"There are times when all the world's asleep. The questions run too deep. For such a simple man. Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned. I know it sounds absurd, please tell me who I am..." -The Logical Song by Supertramp, 1979

Chapter One: Upside Right

A cold darkness surrounds Steve Harrington as he walks along a path he's unsure of. Shivering and afraid, he slowly presses on. "Nancy! Dustin?!" he calls out desperate for an answer. "Anybody..." he dejectedly trails off to himself. He feels someone, something, following him. With a loud crack, he discovers it isn't far behind anymore and reluctantly turns to face it. A tall shadow with glowing eyes sends him into a paralyzed fear. It extends an arm as if beckoning him to go with it.

"NO!" Steve wakes up screaming from yet another terrible dream. He takes a few deep breaths to calm down, he can feel his heart racing in his chest. The nightmares began after El closed the gate and they've gotten progressively worse since then. It's always the same one about a tall, misty shadow man. He hasn't talked to anyone about it, summing things up to PTSD which he can somehow get over on his own. He's suffered in silence for a whole month now. It hasn't helped that his parents left for Hawaii a week ago, without him. See, they had planned their annual family vacation before Steve had a plate smashed over his head and his face beaten in by Billy Hargrove, which caused a concussion. Even if it wasn't against doctor's orders, he still probably would've opted out of a trip. He needed to stay here in case the kids needed him, in case the upside down somehow opened up again.

The emptiness of the house never got to him before and he was determined to not let it get to him now. "It's a dream, it can't hurt you man." He says as he stares into the bathroom mirror splashing his face with water. His reflection shows a worn down version of himself. He knows he needs to start sleeping more, but four hours was all he could seem to manage lately. Slowly drudging back to bed he looks over at the wall clock, it's 6:30 a.m. and he already has to start getting ready for another school day.

After parking his BMW in the Hawkins High parking lot, he takes a moment to rest his head on the steering wheel. He thought he could keep doing this, but doubt is making it's merry way into his head. Can holiday break get here any sooner? Just a few more days is all he has to wait.

"Steve?" A voice near the driver side window causes him to nearly jump out of his skin. He sighs in relief when he sees that it's only Nancy. Of course, Jonathan isn't too far behind peering over her shoulder.

"Hey there." He awkwardly scratches the back of his neck. "How's it, going?"

"Are you okay? That's the second time we've seen you passed out in your car." He laughs a little too loud causing her to raise an eyebrow with concern.

"That? I'm fine." He dismisses her concern as he steps out of the car. "House has been empty for a while now and I'm just having trouble sleeping. You know?" She nods in understanding. She bought it, a small mental victory for Steve. Now wouldn't be the right time to explain the true reason for his insomnia. Where would he even start without sounding weak?

"Right, your parents. I'm sorry about that. Nobody should have to spend the holiday's alone." He just shrugs it off like it doesn't bother him at all. He'd prefer if nobody knew about his situation, but of course word gets around in this damned town.

"It's really okay, I'll uh, talk to you guys later." He digs his hands in his pockets and walks toward the crowded entrance, leaving them behind. He hates to admit it, but it's still hard for him to be around Nancy. Especially with Jonathan there. He still has feelings he hasn't completely let go of yet.

The day went by in a blink as he nearly fell asleep in most of his classes and fell completely asleep in Spanish. He only woke up because the teacher tapped his neck with a ruler, causing the whole class to laugh. That would've bothered the old Steve, but he knows better than to sweat the little things now. Hell on Earth exists; high school is nothing. By the end of his last class he actually gained some energy and is feeling good. He's walking down the hall with a smile for the first time in a while when he feels his books get slammed out of his hands. This almost causes him to trip and he glares at the perpetrator.

"Watch where you're going Harrington. I'd hate to mess up that pretty face again." Billy practically spits while continuing in the opposite direction. Steve rolls his eyes and bends over to pick up the books scattered across the floor. This became an every day thing after the whole incident. Even though Steve didn't want to press charges, his parents got one look at his face and demanded that something be done. They chose then of all times to care. Long story short, the least Chief Hopper could do was issue Billy mandated anger management courses. Clearly they aren't working because he's been taking out his aggression on Steve for getting him stuck there on weekends.

Grateful for the lack of basketball practice today, Steve shoves his books into his locker and heads back out into the cold. It's snowing and seems to have snowed four inches since school started. He shivers and blows air over his hands as he turns on the heat in his car. While he waits for it to warm up, he turns up the radio. "When Doves Cry" is playing clearly and then it starts to go static. In confusion he tries changing it, but everything is suddenly static and his ears are ringing. The noise is so unbearable that he covers his ears and cringes. Squinting through the pain he manages to see it. In the distance, about four cars away, is the man. As if floating on a cloud of mist above the snow, the monster from his dreams slowly moves towards him with glowing eyes. Panic hits, he locks the doors, and quickly puts the car in reverse. A car beeps it's horn loudly as he almost backs into it pulling out, but he manages to speed out of the parking lot unscathed.

Breathing heavily, he begins to relax as school disappears behind him and music returns to the radio. He slows down a little and turns the windshield wipers on. The snow is making it hard to see, but in the distance he notices four blobs moving through the snow up ahead. He pulls up beside them slowly and rolls the window down.

"Steve." Dustin nods a hello trying to play it cool.

"Just get in the car you losers." He shakes his head, what were they even thinking in this weather?

"Yes sir." He enthusiastically calls shotgun and races to the passenger seat.

"Yeah, you don't gotta ask me twice." Lucas says hopping in the backseat with a smiling Will in tow. Mike takes a moment longer, but eventually rolls his eyes and joins his friends.

"Do you want to tell me why you guys are attempting to walk home in this?" Dustin went off on a tangent about how they missed the bus because they planned on riding their bikes home, but it snowed more than they thought it would.

"More than YOU, thought it would." Lucas shakes his head. "I told you I heard the weather this morning."

"OH SUE ME."

Steve just listens to all of them blame each other for missing the bus with a smile. The banter makes him feel sane and safe for a moment. He almost forgets that some creature is after him, he was just scared out of his mind and as much as he hates it, he'll actually have to ask for help soon.