M&Ms

"Is everyone okay?" Robin asked, still shocked

Steve stood up from the floor pushing a heavy box off of himself "Yea I'm great! Now that I know Russians can't design elevators!"

Dylan slightly collapsed on the floor, as he caught himself, his head was pounding as a bit of blood from his nose fell on his hands.

Dustin immediately rushed over to him, helping him sit up and lean against a couple of boxes.

"Lord, what would we do without you?" Dustin asked as he smiled goofily

Dylan slightly looked up at the boy wiping way the blood on his upper lip. "I didn't stop it.......we still got hurt."

"We didn't die! That's all that matters." Steve spoke up as he walked over to his brother crouching infront of him "You did good." Steve said as he wiped the drops of blood off Dylan's hand with his own, just simply rubbing it on his uniform not caring what fine he would get for it.

Steve then ran over to the buttons and started to press them again.

"Haven't we already established these buttons don't work?" Robin said

"There buttons! They have to do something." Steve argued

"Yeah! If we had a keycard" Robin pointed out

"What?" Steve asked

"It's an electronic lock. Same as the loading dock door. If we don't have a keycard, it won't operate...meaning." Robin stated

"We're stuck in here." Dustin sighed

Dylan held his face in his hands, just thinking about all the other places he could be. He could be fixing things with Mike, fixing his guitar, or being with his girlfriend.

Dylan paused as he looked forward, Cindy! He had completely forgotten to hang out with her.

*She's gonna kill me.* Dylan thought

"Just so you nerds are aware, I'm supposed to be spending the night at Tina's, and Tina always covers for me. But if I'm not home for Uncle Jack's party tomorrow and my mom finds out you four out responsible, she's gonna hunt you down, one by one, and slit your throat." Erica said as she pointed and gestured at the four

Dylan could see Steve reaching his breaking point as he saw his older brother slam his hands down on the boxes and look at the girl

"I don't care about Tina! Or Uncle jacks party! Your mom's not gonna be able to find us if we're dead in a Russian elevator!" Steve yelled

"Hey." Dustin mumbled as he got the attention of the four "What if we climbed out?" Dustin asked a he pointed up to the door on the roof

________________________________

Dustin and Steve were on the roof of the elevator, as Robin, Erica, and Dylan could hear the echoing of distress signals.

Dylan had gotten back some energy to stand up and walk around, observing every crack and crevice

He could feel the eye of Robin and Erica, as he finally just turned around catching both their gazes. The two girls quickly stood their guard as they continued to look at Dylan

"Is something wrong?" Dylan's asked

"How'd you do it?" Robin bluntly asked

"Do what?" Dylan asked

"Keep a large steel door from closing in on us for at least half a minute?" Robin questioned

Dylan paused not really knowing how to explain himself "I don't know? I took karate......and I had a lot of adrenaline in the moment."

"Okay that's bullshit! Karate can't do that for you!" Erica said

"Correct, but adrenaline can! Did you hear me when I said adrenaline. The karate just gave me.....courage?" Dylan sarcastically replied, still not knowing anything about karate.

Robin and Erica suspiciously peered at the boy before deciding to leave him alone, their brains still ransacking all the possibilities.

Dylan went back to looking at the boxes and screws, when a line of piss infected the concrete wall. Dylan backed up with a disgusted look

"Hey! Whoever is pissing, can you maybe not?" Dylan complained

"Yeah! Please redirect your stream away from our line of vision." Robin added

The two then saw the line of piss moving across the wall, as Dylan rolled his eyes.

He then heard a clanking noise to his right, he turned to see Erica Sinclair banging the strange green liquid against the metal attempting to break it.

"Woah! What are you doing?" Dylan asked quickly grabbed it away for her.

"Careful!" Robin said as she grabbed it away from Dylan's as well "We don't even know what this is." Robin said to Erica

"Exactly. It could be useful." The young girl said

"Useful how?" Dylan asked his eyebrows furrowed

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

"News flash Sinclair!" Dylan said as he gestured towards the liquid "this isn't water."

