Heartbroken//Mileven

Chapter 26

"Shit shit shit shit shit shit"

Dustin yells as they run through the woods towards Mike's house, producing protests from everyone. Mike grabbed El's hand, pulling her through, frantically whipping his head around to see the vans right behind them. They weren't going to take her ever again, he was going to make sure of it.

"Dustin go through the Johnson's yard!" "Copy that Mike!"

They get to the basement door, but it's locked, no doubt by the Hawkins police. The group sprints towards the front door and run through Mike's living room, producing protests from Ted.

"Hey you guys can't be running in the h-. Alright they're already gone."

Karen runs to the banister, hair still in curlers.

"Ted who was that?"

"Uh what was what?"

Karen rolls her eyes and rubs her forehead, sighing at his stupidity.

"Ted? The people who just ran through our house? Ted? Hello, Ted?"

"Oh hi Karen, when did you get there?"

Dustin looks out the windows of the doorway, ducking down after he surveys the area.

"They haven't found us yet, but they know where you live Mike, we probably aren't safe here."

Max was pacing the room, thoroughly confused.

"Can anyone explain to me what is happening?"

Dustin and Lucas look at each other, then at Mike.

"You guys do whatever you want, but she's in danger as soon as you tell her."

Max looks alarmed, walking towards Mike.

"What kind of danger?"

El points her fingers at her then at Max; the same way she had explained it a year ago to the boys. Max turns to Dustin and Lucas who have grim looks on their faces.

"Is she serious?"

They all nod simultaneously, causing her to shake her head and resume pacing.

Mike turns to El and sees her trembling, she was scared, she never wanted to go back to the lab; and the Bad Men, they were coming for her. They were going to take her away again. Mike puts his hand on her arm, his eyes worried and his grip comforting.

"El is everything okay?"

Tears welled in her eyes and she shook her head, she didn't want to lie to him. Friends don't lie.

"Mike I'm scared, I don't want to go back; to Papa, to the lab..."

She sobs again, leaning her head into his chest. He rubs her back and looks up trying not to cry too.

"El, I  won't let them take you. I'd never let that happen. You know that right?"

She looks up at him, her eyes blotchy red and swollen. She smiles despite her tears and squeeze his hand. He was so willing to protect her.

"I know you wouldn't, sometimes they're strong too. If they took you, they'd kill you, all of you. They'd make me do it."

Her tears spilled over again, causing Mike to hug her fiercely. He hated this, what the lab was doing to her. She could never lead a normal life. She could never feel safe as long as they were out there.

"Then we're gonna hide you, were gonna hide you where they can never find you."

After he had just promised her safety, Dustin yells about the vans, they all run to the windows, pulling the curtains aside. Brenner gets out of the car and seems to stare right at them, briskly walking through their yard.

"Shit!"

They all run back up the stairs and it the back door, leaving it open.

The harsh knocking on the door startles Ted  from his afternoon nap. It was rapid and persistent, the most annoying kind to wake up to. Karen screams from upstairs,

"Ted could you please get that?!"

He slowly gets up from his chair, lumbering to the door and mumbling under his breath. He pulls the blinds aside and sees the lab workers, the ones who had showed up to their house before. Dr. Brenner points a gun at him through the window, his face pulled back into a forced grin,

"Open this door right now."