Head Over Heels » Steve Harrington

chapter five

Chapter Five: The Facts

"Code red, I repeat, code red. Does anyone copy? This is a code red, I repeat, a code red. Does anyone copy? We are innocent children and we are trapped under Starcourt Mall. The Red Army has infiltrated Hawkins and, if we are found, they will torture and kill us."

Lydia groaned tiredly as she listened to Dustin frantically repeating the same phrase for about the hundredth time. She rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn, arms stretching, almost knocking into an unsuspecting Robin. "Sorry."

They had been trapped in the elevator for approximately eight hours, according to the watch Steve kept incessantly checking. And with no viable escape option, Lydia's mind was starting to wonder how long they really would survive down there without food and water. Like, what if they had to resort to cannibalism? Who would they eat first?

"Hey." Steve stepped onto the boxes, calling up to Dustin through the hatch. "Gotta take it easy on that thing. Gonna drain the battery."

"The mall just opened," Dustin pointed out.

Steve pulled himself through the gap and the two began to argue about who was around to receive their code red.

Lydia leaned her head back against the wall and let it droop to the side, allowing her to make eye contact with Robin. "If we die here, I will kill you for getting me involved in this."

"That's not even possible."

"I'll find a way."

"You know, you're not even remotely threatening," Robin said. She leaned closer to Lydia. "Also, is it me or was I totally third wheeling last night?"

Lydia placed her hand on Robin's forehead and shoved her back. Her best friend snickered, looking up at the hatch. The bickering had finally stopped, but Robin had taken notice of something else.

"Uh, can you redirect your stream, please?" She shouted up.

Lydia's nose scrunched in disgust as urine began to trickle down the elevator shaft.
"Gross."

Robin started to get to her feet, but her attention landing on Erica, who had tried to pull the mysterious green substance from her backpack. "Hey, hey! Be careful, careful, careful! We don't even know what that is."

"Exactly," Erica replied. Robin snatched the jar away. "It could be useful."

"Useful how?" Lydia asked. "In what conceivable way is a jar of green...slime ever going to be useful to us?"

"We can survive down here a long time without food, but if the human body doesn't get water, it will die," Erica explained.

"Uh, I hate to break it to you," Lydia said, pointing at the container. "But this is definitely not water."

"No, but it's a liquid," Erica reminded. "And if it comes down to me drinking that shit or dying of thirst, I drink," she said, smiling sweetly at both of them.

Lydia shrugged. "Your funeral."

Robin passed the container to Lydia, who returned it safely into the backpack. As she looked back up, she noticed Robin creeping towards the elevator wall and pressing an ear up against it. Lydia frowned, sharing confused glances with Erica, until Robin turned back to face them, eyes wide.

"We've got company!" Robin called, rushing underneath the hatch.

Steve ushered Robin up, whilst Lydia quickly moved the boxes over for Erica to climb on. She helped to lift the younger girl until the others were able to pull her up.