Crush Culture [M.Wheeler]

[57] YOU NEVER TAKE ME SERIOUSLY

Meanwhile, Dustin and Erica were growing worried. "Where is Tiny? It's been way too long." Dustin sighs.

"I don't know." Erica shakes her head. "We have to go to plan B." Dustin states. "What's plan B?"

Dustin glances over at where Steve and Robin should be, but their seats were empty. "Where....are they?"

***

The Russian guard holds the gun up against Nori's back while he pushes her through. She struggled against his pull, trying her best to look back at him to hopefully transform and be able to hurt him, but his grip forced her to stare ahead.

They leave out into the main mall area, and to Nori's luck, everyone was already piling out due to the movie being finished. With many faces and crowding people, Nori manages to transform once again into another man, kicking the Russian's leg, and running off before he could even understand what had happened.

Slowly transforming into herself, she spots Dustin, grabbing onto his arm. "Jesus!" Dustin jumps, then sighs in relief. "You're okay."

"Okay? No. I'm here, though." She nods. "Did you speak to Mike?" He checks. "Yes. They're on their way."

"Yeah, well, I wish we could go home, but this idiot told them my full name." Dustin rolls his eyes, pointing to Steve. "Dude, I was drugged." He argues.

"So? So you resist. You tough it out. You thought it out like a man." Dustin whispers. "Oh, yeah, it's easy for you to say." Steve argues.

"Guys?" Robin pulls them back, taking noticing of two Russian men dressed completely in black. After speaking to another woman, one of them turns around, spotting the group.

"Abort. Abort. Abort!" Dustin screams, running in the other direction. The escalators were blocked off, leading them to slide down the middle.

They run behind one of the food court counters, holding their breaths. All they could hear was the soldiers speaking Russian into their radios, not understanding what they were saying.

Nori fearfully reaches for Dustin's hand, squeezing it tightly. "We're gonna die." She mouths. Dustin sighs, breathing heavily.

They could hear footsteps approach. This was it. Their lives end here. They won't grow old and start families, they will not marry, they will not have children. Steve won't get a girlfriend, Dustin won't get to speak to Suzie again, Nori will not be able to forgive mike face to face, Robin won't graduate high school, and Erica won't even live to see high school.

Just when they thought it was all over, a loud car horn is heard, frightening them, along with the Russian guards, who all turn around.

Shortly after, a loud clang is heard, the car being flown across the room, hitting each and every Russian in the process.

Slowly, Nori, Dustin, Steve, Robin, and Erica peer over the counter, shocked. All the guards lay on the ground in pools of blood, dead.

They glance at the car, then back up at the second floor, finding Eleven. Soon, the others come up behind her, Nori catching a glimpse of Mike.

"You flung that thing like a Hot Wheel!" Dustin exclaims as he runs out towards El and Mike wrapping his arms around them. Nori awkwardly stands behind with the others.

"Lucas?" Erica yells. "What are you doing here?" He questions. "Ask them. It's their fault." She argues.

"True, Yeah. Totally true. It's absolutely our fault." Steve nods. "I don't understand what happened to that car." Robin says in shock.

"El has superpowers." Dustin explains. "I'm sorry?" She furrows her eyebrows. "Superpowers. She threw it with her mind. Come on, catch up." Steve responds.

"That's El?" Erica exclaims. "Who's El? Isn't that Eleanor?" Robin squints her eyes. Nori shakes her head. "I'm sorry, who are you?" Nancy cuts in.

"I'm Robin. I work with Steve." She informs. "She cracked the top secret code." Dustin continues. "Yeah, which is how we found out about the Russians in the first place." Steve concludes.

"Russians? Wait, what Russians?" Johnathan chimes in. "The Russians!" Steve yells, pointing to the men in the ground.

"Those were Russians?" Max asks in disbelief. "Some of them." Erica nods. "What are you talking about?" Lucas shouts.

"Didn't you hear our code red?" Nori asks. "Yeah. But I didn't know you were serious." Mike states. "Oh, of course. When do you ever take me seriously, Mike." She rolls her eyes.

"That's not what I meant!" Mike raises his voice. "And i got fucking threatened with a gun because Dustin's ran out of battery!" She adds.

"Goddamn low battery!" Dustin sighs. "How many times do I have to tell you with the low battery." Steve rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, well, everything worked out, didn't it, Steve." Dustin nods. "Worked out? We almost died." Erica argues.

"Yeah, but we didn't, did we?" Dustin sighs. "It was pretty damn close." Steve comments.

"Okay, Russians? As in, they're working for the Russian government?" Lucas raises his eyebrows. "What is it that you're not comprehending?" Dustin claps his hands together.

"Am I not speaking English? We ha he a full blown Red Dawn situation."

"So this has nothing to do with the gate?" Max asks. "It has everything to do with the gate.." Nori responds.

Suddenly, cutting off their yelling, was the sound of a Eleven falling to the ground with a grunt. Nori, in a panic, runs to her side. "El!"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" She asks worriedly. "My leg." El cries out. "My leg."

"Her leg. Her leg, okay." Nancy and Johnathan I strap her leg from the casting tape, then reveal a nasty wound, causing everyone to groan in disgust.

Suddenly, something begins to move inside, causing El to scream. "El! El!" Nori reaches for the girl's hand, holding it tightly.

"El, are you okay? El! El!" A tear rolls down her cheek.

"El!"