" So that wasn't actually 'Papa'?" Mike asked, putting air quotes around papa. " Yes. It was like a purple, blue ball of spoke." El explained. " So like a shapeshifter?" