His Tenebris Moenibus - A Stranger Things Story

003

March 1967

"I think we're getting a little old for this." Emily said. She telepathically tossed the tennis ball back to Henry, seated in the opposite corner of the Rainbow Room. He caught the ball with his own mind and sent it back the same way.

"What do you mean? Playing catch is what every young adult is doing these days." Henry replied.

"Half of this stuff has been boring for almost three years. Maybe we should ask Papa if we can find some new things to do. I was reading more challenging books in the library before I came here." Emily caught the ball with her hand before standing up. She walked over to the rather small bookshelf and pulled one out, showing Henry. "I can only read "One Fish, Two Fish" so many times before my brain explodes."

"Well, what would you rather read? It doesn't get much more thrilling than "The Little Engine That Could." Who would have guessed that the Little Engine could by the end?" Henry tossed the ball away so that it landed perfectly back into its box.

"I don't know, Agatha Christie? Shakespeare? Something actually interesting."

"Bit of a big step up considering you just managed to get through "Goodnight Moon" last night."

"Okay, stop." Emily rolled her eyes, putting the book back on the shelf. "The least Papa could do is let the Rainbow Room grow with us."

"Maybe when we see him next, we can ask him." Henry shrugged. As if on cue, the door swung open. Papa walked inside the room with his hands in his pockets. He spotted Henry and Emily in the corner, waving for them to come over.

"One, Four, can I speak to you two in my office?" He asked. The pair shared a skeptical look. Papa hadn't ever let them into his office before. They didn't even know where in the building it was. Having no other choice, they followed him out of the room, trailing just two steps behind.

Emily didn't miss the extra guards around each corner, either. Ever since Two and Three had escaped, the security had almost tripled. She couldn't remember the last time she had genuinely had a moment alone by herself, let alone with Henry. There were always cameras watching, always guards patrolling.

Papa opened a door and gestured for Emily and Henry to sit down at a desk. The walls were white, the desk a steely grey. There wasn't much in the room in general. A few certificates in frames on the wall and a white shelving unit behind the desk. Papa took a seat in a large office chair, facing the two young adults.

"Now, I bet you're wondering why I've brought you two in here." He began.

"We're not in trouble, are we?" Henry asked.

"No, of course not, One. On the contrary, I think you'll both be pleased with what I'm going to tell you."

"Please tell me you're getting new books for the Rainbow Room. I can't handle any more Dr. Seuss." Emily said, her hands spread wide right next to her head, simulating a headache.

"Well, no, not exactly." Papa said. He slid a few pieces of paper towards the two. Four, to be exact. Each one had a picture of a baby on it with some basic information. Each one also had a number stamped in red in the corner. "This is Project MK-ULTRA. We used One's DNA for expecting mothers, resulting in essentially superpowered newborns. After some initial tests, we can already tell that they show promise."

"So these are new experiments? Like us?" Henry asked.

"Exactly. Born with your abilities just as you were. This is the next phase."

"Papa?" Emily spoke up, holding one of the papers. "You mislabeled this one. You're saying this is Experiment 004, but that's... that's me, isn't it?"

"Ah... right." Papa sighed, taking the paper back from Emily. "There isn't really an easy way to put this, but... well, as you've made very clear, Four, you both have grown out of the Rainbow Room. We're moving on to these children."