"No, but it's a liquid, and if it comes down to me drinking that shit or dying of thirst.....I drink." Erica smiled

Robin scoffed as Erica grabbed back the liquid the two girls separated again as Dylan stayed put in his spot

He heard something, something that sounded like tires, and a machine wiring, he then heard Russian.

He quickly ran up the stairs to face Dustin and Steve "Hey! We got company!"

He quickly lead Robin and Erica up the stairs before following himself, he silently stayed put on the roof of the elevator, Erica and Dustin right next to him.

He heard two Russian man stop their car and open the door, one man grabbed a couple of boxes as he started to walk, when he stopped in his tracks

Dylan heard the two men communicate in Russian, by the tone of their voices it's sounded like a question but Dylan never took Russian so he was left curious.

He then heard the sound of the two men getting into their cart and driving away. He quickly stood up and jumped to the ground as he saw the big red slide start to come down again.

Dylan grabbed it before it hit the ground as he held it open once again, he was a bit weaker this time so Dylan really felt the metal lay on his skin.

"Come on! Steve!" Dylan yelled in a hushed voiced

Steve quickly stood by Dylan's side as he grabbed the metal slide with one hand using his other to throw Erica's backpack and then help the little girl crawl underneath.

It felt like a clock was peering in the back of Dylan's head as he individually saw one of them slide underneath the door, their freedom in his hands.

Dustin slid underneath as it was only the Harrington brothers now left.

Steve quickly let go as he ducked underneath, Dylan felt a bit more weight added on, he then saw his brother's hand slide the green bottle under the door holding it in place.

"Okay let go!" Steve said

Dylan hesitantly let go but as soon as he stopped feeling the cold metal on his hands it was a relief he quickly slid under, hearing the sounds of his friends rushing him and the cracking of the glass containing the liquid.

He felt the air blow on his right side as the red slide shut down on the ground, and the glass broke. Dylan felt the slight stinging pain on his cheek as he wiped the blood from the small cut a shot of glass had created.

The group collectively looked at the green liquid that began to sizzle and pop, as it started to ooze through the floor melting concrete and metal.

"You still wanna drink that?" Robin asked Erica

Dustin turned around as he sighed "Holy mother of God."

They all then looked to see the long hallway of pipes and bright lights, not seeing an ending

"Let's go Dylan." Robin said

Dylan was about to stand up when he was pulled back as he noticed his flannel was caught underneath the slide, he grew impatient as he ripped it. Leaving behind a piece of gray fabric.

"Well, hope you guys are in good shape." Steve said "looking at you, roast beef." He commented patting Dustin's chest

"Let's go, come on." Steve ushered

Dylan jogged up ahead walking beside Steve hearing Dustin's complaints behind him.

_______________________________

The five were walking down this long hallway, their arms slinging and their legs lumpy it took them 30 minutes to get nowhere and then another 30 to also get nowhere. They passed the time with theories and conversations.

"But if they're building something, why here?" Robin asked as Dylan could feel his stomach drop at the question "I mean, Hawkins. Seriously. Of all places. At the very best, we're a toilet shop on your way to Disneyland."

Dylan stopped walking as Dustin  and Steve followed. The three boys turned to look at each other.

"You think the Russians know?" Steve asked, his face lined with concern as he glanced at his brother

"It would make sense." Dylan mumbled he thought in his head if all the things the Russians could do and accomplish with the upside down under their control. Then again could they control it?

"How would it be connected though?" Dustin asked as Steve shrugged

" I don't know.......but hey!" Steve grabbed Dylan by his shoulders as he slightly bent down to be eye and eye with Dylan "No more powers—understand? If these Russians really are connected with the lab or upside down, they could take you, kill you, I don't care if I'm about to die....... Don't use your powers."

Dylan paused looking at his brothers serious expression before nodding. Of course this nod was a semi-lie. Yea he wouldn't use his powers on something simple but he's not gonna let his brother die or anyone for that matter. Even if he's tortured the rest of his life.

"Hey! Is there something you'd like to share with the class?" Robin yelled as she and Erica had walked a few steps ahead.

The three turned their heads towards Robin as they silently looked at her. Dylan opened his mouth to say another excuse when he was interrupted by the sound static from the super comm.

