The Protector

The Gate Part 2

Maddie woke up with a groan feeling something cold placed on her head. Once her eyes finally adjusted to the light, Maddie looked around only to find out that her head was resting on Mike's lap. Maddie slowly sat up with the help of Mike to see that she was in a car. After a closer look, Maddie realized that she was in Billy's car. Maddie looked towards her right to see Steve also passed out with an ice pack on his head. "What the hell?", Maddie questioned confused.

"What happened?", Maddie asked Mike. "You tried to break up the fight and then you passed out after getting hit by a plate and knocked into a glass cabinet", Mike answered simply. Steve started to wake up to Maddie's relief. Before anything else could happen Maddie thought about the situation. If Maddie and Steve were injured, and they were in a car, then who was driving?.

"Oh my God", Maddie and Steve said at the same time after seeing that Max, the thirteen-year-old, was driving. "Don't worry. She's driven before", Dustin reassured the teens. "Yeah, in a parking lot", Mike sassed back. "That counts", Lucas responded. "They were going to leave you behind", Dustin told Steve. "Oh my God", Steve mumbled again.

"I promised that you'd be cool, okay", Dustin said to Steve. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What's going on?", Steve questioned nervously. "Be quiet guys she needs to focus", Maddie mumbled. "Oh my God. No! Whoa! Stop the car. Slow down", Steve shouted. "I told you he'd freak out", Mike told Dustin while Steve, yelled, "Stop the car!".

"Everybody shut up! I'm trying to focus!", Max shouted. "Oh, wait, that's Mount Sinai. Make a left", Lucas said looking from the street signs to the map. "What?", Max questioned confused. "Make a left!", Lucas screamed at Max causing her to turn the car sharply causing Maddie and Steve to yell, not being strapped into the car.

The group finally made it to the destination causing Max to slam on the brakes. "Hello", Steve said after flying forward in his seat. "Whoa", Dustin stated amazed. "Incredible", Mike added. "I told you. Zoomer", Max said while smirking causing Maddie to chuckle lightly. All of the kids quickly got out of the car followed by a groaning Steve and Maddie.

"Guys. Oh, no. Guys", Steve stated while the kids got their gear on. "Hey where do you think you are going?", Steve questioned the kids while Maddie started to limp towards the trunk of the car. "What are you, deaf? Hello?", Steve asked the children who were completely ignoring his presence. Maddie quickly put her gear on before trying to help the kids set up.

"We are not going down there right now. I made myself clear. Hey, there's no chance we're going to that hole, all right? This ends right now", Steve said angrily as everyone continued to ignore him. "Steve, you're upset, I get it. But the bottom line is, a party member requires assistance, and it is our duty to provide that assistance. Now, I know you promised Nance that you would keep us safe. So keep us safe", Dustin finished before handing Steve a bag causing him to sigh before following Dustin.

Maddie was the last one to enter the cave causing Steve to help her not land on her bad leg receiving a quick, "thank you" from the girl. "Holy shit", Steve stated looking around the cave. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's this way", Mike said looking at the hand drawn map. "You're pretty sure, or you're certain?", Dustin questioned nervously. "I'm 100% sure. Just follow me and you'll know", Mike stated. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey, hey. I don't think so", Steve said causing Mike to ask him, "What?".

"Any of you little shits die down here, I'm getting the blame. Got it, dipshit? From here on out, I'm leading the way. Come on, let's go", Steve stated causing Mike to look towards Maddie who shrugged. "He wants to be the line leader so let him. He needs to feel like a grown man", Maddie joked with the kids causing Steve to turn around confused. "What?", Steve asked. "I said I will stay in the back and supervise", Maddie answered Steve with a smile causing Steve to shrug before he kept walking.