ONE,     Hana Park lives... (but barely)

November 6th, 1983

Hana is running. Her feet were sore and her legs burned, she felt her heart was about to explode— it hurt to breathe, every time she inhaled, her chest tightened. The air around her was thick and suffocating like always. It carried particles that stuck to her sweat-soaked skin causing her to be in a constant state of discomfort. But that was nothing new. This had become her normal. The sky was an ominous, deep red instead of a clear blue, the ground beneath her was covered in web-like tendrils that pulsed faintly as if they were alive unlike the green grass back at home.

It was a jagged version of reality. 

The creatures that roamed here, wherever here was, were the worst part of it all. They were everywhere, at every turn, she couldn't escape them— their constant hunger. And when she did, when there was a rare moment of calmness amongst the chaos, Hana still couldn't relish in it. She had become too paranoid, too restless, and afraid to allow herself a second of peace. Because even if the physical monsters were away. One still lingered, though it was never a sentient being like the others, it was never towering over her with its petal-like mouth gaping open to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth.

This one lived within her mind for as long as she's been here. It was a voice of sorts, an ever-present whisper, always watching her from a distance through the fog and twisted branches. Days, weeks— maybe months have passed, and the voice only seemed to get louder, more stronger. Hana felt as though it could read her thoughts, her deepest regrets and fears.

It was all she could hear, a constant echo. At times, she believed she could feel its anger and sadness. But now, all that she could feel was this overwhelming presence, like a pressure against her skull, as she continued to run.

There had been a new rift, a shift of sorts in the atmosphere recently. She could feel it. It was an escape and that's why the voice had gotten powerful, more forceful. It was everywhere. It filled the void around her with its malevolent presence. It didn't want her to leave.

Hana...

The girl's pulse quickened, the voice felt like it was right behind her, breathing down her neck.

You've tried to escape before. And yet, here you are, still trapped. Still mine.

Hana stumbled slightly, but she kept going, trying to drown the voice out, the darkness curling around her.

Why do you run? Why are you so desperate to go back to a world that has forgotten about you? It's pathetic.

Her vision blurred, hot tears burned in her eyes. Her stomach twisted, the weight of its words crushing her— the truth was too much. She choked on the possibility that everyone might have moved on from her.

You belong here. With me.

"No, I don't!" Hana yelled into the void, her voice raspy and tired. She barely recognized it.

She could see a tunnel in the distance, she ran quicker despite her entire body aching. She just wanted to give up— give into the voice and let herself rot away in this place. But she couldn't. Not when there was a chance for her to be free.

Suddenly the tendrils on the ground began to slither and coil and stretch toward her trying to wrap around her feet to pull her down— to stop her from escaping. The distant, familiar sound of inhuman screeching echoed throughout the atmosphere. Almost immediately goosebumps littered Hana's skin because it didn't matter how many times she had been face-to-face with... whatever those creatures were, it didn't change the fact that she was terrified of them. Of this place. She didn't belong here.

She wanted to go home. To her dad. To her friends... to Nancy.

Approaching the entrance of the tunnel, a sense of hope settled in her chest. It was faint, but still there. For a long time, she didn't allow herself to feel any sort of excitement— it never ended well. Not here. It, the voice, would always make sure she'd remember that she was stuck here forever. She didn't want to believe it, but after a while, it was hard not to.

Maybe it was right. Maybe she was wasting her time chasing an intangible dream of escaping. Maybe she really was trapped. Maybe she did belong here.

You can't run away from me, Hana. Even if you escape... you'll still be here.

"Leave me alone..." She wanted to scream, though it came out as an exhausted plea. 

The creatures were getting closer and that made Hana panic. She didn't have the strength to fight them off. As she entered the tunnel her eyes scanned her surroundings, desperately searching for something, a sign of sorts, a feeling, to point her in the right direction.

You won't survive in the real world. You've changed. 

Hana squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, hoping to get rid of the immense pressure building in her head. She had to get away. Away from it. The voice. The place. The monsters. The fog. The red sky. Everything.

She couldn't breathe here, couldn't think, couldn't live.

A low whine in the distance caught her attention. It came from deep within the dark cave. A part of her was hesitant to go any further, what if it was another trap? What if it was just making her see things like before? She couldn't handle another trick— another day here.

But that wouldn't make sense. Why would it be fighting so hard to keep her away from wherever this new... rift was?

So she ran.