"Walkie." all said as they huddled and ran into a circle, Erica took her backpack off and grabbed the walkie out of it.

Robin extended the antenna the sound of the Russian code playing again."A trip to china sounds nice." The girl translated "if you tread lightly"

"It's the code." Dylan said

"Wherever...that broadcast is coming from.."Dustin said

"It's close." Robin stated "and if there's one thing we know about that signal...."

"It can reach the surface." Dustin smiled

"Let's go." Dylan said as he stood up

Dylan's priority was to get them out of here, he didn't care for a metal, money, he especially didn't care for girls. His friends weren't gonna die in a Russian base underground. And he wasn't either.

________________________________

  Male Russian voices played on the PA as it bounced off metal bars, boots trampling on the ground and vehicles zoomed by. The five turned corners and walked carefully to not get caught.

Dylan lead the group as Steve was right by his side. He looked over his shoulder to see the Russian soldiers had passed "Okay clear....come one, let's go."

The group walked toward down a hallway

"Okay, that was close." Robin said

"Too close." Dustin sighed

"Relax." Steve said "alright? Relax. Nobody saw...."

Steve came face first with the end of the hallway, it was full of Russians, short, tall, and of all genders each with a job. Some transported materials some wore lab coats around, while some held big guns with a "don't fuck with me" look on their faces

Dylan grabbed Steve's collar and slightly threw him behind boxes as he pushed the rest behind boxes as well, crouching down beside them.

"Shit!" Steve cursed

"Red dawn." Dustin said winded

"I saw it!" Erica said as she tugged on Dylan's sleeve. "First floor. Northwest

"Saw what?" Dylan asked as he turned to look at her "The comms room!" Erica said

"Really? You saw that from here?" Dylan asked impressed

"The door was open for a second, and I saw a bunch of lights and machines and shit in there." Erica explained

"That could be a hundred different things." Dustin said

"Well it's our best bet, do you have any other suggestions?" Dylan asked sarcastically

"I'll take those odds" Robin said as Steve sighed shaking his head, knowing they had no other options

They all peeked behind the boxes seeing the path they needed to take

"Okay we stay fast, lay low." Steve said as he started to move to their next block of sight

They all crouched behind that, praying someone wouldn't see them. Dylan looked up to see Steve began walking towards the next location, Robin, Dustin, and Erica following. He saw a Russian soldier began to turn around, if he turned all the way they would surely get caught.

Dylan quickly looked around see a scientist start to walk near the soldier he slightly pushed the scientist with his mind causing the man to fall forward bumping into the soldier

The soldier spat and cursed at the scientist as he turned away from Steve and them. Dylan breath as sigh of relief as he followed behind them.

He saw the door to the comms room open as a scientist left, Steve ran and kept the door opened as they all entered.

It was a room that had light illuminating from below. Dylan faced forward seeing a Russian soldier look behind his back in shock as he quickly took his headphones off. He stood up and slowly went to grab his gun

Robin stopped the man as she stepped forward extending her hand and saying the code. Dylan recognized she was repeating "tread lightly!" Over and over again, and " silver cat."

Dylan guarded his position stepping in front of Dustin and Erica, his hands clasped together into a fist.

For a second he thought the Soldier would believe them until he went to grab his gun again, he was about to step into action until he heard his brother scream

Steve started to run towards the soldier catching him in surprised, Steve tackled the soldier with a grunt as the two began wrestling

Dylan couldn't help but find this a bit amusing, I mean his brother was doing pretty good- His encouragement stopped as a punch was thrown across Steve's face.

"Dylan help him!" Dustin yelled

"No he's got it." Dylan said as he watched his brother.

"He's gonna get killed!" Dustin yelled again Dylan sighed as he tried to find the perfect moment, he saw his brother pick up a phone and hit the Russian across his face. Dylan jerked his head as he caused the soldier to plant face first into the table knocking him out.

Simple and natural

Steve was breathing heavily as he wiped the blood on his lip. Dylan wiping away the blood from his nose secretly

"Dude! You did it!" Dustin smiled pointing at Steve "you won a fight!"

