DUSTIN AND Erica found the three teenagers in the bathroom a few moments later, giving them lectures and dramatic eye rolls which Bailey purposefully ignored. The group blended in to the crowd of people exiting the mall, trying to act as normal as possible. With her sobriety back, Bailey almost forgot how she acted before the drugs— it seemed like a lifetime ago that she was scooping ice cream.
"Uh, Dustin." Steve whispered, as they walked, "We might not wanna go to your house."
Dustin frowned, "Why?"
"He told them your full name." Bailey blurted out but she didn't know why. She wanted to make Robin laugh by getting Steve in trouble with Dustin. Bailey wanted to seem cool and relaxed, without the drugs in her system.
Dustin glanced at Steve, "What is wrong with you?"
"Dude, I was drugged." He deadpanned.
"So?" Dustin shot back.
Steve retorted, "So?"
"So, you resist. You tough it out." Dustin replied, "You tough it out like a man—"
"Guys." Robin interrupted, placing a hand on Dustin and Erica's shoulder to make them stop walking. The group stared ahead of them, watching as the Russians checked everyone's bags before they left.
"Shit." Bailey muttered, as the familiar Russian guard looked directly at the group. She froze, as the rest of them started running away.
Robin grabbed her hand quickly, pulling her through the crowds of shoppers who were leaving the mall before it closed. Steve led the group, jumping over a market stand and hiding behind it. They all crouched closely together, Robin squeezing Bailey's hand— she didn't pull away this time.
Minutes had passed and Bailey's breathing had gotten quicker again; the pain in her chest tightening as she curled her legs into her chest. Robin heard her short breathes, causing her to look at Bailey comforting. She gave a small smile, which surprisingly made Bailey feel better, squeezing her hand tighter.
Robin let go for a moment, sliding one of her silver rings off of her sweaty hand and passing it to Bailey. Robin mouthed, "This is to help."
Bailey smiled slightly, her breath trembling as she placed it on her shaking ring finger. She fiddled with the ring on her finger, taking deep breathes to help her distract that gnawing feeling of doubt and worry.
Robin leant towards Bailey, whispering to quietly that only she could hear; her warm breath sending chills up Bailey's spine. Robin whispered, "Breathe."
Robin pulled away like it was nothing, like she didn't just leave Bailey frozen. Bailey's breathing had stopped for a few seconds, which ideally helped her from having a panic attack again. She took a deep breath, keeping her eyes forward and wide. A knot tightening in her lower stomach— but not a knot of worry, a knot of something else.
Suddenly, Bailey was distracted by this new feeling by the abrupt alarm of a car. The group peeked over the market stand, their eyes narrowing at the display car rocking back and forth as it's lights flashed on and off.
BANG! Quickly, the car was thrown towards the group of armed Russians, knocking them out before smashing into a wall. Bailey's eyes followed where the car was thrown from, her brown eyes reaching the second floor of the mall— Johnathon, Nancy, Mike, Max, Lucas, Will, and her sister El.
Bailey was the first to rush towards the escalators, meeting the group as they travelled down the stairs. Mike supported Eleven as they walked towards Bailey, who was sprinting over to them. She pulled Eleven into a tight hug, before examining the bruise around her neck— she made a promise to herself that if she ever saw Billy, she would kill him.
