the view between villages // a stranger things choose-your-own-adventure

PAGE 16: Go to the 'Back to the Future' Screener

You remember that earlier in the week, Dustin mentioned some movie he was excited to see. Some time travel thing about cars and 80+ miles-per-hour and a boy meeting his parents as teenagers.

The Starcourt Cinema is hosting a late-night premiere showing, so you decide to head over there, hoping there are still tickets left. Maybe you would run into Dustin and Steve and could talk about things.

You drive over to Starcourt and get your ticket just in time as the lights start to dim. You wish you had been a bit earlier to get popcorn and a soda.

There's a disturbance at the front of the theater that comes with lots of shushing, but you don't pay it any mind. The movie has enthralled you.

However, when you see a flash of navy blue, you realize the giggling theatergoers are Steve and Robin.

You glance between the big screen and your friends and ultimately decide to follow them out. You've been trying to get a hold of Steve for days, so it would be stupid not to go talk to him now.

"Steve!" you shout as he's hunched over the water fountain. "I'm so happy to see you. I've been trying to get a hold of you for days, something weird is—holy hell!"

Steve has turned from the fountain and you're shocked to see his face bloodied and bruised. One of his eyes is nearly swollen shut. Yet, he's unfazed by his painful-looking injuries.

"Hey, you!" he says. He stumbles your way and Robin dives for the water fountain.

Steve beams, his soft smile a stark contrast to the bloodied skin around it. His grin makes your heart do a somersault in your ribcage.

"I missed you this week," he says. His smile drops, mouth in a thin line, and speaks with an earnestness you aren't sure you deserve. "But I'm also really, really glad you weren't there."

"Where?" you ask, a bit horrified. "Who did this to you?!"

"It doesn't matter," he says, waving his hand in the air. "But I'm a little bit high, and I—"

"You're high?"

"Yeah," Steve says matter-of-factly. "I was drugged. Anyway—"

"You were drugged?! Jesus Christ, Steve! Do you need to go to the hospital—wait, do you know about the hospital attack? You weren't there for that, were you?" 

"I need to tell you something," Steve says, placing a hand on your shoulder. "I really, really like...whoa. Robin, you've gotta check this out!"

He wanders away, staring up at the mall's skylight, leaving you confused and hopeful about whatever the fuck he was about to say.

"The ceiling," he adds. "It's beautiful."

"Oh, wow!" Robin says, starstruck by the sight.

You look between the skylight and your friends. It's just lights and glass—nothing major or special.

Suddenly, each of them grab their stomachs and sprint toward the women's bathroom. You follow, cursing the whole way.

Up comes what looks to be stale popcorn. You grimace but hold Robin's hair back.

"Just let it out, Robin," you say. "It's okay. You're good, you're good. Steve? You okay in there?"

His response comes in the form of gagging and puking.

"Great!" you say, forcing an upbeat, positive tone despite how overwhelmed you're feeling. "Glad you're alive."

Eventually, the two of them stop puking, and you step back from Robin.