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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

October 28, 1984

Day One

Night - Street

A man in a van was waiting outside in the street, wearing a black hoodie and a white mask to obscure his identity.

When the building's alarm started to go off, a group ran out of the building and toward the van, all wearing masks as well.

"Go, go, go, go!" a man named Axel urged. "Move it!"

They got into the van.

"Let's get out of here!" a girl named Dottie agreed.

They got into the van, which drove away as fast as it could, just as the cops started to chase them.

The cop chasing them spoke into his radio. "Headed down Poplar, toward Main."

Another cop car joined in the chase.

Inside the van, the group all removed their masks. There was Kali, who was in the passenger seat, Mick in the driver's seat, and Axel, Dottie and Funshine in the back.

"Get them off of us, Mick!" Axel told her.

"I'm working on it!" Mick replied.

"The alley," Kali told her calmly. "To your right."

"Okay," Mick agreed, taking the right into the alley.

The cops chasing them were distracted by nearly almost hitting other vehicles trying to follow. "Shit!"

Mick was trying to avoid hitting another car in the alley. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Mick crashed through a stack of boxes into another street.

Funshine started to giggle and laugh.

When they got to an abandoned road, they thought they were safe, starting to calm down, but were quickly proven wrong when three cop cars drove onto the road behind them.

"Son of a bitch!" Axel complained. "We got more!"

"Oh, shit!" Mick whined, taking off top speed.

A cop spoke into his radio. "They're headed down 7th."

"Do something, Kali," Axel told her. "Do something!"

Kali looked at Mick. "Next right. There's a tunnel. Take it."

Mick nodded, doing as told.

The cops started to follow.

"We got these bastards now!" a cop cheered.

Kali calmly closed her eyes, bringing up her hand, clenching her fist. "Boom."

Once the van drove into the tunnel, it seemed to be collapsing in front of the cops, blocking them off in the middle of the road dangerously that seemed to be able to kill them if they didn't stop, causing one of the cops to stop, and another cop car to crash into his from behind, exclaiming in shock, but luckily, none of them got hurt.

The cop who stopped, Adams, was breathing heavily.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Adams?" Adams' partner asked. "The hell are you doing? Adams! Come on. What the hell. Why'd you stop?" Adams' vision was blurry and his hearing was distant, distorted, as he tried to pull himself together. "Adams! Adams! Adams, I'm talking to you!" Adams opened his car door, getting out. "Adams! Adams!"

His partner got out of the car as well.

Adams looked at the tunnel, shocked to see that nothing of the tunnel collapse had been real. It had all been in his head.

The van with Kali's gang made a clean get away, all laughing and cheering.

Kali stared ahead, void of emotion, her nose started to bleed. She reached her hand up to wipe the blood away with her black glove, revealing "008" was tattooed on her wrist.

∰

Worlds Colliding (Stranger Things 2)

∰

Hawkins

Night - Street

There were plenty of jack o-lanterns and Halloween decorations all around set up for the big Halloween night soon.

∰

Henderson House - Living Room

Dustin was going through everything he could find in his home. "Son of a bitch! Son of a bitch!" He ran to another couch, nearby where his mother Claudia was sitting in a chair, finding a penny, tossing it aside. "Another stupid penny."

"Dusty, watch it!" Claudia warned. "You almost hit Mews."

"Can I please check under the cushions?" Dustin asked.

Claudia gave him a look. "Dusty."

"Mom, please?" Dustin asked. "It's an emergency."

Claudia groaned, standing up with Mews that cat in her arms. "Who's your buddy? Who's your buddy?"

Dustin found two coins in the cushions, smiling. "Love you, Mom."

Dustin took off.

∰

Sinclair House - Lucas's Room

Lucas was looking through his room.

Dustin's voice came from his walkie talkie. "Lucas, you copy? I've got four quarters. What's your haul?"

"Take your puny haul and multiply it by five," Lucas told him.

"How?" Dustin asked.

"While you were scrounging around like a homeless bum, I mowed Old Man Humphrey's lawn," Lucas answered.

"Old Man Humphrey's got that kinda cash?" Dustin asked.

"Just call Hailey, Niko and Mike already," Lucas told him.

"I'll call Hailey, but you call Niko and Mike," Dustin told him.

"I have to go take a shower from doing real work, like a man," Lucas told him. "Over and out."

∰

Harrington Mansion - Living Room

Hailey was walking downstairs, walking by Steve as she did. "Hey, Steve, don't wait up late, going to the arcade."

Steve turned to face her as she walked toward the door. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hailey."

Hailey stopped, sighing, turning to face him, giving him a sarcastic look. "Yes, Dad?"

"Who's money you taking?" Steve asked.

"Dad and Mom gave me some so that I would stop bugging them," Hailey answered.

Steve sighed. "All right, fine. Just don't get caught up with experimentists trying to kidnap you and you have to fight them off to not become one of their lab rats."

"That happened one..." Hailey trailed off when Steve gave her a look. "Okay, like three times, but still. It's not gonna happen again. And remember what Nadia, Niko and Natasha said."

"You mean to keep my mouth shut or Nadia would kill me?" Steve asked, nodding sarcastically. "Yeah. Yeah, she made that very clear the night I saw her rip two monsters apart. Niko and Natasha just furthered Nadia's point."

"Okay," Hailey said. "All right, gotta go, bye."

Steve tried to say something else. "Hailey--"

Hailey took off out the door before he could finish.

∰

Outside

Hailey ran outside.

Her walkie talkie was going off, with Dustin's voice on the other line. "Hailey, do you copy? Hailey, do you copy?"

Hailey took out her walkie talkie. "I copy, and I'm bringing in the big bucks, like usual."

"Roger that. Hailey bringing in the money again."

∰

Reed House - Living Room

Nadia and Natasha were sitting down, chuckling.

Niko walked downstairs, looking around. "We don't have a lot of change around here, do we?"

"I got plenty," Natasha answered. "Why?"

"Going to the arcade again with Hailey, Will, Dustin, Mike and Lucas," Niko answered.

"I don't know why you, Will, Dustin, Mike and Lucas even bother bringing money or change to the arcade things," Nadia admitted. "Hailey usually brings enough for all of you and then some."

"Because Hailey said that she got tired of us playing off of what she brings every time, so we're all bringing some this time," Niko answered.

Natasha chuckled, nodding in understanding, reaching into her purse. "Got it. Tell Hailey that that's smart thinking, not letting boys live off of her."

Natasha handed Niko some change.

Niko smiled, kissing Natasha on the head. "Thanks, Mama." He did the same with Nadia. "See you, Nadia."

"Bye, Niko," Nadia replied.

Niko ran off.

∰

Outside

Niko ran outside to his bike.

He heard Dustin from his walkie talkie. "Niko, do you copy? Niko, do you copy?"

Niko took out his walkie talkie. "I copy. And I got like five bucks in change. Hailey and Lucas are not the only ones bringing it this time."

"Copy that."

∰

Wheeler House - Basement

Mike was sitting in the bed fort that he had left up in memory for Eleven.

He heard Dustin's voice through the walkie talkie. "Mike, do you copy? Mike, do you copy?"

Mike picked up his radio. "Yeah. Yeah, I copy."

"What the hell are you doing on this channel?" Dustin asked.

Mike sighed. "Nothing."

"Well, Lucas and I have six bucks total," Dustin explained. "Niko has five more bucks, and Hailey has like ten. What's your haul?"

Mike looked as if he was just now remembering arcade night. "Shit! I don't know yet."

"What do you mean, you don't know yet?" Dustin asked.

"Hold on," Mike told him. "Call Will."

∰

Nancy's Room

Mike was going through Nancy's room looking for money, finding her piggy bank, shaking out change onto the bed.

Nancy walked in. "What the hell are you doing?"

Mike looked at his sister, busted. "I'll pay you back." He quickly grabbed some change, running past her out of the room. "Bye!"

Nancy scoffed. "Mike!"

∰

Downstairs

Mike ran down the stairs as fast as he could to get away from his sister.

Nancy chased after him. "Mike! Get back here!"

They ran past Ted, Karen and Holly in the kitchen.

"Hey!" Ted told them. "No running in the house."

Karen watched her kids run outside. "What is going on?"

∰

Outside

Mike got onto his bike, running it to the street.

Nancy chased after him. "Mike! Mike!" Mike got onto his bike, riding as fast as he could away. Nancy knew that she couldn't catch him now, stopping to catch her breath. "Asshole!"

∰

Arcade - Outside

(Song:) Whip It - Devo

Dustin, Hailey, Niko, Mike and Lucas rode their bikes up to the arcade, pulling over, putting their bikes on the racks.

Joyce pulled up in her car to drop off Will, honking her horn to get the party's attention.

They waved. "Hey!"

Joyce looked at Will. "Okay, so I'll pick you up in two hours. That's 9:00 on the dot, okay?"

Will nodded. "Okay."

"And if anything happens, if you need to come home, just ask them to use their phone and call home, okay?" Joyce asked. "Don't--"

"Don't walk or bike home," Will finished. "I know."

Joyce stopped him before he got out of the car. "Okay, but, sweetie--"

"Mom, I have to go," Will told her.

"Have fun," Joyce finished.

Will smiled, getting out of the car. Joyce watched the party run into the arcade.