The tendrils became more violent, the screeching louder and closer. Hana staggered trying to keep her balance, her breath ragged. She wasn't going in any specific direction, she was just letting her feet take her away. Until a tendril successfully wrapped around her leg making her trip. She let out a groan, pushing herself up onto her knees. She could feel her leg going numb at how tight it was holding onto her. Without any weapons, she was forced to use her hands so she pulled, punched, and scratched the tendril forcing it to finally let go of her.

She got to her feet, breathless. Looking up, her eyes widened, she could see a dim light. It was right in front of her. It was the same fissure that pulled her in the first time. She wondered if it would take her back to the same place or if it would leave somewhere else— somewhere different from here.

It didn't feel real. After so long, it seemed impossible to think she'd ever be free.

You won't escape me forever.

Hana forced the voice out of her head.

They've already forgotten about you.

She put her trembling hand through the rift, holding her breath as she pushed the rest of her body through.

Suddenly, she fell against the hard, cold ground with a thud. Her tired eyes carefully glanced around, she was in a white room that reminded her of a hospital. She wasn't sure yet if this was the real world. The air was different, cleaner, heavier. She could taste it, the metallic tang of that weird place replaced by something almost normal. For a moment, she lay still, her body shaking with exhaustion. She was drenched in this slime-like substance that made her want to gag once the smell hit her nose.

She pushed herself onto her elbows— the white walls, sterile and unfeeling, the harsh light above making everything feel cold and distant.

Her mind raced, fighting the deep-rooted paranoia that gnawed at her, telling her this was just another illusion. Another cruel joke. But something was different this time, the voice was gone. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was silence.

The constant torment, the monsters— it wasn't there anymore. Hana let out a shaky breath, her body sagging as she realized the truth. She was free. And that was enough for her to let her fatigue win. 

The muffled sound of voices and blurry images entering the room seemed to die out as Hana's world faded to darkness.

November 7th, 1983

Hana's eyes fluttered open, the harsh white lights above burning into her vision. She squinted, blinking to adjust to the brightness as the sterile smell of antiseptic filled her nose. It took a moment to register where she was—a hospital room. The clean sheets beneath her felt too soft, too foreign after so long in the grime and cold of that place.

Her heart pounded as she attempted to get up, only to feel a wave of dizziness crash over her. Her limbs felt heavy, weak. She lay back down, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together what had happened. She questioned if this was even real. She couldn't trust her senses anymore. Not after everything.

The sound of the door opening broke through her disoriented thoughts, and a woman in a white coat stepped into the room. Her face was calm, friendly, familiar even. It took a moment for Hana to recognize that face. It belonged to her friend— Rosemary— only older. It was her mother. Her stare seemed to linger longer than Hana would've liked. The woman gave her a smile, clipboard in hand.

"Good mornin', Hana." Her tone was calm, and gentle as she approached the girl. "I'm Dr. Dunn— as you know I'm Rosemary's Mother. It's good to see that you're... alive and well."

Hana just stared at her, her throat tight. Not really sure what to say. She wondered if people thought she was really dead. If her friends had forgotten about her. If they've moved on. She wouldn't blame them if they had.

Dr. Dunn watched her carefully. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm... I'm fine." The girl muttered, her voice rough and strained from disuse. She swallowed hard, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket. "Where I am? How... how long was I gone?"

"You're in Hawkins General Hospital, sweetheart. It's 1983. You were found unconscious in the forest— barely breathin'—and brought here." Dr. Dunn said smoothly, and professionally, but there was something probing in the way she said it, as if testing Hana for any reaction. "But I promise you, you're safe now."

Forest? No. That wasn't right.

1983? A year?

And safe? From what? The monsters, that place, the voice? She wasn't sure what safe meant anymore. Hana didn't question it out loud, instead, she nodded slowly, her mind still reeling from the realization that she was out.

"We'll need to run some tests, just to make sure you're okay." Dr. Dunn's eyes flickered toward her clipboard, but she wasn't really reading it.

"Tests?" Hana echoed, her stomach sinking. She didn't want tests. She didn't want questions. She just wanted to go home.

The woman smiled faintly as if sensing her discomfort. "You fought hard to be here. I would say it's a miracle you were found, but I'm sure that was all you. You survived and that's no small thing." There was a pause, a shift in her voice. "You know my daughter was so heartbroken by your... Disappearance."

The mention of Rosemary made Hana look down, she wondered what people thought about her being gone. Did they think she left on purpose?

"Um... is she here?" Hana asked, trying to keep her voice calm. She wasn't sure if she was ready to see anyone yet. Especially—

"—Of course. She's right outside this door actually." Dr. Dunn's face softened. "She's been waitin' to see you for a long time."