Steve glanced at the unconscious man and smiled.

"And out of all people! A Russian soldier!" Dylan smiled as he patted Steve's shoulder. Steve didn't need to know he helped him.

Dustin ran over to the soldier taking away his keycard

"What are you doing?" Erica yelled

"Getting us a ticket out of here." Dustin replied

"You want to walk all the way back!" Erica argued

"Well no, we can hang out for a little bit have a picnic, maybe." Dustin responded sarcastically

"Have a picnic? We came here for the radio." Erica yelled

"Well this plan is way better, if I knew Steve could knock out a Russian that would've been our plan in the first place." Dustin rambled as Robin came running back down from the stairs.

"Guys! Theres something up there. Robin said

________________________________

Dylan walked into the room his blonde hair now blue from the light shining over him. He heard the sound of a low frequency pulsing almost like a heartbeat along with some Russian. He walking towards the window his eyes widening in surprise to see a machine

It was big and loud, as it was pointed towards the wall, shooting a bright white light. Dylan could feel his hands shaking as his body tensed up.

On the wall was a Gate. It was red with black vines, in the middle was a seeping hole that looking like the gate of hell. Dylan hated that sight.

Dylan could feel his legs tightening as he stumbled backwards before being caught by Steve. Steve knew what this gate meant for Dylan it was agony......destruction....and pain

He wrapped his arms around the boys turning Dylan's head away from it.

_________________________________

HAWKINS HOSPITAL

Micheal sat awkwardly next to Eleven, holding a bag of M&Ms

"Hey" he spoke his voice lined with nervousness

"Hi." Eleven bluntly responded

The two sounded like old robots that have never seen another one of its kind before this. Mike had been trying to find a chance to apologize to Eleven, it's been hard as he's been surrounded by the Mind Flayer and Lucas's advice.

"Does your species like M&M's?" Mike joked as he held the bag up.

Eleven extended her hand showing her tattoo and bracelet. Mike poured a couple of M&Ms in her hand a green one and an orange one.

Mike paused as he saw it. 

_____________________________

1983 WHEELER RESIDENCE

  Mike sat on his basement couch aa he watched a movie with Dylan, he leaned against the boy eating some Pez and Nerds.

Every one in a while Dylan would hand him an M&M. After the third one Mike looked at the chocolate seeing it was an orange one

Mike sat up with an amused smile. "Are you only giving me the orange ones?"

Dylan slightly snickered"No..........yea."

"I know you don't like orange but, why can't you eat it?" Mike asked

"I don't know.....I just can't it taste funny." Dylan replied

"They all taste the same." Mike said

Dylan shrugged as he plopped another M&M in his mouth without looking. Mike smirked as he saw the boy eat an Orange M&M going against his own taste

That smirk disappeared as Dylan spat out the orange M&M quicker than he ate it. He held it between his fingers the orange coating still over it.

"Eww! See it tasted bad." Dylan said as he tried to give Mike the chocolate

"Well I don't want it! It's been in your mouth!" Mike yelled

"Oh come on! You know you just want it more!" Dylan joked as he pushed the chocolate towards Mike causing the boy to stand up and run away.

The two chased each other as they laughed and yelled "Come on!"

"Take it!"

"Hey!"

________________________________

1985 HAWKINS HOSPITAL

"Hey!" Eleven said as she waved her hand over Mikes face

The boy snapped out of his memories as he looked at the girl

"What is wrong?" El asked

Mike thought about everything that was wrong, their situation, his feelings, and his and Dylan's friendship in shambles. He hated the feeling that Dylan might now and forever hate him.

"U-um nothing. Yeah everything is good." Mike said as he sadly smiled

Eleven nodded as she turned to read her magazine.

"By the way, I like your outfit....its cool." Mike complimented.

Eleven smiled as she positioned herself closer to Mike. Mike was happy he had a chance at getting his girlfriend back, but he wasn't......happy.He couldn't explain it if he tried, not even to himself, he didn't feel success or failure he didn't feel anything. Other then fear

But that fear was more directed towards the curiosity of where Dylan was now and what he was doing.