(Song Ends)

∰

Inside

Dustin was playing a game called Dragon's Lair while Hailey was eating snacks, having played her game, and while the other boys crowded in around Dustin to watch him play.

"Oh, Jesus, I'm in uncharted territory here, guys," Dustin told them.

"Down, down, down!" the boys told him.

"I'm going, I'm going," Dustin told them. The boys were all exclaiming over each other, making it hard to tell what they said apart, making Hailey roll her eyes, also making Dustin annoyed. "Okay, shut up, shut up, shut up!" Dustin lost the game, dying. "No. No. No! No, no, no! I hate this overprice bullshit! Son of a bitch! Piece of shit!"

Hailey smirked in amusement. "Jeez, don't have an aneurysm about it." Dustin laughed sarcastically at her. "You're not nimble enough. But you'll get there one day."

"But until then, Princess Daphne is still mine," Lucas told them.

Hailey pretended to gag, causing Will, Mike, Dustin and Niko to laugh. Lucas waved Hailey off.

"I'm better at most of these games than you guys are," Hailey told them. "I'm still tops on Centipede and Dig Dug."

A boy named Keith stood nearby. "You sure about that?"

They all looked at him.

"Sure about what?" Niko asked.

Keith munched on some kids.

Hailey realized this meant that someone took her top scores, standing. "You're kidding me." The party ran over to Centipede and Dig Dug to see that Hailey was now second place on both games, and the first place was to someone going by the name MADMAX. "Are you fucking serious?"

"751,300 points?" Will asked.

"That's impossible," Mike told them.

Hailey looked at Keith. "Who is Mad Max?"

Keith munched on another chip. "Better than you."

Hailey laughed sarcastically, flipping Keith off, looking like she would kick Keith's ass just for that, nearly lunging forward.

The boys stopped Hailey, holding her back. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!"

Keith backed away a bit, fearful of Hailey.

"Keith's not worth it, Hailey," Will told her.

Dustin put a hand on Hailey's shoulder. "Take a deep breath."

Hailey pushed Dustin's hand off, turning away. "You take a deep breath. Who is Mad Max?"

Mike looked at Keith. "Is it you?" 

Keith scoffed. "You know I despise Dig Dug."

"Then who is it?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah, spill it, Keith," Dustin told him.

"You want information, then I need something in return," Keith told them, turning his head to look at Niko.

The party looked at Niko.

Niko realized what Keith wanted. "No! No, no, no. No way. You're not getting a date with Nadia."

"Niko, come on," Lucas told him. "Just get him the date."

"I'm not prostituting my sister!" Niko told him.

"But it's for a good cause," Lucas told him. "Nadia would get that, right?"

Hailey scoffed. "You kidding me? You boys think that I'll kill Keith? Wait till Nadia gets a hold of him. He'll be in the ground faster than he can say 'Dig Dug', because his grave would already be dug up."

Will nodded in agreement. "Sounds like Nadia."

"No, don't get him the date," Dustin told them. He looked at Niko. "Know what? He's gonna spread his nasty ass rash to your whole family."

"Acne isn't a rash, and it isn't contagious, you prepubescent wastoid," Keith told him.

"Oh, I'm a wastoid?" Dustin asked. "Nadia wouldn't go on a date with you. You make, like, what? $2.50 an hour?"

"Nice perm," Keith replied.

"Gonna make fun of my hair?" Dustin asked.

Will started to walk away, tuning them out, seeing something outside, how it appeared to be snowing outside. "Hey. Hey, guys, do you see the..."

When Will turned to ask his friends, he suddenly saw the Upside Down, with the arcade abandoned, in ruins. The door slammed open. Will was breathing heavily in fear.

∰

Outside

Will slowly walked outside, seeing a red thunderstorm in the distance, looking terrified.

Niko walked outside, startling Will out of his apparent hallucination. "Will." Will gasped, turning to face him. "Are you okay?"

Will turned to look around, seeing that everything was back to normal. "Yeah. I just... I needed some air."

"Come on," Niko told him. "You're up on Dig Dug." He put an arm around Will's shoulders, leading him back inside. "Let's take that top score back, huh?"

They walked inside.

∰

Day Two

Morning - Street

(Song:) Just Another Day - Oingo Boingo

Nadia was going for her morning jog past a cafe, through the town of Hawkins.

∰

Police Station - Outside

Hopper and Natasha arrived at the same time in their different cars, parking, getting out.

"Morning, Hopper," Natasha told him.

Hopper tipped his hat in return. "Natasha."

Murray Bauman was waiting outside for them. "Jim, Natasha, good morning." They ignored him, walking toward the station. "Hold on a second. We need to talk."

"Get away from me," Natasha told him.

They walked inside.

(Song Ends)

∰

Inside 

Murray followed Hopper and Natasha inside toward the other workers in the station. "Okay, no, I think you really wanna hear this."

"Get away from me," Natasha repeated.

"Trust me, I only want five minutes," Murray told them.

"Yeah, I want a date with Bo Derek," Hopper told him. "We all want things."

Hopper put a cigarette in his mouth, taking off his jacket.

Natasha took the cigarette out of Hopper's mouth. Hopper was used to that by this point.

"This isn't a laughing matter, Jim," Murray told him. "This is serious, okay?" Hopper groaned, putting his jacket on a coat rack as he and Natasha walked away from Murray, but he followed. "I really got something here. I'm telling you."

"Hey, morning, Chief," Powell told him. "Morning, Natasha."

"Morning," Natasha told them.

"Morning, Murray," Powell greeted.

"Got any proof on your butt probing aliens yet, Murray?" Callahan asked.

Powell laughed

Hopper was going to eat a donut. Natasha took the donut from him and gave him an apple instead. Hopper tilted his head, sighing.

"I believe there was, and may still be, a Russian spy presence in Hawkins," Murray told them.

Natasha faked a laugh. "Russian spies?"

Hopper and Natasha exchanged a look, both trying to keep the secret that Natasha, and her children Nadia and Niko, were formerly Russian spies.

Callahan looked at Murray. "Are the Russian spies in cahoots with the aliens? Or how do they fit in here? I'm confused."

"I'm talking multiple reports now," Murray told them. "Multiple reports, okay? Of a Russian family in Hawkins, maybe more than what we think."

"A family?" Hopper asked. "What are you talking about?"

"A mother, and three children who may have psionic abilities," Murray answered.

Natasha and Hopper knew that he was talking at Natasha, Nadia and Niko, but also Eleven, even though Murray didn't know that Eleven was not a Reed/Rostov like the rest.

"Psionic?" Powell repeated.

"Psychic," Murray answered.

"What about that girl that made that kid pee himself?" Callahan asked. "Or that kid saying that Niko could--"

"Those were pranks," Natasha told him, cutting that off real quick.

"What girl?" Murray asked. "Who's Niko?"

"Niko is Natasha's son," Callahan answered. "She has a daughter named Nadia too."

Hopper started to make mocking noises over Callahan to get him to stop talking so he would expose the Reeds.

"What about Niko and Nadia?" Murray asked. "Natasha?"

Hopper turned to Murray, in no mood for games, trying to get him away from Natasha. "You got five minutes. Not a second more."

Hopper pushed Murray into his office. Murray looked back at Natasha. Natasha waved sarcastically, turning to get her coffee. Hopper closed the door.

∰

Hopper's Office

Hopper sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair, propping his feet up, lounging.

Murray sat across from him. "I talked to a Big Buy ex employee who said three little kids left his store. Some little girl shattered the door with her mind, a little boy was able to strike up fire with his mind, and another little girl was able to fight off a couple of grown ass men with little to no trouble."

Hopper knew he was talking about Eleven, Niko and Hailey. "I heard that story. Did you hear the one about the fat man with the beard who climbs down chimneys?"

"Then last month, a co-worker of Ted Wheeler's claims that he knew of a Russian family, and that some girl with a shaved head was hiding in his basement," Murray went on. "Ted now denies this."

Hopper sat up, throwing his apple away. "Oh, wow. That's a surprise."

"But it connects," Murray told him.

Hopper nodded sarcastically. "Enlighten me."

"This family, they're some kind of Russian weapons, right?" Murray asked. "Barbra, sees this family, tries to help them, perhaps. But before she can, the Russians find them, take them--"

"Wait, wait, wait," Hopper told him. "You're telling me Barbra Holland was kidnapped by Russian spies?"

Hopper lit a cigarette.

Murray nodded. "Kidnapped, killed."

"Killed?" Hopper repeated.

"Don't you get it, Jim?" Murray asked.

Hopper shook his head. "No."

"This has potentially international implications," Murray told him. "I'm talking a full on Russian invasion right here in Hawkins."

Hopper started to mess with his typewriter, making it make a whirring sound. "Do you have any proof of this family? I mean, has anybody seen them recently?"

"No," Murray answered. "But these are separate--"

The phone rang.

Hopper picked up the phone. "Excuse me, sorry."

Murray sighed. "Okay."

Hopper put the phone up to his ear. "Hello?"

On the other line, Natasha was in the main room. "Merrill called, wants you to check out his pumpkins. Says they've been contaminated by his vengeful neighbor Eugene." She nodded sarcastically at giving Hopper an excuse to ditch the interrogation. "You're welcome."