She would be, Hana thought. "My dad... is he okay?"

"He's out there waiting for you as well. He hasn't left your side since you were found." The woman gave her a reassuring smile before adjusting her glasses. "I'll keep this brief, though. You'll be free to go home soon. Physically, you seem unharmed. But you'll need to come back for some follow-up evaluations. For now, just rest. I'll send your father and friends in."

Hana didn't want to come back here. She just wanted to go back to how everything was before— back to normal.

"Okay," The girl simply nodded. With that, the woman exited the room, as soon as the door clicked, Hana let out a breath.

A part of her wanted the doctor to ask her what had happened to her— where she had been this whole time. But it didn't even come up. It's like they didn't want to know or care. However, Hana knew if the doctor had asked questions, she wouldn't know what to say or where to begin. She doesn't think anyone would believe her. They would think she's crazy. She wasn't. She knew what she saw, what she heard, and felt. It was real.

Before her mind went down a rabbit hole, the door opened again, and this time, familiar voices filled the room.

"Han!"

Hana recognized that thick southern accent. It belonged to Rosemary— her red voluminous hair was the first thing she saw as she looked up from her hands. Carmen quietly followed suit— they both rushed toward her, their faces were a mixture of relief and shock. Rosemary threw her arms around her in a tight embrace, while Carmen stood beside the bed, her eyes wide and tearful.

"Oh my God, you're okay," Rosemary breathed, pulling back just enough to look at Hana. "We thought you were... we didn't know if you'd ever come back."

Carmen sniffled, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her shirt. "We missed you so much."

Hana swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of emotions. She had been gone for so long, she had forgotten how to be around people who cared.

"I... missed you guys too," Hana managed, she hoped it sounded sincere. Because she really did miss them. She didn't know why she suddenly felt like she'd rather be alone. Away from everyone.

"We have so much to catch up on— there's so many things I wanna tell you." Rosemary squeezed her hand. "I still can't believe you're really here, I mean, I thought— well, I didn't know what to think! I just... kept imagining you somewhere else, maybe you ran away, or maybe something horrible happened, but then I thought, no way, Hana would fight her way out of anything, right? But then days went by, and I just—"

Hana blinked, her heart lifting a little at her friend's rambling. It was so familiar, so normal. It's what she needed.

"Rosemary," Carmen interrupted softly, giving Hana a small, reserved smile, as she stood at the foot of the bed. "Give her a second."

"Oh, right, sorry!" Rosemary laughed, brushing her hair back, her face flushed with excitement. "I'm just... I'm so happy you're back. I didn't know if we'd see you again. I kept talking about you— Carmen can tell you, I wouldn't shut up about all the stuff we used to do. Do you remember the time we tried sneaking into that R-rated movie, and the guy at the counter totally saw through us but let us in anyway?" She chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "He was like 'Are you sure you girls are eighteen'  and you tried to lie but then chickened out and said we were sixteen! It was so dumb."

Hana's lip twitched upward into a small, genuine smile. The memory was distant, hazy, but still there. "Yeah... I remember."

"See, I knew you would!" Rosemary beamed, her fingers playing with the corner of Hana's blanket. "And Carmen pretended to be all cool about it but we both knew she was more nervous than you. You didn't even touch your popcorn! Oh— and God, there's so much to catch you up on! You missed homecoming— don't even get me started on that disaster— Carmen went with Tommy H, you should've seen the look on Carol's face! He barely knew how to dance. He was terrible, but it was kinda cute, you know? And then..." She kept going, her voice bright and rapid, not noticing how much she'd been talking or how Hana seemed to relax with each word.

Carmen rolled her eyes good-naturedly, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "She's not lying. I'm pretty sure if looks could kill, I'd be dead."

"I'm pretty sure she wished she was dancing with someone else," Rosemary pretended to whisper to Hana.

"Oh, don't you dare." Carmen pinched the redhead causing Rosemary to rub her arm.

Hana couldn't help but laugh.

Rosemary joined in, before speaking again, "And now that you're back— and my ma' said you're going to be released soon—we've gotta make up for lost time, okay? I've already got, like, a hundred ideas for stuff we can do, and I won't take no for an answer. You're not allowed to disappear again." She gave Hana a mock stern look, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Hana smiled wider this time, feeling the warmth of their presence deep through the numbness she had been carrying. "I'll try not to."

Rosemary beamed again and leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "You know, I was telling Carmen that when you came back, we'd throw this epic welcome-home party— just us. No big crowds or anything. Just us girls, like old times."

