"Hey Joyce. So what's your miraculous plan." He said sarcastically.

She smirked back at him.

"We find the contacts of a mother who's child was taken here, we visit them to get more information and bring the lab down. They'll know all the inside secrets."

She said defiantly.

Hopper frowned.

"You really want to go back in there? And what information are the mothers going to give us anyway?" He questioned, his moustache furrowing.

She stared at him with daggers.

He sighed.

"Okay, compromise. Instead of going into the lab, how about today we just search the abandoned shack at the perimeter for any clues."

She maintained her stare before sighing.

" Okay fine, but if we don't find what we need, I'm going back in there. " She was secretly relieved. Fatigue was washing over her and she felt her chest wheezing with the cold air and congestion.

The shack at the back of Hawkins lab used to be in use and sat outside of the boundary line but was hidden with the thickness of the woods. It would be a good place to start.

Hopper trudged ahead. Joyce slowed her steps. Her chest was making it hard to breath, her nose was blocked and her head pounded. She watched as Hopper entered the wooden shack and begin rifling through papers. She put a brace face on and entered the shack.

There were cobwebs everywhere and files of papers scattered all through the dusty desks.

She sneezed in the dust as she picked up a pile.

Hopper turned around .

" Joyce are you okay? You look sick?" His eyes were concerned.

She shook her head.

" Fine just allergies." She averted his gaze that lingered and continued through the papers .

Hopper muttered to himself headings as she worked.

" AH HA! Mother claims baby was abducted by lab workers. This could be a start."

He held it up to show Joyce who mumbled in agreement.

She wandered outside to cough.

Hopper appeared behind her.

" Joyce you're sick. Let's go home and do this another day. It can wait. "

He put a hand on her shoulder.

Her brow frowned. " No Hopper, it can't, and I'm fine. I'm just going to see where the river leads to see if there are any possible entries to the lab from here." She trudged off before he could object, following the river.

The river howled as the water roared through at an incredible rate. She hugged her jacket tighter to stay warm, realising she was not counting on the cold gusting weather change. A storm was brewing.

Hopper continued to gather papers loading his pack before following after Joyce.

"Joyceeee there's a storm coming let's go now." He half whined and yelled over the wind, walking to catch up to her .

She continued to strut ahead ignoring him focused on looking past the river for any potential hidden access points into the facility.

Her sneakers squelched under the wet uneven rocks of the river back.

" Joyce! There's nothing here can we go now?," Hopper boomed jovially.

She turned around meters in front in agreeance as Hopper came to a stop.

She frowned and open her mouth to whine.

" Fine. Let's just give up and go." She began to walk towards him along the rocks in defeat. She looked up to see his teasing grin at her finally listening to him. She looked confused as his expression went from grin to pure terror. It suddenly clicked as eh felt the rocks move beneath her feet and her balance shift. The rocks were giving way under the bank as she felt her body plunge into the freezing river below.