Hopper hung up the phone, putting out his cigarette. "I'm sorry, I really hate to do this, but I gotta run. It's an emergency."

Hopper stood.

"You gave me five minutes," Murray reminded him.

Hopper put on his hat. "Yeah, listen, you know what? I liked your alien theory a lot better." Murray stood. "And you want my advice? Why don't you stop bleeding those people dry and go home, all right?"

"I am not bleeding anyone dry," Murray told him.

"Listen to me," Hopper told him. "Go home."

Hopper left his office.

∰

Main Room

Hopper walked through the station, gesturing to Natasha. "Nat."

Natasha walked with him to the door. "How close was it this time?"

"Extremely," Hopper answered. "I know this is pumpkin thing isn't much to do, but until Murray is gone..."

"I need to be out of the station and looking like I'm doing something normal," Natasha finished. "The one and only time that I'm agreeing with you on this one, Hop. Only time."

Hopper smirked, chuckling. "Yeah, we'll see."

Natasha and Hopper walked out together.

∰

Hawkins High School - Outside

(Song:) Talking in Your Sleep - The Romantics

The song was playing on the radio. Steve was in the driver's seat. Nancy was in the passenger seat, checking over Steve's college essay.

Steve sighed. "It's crap, I know. It's just..."

Nancy looked up. "No, it's not crap."

Steve looked away. "It's not good."

"It's going to be," Nancy tried to reassure him. "Just... it needs some reorganizing. Can I mark on it?"

"Yeah, I guess," Steve answered.

Nancy leaned in a bit closer so they could both look at the essay. "So, in the first paragraph, you used the basketball game verses Northern as a metaphor for your life, which is great. But then, around here, you start talking about your granddad's experiences in the war. And I... I don't see how they're connected."

"It connects because..." Steve trailed off. "Because, you know, we both won. Do you think I should start from scratch?"

Nancy shook her head. "No. I mean... when's the deadline?"

"It's tomorrow for early application," Steve answered. "Can you come and help me tonight?"

"Nadia and I have dinner with Barb's parents tonight, remember?" Nancy asked.

Steve did remember, groaning. "Oh, my God."

"We already cancelled last week," Nancy pointed out. "You don't have to go with me and Nadia. Just work on this."

"No, no, no," Steve told her. "What's the point?"

Steve took the essay, rumpling it up.

"Hey, calm down," Nancy told him.

Steve sighed. "I'm calm. I am calm. I'm just being honest. You know, I mean... I'll end up working for my dad anyway."

Nancy tilted her head. "That's not true."

"I don't know, Nance," Steve admitted. "Is that such a bad thing? There's insurance and benefits and all that adult stuff. And if I took it, at least I would be here in town with Hailey. I mean, our parents are out of town so much, and that's not gonna change when I'm gone, leaving Hailey alone, and she's only 13. You know, I should be able to stay and take care of Hailey like I've been doing most of our lives anyway since our parents are always gone. I mean, we haven't really been all that close since I was acting like the dicks that made Hail's life a living hell, but that's changed now." Nancy managed a small smile. "Plus, you know, I could be around for your senior year."

"Steve..." Nancy trailed off.

"Just to look after you and Hailey a little bit," Steve told her. "Take care of Hail and make sure you don't forget about this pretty face." Nancy chuckled. "Nance, I'm serious." They kissed. "I love you."

Nancy looked numb saying the words. "I love you, too."

(Song Ends)

∰

Outside

(Song:) Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions

The revving of the old fashioned motorcycle as Ruby Charlize pulled into the parking lot made everyone stare. Nadia got out of her car, as did Nancy and Steve getting out of theirs, resting their arms on the doors and roofs, as they watched Ruby drive her bike through the parking lot to find a place.

A car pulled in, blaring the song that was playing, pulling over. 

Ruby, pulling off her helmet, turned her head to look at the car where the music was coming from.

Billy Hargove stepped out of the driver's seat, smoking a cigarette, turning his head to look at the direction where the motorcycle had came from.

Max Mayfield got out of the passenger seat, putting her skateboard down on the ground, skating away toward the middle school.

Billy and Ruby both seemed impressed with the other's vehicles and entrance, locking eyes for a moment before looking away.

Billy turned away, tossing his cigarette to the ground, walking away.

Ruby got off her bike, putting the helmet underneath her arm, twirling her keys around her finger, smirking, licking her lips, walking toward the school.

Three girls were gossiping, one of them being Carol.

"Who are they?" Carol asked.

"I don't know, but the girl seems to be trouble," Girl 2 told them. "I'd stay away from her."

Girl 3 was checking out Billy. "Would you check out that ass? Just look at it go."

Billy was walking toward the school as the girls checked out his ass.

(Song Ends)

∰

Hawkins Middle School - Hallway

Will was standing at his locker, going through it, finding a "The Boy Who Came Back to Life" newspaper clipping about him, with "X"s drawn over his eyes and the words "ZOMBIE BOY" written on the article. He looked around for who could have left it, but not seeing anyone obvious, crumbled up the clipping, grabbing his books for the next class, closing his locker, walking off.

∰

Mr. Clarke's Classroom

Scott Clarke was teaching his class, which involved the members of the party. Hailey, Dustin and Lucas were sitting up front. Will, Niko and Mike sat behind them.

Clarke put a model of a human brain on a pedestal on the table in front of everyone. "Meet the human brain. I know. I know, it doesn't look like much. A little gross even, right? But consider this. There are a hundred billion cells inside of this miracle of evolution." A note was being passed during class. "All working as one." A girl was fiddling with a paper made fortune teller. "No, no, I did misspeak. I did not stutter." Hailey leaned her head against her hand, with her elbow propped up on the desk, utterly bored, blowing a piece of bubblegum. "A hundred billion." Hailey's bubblegum popped. The principal led Max inside. "Ah, this must be our new student."

"Indeed it is," the principal answered. "All yours."

The principal left. Max went to go sit down.

Clarke stopped her. "All right, hold up. You don't get away that easy. Come on up, don't be shy." Max rolled her eyes, backing up to the front of the class, standing next to Clarke. "Dustin, drum roll." Dustin closed his book, doing a drum roll. "Class, please welcome, all the way from sunny California, the latest passenger to join us on our curiosity voyage, Maxine."

"It's Max," Max corrected.

"Sorry?" Clarke asked.

"Nobody calls me Maxine," Max explained. "It's Max."

The party realized who she was. "Mad Max."

"Well, all aboard, Max," Clarke told her.

(Song:) Spooky Movies - Gary Paxton

As Max went to sit down, Hailey, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Niko and Mike turned to watch.

∰

Melvald's General Store

Joyce was working behind the cash register, sewing a Ghostbusters sign into Will's costume for Halloween coming up.

Bob Newby walked in, grabbing a Halloween pumpkin pail bucket for candy. "Hey, there."

"Hey," Joyce greeted.

"Do you happen to have these in any other colors?" Bob asked. "I'm not a big fan of orange."

Joyce smiled, narrowing her eyes. "Hmm. I'll have to check in the back."

∰

Backroom

Bob backed Joyce into a shelf, as they held each other close and made out heatedly like teenagers, even knocking over some merchandise in the process.

Joyce couldn't help but smile and laugh. "Oh, shit! You're gonna get me fired."

Joyce knelt down to pick up what they knocked down.

"That's my master plan," Bob told her. Joyce stood, putting the stuff back. "Get you fired so I can hire you and we won't have to hide back here."

Joyce wrapped her arms around his neck as they kissed. "Bob?" Bob kissed her neck. "Bob, I have to get back to work."

Bob kissed her cheek and lips. "I know. I'm sorry. I can't stop thinking about you. It's crazy. I feel like a teenager."

Joyce grinned. "Me too."

"You know, in high school, you didn't know who I was," Bob told her.

They kissed.

Joyce pulled back slightly. "Bob, I have to get back to work." Bob let her go. "Go sell your electronic thingamajiggies, and I'll see you tonight for movie night."

"Jonathan's night to pick?" Bob asked.

"Yes," Joyce answered.

"Okay," Bob agreed. They smiled, kissing, pulling away. Bob nearly left, but couldn't help but turn back and give Joyce one more kiss, cupping the back of her head, pecking her lips one more time before letting her go. "Okay." Another kiss. "Okay."

Joyce kissed him. "Okay."

Bob walked away to the door, spotting another candy pail, pointing at it. "Hey, look, a green one." Joyce smiled. Bob opened the door. "Tell Jonathan not to pick anything scary. I hate scary movies."

Joyce nodded. Bob walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

∰

Merrill's Pumpkin Patch

Hopper's chief car pulled up to the pumpkin patch.

(Song Ends)

Hopper and Natasha, keeping up pretenses since Murray was breathing down their necks, were talking to Merrill about what he called in, seeing that all his pumpkins were rotted and dead.

"You're saying this was fine yesterday?" Natasha asked.

"Fine?" Merrill repeated. "These were prize winners. You should have seen 'em. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what happened. And then I remembered. Eugene."

"What about him?" Hopper asked.

"He's been complaining about me to just about anyone who'll listen," Merrill explained.

"Why's that?" Natasha asked.

"Well, he started this 'pick your pumpkin' thing," Merrill told them. "Acted like it was trademarked. I said, 'hire yourself a damn lawyer. See how far that gets you.'"

