Crush Culture [M.Wheeler]

[56] THE RUSSIANS HAVE INFILTRATED HAWKINS

They pile out into the open air, feeling free at once. "Oh! Oh, my God, that tastes so good. Ah!" Robin sticks out her tongue.

"Steve, can you taste the air?" She exclaims. "I taste it! I taste it!" He smiles. Suddenly, Dustin stops Nori and Erica from walking, taking notice of two guards heading straight towards them.

"Shit! Come on! Come on!" Dustin takes Nori's hand, pulling her inside the mall while everyone follows.

With their hearts racing, they speed through the halls, Robin and Steve dizzily running behind them.

"Where are we going?" Erica asks. "Just trust me." Dustin responds, stopping at another door. He tells everyone to quiet down, then peers out.

"All clear." They walk into the movie theatre, then into the Back to the Future screening. Steve makes sure to take a bag of popcorn from the trash.

"Come on." Dustin leads them to open seats. Seating Robin and Steve together. "You two, sit."

"No, no, no! These seats are too close!" Robin complains. "Dude, these seats blow." Steve agrees. "Then don't watch the movie." Dustin responds.

"We wanna watch it." Robin argues. "Then watch it!" Nori snaps, a little too loud as a man behind them shushes her.

"Shh!" Robin copies. "Sorry." Nori apologizes. "Whatever you do, don't... go... anywhere." Dustin instructs.

"Fine, Dad." Steve says, taking a handful of popcorn, Robin snickering beside him. Unamused, the three kids walk away to the empty seats a little further to the side.
"Okay, it's official. I'm never having kids." Dustin sighs.

"Yeah. Steve tends to have that effect on people." Nori nods. "What are we doing here?" Erica questions. "We're laying low. Cooling off. Like Oswald." Dustin explains.

"Oswald was found in a theatre and shot to death." Erica points out. "At this point, I bet that's gonna be how we turn out." Nori agrees.

"No, it's not. Plus, that was a week later." Dustin argues. "The point is, his plan didn't work." Erica tells.

"Only because it was a setup." Dustin states. "What?" Erica furrows her eyebrows. "He was just a patsy." Dustin explains.

"Tell me you're joking." Erica rolls her eyes. "Shh!" Says the woman behind them. "Shh!" Erica, Dustin, And Nori respond.

"We need to get outta here." Erica sighs. "Alright, you watch Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Make sure they don't go anywhere." Dustin instructs.

"Where are you going?" She inquires. "To find us a ride. Come on, Tiny, you're coming." He takes out his walkie talkie, leading them out towards the projection room to be hidden.

They enter, seating themselves down and turning it on. "Does anyone copy?" He asks into the walkie talkie. "I repeat... this is a code red!" He yells.

"Dustin?" Mike's voice says in shock. "Mike?" Dustin responds. "Dustin!"

"Mike!" Dustin grins. Nori watches, then sighs, leaning her head into her knees. "Oh, my God, you have to listen. I know I've been MIA, and I'm sorry, it's not because I'm mad. I mean, I actually was mad, and so was Tiny—"

"Nori's with you?" Mike cuts him off. "Yes, but, I need you to listen. It's also because we were trapped underground in a secret Russian base. And they're trying to open the gate!" He yells.

"Dustin, you're going way too fast. I can't understand you." Mike says, though Dustin doesn't quite hear it either.

"I know that sounds insane, but the Russians have infiltrated Hawkins! The goddamn Russians!" He screams. "And now they're using a big electric machine to open the gate!" Dustin screams.

"Dustin, you're— you're breaking up." Mike cuts in. "And now they're after us and we don't have a way out of here, so I need you to come and get us. Can Nancy drive?" Dustin ignores him once more, but not purposely, as he could barely hear what Mike was saying.

"Dustin, you're cutting out." Mike yells. "Mike?" Dustin checks. "Dustin, you there?"

"Mike? Mike, do you copy?"

"Dustin—"

Suddenly, his voice cuts out completely, the walkie talkie dying. "Shit! Not now. Please, not bow. Mike!" Dustin shouts.

"Oh, god." Nori sighs. They both share a glance, then quickly run back to Erica. "Do you have any batteries?" Dustin Asks. "Double-A?"

"Why would I have batteries?" She questions. "I always carry batteries." He explains. "Then what's the problem?"

"I need eight." Dustin informs. "Eight?" Erica raises her eyebrows. "Wait— Wait, I have a plan. My walkie, it's back at scoops. If I can just— go there—"

"What, are you crazy?" Dustin shakes his head at Nori. "The Russians will recognize you."

"Not if I'm one of these people." Nori states, looking back at the crowd. "Come on, just let me try." She whispers.

"Okay. Meet us back here after you talk to Mike, alright?" Dustin nods to her. "Got it." She nods, running off. Before she leaves, she takes the form of one of the men in the audience, then runs out.

She carefully glances around, her heart racing while she walks into scoops, searching for the walkie talkie.

She checked under the table, and in the drawers, until she spotted it on the far counter. Picking it up and sitting up against the wall, she turns back into herself.

"Hello? Does anyone copy? This is Nori." She says, sighing. "Yes, I copy. Nori, where the hell have you been?" Mike asks worriedly.

"Mike, there's no time. Dustin and I are at Starcourt Mall, the Russians have infiltrated Hawkins and are trying to open the gate, and it looks like they're succeeding. We need help. Can you guys get here?" She asks.

"We'll explain everything when you get here, we just need help." She explains. "Okay." Mike breathes out. "I'll tell the others.

She pulls down the antenna, realizing she was now stuck. She had no one to turn into. She shouldn't have become herself again.

Peering over the edge of the window, she takes notice of the Russians standing around. "Shit." She curses.

She decides to hope for the best when she goes into the back halls, but instead, is caught right by one of the guards.

"Oh, shit."