resonance

01

You stepped through a pile of leaves, enjoying the cacophony of crunches that echoed behind you.

Autumn in Hawkins was something you'd never get tired of.

Now, winter? That was a different story. It wasn't like you weren't used to it; you had lived here for your entire life after all. But the fall season always seemed to fill you with joy; the promise of cozy blankets, apple cider, and pumpkin-scented everything masked the utter dread of the cold season that seeped in soon after.

Walking through the woods in October was always calming; your "2015 indie alt fall" playlist blasting on Spotify instantly transported you to a realm of peace on your daily walk to the lab.

It usually took you twenty minutes to get there, giving you ample time to clear your mind and mentally prepare for what the day would bring.

You followed the wired fence along the entrance of the lab's grounds, the newly renovated structure standing tall amongst the trees.

Tapping the sign that read "HAWKINS LAB", you greeted the security guards at their designated posts, finally entering the building.

"Walking again?" the cute blonde at the front desk asked, scrunching his nose at your choice of transportation.

"Every day for the last five years," you responded, rolling your eyes. "It's good to get fresh air, you know."

After signing in, you headed towards your designated room, nose twitching at the wave of artificial cherries that always seemed to flood the building.

Once you changed into the freshly laundered Nike set the lab gifted you and the others who worked there, you braided your hair back tightly and carefully, not sure what exactly was in store for you today.

Your schedule had shifted now that you were on fall break. What had been your life before and after attending classes now made up most of your days, at least for the next couple of weeks. It didn't bother you too much; you'd rather go through the intense training instead of being at home with your mother, anyways.

After a quick glance at your reflection, you strode down the hallway, sneakers softly tapping against the tile floor.

You arrived at the small room in no time, and a polite greeting welcomed you from the staff member already inside.

The room, supplied with plush couches and an array of odd trinkets carefully organized on a table, seemed to hum with energy, not unlike the other times right before you'd be encouraged to do something particularly daunting.

Swallowing a nervous lump in your throat, you barely had time to wonder what you'd be doing before Melissa entered the room.

"Good morning, superstar! Are you ready for today?" she asked, her lab coat swaying behind her.

You braced yourself.

Melissa was intimidating in a lot of ways. Not only was she at the very top of the lab staff, with her literally being grandfathered into her job, but she gave you the creeps for good reason; it wasn't like she was a particularly trustworthy person, especially to people like you. And she was weird.

Like, mad scientist weird.

"Sure." Giving her a smile that you hoped looked confident, you willed your body not to show the sliver of fear that always seeped in with her around. "What's on the agenda?"

"I thought we could try something a bit different, given what happened during your session last week," she smiled.

"Different." You suppressed a shiver at the sight, cursing internally at the way she smiled with all of her teeth. Like a shark.