"You're telling me that nice old Eugene came out here after dark and doused your field with poison?" Hopper asked.

Merrill shrugged. "Not Eugene himself. I'm thinking one of his field hands."

Natasha nodded skeptically, sarcastically, bored out of her mind. "Uh-huh."

"Listen, I don't go throwing around accusations lightly," Merrill told them. "You know me. This happening the day before Halloween, when sales are peaking? That's a hell of a coincidence. Hell of a coincidence."

Natasha looked around in boredom.

Hopper nodded across field. "You got somebody working on that field?' Natasha followed his gaze to a cornfield. Hopper and Natasha walked through the cornfield together. "Can you make it any less obvious that you don't wanna be here?"

"No, because I thought it was pretty damn obvious that I don't want to be," Natasha answered. "You just wanted me out of the station because Murray wasn't leaving until both of us are gone."

"Yes, because Murray is getting pretty damn close to the truth, Natasha," Hopper told her. "His theories about Russian spies, a family of them, made to be weapons, with psychic abilities. That sound familiar to you? Because it sounds familiar to me. It sounds just like you, Nadia and Niko, Nat."

"Yeah, and he also mentioned another girl, El, and she's not our family," Natasha replied.

"But nobody knows that," Hopper replied. "If you didn't tell Callahan that El making Troy piss himself and Niko starting a fire with his mind was just a prank, then he could've exposed you, Nadia and Niko to Murray, and still could have since he gave him your names."

"Doesn't mean that he knows that we're the Russians in Hawkins, Hopper," Natasha told him. "He can't make that kind of connection."

"Can't he?" Hopper asked. "You don't know this guy like I do, Nat."

"And you seem to forget that Nikolai, Nadia and I can take care of ourselves, Hop," Natasha told him.

Hopper chuckled sarcastically. "Oh, excuse me for trying to protect you three from getting exposed and nearly turned into brainwashed weapons again. Oh, wait, that almost did happen again just a little while ago. And to Hailey. If it wasn't for Eleven, Niko and the monster killing Brenner's men, then their people would know about you, Niko and Nadia being in Hawkins, and who knows what could've happened then, to your family and Hailey. And keeping you from the station, away from Murray, is further protecting that secret. I don't know why you three are still out and about and not going into hiding underground or something."

Natasha sighed, a little annoyed but a little touched. "Hopper, I know that you're trying to protect us, but we have been protecting ourselves for several years now. And we're still out and about because Brenner's team is dead and no one knows about us, besides people that we trust won't spill our secret or do anything to hurt us. Like you, Joyce, Jonathan, Will. Nancy, Mike. Dustin, Lucas, Steve, Hailey. We've been in hiding underground for so long that we can't do that anymore, Hop. It was ruining our lives and disconnecting us from reality. We can't do that again, or we'd lose our minds all over again." Hopper considered this seriously, not sure what to say, but looking guilty. "What?"

Hopper frowned in confusion, leading the way around a corner. "Did you hear that?"

They came upon a scarecrow with a pumpkin head.

Natasha smirked in amusement. "Congrats, Chief. You found the culprit. You gonna arrest scarecrows now, or does that scare you?'

Hopper turned to give Natasha a look, when crows flew over their heads close enough to attack, screeching, making them both duck and yell in surprise, covering their heads for protection. They both stood up straight, seeing the crows perch on the scarecrow, aiming guns.

Hopper looked at Natasha pointedly. "You were saying?"

Natasha smirked, putting her gun away. "Yeah, screw you, too."

Natasha spun her gun around, putting it into her holster.

∰

Hawkins High School - English Class

Jonathan, Steve, Nancy, Nadia, Ruby and Billy all had this class.  Jonathan and Nancy were stealing glances at each other while Steve and Nancy sat together. Nadia was looking across the room at a boy.

Nancy noticed, leaning closer to whisper to her friend. "Is that your secret admirer?"

"Not so secret anymore," Nadia answered. "His name's Ryan."

Steve heard them whispering about Nadia's admirer, smirking in amusement, shaking his head.

Billy was sitting nearby the door, looking toward the window in boredom, seeing Ruby by the window near the back.

Ruby was sketching in her journal, doing gang graffiti designs.

The teacher was trying to get volunteers. "No one has an ad lib poem they'd like to share? Anyone?" No one answered. "Miss Charlize, perhaps, being new here, you'd like to show us what you got." Ruby just looked at him, startled out of her reverie. "Or perhaps you were too interested in some day dream or drawing? Would you care to share it with the class?"

Ruby nodded sarcastically. "Oh, sure. The day dream I had was of my dead parents and then my many abusive foster parents that led me to this hellhole, and I can't wait to get back to it."

Everyone looked at Ruby, looking stunned but amused, sympathetic. Billy was curious. Jonathan, Steve, Nancy and Nadia exchanged a look.

"Save the cliché teenage attitude for your foster parents," the teacher told her. "You're in English class right now, Ruby, and right now, you are required to give us the poem you were assigned to ad lib for the class. Or were you too busy stewing in your own melodrama that you don't have one?"

"Well, it is an ad lib, so I'm supposed to go off the top of my head, right?" Ruby asked. The teacher nodded. Ruby was clearly pissed off at the teacher for the way he called her out and was being a dick to her, retaliating. "Well, here's one, just for you. Roses are red, violets are blue. I've got five fingers, and the middle one's for you." To prove her point, Ruby used both hands to flip the teacher off, causing students to gasp, while continuing her poem. "Faces like yours belong in a zoo. Don't be mad, I'll be there, too. Not in a cage, but laughing at you." The students all started to laugh. Billy was impressed, smirking, looking toward Ruby. "And apparently they all will be too. I hate teachers like you, thinking that we're not paying attention because we don't care. And some of the students are like that, yeah. But most of the time it's because most of us are going through hell."

Ruby and the teacher locked gazes in a challenging manner while the students were all looking between them, thrilled to have the amusement in the otherwise boring class, smirking in enjoyment. The only ones that weren't amused to see this were Jonathan, Steve, Nancy and Nadia, who looked curious but concerned.

The teacher lost his patience. "You should know the rules for mouthing off to a teacher, Ruby."

"You can call me Jinx," Ruby told them.

The teacher ignored that part. "Ruby, I believe that even a new student such as yourself knows where the principal's office is."

Ruby stood, grabbing her stuff. "Yup. Was there this morning. Thanks for kicking me out, teach. Just makes it easier on me than just walking out. Hey, and you should know, they're gonna know about the way you were talking too." She said the next part in a singsong voice. "So I'm not the only one that's gonna be in trouble."

As Ruby walked toward the door, there were cheers and applauds from the students for how she stood up to the teacher. Ruby blew a sarcastic kiss to the class, taking a bow, holding up two peace signs, seeing that Billy was watching her, exchanging a smirk, before Ruby turned and walked out of the class. Billy watched her go, smirking.

∰

Hallway

Later that day, as the students were walking out of another class after the bell rang, a girl was passing out flyers for a Halloween party, passing a flyer to Nancy. "Hey, Nancy."

"Hey, thanks," Nancy told her, taking her flyer. "Can I get two more?"

"Sure," the girl answered, handing two more flyers to Nancy.

Nancy walked away with Jonathan and Nadia, handing them both a flyer. "You're both coming to this."

Jonathan read from the flyer. "'Come and get sheet faced'. No, I'm not."

Nadia crumpled up the flyer in her hand. "No, thanks."

Nancy gave them both a look. "I can't let you two sit all alone Halloween. That's just not acceptable."

"Well, you can relax," Jonathan told her. "I'm not gonna be alone. I'm going trick or treating with Will."

"All night?" Nancy asked skeptically.

Jonathan nodded. "Yeah."

Nancy knew better, shaking her head. "No, no way. You're gonna be home by 8:00, listening to the Talking Heads and reading Vonnegut or something."

Jonathan shrugged. "Sounds like a nice night."

They stopped walking at Nancy and Nadia's lockers, not noticing that Steve was waiting behind a wall because he was wearing sunglasses and facing away from them.

Nadia chuckled. "Better than the one I'm gonna be having. I'm on the down low, remember?"

"You can be on the down low and go to a party," Nancy told her. "Nadia, Jonathan, just come. I mean, who knows, Nadia, your admirer might want you to come, and Jonathan could meet someone." Steve came around the corner, grabbing Nancy from behind, spinning her around, making her shriek in surprise as he laughed, making Jonathan and Nadia jump, uncomfortable. Nancy turned to hit Steve when he put her down. "Oh, my God! Take those stupid things off."

Steve chuckled. "I missed you."

"It's been like an hour," Nancy told him.

Steve took the sunglasses off. "Tell me about it."

Nancy and Steve kissed.

Nadia rolled her eyes, looking around, noticing that Jonathan was walking away down the hallway, turning to open her locker. "Nancy, Steve, could you two save the PDA for when I'm not right next to you at my locker?"

Steve chuckled. "Sorry, Nadia. Hey, speaking of an hour ago, what do you two think is up with that Ruby chick?"

"Who knows?" Nancy asked. "But I heard her name is Ruby Charlize. I think she's bad news."

"You and Barb used to think the same about me before you two reached out and started being my friends," Nadia pointed out. "Maybe Ruby's just got a lot going on."

