"You planned out a scrapyard showdown and didn't think to invite your friendly neighbourhood barbarian? I'm hurt."
☾
Before the vanishing of Will Byers, there was the strange case of Teresa Hopper.
After the strange case of Will Byers, there was the...
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Hawkins National Laboratory, 1966
On the day Phoebe Jones found out she was pregnant, the sun seemed to beat down a little warmer than it was normal for a day in February.
A perfect day to hand in her notice. Although she was anticipating some resistance from one Professor Martin Brenner.
"Absolutely not."
Her small smile dropped, hand lowering beside her as she held the letter, fingertips turning wipe with her force.
"You can't refuse my resignation, Martin."
"Yes I can," he didn't look up from his paperwork, the light illuminating files of kids. Of one particular kid. "This project needs you."
"My family needs me more," she countered, reaching forward to place the letter on top of his pile of papers. "What you're ding with Henry—"
"One."
"What you're doing with Henry is wrong. If you continue doing this with more kids—Martin, we all know you're just looking for control. If you wanted that, you should get a plant. You can kill and make it thrive to your heart's content. You can't just play with kids' wellbeing," she seethed, the anger that had been building about not only what he'd done to her, but also to the couple of kids who had come after Henry. She hated that she was part of his ploy to raise his status. That he risked people's lives to do this.
She had been a misguided kid when she volunteered for his program in the first place. Just a silly college kid who wanted to belong and help her country the way her first love had done so.
Now, years later, she still regretted having taken part in his trials. But she regretted joining his growing pool of scientists more.
"This is because of Sam, isn't it?"
"No," she turned, reaching for the door handle. "This is because of you."
This was because of her future child. Who, she knew—judging from Martin's angry expression when he was usually so stoic and emotionless—she would never see grow up.
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Teresa 'Reese' Hopper | Carrie White | The Clairvoyant
