004

Chapter 2; Back at the Lab

My eyes slowly open, I look around, the whole room is blurred. Once I gain focus, I realize I am in a room.. not just any room, but the room I dread. I am back in my old room from when I lived at the lab..

There has to be some way I can get out of here. Maybe it's just me, but I hate the lab. It's a prison, a place you rot.

I look down at my hands. There is HANDCUFFS wrapped around them, tied to the bed frame. I am trapped in a room.. where I cannot do anything.

Finally, after what seems forever, the door opens. In comes Papa, and a guard.

The guard uncuffs me.

I sit up, trying to back away as far as I can from Papa.

"Why would you do this?!" I yell. "This place is a prison!"

Papa looks at me. "Four—"

I interrupt him, "I have a name.. something you never gave me. It's Jade."

Papa leans in close to my face, "Jade.. Hawkins is in danger."

My lips curl, I glare into his eyes, spitting on his face.

He flinches, stepping back a bit, and then wiping his face with a handkerchief.

Papa then sits down on a chair, "We can do this the hard way.." He proceeds to take a shock collar out of his pocket.. "Or, we can do this the easy way."

"What will happen to me.. if I help you? I cant help Hawkins." I say.

Papa looks at me, "I am sorry, I don't know how to say this, but, we need your help, your power. You see, there's this.. entity, called Shaitan. It has powers stronger than any monster that ever cursed Hawkins before."

"What does that have to do with me?" I ask.

"Your powers, are unique. They're flexible, they're.. capable of things no child has here, not even your past friends.." Papa inquires.

Wait.. past friends? "001?" I ask.

Papa sighs, "He is still here."

My face curves into a smile, I sit up a bit more properly.

"What do I need to do.. to save Hawkins?" I say.

Papa smiles.

A few minutes later, in Hawkins Lab Corridors.

"You will be phased in a couple of tests, to test your strength. You will be treated as you used too, just as any other patient. But you will use your power to practice stronger than you have before. When the tests are completed, and you've shown you're strong enough.. we may let you go back to your friends, or you can help rid of Shaitan." Papa explains.

I look at him, "What are the Shaitan's powers?"

"Well," he says, "The Shaitan consists of many minds. It is basically similar to a myth we call Mind Flayer. It has control over the Upside Down, in fact.. it created the upside down. It is able to take control of peoples minds, and make them see their worst fears. The Shaitan predicts what they will do, and then leads them into their death. We need your strength to defeat it."

I stare in awe, this creature sounds strong, stronger than half the D&D monsters..

"But, do not fret now. We will let you have a bit of time in the Rainbow Room!" Papa opens the doors to Rainbow Room, and I look inside.

It looks just as I remember, but some kids are new.

I go inside and sit down on the white couches, looking around.