Nancy shrugged. "Hey, Steve, can you please help me convince Nadia to go to the Halloween party? She's supposed to be more open to other people anyway."

Steve chuckled. "Trying to convince Nadia Reed to be more open to other people and go to a party? Good luck with that."

"Bite me, Steve," Nadia replied. "I can be more open with other people without... going out in the open. Remember, I have to be careful."

"You're not gonna risk blowing your cover at a high school Halloween party," Steve pointed out.

Nadia pointed at Steve. "And remember, if you blow my cover, or my mother or brother's--"

Steve rolled his eyes, nodding. "You'll kill me. I got the threat the first five thousand times." Nancy got what she needed from her locker. Nadia opened her locker, finding a flower inside, taking it out, frowning in confusion, seeing a note. Steve looked curious. "Uh-oh. Someone's got a secret admirer."

"Not a secret anymore," Nancy told him. They saw Ryan down the hallway, walking over to talk to Nadia. Nancy turned to Steve, starting to lead him away so that Nadia would give Ryan a chance. "Come on."

"Oh, yeah," Steve agreed.

Nadia gave them both a look. "Do not leave me here with--"

Steve smirked, waving. "Later, Nadia. Good luck with that."

Nadia flipped him off as Nancy and Steve disappeared around a corner.

Ryan walked up to her. "Hey, Nadia."

Nadia put on a fake smile. "Hi, Ryan."

"I see you got my gift," Ryan told her.

"And the many more before that," Nadia answered. "Thanks, but what is this for?"

"Well, after a while of leaving notes and little things in your locker, I thought it was about time that I officially ask you out on a date," Ryan answered. "How about after school?"

Nadia turned to lean against the locker behind her, shaking her head. "Nope, I think I got something planned."

"Oh, you think you got something planned?" Ryan repeated.

Nadia smirked, letting the smirk fade. "I actually do. My friend Nancy and I are having dinner with our missing friend Barb's parents."

Ryan nodded in understanding. "Right, I heard about that. I'm sorry. I hope they find her soon."

Nadia gazed off, remembering seeing Barb's dead body in the Void, looking a little sick to her stomach every time she thought about it. "Yeah."

Ryan tried to change the subject back to him asking her out. "Okay, how about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's Halloween," Nadia told him.

"Exactly," Ryan agreed. "There's a Halloween party. We could go together."

Nadia tapped the locker once, pushing away from it, starting to walk away. "I'd have to think about it."

Ryan pushed away from the lockers to follow her. "Oh, you have to think about it? You'd rather sit at home alone on Halloween than go to a party with me, just hanging out as friends... or more than friends?"

Nadia smirked sarcastically, looking up. "You see, that's the thing with you, that I've heard about, Ryan." She turned to face him, still backing away, acting completely nonchalant. "Hanging out and 'hanging out'..." She shook her head. "There's not much of a difference."

"Ouch," Ryan said. Nadia smirked, shaking her head, starting to turn around and walk away. Ryan caught her wrist. "Come on, just one date. Tomorrow night, Halloween party. We'll go for an hour, and if you don't like it, I'll take you home." Nadia turned toward him, smirking. "Think about it?"

Nadia chuckled, finally giving in. "Okay."

Ryan looked surprised she said yes. "Okay. Uh, pick you up at 8:00?"

"Sure," Nadia answered. "Don't make me regret it, or you will."

Nadia turned around, walking away. Ryan smirked, doing a hand gesture of victory.

∰

Hawkins Middle School - Outside

Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will and Niko were spying at Max as she was skateboarding.

Hailey was leaning against a fence, rolling her eyes. "Would you guys stop staring? It's creepy."

"We're just trying to find out if that's Mad Max," Niko told her.

"Can't you just read her mind?" Dustin asked.

"I have to touch her, remember?" Niko asked.

"Can't you just like, I don't know, go and pretend to flirt or introduce yourself or something?" Lucas asked.

"No," Will and Niko answered.

"Jeez," Dustin said.

"There's no way that's Mad Max," Mike told them.

"Why, because she's a girl?" Hailey asked. "Hello, have you not seen me kick ass in video games and in real life?"

"Yeah, but that's different," Will told her. "You're... Hailey. And I mean that in a good way."

Hailey nodded sarcastically.

"And doesn't matter if you're boy or girl, you can't get 750,000 points on Dig Dug," Mike told them. "It's impossible."

"But her name is Max," Lucas pointed out.

"So what?" Hailey asked.

"So how many Maxes do you know?" Lucas asked.

Hailey shrugged. "I don't know."

"Zero," Lucas answered. "That's how many."

"She shows up at school the day after someone with her same name breaks Hailey's top score?" Dustin asked. "I mean, are you kidding me?"

Hailey hit him on the head. "Shut up, Dustin. I'll get it back."

"Sorry," Dustin apologized sheepishly, gazing at her though she didn't notice.

Mike, Niko and Will noticed, exchanging an amused look.

Lucas was too busy looking at Max to notice. "But Dustin's got a point, Hailey. So she's gotta be Mad Max. She's gotta be."

"Plus, she skateboards, so she's pretty awesome," Dustin added. Hailey elbowed him in the side. "But obviously not as awesome as Hailey Harrington. Can't kick ass like her in real life. Or Nadia and Natasha Reed for that matter."

"I mean, she kind of looks cool," Will said.

"You think Max is awesome?" Niko asked, his tone kind of annoyed. "You haven't even spoken a word to her."

"Well, I don't think she is like cool, I mean like she looks cool," Will said nervously.

"So you like the way she looks?" Niko asked.

Will was confused where this conversation was leading. "No. I mean, I don't know. I mean, I don't think so?" Niko was just as confused, raising an eyebrow. "Never mind."

The others exchanged a confused look.

"Moving on," Mike said.

"I don't have to to know that she's awesome," Lucas told them. "I mean, look at her." They looked toward where they had last seen Max only to find her not there. "Shit, I've lost the target."

Will found her by the stairs. "Oh, there."

They saw Max walking up the stairs to the inside door, dropping a note into the trash can beneath her before walking inside. The boys ran over to the trash can to see what she dropped in.

Hailey rolled her eyes, following them just to mock them. "You guys are turning into stalkers now, aren't you?"

"Not funny, Hailey," Will told her.

As Lucas dug in the trash can for Max's note, the other boys covered for him so no one was staring. Hailey rolled her eyes, shaking her head, crossing her arms.

Lucas got the note, unfolding it. "Got it. There we go."

The boys read the note. "Stop spying on me, creeps."

Hailey smirked. "Told you so."

Dustin sighed. "Well, shit."

Mike saw a group of girls, seeing one of them was watching Niko. "Oh, great. Niko, Mia is watching you again."

The others turned to look where he was, rolling their eyes. Mia waved at Niko, smiling.

Niko ignored her, rolling his eyes. "Oh, Jesus."

"Doesn't she have a clue?" Will asked, a little annoyed. "You don't like her. I mean, seriously."

Niko shrugged. "Don't ask me. I always ignore her."

"Why don't you try to give her a chance?" Mike asked. "You might like her."

Niko nodded sarcastically. "You're right, Mike. Maybe I should. Who knows, maybe we'll be the next Hawkins It couple."

Will looked confused, hurt. "Really?"

Niko looked nervous, opening his mouth to take it back.

The principal walked closer. "William Byers." They turned to face him. "Your mother's here."

∰

Inside - Hallway

As the principal led Will down the hallway, students in the hall were staring at Will, making him very uncomfortable.

∰

Front Lawn

The principal led Will out to the front lawn of the school, where Joyce was waiting for him. Joyce smiled when she saw Will, waving.

The rest of the party was watching from a distance away.

"You guys think he's okay?" Niko asked worriedly in concern.

"He's always weird when he has to go in," Lucas told them.

"I don't know," Hailey admitted. "He's quiet today."

Mike sighed. "He's always quiet."

"Hey, Niko, don't you, Nadia and Natasha usually go in with Joyce and Will for those things, for like support and to deal with those other guys?" Dustin asked.

"Yeah," Niko answered. "Mama's just getting here a little late because she was working with Hopper again. I don't think Nadia's going with us this time."

Natasha pulled up in her car.

"There's Natasha," Hailey told them. "Later, Niko."

"Bye, guys," Niko told them.

Natasha got out of the car, waving to the party. "Hi, kids."

The party waved back. "Hi, Natasha."

The party started to walk away, leaving Niko to go with Natasha.

∰

On the Road - Joyce's Car

Joyce was driving, looking at Will in the passenger seat. "You feeling any better? Will?"

Will snapped out of his daze. "Huh? Yeah. Yeah, sorry."

"Hey, what did we talk about, huh?" Joyce asked. "You've got to stop it with the sorries."

On reflex, Will said it again. "Sorry. I mean, yeah, I know."

"And listen, you know, there's nothing to be nervous about, you know," Joyce told him. "Just tell 'em what you felt last night and what you saw. Hey, I'm gonna be there the whole time, and so are Natasha and Niko. So it's gonna be okay. Okay?"

Will nodded, looking out the window. "Okay."

∰

Hawkins Lab - Outside

Joyce and Natasha's cars pulled up, parking. They, along with Will and Niko, got out of the two cars.

