𝘿𝙍𝙄𝙁𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂 - Max Mayfield

59. Floor 555

After a short ride in the RV, the group were now standing in front of the Creel house, under the orange sunset, it looked even eerier than it usually did. Aiden's eyes examined the abandoned building one more time.. this was it,all he'd been through in the past three years and his life as a whole had led up to this moment.

It was do or die, quite literally.

He really hoped El  had made it out of that desert alive otherwise he was pretty much on his own.

"Ready?"

Aiden turned his head to his left,  his eyes meeting with Max's.

"Yeah.." he nodded.

"Be careful..  for the love of God, please be careful" Nancy cautioned him, but it was obvious she wasn't warning him, she was begging.

Aiden wordlessly stepped forward before wrapping his arms around her. This hug was much harder than every other one they'd shared and as Nancy hugged him back, Aiden had to admit to himself that he was scared to let go.

"I will, I promise" He buried his face in her shoulder for a few more seconds before letting go. "You be careful too.. Mike might not care what happens to the but I do"

After a few more hugs and goodbyes, Aiden spawned a clone to go with the older teens into the Upside Down and soon they drove off in the RV, leaving Aiden, Max, Lucas and Mel behind.

The ninja of the group checked himself over one last time, adjusting the strap of the sword on his back and checked his pockets for a particular accessory.

Luckily, he had it; Kakashi's mask.

Aiden reached out and intertwined his and Max's hands before the four headed into the house, taking off their shoes so as not to alert Vecna. Although Aiden thought it was no use as Orochimaru could easily sense his chakra signature.

The lightskin boy gestured to his headphones as he turned on his lantern, signifying it was time for him and Max to turn their music on.

"We know the plan and we stick to it.." Aiden spoke.

"No matter what " Lucas nodded as the two boys shared a brief fist bump.

As Ode To Sleep and Running Up That Hill began to ring in Aiden and Max's ears respectively, the group made their way upstairs and towards the attic, with Aiden and Max's lanterns glowing blue.

After searching around for a few minutes,  Mel and Lucas walked up the stairs with Mel holding up a note.

'Found them'

The group walked downstairs to see Erica standing in front of a lantern that was glowing brighter than all the others. In that moment, Aiden dropped a kunai on the floor and the clang it made as it hit the hardwood turned all attention to him.

Max didn't speak but Aiden knew that facial expression all too well. "Aiden Dominic Wheeler,I swear to God..."

"I know what I'm doing" he mouthed to her, causing the ginger to let out an inaudible sigh.

Erica started writing on her notepad and soon showed it to them.

'Phase one?'

Aiden nodded, causing the three other teens to nod in response before walking outside the house, leaving just Aiden and Max in the abandoned building.

The ginger tapped her boyfriend's shoulder and nodded towards the living room. Immediately getting the message, Aiden followed her into the old room, Max sitting on the couch and Aiden sitting cross legged on the floor across from her with the lantern placed in between them.