?" I whispered and opened my eyes. 

Steve had done the same. There were Demo-dogs all around us, but none were attacking. They ran right past us. We both were gasping for air once the last one ran past us. 

"Eleven." Mike whispered from above us. 

I nodded and looked over at Steve. He was trying to catch his breath after what we had just endured. Once we had both calmed down the tunnel shook again.

"I think it's time to get out of here, Sof." He said softly. 

"Yeah." I nodded and held onto the rope. 

He pushed me up and the kids grabbed my hands. Once I was all the way out, I tried to stand up but the boys jumped on me. 

"You're okay!" They shouted as they all piled on me. 

"Yup, but I think I might've broken a bone with all of you on me. Off." I ushered. 

"Hello? A little help down here." Steve shouted from below. 

"Oh, yeah." The kids said and got off of me. 

Steve was hanging off the edge of the hole before the kids helped him out. We all carefully got away from the hole and stood in front of the car. 

"We did it." I smiled and looked over at Steve.

"Yeah, we did." He smiled and hugged me. 

I pulled away from him, remembering what I had said when we were still in the tunnel.

"Hey, about what I said..."

"Don't worry about it, Sof. It's okay." He simply smiled. 

I nodded and walked away from him. I checked to make sure all the kids were alright. No one was missing or broken in some way. They all told me they were fine. I finally stopped bothering them and looked towards the car.

"Do you guys see that?" I asked them as I watched the car. 

"See what?" Steve said as he turned and looked at the car. 

"The lights." I said.

The headlights on the car were getting brighter.

"God, help us. If that car is about to explode, I'm done." I grumbled as the headlights only got brighter. 

It eventually got too bright and we all had to look away and cover our eyes. The light lit up the entire field that we were in. No matter where we looked the light was hitting us in the face. 

After a few minutes, it stopped. The light died down to its normal brightness.  Everyone looked around confused, but I knew exactly what had just happened. 

"She did it." I sighed. 

Eleven had closed the gate. I smiled while the kids celebrated. I pulled the gear off my face and looked down at my handkerchief. 

"Will." I whispered to myself and ran towards the car. 

"Where are you going?" Steve shouted as he ran after me. 

"Just give me a second." I said and messed with the radio until there was static. 

I wrapped the handkerchief over my eyes and focused. After a few moments of silence, I opened my eyes. I was in the void. I looked around for Mom, Will, and Jonathan. 

I couldn't see them, until I heard sniffling behind me. I turned sharply and saw all three of them. They were all crying and hugging. I felt a big sense of relief wash over me. I pulled off the handkerchief and was back.

"It worked."