Natasha looked at Will. "Hey, buddy."

"Hey, Natasha," Will greeted. "Nadia not coming this time?"

"No, she's got a dinner with Nancy, at Barb's parents's house," Natasha answered.

Joyce winced in regret. "That's not going to be easy for Nadia or Nancy."

Natasha shook her head in agreement, sadly. "No." She looked at the building. "Come on."

They walked toward the building together.

∰

Inside - Medical Examination Room

Doctors were checking the weight of Will, checking his heart rate, his blood pressure, doing a blood test, before hooking him up to a machine that monitored his brainwaves.

Dr. Sam Owens walked in. "Sir, Will, how you doing? Mom. Natasha. Niko. Surprised not to see Nadia this time around. Let's take a look, see what's going on here." He sat down next to Will. "I see you shaved off a pound since we saw you last. Must be making room for all that Halloween candy." He looked from Will to Niko. "What's your favorite candy? Desert island candy, if you had to pick one?"

Niko shrugged. "I don't know."

"Come on," Owens told them. "Life or death situation, what would you pick?"

"I guess..." Will trailed off, looking at Niko.

Will and Niko both said, "Reese's Pieces."

Owens nodded. "Good call. Good call. I'm more of a Mounds guy. But I gotta say, peanut butter and chocolate, come on, hard to beat that. All right, tell me what's going on with you. Tell me about this episode you had."

∰

Surveillance Room

The scene in the medical examination room was playing, being recorded and monitored by a room filled with lab personnel.

Will: (on recording) "Well, my friends were there, and then they just weren't, and I was back there again."

∰

Medical Examination Room

Owens nodded. "In the Upside Down?" Will nodded. "All right, so what happened next?"

"I heard this noise, and so I went outside, and it was worse," Will answered.

"How was it worse?" Owens asked.

"There was this storm," Will explained.

As he explained, his brainwaves started to increase activity. 

"Okay, so how did you feel when you saw the storm?" Owens asked.

"I felt... frozen," Will answered.

"Heart racing?" Owens asked.

Will shook his head. "Just frozen."

"Like frozen cold?" Owens asked. "Frozen to the touch?"

"No," Will answered. "Like how you feel when you're scared and you can't breathe or talk or do anything. I felt... I felt this evil, like it was looking at me."

"It was evil?" Owens asked. "Well, what do you think this evil wanted?"

"To kill," Will answered, his brainwaves going off the charts.

"To kill you?" Owens asked.

"Not me," Will answered. "Everyone else."

∰

Waiting Room

Will was sitting alone, waiting for Natasha and Joyce.

Niko walked closer, having some gifts from the vending machine. "Want a cookie?"

Will shook his head. "No, thanks."

Niko nodded in understanding, hoping to try and lighten the mood and make him feel better but not sure how. "Okay."

"Thanks for coming, Niko," Will told him. "I mean, you always come, and so do Natasha and Nadia. Though Nadia couldn't this time, but still, thanks."

"It's fine," Niko told him. "I like being with you through everything you need, William."

Will smiled slightly. "I like having you, Nikolai."

They exchanged small smiles, looking away, letting the smiles fade. There was an awkward silence.

"I don't like--" Niko started, the same time Will started, "I don't really think--"

They both stopped, chuckling, both nervous.

"You first," Will told him.

Niko looked down sheepishly. "I would never go for that girl Mia, never give her a chance, you know? I don't like her. It was just a sarcastic comment."

"Really?" Will asked.

"Yeah," Niko answered. "I mean, she is not like my type."

"So you like somebody?" Will asked.

"No," Niko said too quickly. "I mean, I don't know. I never thought about it."

Will looked a little relieved. "Okay."

Niko looked down. "Yeah."

"I don't really think Max is cool, or like the way she looks," Will told him.

Niko's tone was a bit hopeful. "You don't?"

"No, not really," Will answered.

"I mean, it's cool if you do," Niko told him "You don't have to say this."

"I don't like it at all, and I know I don't have to say it, but I want to," Will explained.

"You do?" Niko asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Will answered, looking down.

Niko smiled a little. "Okay."

"Why did you say that stuff about Mia?" Will asked.

"I guess I wanted to, too," Niko answered.

They exchanged a nervous look.

"So you still want to share that cookie?" Will asked.

"Yeah," Niko answered, chuckling, splitting the cookie, giving half to Will.

Will and Niko started to eat while talking and chuckling.

∰

Owens's Office

Joyce and Natasha were talking with Owens at a desk.

"All right, I'm gonna be honest with you," Owens told them. "It's probably gonna get worse before it gets better."

"Worse?" Joyce repeated. "He's already had two episodes this month."

"He'll likely have more before the month is out," Owens admitted. "It's called the Anniversary Effect. And we've seen this with soldiers. The anniversary of an event rings back traumatic memories. Sort of opens up the neurological floodgates, so to speak"

"So what does this mean for the kid?" Natasha asked. "He's gonna have more episodes, more nightmares?"

"Yeah, that," Owens answered. "Maybe some personality changes. He might get irritable. He might lash out."

"Well, what do we do when that happens?" Joyce asked.

Owens sighed. "Okay, well, from what we know about post traumatic stress, and we're still learning, okay? Just treat him normally. Be patient with him. Don't pressure him to talk. Just let him lead the way."

"I'm sorry, what you're saying is it's going to get worse and worse and we're just supposed to pretend like it's not happening?" Joyce asked.

"It sounds counter-intuitive, I know," Owens admitted. "But I assure you, that is really the best thing you can do for him. Listen, I understand what you went through last year. I get it. But those people are gone. They're gone, okay? So if we're gonna get through this, I just... I need you to realize I'm on your side. I need you to trust me."

Natasha and Joyce exchanged a look.

∰

Outside

Natasha and Joyce were walking toward their cars where Niko and Will were waiting to go.

"Trust me?" Joyce asked. "Are you kidding me?"

Natasha sighed. "Yeah, I know. But, you know, university gives out a degree, this guy's got it. And look, that post traumatic stuff he's talking about, that stuff is real. I went through it after my husband, may he rest in peace, got me and Nadia and Niko free from the Russians. They went through it too, though they were too young to remember much. He's gonna be okay, all right?" Joyce nodded. "How's Bob?"

"He's good," Joyce answered. "We're good."

Natasha smiled slightly. "Good. I'm happy for you."

"I hope you find someone for yourself, Natasha," Joyce admitted. "You deserve to be happy again, too."

Natasha managed a small smile. Joyce turned to get into her car.

"Hey," Natasha said. Joyce looked at her. "Things get worse, you call me first. You call me."

Joyce nodded in agreement. "Okay."

Joyce and Natasha got into their cars, where their sons were in their cars ready to go, starting the engines, driving away.

Owens was standing on the balcony of the lab, watching the two cars go.

A woman walked out toward Owens. "They're ready for you, sir."

∰

Underground Chamber

Owens and the woman walked into the underground chamber where Eleven had accidentally opened the gate, which was now blocked off by a wall of glass, and several people were around it.

Owens walked by a woman. "Patty."

"Sam," Patty replied.

A man was getting suited up in protective gear. "Afternoon, sir."

"Looks like another hot one today, huh?" Owens asked.

The man shrugged. "Never gets old, sir."

They allowed the man into a glass case, and out toward the gate, where the man was trying to use a flamethrower to burn the gate so that it didn't spread. Vines on the gate started to wither and screech.

∰

Arcade - Outside

Dustin and Lucas were outside, looking at the arcade, while Lucas had a pair of binoculars.

"Hailey already went inside," Dustin told him. "She got bored and wanted to play games. Still no sign of Max?"

"Jack shit," Lucas answered.

Dustin groaned. "Damn it. My mom's gonna murder me."

"So go home," Lucas told him. "I'll radio if she comes."

"Believe it or not, Lucas, I'm not here for Mad Max," Dustin told him.

"I know why you're here, Dustin," Lucas told him. "It's basically obvious to everyone but Hailey that you're crushing on her."

"What?" Dustin asked.

"Don't 'what' me," Lucas told him. "I know it, Mike knows it, Niko knows it, and Will knows it, too."

Dustin frowned. "Huh. Hailey's gonna notice it soon. Just wait till I make my move."

Lucas nodded sarcastically. "Oh, 'cause you're such a lady killer."

Dustin smiled. "That's right. She will not be able to resist these pearls."

Dustin showed off his teeth, purring.

Lucas made a look of disgust. "Yeah, well, Hailey's been able to resist up to this point, and if you do that, she'll be able to resist for the rest of time."

Dustin's smile disappeared as he gave Lucas a look. He saw Billy's car pull up. "Ten o'clock."

"What?" Lucas asked.

"Ten o'clock," Dustin repeated.

They saw Billy pull up in his car. Max got out of the car, and they could hear indistinct arguing.

Lucas was using the binoculars. "They're arguing, they're arguing."

Dustin rolled his eyes. "Oh, my God. I see that. I don't even know why you need those. God, you're so stupid."

Billy sped off. Max flipped him off before going inside the arcade.

∰

Inside

(Song:) Whip It - Devo

Hailey was playing Dig Dug, intensely.

Max walked in to play, stopping when she saw Hailey. "Trying to win your high score back? You're the screen name Red Harring, right?"

