Red and blue lights bleed into the trees.
Hopper stands at the edge of the clearing, hands on his hips, jaw tight. He doesn't need to look twice to know this will swallow Hawkins whole.
A body bag is zipped shut.
Jason Carver paces nearby, eyes red, breath uneven. His jacket is smeared with dirt like he tried to kneel and forgot how.
"Start from the top," Hopper says. Calm. Flat. "When was the last time you saw her?"
Jason swallows. "At the bar. She said she needed air."
"Did she leave with anyone?"
"No." Too fast. "I mean—no. She just walked out."
Hopper watches him carefully. "Anyone acting strange?"
Jason's jaw tightens. "Eddie Munson."
Hopper's pen pauses. "Why?"
"He was there. He disappeared. He's a freak." Jason's voice cracks. "And now my girlfriend's dead."
Hopper nods once, but his eyes harden. "That's not evidence."
Jason laughs, sharp and broken. "Then find some."
Mike's basement smells like stale beer and regret.
Sunlight filters through the small windows. Dustin stirs first, head pounding. He groans, rolls over—
—and freezes.
The TV is on.
"…Chrissy Cunningham, 18, found deceased late last night. Hawkins Police have named a person of interest: local resident Eddie Munson…"
Dustin sits bolt upright. "What—what?!"
Mike jolts awake. "Turn it down."
Will blinks, still half-asleep. "What's happening?"
Dustin stares at the screen. Eddie's yearbook photo flashes up. Smiling. Familiar.
"Eddie wouldn't—" Dustin says, but the words die in his throat.
Lucas's phone buzzes on the floor.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Mike picks it up, glances at the screen.
Jason (5 missed calls)
Jason:Where are you?
Jason:You were with her.
Jason:Answer me.
Lucas groans, rolling onto his back. "I don't remember anything after… the bar."
Will sits up now. "Lucas… Chrissy's dead."
Silence crashes down.
Lucas's face drains of color. "What?"
Scoops Ahoy hums with artificial cheer.
Erica Sinclair slams her spoon into a mound of strawberry ice cream. "This tastes fake."
Steve Harrington leans on the counter. "Everything here is fake. It's the mall."
The TV above them flickers on.
Steve squints. "Wait. Eddie Munson? The freak from Hawkins High?" He scoffs. "You believe some shit like that, Robin?"
Robin doesn't look up from wiping the counter. "No, dingus. Chrissy was Jason's girlfriend. And Jason's friends with Lucas."
Erica freezes.
"…Lucas Sinclair?"
Robin looks at her. "Yeah."
Erica's voice drops. "Then where is he?"
Steve straightens slowly. "He didn't come home?"
Erica shakes her head. "He hasn't shown up since last night."
Steve and Robin exchange a look. Not fear yet. Something colder.
Joyce Byers stands in her living room, phone pressed to her ear.
"No," she says tightly. "Will didn't come home. He was supposed to be with Jonathan."
Across town, Claudia Henderson grips her own phone, panic creeping in.
"No, Dustin's not here either."
The basement feels too small now.
Lucas pulls on his jacket, hands shaking. "I need to go home. I can't—after this, I can't be here."
Dustin nods. "Yeah. Me too."
Will hesitates, eyes flicking to Mike. Something unsaid tightens between them.
"I should go," Will says softly. "My mom's gonna be worried."
Mike swallows. "Okay."
They leave in pieces. No goodbyes. Just the sound of the door closing again and again.
Mike is left alone with the TV still murmuring Eddie's name.
At the station, Jason sits under harsh fluorescent lights, hands clenched into fists.
Hopper steps out, already shrugging on his jacket.
"Where are you going?" Jason snaps.
"To the scene," Hopper says. "Where she died."
Jason's voice cracks. "You better find the truth."
Hopper pauses at the door. "That's the plan."
Outside, the forest waits — quiet, watchful, holding answers it won't give up easily.