𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘

𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍
NOVEMBER 3RD, 1984

They had transitioned into a much larger room, where a massive table dominated the center, cluttered with a chaotic assortment of photographs depicting various scenes around the Byers' house. Each image stirred a deep sense of unease in Scarlette, memories of dread woven into the fabric of the snapshots. The atmosphere was thick with tension as the group, flanked by a dozen doctors in crisp white coats, watched Will in silence. He sat there, seemingly lost in the haunting images, while the medical staff's impatience grew palpable, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

"Sam, this is ludicrous," one of the doctors finally interjected, his voice slicing through the charged silence. All eyes turned towards him, and Scarlette couldn't suppress a loud scoff of annoyance. Was it too much to ask for a little patience? It had barely been fifteen minutes—time enough for someone who had been through so much. Before the frustration could escalate, Owens stepped in, raising his hand to silence the doctor. "Just give him a moment," he insisted, his tone firm yet measured.

"We don't have time," the doctor shot back, exasperation etched across his face.

"Hey, jackass!" Hopper's voice thundered across the room, drawing all attention to the chief, who stood with a commanding presence. Scarlette felt a surge of pride as she watched him take charge. "Why don't you do us all a favor and shut up, okay?" His words struck like a hammer, silencing the doctor in an instant.

Scarlette couldn't help but smirk, her frustration giving way to amusement at Hopper's fierce protectiveness. She exchanged a quick glance with Mike, who mirrored her smirk, both of them momentarily distracted from the heavy atmosphere surrounding Will. In this tense environment, Hopper's sass was a breath of fresh air, a reminder that even in the direst of circumstances, camaraderie and defiance could shine through the darkness. As the tension eased, Scarlette turned her focus back to Will, hoping that amidst the chaos, he would find the strength to confront the shadows of his past.

Just then, Will stood up, his movements deliberate as he began to pace around the table. The room held its breath, every eye trained on him, hearts beating in sync with the tension that filled the air. Scarlette leaned forward, straining to catch a glimpse of what Will was pointing at, but her view was obstructed by the cluster of doctors and the wide expanse of the table.

"That's it," Will's voice emerged, softer than before, like a whisper pulled from the depths of a long-buried memory. In that moment, he seemed less like the haunted vessel he had been moments ago and more like a frightened boy clinging to the frayed edges of his past. The lifelessness that had clouded his features faded, revealing the vulnerability beneath.

"What's there, Will?" Owens prompted gently, his tone laced with encouragement, urging Will to dig deeper into the chasm of his mind.

"I don't know," Will admitted, his brow furrowed in concentration, the effort evident in his expression. "I just know he doesn't want me to see him there. I think it's important." His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Owens and Hopper exchanged a knowing glance, one that Scarlette could only interpret as a silent understanding, a connection forged in the crucible of shared experience. She felt the weight of that look, but its meaning eluded her—perhaps it was a recognition of the danger lurking in Will's fragmented recollections, or maybe a shared hope that they were on the verge of uncovering a crucial truth. Scarlette's heart raced, caught between the urge to ask more and the fear of what they might uncover. In that moment, all she could do was wait, her breath held in anticipation of what Will might reveal next.

Scarlette sighed and leaned back in her seat, the heaviness of the room wrapping around her like a thick fog. All she wanted was for this ordeal to come to an end. She longed for Will to survive, to return to being the normal, vibrant kid he once was before the darkness of the Upside Down invaded their lives. Her own heart ached, plagued by the same feeling of helplessness that weighed down everyone around her.

Scarlette couldn't shake the anxiety gnawing at her about her own health. She wished fervently for her seizures to vanish, especially with the unsettling sense that another was looming, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike before her time at the lab was over. But more than anything, she yearned to return to the simple joys of being in Mike's basement, rolling dice with her friends, laughing and joking about their D&D adventures—this time with Max and Henry by her side.

Henry.

The very thought of him sent a warmth through her, yet it was quickly eclipsed by a deep sense of loss. She missed his laughter, the way his presence could light up a room, and the way he challenged her in ways she never knew she needed. In this moment of chaos, she felt an ache for him—an emptiness that no one else could fill.

Her heart fluttered with worry for him, but her concern didn't stop there. She was just as anxious for Will, for Joyce, for Bob, for Mike, for Hopper, and even for Owens. They were all fighting their own battles, hoping desperately for Will to be okay, to find a solution that would free them from this endless nightmare. They all wanted this to be over, but Scarlette couldn't help but feel that without Henry by her side, nothing would truly feel right again.

a/n

short chapter but the next one's coming out in like 5 minutes lol