Hailey didn't look at her, just continued to play to stay focused. "And you are Mad Max."

Max smirked. "Yep. Seeing you and those boys get riled up because of a game score is creepy but amusing. The creepy part being stalking me. I don't know why it's such a big deal."

"One, they were stalking you, I was calling them out for being creepy," Hailey told her. "Two, it's a big deal because I've held the high score on Dig Dug for like five years."

Dustin and Lucas were listening and watching from behind some more game systems.

"That is until I came along," Max said, a little taunting. "Aw. I got to dethrone a queen."

"The fact that you literally just called me a queen reaffirms the fact that I can take my high score back," Hailey told her.

Max nodded sarcastically. "Uh-huh. I'm sure."

Hailey beat the game, turning to give Max a smug look, smirking. "I told you so."

Max walked closer in shock to look at the game score. "You did not."

Hailey pointed at her first place score. "I did."

Max looked at her, impressed. "Not bad. I'm Max. Mayfield. You are?"

"Hailey," Hailey answered. "Hailey Harrington."

Max realized. "Red Harring, Harrington. A play on like a red herring, but using your last name. Cleverish, Hailey."

Hailey smirked. "Thanks. You're really good, too, by the way. And I'm sorry that my friends creeped you out. I try to keep them from going full blown stalker, doesn't seem to work out."

Max smirked, nodding. "I've noticed."

Hailey gestured to the games. "You wanna play?"

Max nodded. "Hell, yeah."

Hailey and Max couldn't help but smile slightly, as they both turned to play different games, but hanging out at the same time.

Dustin and Lucas were still watching, looking dreamily at Hailey and Max respectively.

"They're incredible," Lucas told him.

Dustin nodded. "Dibs on Hailey."

Lucas smirked. "Dibs on Max."

Dustin and Lucas did a fist bump.

(Song Ends)

∰

Night - Wheeler House - Kitchen

Ted. Karen, Holly and Mike were sitting at the dinner table to eat.

Karen looked at Mike. "After dinner, I want you to pick out your toys for the yard sale."

"Fine," Mike said.

"Two boxes's worth," Karen added.

"Two boxes?" Mike repeated in surprise.

Karen nodded. "You heard me."

Holly was eating very cutely but messily.

"I'm fine with you giving away a couple, but the other ones have way too much emotional value," Mike told them.

"Emotional value?" Karen asked skeptically.

"They're hunks of plastic, Michael," Ted told him.

"You already took away my Atari," Mike pointed out.

"If you didn't wanna lose more toys, you shouldn't have stolen from Nancy," Karen replied.

"I didn't steal, I borrowed," Mike told them.

"Oh, and you didn't curse out Mr. Kowalski last week either, right?" Karen asked sarcastically. "Or plagiarize that essay? Or graffiti the bathroom stall?"

"Everyone graffitis the bathroom stall," Mike told her.

"So if your friend jumps off a cliff, you're gonna jump, too?" Ted asked.

Mike thought back to when he was forced to jump off a cliff by Troy and James to save Dustin.

Karen sighed. "We know you've had a hard year, Michael, but we've been patient. This isn't strike one. This isn't even strike three."

"It's strike 20," Ted told him. "You're on the bench, son. And if it'd been my coach, you'd be lucky to still be on the team."

"Two boxes," Karen told him. "Two."

Mike stabbed his fork into his food in annoyance.

∰

Holland House - Outside

Nadia and Nancy walked up to the house, seeing a For Sale sign in the front lawn.

Nadia sighed. "Okay. Ready?"

Nancy nodded. "Yeah."

Nadia rang the doorbell.

∰

Inside - Dining Room

Nadia and Nancy were sitting at the table with Barbra's parents, Marsha and Mr. Holland.

"I'm so sorry I didn't get to cook," Marsha told them. "I was gonna make that baked ziti you guys like so much, but I just forgot about the time and before you know it, 'Oh, my God, it's five o'clock'."

"It's fine, it's great," Nadia told them.

Nancy nodded in agreement. "Right. I love KFC."

"So I noticed a 'For Sale' sign out in your yard," Nadia told them. "Is that the neighbors', or..."

Marsha looked at Mr. Holland. "You wanna tell them?"

Mr. Holland nodded for her to do it. "Go ahead."

Marsha looked at Nadia and Nancy. "We hired a man named Murray Bauman. Have either of you heard of him?"

"Um, I heard that he was harassing workers at the station about legends, from my mother," Nadia answered.

"He was an investigative journalist for the Chicago Sun-Times," Marsha explained.

Mr. Holland handed them a card. "He's pretty well known."

"Anyway, he's freelance now, and he agreed to take the case," Marsha went on.

"That... that's great," Nancy told them. "No, that's really.. that's great, right?"

Nadia looked at them cautiously. "Um, what exactly does that mean?"

"Means he's gonna do what that lazy son of a bitch Jim Hopper--" Mr. Holland started. Marsha put a hand on his to calm him down. "Sorry. What the Hawkins police haven't been capable of doing. We've talked to your mother, Nadia. She's a private investigator. She helped Hopper track down that Byers boy. We hoped that Natasha could find our daughter as well, so we have a real detective on the case, and a journalist to help things out."

"It means... we're going to find our Barb," Marsha told them.

"If anyone can find her, it's Natasha working with this man," Mr. Holland told them. Nadia was just flashing back to seeing Barb dead, looking down, trying to hide how upset she was. Nancy looked at Nadia sadly, just as sad. "This man already has leads. By God, he's worth every last penny."

"Is that why you're selling the house?" Nancy asked.

"Don't worry about us, sweeties," Marsha told them. "We're fine. More than fine. For the first time in a long time, we're hopeful."

Nadia was just torn up with the vision of Barb dead in her head, and not being able to tell them about it, having to pretend that everything was okay. "Excuse me. I'll be right back."

Nadia stood, walking away. Nancy looked down, just as guilty but not plagued by that sight like Nadia was, just as upset.

∰

Bathroom

Nadia was leaning forward against the sink, breathing heavily as she kept seeing that image of Barb in her head, how she found her dead in the Void, turning her head to look at a picture of Barb next to her, turning the picture downward, hoping to stop seeing the image in her head. She sat down on the edge of the tub, leaning her head down.

∰

Wheeler House - Basement

Mike was packing up his toys for the yard sale, messing with a toy dinosaur. He found his model Star Wars space ship that Eleven had once levitated with her mind, looking toward the fort that was still set up in her memory. He stood, walking over to the fort, sitting down, picking up his walkie talkie. "El, are you there? El? It's me. It's Mike. It's day 352, 7:40 PM. I'm still here. If you're out there, say something. Or give me a sign. I won't even say anything. Just... I wanna know if you're okay." He put his walkie talkie down. "I'm so stupid."

Standing up, starting to walk away, Mike only stopped when he heard a distorted voice on the walkie talkie. "Mike." He ran over to the walkie talkie, sitting down inside the fort, picking up the radio. "Mike."

"Hello, is that you?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, it's me, Dustin," Dustin answered. "What're you doing on this channel again?" Dustin, Hailey and Lucas were riding their bikes on the street. "I've been trying to reach you all day. We were right. Max is Mad Max."

"Yeah, I'm busy," Mike told him.

"But--" Dustin started.

Mike turned the radio off.

∰

Street

Dustin, Hailey and Lucas were still riding.

"What do we do now?" Lucas asked.

"I don't know about you guys, but I think Max is pretty cool, and I wanna hang out with her more," Hailey told them. "Even if she's a friend outside the party or with it."

"Mike's not gonna like it if you try to bring her into the party, Hailey," Lucas told her.

"I never said that I was trying to bring her into it, Lucas," Hailey replied.

"And last time I checked, our party is not a dictatorship," Dustin added. "It's a democracy."

"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Hailey told them, riding away.

"Later, Hailey," Dustin called.

Hailey rode off into the night.

Lucas looked at Dustin. "Hailey's gonna say no if you ask her out."

"How can she say no to these?" Dustin asked, showing off his teeth, purring.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "I told you to stop that. Later."

"Night," Dustin said.

Dustin and Lucas rode off separately.

∰

Henderson House - Outside

Dustin got off his bike, walking to the door, but heard a chirping, squelching noise, turning around, calling for his cat. "Mews?" He made kissing noises to try to call the cat to him. "Mews."

Not getting a response, Dustin shrugged, turning around, walking inside. As he walked into the house, the trash can rattled violently without Dustin noticing.

∰

Ruby's Trailer

Ruby was sitting at the table to eat, picking at her food, looking completely bored. Her foster father Aaron walked into the trailer, slamming the door behind him. Ruby barely glanced up.

Aaron walked to the other side of the table, sitting across from her, raising  a bottle in a mock toast, pouring a drink, drinking away. "Your new principal called today. Your first damn day and you're already getting in trouble. Why am I not surprised?"

"The teacher deserved it," Ruby told him. "He got in trouble too."

Aaron chuckled sarcastically. "I don't care what the teacher did, Ruby."

"Jinx," Ruby told him in annoyance.

Aaron leaned forward in anger. "You tell me to call you Jinx one more time, and I'll make you bleed red as a real ruby, Ruby."

Ruby glared at him. "That's why I like to be called Jinx. Because of foster parents using that joke like it's funny."