Carmen shook her head with a small smile. "She has it all planned out already."

"You bet I do!" Rosemary shot back, nudging Hana's arm gently. "So, you in?"

Hana looked between them— Rosemary bubbling over with excitement and Carmen offering her quiet support. For a moment, everything felt normal like she wanted it to be. Like maybe she hadn't been gone for so long, and the weight of what she'd been through wasn't so crushing.

"I'm in," Hana whispered, her voice barely audible but still full of emotion.

Rosemary let out a little squeal of joy, while Carmen's smile widened slightly. Hana's heart swelled at the sight of her best friends. She didn't deserve them— she knew that— but in that moment, she was so grateful they were still here, still the same, even if she felt different.

The door creaked open again, and there stood Nancy Wheeler. Her eyes were wide, filled with a mixture of relief and something else Hana couldn't quite place.

Nancy lingered in the doorway, her gaze darting between Rosemary, Carmen, and Hana. She frowned because the last time she'd seen Rosemary and Carmen together, acting like friends, was months ago.

The air immediately shifted— awkward, tense. Rosemary's excited chatter died on her lips, and Carmen raised an eyebrow at the unexpected visitor.

"Oh," Rosemary said, blinking. The redhead had called her here so it wasn't so unexpected. "Hey, Nancy!"

"Hey," Nancy replied softly, stepping inside, her hands fidgeting nervously at her sides. "I, uh, I didn't mean to interrupt."

Carmen exchanged a glance with Rosemary.

"You're not interrupting," Hana mumbled, but the tension in her voice said otherwise. She wasn't ready for this— wasn't sure if she could handle whatever was going to happen next.

Rosemary, always quick on the uptake, gave Carmen a subtle nudge. "Actually, I think we were just going to grab a snack, right, Carmen?"

Carmen looked at her, confused for a moment, before catching on. "Uh, yeah. Totally. We'll just— yeah, we'll leave you two to catch up."

Hana's stomach dropped watching her friends get up. Rosemary shot Hana a reassuring smile, though the knowing glint in her eyes, as if she was aware of the complicated feelings swirling between Hana and Nancy.

"We'll just come back in a little, okay? We'll plan that party," Rosemary said, leaning down to give Hana's shoulder a squeeze.

"Yeah," Carmen added, her voice soft. "See you in like... Five minutes."

Hana nodded, her chest tight. "Thanks."

With that, her friends made their exit, slipping past Nancy with a polite nod. As soon as the door clicked behind them, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Hana stared at the blanket covering her legs, unable to meet Nancy's eyes, unsure of what to say.

Hana knew if she looked at Nancy feelings would resurface as if they've never left.

Nancy shifted on her feet, her arms crossed awkwardly over her chest as if she wasn't sure whether to come closer or stay put. "I, um... I've been trying to get here since I heard you were back," she began, her voice quiet, almost hesitant. "I just... I didn't know if you wanted to see me."

Hana's throat tightened at the sound of her voice— so familiar, so distant. "Of course, I want to see you."

Their eyes met, and for a split second, all the awkwardness faded, replaced by the weight of something Hana didn't want to unfold. The memories, the feelings, the time apart— all of it hung in the air. Hana liked that Nancy hadn't changed. She was still beautiful— still as striking as she remembered. Nancy had that steady presence that could make everything else blur and fade into the background.

Nancy took a step closer, her gaze softening. "I missed you, Han."

Nancy was breathless at the sight of Hana. After so many sleepless nights worrying about her, writing about her. Hana was alive despite everything.

Nancy took another cautious step, moving closer to the bed. "Can... we talk?"

Talk. That was the last thing Hana wanted to do. Not when she wanted to leave whatever had been left unspoken between them in the past. Not when it almost killed her the first time. Her pulse quickened, and she felt her throat go dry.

Nancy waited, her eyes searching Hana's face for any sign of an answer. She moved even closer to the bed, but the closer she got, the further Hana felt herself pulling. Don't go there again, Hana told herself. Not again. She couldn't put herself through the humiliation.

"I don't know if there's much to say," Hana mumbled, returning her gaze to her lap. Her fingers twisted nervously as she forced herself to stay composed. "My mind... is all messed up. I'm just trying to... I don't know. Move on, I guess."

Nancy blinked, her face tightening with confusion. She had expected... well, something. Some kind of acknowledgment. Something to bridge the gap between them. But Hana's response felt cold, detached, like she'd slammed the door shut on their past.

