𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍
NOVEMBER 1ST, 1984

Scarlette rushed out of class once she heard the bell ring, remembering Dustin pondering the Party about meeting in the AV club room during lunch. The girl was honestly nervous to see Henry after their argument they had earlier that morning.

As she walked through the dimly lit halls of Hawkins Middle School, her heart pounded in her chest, this time not from excitement or nerves from seeing the party- Seeing Henry. No... This was something else. Something she had felt before.

Something dark, gnawing at the edges of her mind.

The whispers had returned- low, menacing and impossible to ignore.

As she approached the door to the AV room, where Dustin had excitedly gathered everyone to show them his new "discovery," a strange chill crawled up her spine. She felt it again—that presence. The same one that had haunted her ever since Will came back from the Upside Down. A malevolent voice, distant yet so disturbingly clear, echoed in her mind, weaving its way into her thoughts like smoke.

"You can't hide forever, Scarlette."

Scarlette froze in her steps- a few feet from the door with her hand hovering over the handle; Feeling as if her skin was too tight for her body. She felt like she couldn't breathe. The fear left goosebumps all over her body as that voice filled her mind again.

She clenched her fists, nails digging into her once soft palms that were now bloody. Blood dripped down her hands as her nails dug deeper into the skin. She tried to steady herself, ignore the voices- but they persisted.

"You think they'll save you? They don't even know you're broken."

Her pulse quickened as she pressed her bloody hand to her chest, feeling the unsteady thudding under her fingertips. She felt as if the world was twisting around her, planting seeds of doubt in her mind.

"I see your fear... Your guilt..."

"No- Please-"

"You'll never escape me."

The voice vanished as Scarlette squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the panic rising in her throat. It was like she was trying to run in a nightmare but her feet couldn't move. But- It felt too real to be a nightmare.

The girl took a deep breath, sighing lightly as she tried to wipe a smile on her face. She gripped the handle, blood brushing onto it from her palms. She stepped into the AV room, the familiar sight of Max, Lucas, Will, Dustin and Mike calmed her. But the absence of Henry raised more concern for her. Scarlette simply smiled at the group and moved to stand besides Max.