"Yeah?" Aaron asked. "Blame it on your parents for naming you Ruby. Oh, wait, you can't. They're dead too. Horrible accident if I heard right. One that you were in. Barely survived through."

Ruby clenched her teeth, trying hard to not let him get to her. "Never can go a night without drinking, can you, Aaron?"

Aaron gave her a glare. "So I'm having a drink with dinner. You have a problem with that? Hmm? Ruby?" Ruby glared at him for calling her that again, which he smirked at. "You don't like me much, do you, Ruby? It's okay, I don't like me neither." Ruby scoffed. "You think that's funny, huh? Just like you thought what you did in class today was funny." Aaron threw his glass at Ruby, making her jump and raise her arms defensively. "You think that's fucking funny?" He stood, grabbing her arm, pushing her toward the glass. "Clean it up, damn it."

Ruby pulled her arm free. "Don't fucking touch me. I've had enough of you foster parents thinking you can touch me."

Aaron chuckled darkly, taking Ruby's motorcycle keys from the table. "Fine. Won't be needing these anymore, then, will you, Ruby?"

Aaron stormed out of the trailer. Ruby chased after him.

∰

Outside

Aaron walked outside toward a field nearby the trailer they lived in, lighting a cigarette to smoke.

Ruby ran after him. "Give me my damn keys, Aaron."

Aaron shook his head. "I don't think so." When Ruby reached for the keys, Aaron had moved the cigarette in the way, making it burn her wrist. Ruby groaned in pain, pulling her hand back, holding her wrist. Aaron made a mocking expression. "Oops. Shouldn't have done that, kiddo. Only got yourself to blame for that one." He threw the keys into the field far out of sight. "Good luck finding them now. Can't use your motorcycle without them, huh? Now it looks like you're stuck walking around town."

Ruby turned to glare at him. "We're in the middle of fucking nowhere. It's like 15 miles to school. No bus comes out here."

"Well, you should've thought of that before you did what you did today, shouldn't you?" Aaron asked. He walked back toward the trailer. "And clean up your mess inside."

Aaron walked in, slamming the door behind him.

Ruby glared out at nothing, holding her burned wrist in pain, fighting back tears of anger and pain in her eyes. She turned around, walking back inside since she didn't have anywhere else to go.

∰

Reed House - Living Room

Natasha and Niko were sitting together.

"Do you think Will's gonna be okay?" Niko asked.

"I hope so," Natasha told him. "I'm not sure, though, sweetie. We just have to wait and wish for the best."

Niko sighed. "I hate waiting."

Natasha chuckled. "I know you do, Niko."

Nadia walked in. "You know what I hate? Finding out from the Hollands that they were planning on hiring you as their private investigator for Barb, Mama."

Niko looked down awkwardly, sadly remembering seeing Barb dead in the Void.

Natasha stood in concern. "Nadia, I didn't know until today myself. I didn't have the time to tell you, and I'm so sorry. And it's not like I could say no, because that could raise suspicions about why I'm not looking for her."

"But she's dead, Mama," Nadia told her, still overwhelmed from the dinner with the Hollands and Nancy. "Every time I close my eyes, I see her dead. I see her in that Void, looking the way she did. All rotted and alone and..." She couldn't finish, looking sick to her stomach. "I know that you have to take this job to keep up appearances. I know that. I just... I hate lying and pretending that everything is okay, that she can be found, when I see her lying dead in that empty blackness all the time."

Niko looked at her sadly, standing. "Nadia..."

"We got to save your friend, Niko, and I'm glad that we did," Nadia told him. "I just wish that we could've saved mine, too."

Natasha sighed worriedly in concern, sympathy for her daughter, in pain to see the kind of pain she was in. "Nadia, sweetie..."

Niko, Nadia and Natasha embraced, sighing heavily.

∰

Byers House - Kitchen

Joyce was in the middle of cooking stove popcorn.

Bob was moving around her, filming her with his camera.

Joyce smiled. "Stop. Stop."

"What?" Bob asked. "Come on, you gotta get used to it. This is the future."

"Well, put the future down and get me a clean bowl," Joyce told him.

Bob looked around for the clean bowl.

∰

Will's Room

Will was sitting on his bed, drawing a picture.

Jonathan knocked on the door, walking in with videos. "Hey, bud. I didn't know what you would like, so I got a variety. Take your pick."

Jonathan set the videos on the dresser.

"Whatever you want," Will told him.

"All right," Jonathan agreed, sitting down in front of Will. "What are you working on?" He looked at Will's picture, reading the label. "Zombie boy? Who's Zombie boy?"

"Me," Will answered.

"Did someone call you that?" Jonathan asked in concern. "Hey, you can talk to me. You know that, right? Whatever happened. Will, come on, talk to me."

Will looked up irritably. "Stop treating me like that."

"What?" Jonathan asked. "Like what?"

"Like everyone else does," Will answered. "Like there's something wrong with me."

"What are you talking about?" Jonathan asked.

"Mom, Mike, Dustin, Lucas," Will listed. "Everyone. They all treat me like I'm gonna break. Like I'm a baby. Like I can't handle things on my own. The only ones that don't are Niko, Nadia, Natasha and Hailey. Because they get it. It doesn't help. It just makes me feel like more of a freak."

"You're not a freak," Jonathan told him.

"Yeah, I am," Will argued. "I am."

"You know what?" Jonathan asked. "You're right. You are a freak."

Will looked up in surprise. "What?"

"No, I'm serious," Jonathan told him. "You're a freak. But what? Do you wanna be normal? Do you wanna be just like everyone else? Being a freak is the best. I'm a freak."

"Is that why you don't have any friends?" Will asked.

Jonathan chuckled. "I have friends, Will."

"Then why are you always hanging out with me?" Will asked.

"Because you're my best friend, all right?" Jonathan asked. "And I would rather be best friends with Zombie Boy than with a boring nobody. You know what I mean? Okay, look. Who would you rather be friends with? Bowie or Kenny Rogers?"

Will winced. "Ugh."

Jonathan smiled. "Exactly. It's no contest. The thing is, nobody normal ever accomplished anything meaningful in this world. You got it?"

"Well..." Will trailed off. "Some people like Kenny Rogers."

Bob walked in. "Kenny Rogers? I love Kenny Rogers." Jonathan and Will exchanged a smile. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Will told him.

Bob picked up the videos that Jonathan put on the shelf. "Mr. Mom. Perfect!"

Bob whooped, walking out of the room.

Jonathan and Will laughed.

∰

Living Room

The Byers and Bob were watching Mr. Mom on the TV.

Bob and Joyce were laughing and enjoying themselves, while Jonathan yawned tiredly, and Will was eating popcorn.

The phone on the wall started to ring.

Joyce jumped, looking toward the phone.

Bob put a hand on Joyce's knee, calming her down. "Hey, it's okay. Let it go. Probably just a crank call. Let it go."

Joyce nodded.

∰

Hawkins Lab

A scientist was listening to music through headphones while tossing a ball at the wall, making it bounce back into his hands, which he caught. Due to the loud music, at first he wasn't aware of the alarms starting to go off, but when he turned around, he noticed that the lights on the system and table behind him were going nuts, taking off his headphones, hearing the alarm.

∰

Byers House - Hallway

All was silent in the Byers house after everyone went to bed.

Will walked out of his room to go to the bathroom.

∰

Bathroom

Will used the bathroom, washing his hands, drying them off, pausing when he heard the sounds of a storm in the distance.

∰

The Upside Down

Byers House - Living Room

Will walked into the living room, noticing that now, his mind was in the Upside Down, like what happened before. He slowly inched toward the front door nervously.

The front door blew open, creaking eerily.

Outside, the red thunderstorm was raging on in the distance, wind howling, thunder crashing, lightning flashing.

Will was frozen in fear for a moment, before he started to make his way to the front door.

∰

Outside

Will slowly made his way out his house into the Upside Down outside, staring at the red thunder storm in the distance, white flecks blowing past him to the right. He was completely frozen by the sight of the storm in front of him.

∰

Hopper's Cabin - Outside

Hopper pulled up to the cabin, parking his truck, getting out, walking toward the cabin, carefully avoiding any booby traps left behind, walking up to the door, knocking in a secret knock rhythm.

The door opened and Hopper was let inside.

∰

Inside - Living Room/Kitchen Adjoined Rooms

Hopper walked in, turning off the TV, making his way from the living room to the kitchen, grabbing a beer, walking over to the table, finding a plate of unfinished Eggos on the table. "Hey, what'd we talk about?"

Hopper sat down, placing down two trays of food.

He heard Eleven's voice in the other room. "No signal."

"What?" Hopper asked.

"No signal," Eleven repeated. "It's 8-1-5. You're late."

"Yeah, I lost track of time," Hopper told her. "I'll signal next time, all right? Uh, and it's 8:15. It's not 8-1-5."

Eleven walked closer, sitting down across from Hopper. Her hair was longer, but still very short. "8:15."

Hopper nodded to the plate of Eggos. "Now what did we talk about? Dinner first, then dessert. Always. That's the rule. Yeah?"

Eleven nodded. "Yes."

They both smiled and opened their dinner trays. Eleven handed her tin foil from her food tray to Hopper so he could throw both of theirs away, before they started to eat, like this was just a normal evening for the two of them over the past year.