"Move on?" Nancy echoed, her voice soft but still tinged with hurt. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... maybe I was wrong before," She muttered, though the words felt like sandpaper in the throat. "About us. About what I thought."

Nancy's heart sank. The words stung more than she anticipated, cutting deep in a way she hadn't been prepared for. She couldn't understand it. It was like Hana flipped a switch, like she had turned off whatever feelings had once been there. And maybe she had. But why? She shouldn't care. She was with Steve now. So whatever feelings Hana had shouldn't matter anymore.

"I don't get it," Nancy whispered, a frown tugging at her lips. "You said—"

"I know what I said, Nance." Hana interrupted quickly, her voice sharper than intended. She hated how defensive she sounded, but she needed to make this stop before it spiraled into something she couldn't control. "I just... I shouldn't have said anything back then. I made a mistake."

Nancy flinched at the word. A mistake. It felt like a punch in the gut. How did things change so quickly? It hurt, but Nancy reminded herself of what Hana could've possibly gone through. Maybe that was why she was acting out like this— shutting her out.

Nancy took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm, not wanting to push. "Okay. I get it."

Even though, Nancy didn't get it at all. She was more confused than ever.

Hana hated seeing that look on Nancy's face— the look of pain. She didn't mean to, but it was the only way to keep herself from getting hurt again.

"I appreciate that. Really." Hana whispered. "I just want to focus on getting back to normal, you know? Whatever that is."

"Right," Nancy said after a moment, trying to steady her voice. "I'm here for you, though. Whatever you need."

"I know."

As the silence between the two stretched, the tension grew overwhelming. Hana shifted on the bed, avoiding Nancy's gaze, while Nancy stared at her, her sad eyes made Hana's chest tighten. She wished she could explain everything— tell Nancy about what she saw and lived through— but she just couldn't. A part of her still felt she was there, in that place.

Nancy's lips parted like she was going to say something, but before she could, the door swung open, and Rosemary and Carmen entered, laughing softly with snacks and drinks in their arms, causing Nancy and Hana to rip their gazes away from each other.

"Look at what we found in the vending machine hallway," Rosemary grinned, walking in with a bag of chips and a soda, oblivious to the charged atmosphere. "We raided the whole place. Thought you might be hungry."

Carmen followed behind her. "We got your favorites."

"Thanks, guys." Hana forced a smile, grateful for the distraction.

But Nancy's mood darkened, the hurt she had been trying to keep hidden was surfacing in the way her shoulders slumped. She stood up from the bed slowly, glancing between Hana and her friends. "I should go," She murmured.

Rosemary's face fell in confusion. "Already? You just got here."

"Yeah, I... I need to make it to school on time, my ride is outside waiting for me." Nancy replied quickly, giving Rosemary a forced smile of her own. "It's fine. I'll stop by later or tomorrow, I promise."

Hana knew she was lying.

"Oh, okay," Rosemary said slowly, before stepping aside to give Nancy room to leave. "Well, thanks for stopping by."

Nancy made her way to the door, but paused before fully leaving, turning back ever so slightly. "Take care, Han. I hope you... feel better soon."

Nancy wanted Hana to ask her to stay or even feel a little guilty for dismissing her and their entire last conversation before everything happened.

"Thanks." Was all Hana could manage. She watched Nancy sigh as she slipped through the door.

For a moment, the room was filled with silence.

Rosemary raised an eyebrow, looking between Hana and the door where Nancy had just left. "What was that about?"

Carmen, ever observant, glanced at Hana's face, her brow furrowing slightly. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. It's fine. She's just... I don't know." Hana said.

Rosemary plopped down beside Hana, offering her a bag of chips. "Well, if you need a distraction from whatever that was, we've got snacks and the most mind-numbing gossip to catch you up on." 

Hana took the bag of chips, trying to find comfort in her friends' presence, but the ache in her heart lingered. She had hurt Nancy, and she hated herself for it. But at the same time, she didn't know if she had the strength to go back there— to open up her heart again, only to risk it being crushed again.

"Let's start with Hawkins High's newest couple—Steve and Nancy— and I bet he's probably the one waiting outside for her... "Rosemary said more enthusiastically than Hana would've liked.

Steve and Nancy.

Hawkins High's newest couple.

Hana actually felt her world come crumbling down at that moment. She's been gone a year, what did she expect? That Nancy would wait for her— that she would reciprocate those feelings. In her dreams, maybe. Hana had drowned out everything Rosemary said after that.

The worst part of it all was that, no matter how much she tried to bury it— her feelings— or how hurt she was by the news, a part of her would always want Nancy.