The silence after the call is worse than screaming.
Dustin still holds his phone like it might ring again if he stares hard enough.
Mike's voice comes out strangled. "We have to go. Now."
Nancy is already grabbing her jacket. "School. We start at the bleachers."
Max stands up fast. "Lena could still be there."
Lucas hesitates. "What if it's a trap?"
Eddie laughs once, sharp and humorless. "Everything's a trap."
Will's face is pale, but steady. "We can't just leave her."
Mike looks at him, something fierce in his eyes.
"I'm not leaving her."
The way he says it sounds like it isn't just about Lena.
Nancy notices.
She doesn't comment.
"Let's move," she orders.
Byers House
Jonathan is halfway through washing dishes when Joyce rushes in, frantic.
"Will isn't answering!"
Jonathan's stomach drops. "What do you mean he isn't answering?"
Joyce wrings her hands. "He was with Mike, and now Nancy Wheeler is involved and Hopper is investigating and—"
Jonathan freezes.
"Nancy?"
Joyce nods rapidly. "Something about another girl. Another death."
Jonathan's expression hardens instantly.
He grabs his keys.
"I'm going."
Joyce grabs his arm. "Jonathan—"
"I'm not letting Will get dragged into something like this alone."
His voice is quiet.
Dangerously sure.
Sinclair House
Erica sits on the couch like nothing happened.
Like she wasn't duct-taped to a warehouse floor less than twenty-four hours ago.
Lucas hovers nearby, still shaken.
"You should be resting," he says for the tenth time.
Erica rolls her eyes. "I am resting. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually. Whatever."
Lucas exhales. "Erica—"
The phone rings.
Lucas answers.
Nancy's voice is sharp. "We need you. Now."
Lucas stiffens. "What happened?"
"A girl named Lena Brooks. Sophie Hart's friend. Someone threatened her."
Erica's head snaps up.
Lucas swallows. "We're coming."
He hangs up.
Erica is already standing.
"No."
Lucas points. "Yes. Absolutely not."
Erica plants her hands on her hips.
"I got kidnapped by Jason Carver and survived. I'm not staying home because some psycho texter is creeping around."
Lucas blinks.
Lucas groans. "This is insane."
Erica grins. "Welcome to the party."
Hawkins High — Night
The school looks wrong in the dark.
Too empty.
Too open.
Nancy leads them through the side entrance, flashlight in hand.
Mike's breath fogs in the cold air.
Will stays close.
Closer than usual.
The hallway echoes with every step.
Dustin whispers, "I hate this."
Eddie mutters, "Yeah. Same."
Max's eyes dart everywhere. "Where would she go?"
Nancy points. "Bleachers. That's where she called from."
Lucas's jaw tightens. "Move fast."
They push through the doors—
And stop.
The football field stretches out like a grave.
Wind whistles through the empty stands.
"Lena!" Nancy calls.
Nothing.
Mike steps forward. "Lena! It's Nancy Wheeler! We're here to help!"
Silence.
Will's voice is barely audible.
"Do you feel that?"
Mike looks at him. "Feel what?"
Will swallows. "Like… someone's here."
Eddie scoffs nervously. "That's called terror, buddy."
Will doesn't laugh.
Because it isn't just fear.
It's awareness.
Under the Bleachers
Max finds it first.
A phone.
Cracked screen.
Still lit.
Dustin rushes over. "That's hers."
Nancy crouches, scanning the dirt.
Then she sees it.
White powder.
A faint dusting near the edge of the concrete.
Her stomach twists.
Lucas whispers, "No…"
Erica's voice cuts through, sharp.
"She was here."
Everyone turns.
Erica points.
A smear in the dirt.
Like someone was dragged.
Nancy's face goes cold.
"We're too late."
Mike's voice cracks. "No. No, she could still be alive."
Will grabs his sleeve gently.
"Mike…"
Mike shakes his head, breathing too fast.
"We have to find her."
Nancy stands slowly.
"We will."
Her voice is steel.
"But we do it smart."
A sound interrupts them.
A footstep?
Everyone freezes.
Steve's voice murmurs, "Did you hear that?"
Robin whispers, "That wasn't us."
The darkness feels thicker suddenly.
Like it's leaning in.
Watching.
Max spins around. "Hello?!"
Nothing answers.
But the feeling doesn't go away.
Jonathan Arrives
Headlights sweep across the field.
A car door slams.
Jonathan Byers strides toward them, face tight with fury.
Will's eyes widen. "Jonathan?"
Jonathan grabs his arm. "What the hell is going on?"
Nancy steps forward. "We're trying to find Lena Brooks. She disappeared tonight."
Jonathan's gaze flicks to Will, then Mike.
"You're in danger," he says bluntly.
Mike bristles. "We can handle—"
Jonathan cuts him off. "No. You can't. Not alone."
Will's voice is quiet.
"I didn't want to involve you."
Jonathan softens instantly.
"I'm not here because you involved me."
He looks at his brother.
"I'm here because you're my brother."
Will's throat tightens.
Mike looks away.
Something complicated in his chest.
Elsewhere
Across town—
A figure stands in the shadows of an alley.
A phone in their hand.
Another message unsent.
Their face never seen.
Only the glow of the screen.
Only the quiet certainty.
They are ahead.
They are patient.
And Hawkins…
is still blind.
Back at the field, Nancy stares at the powder again.
Two girls dead.
One missing.
Poison.
Threats.
A watcher in the dark.
Her voice is low.
"This isn't over."
Eddie laughs hollowly.
"It's just getting started."
Mike's hand brushes Will's in the cold.
Will doesn't pull away.
And somewhere beyond the bleachers—
Something watches them breathe.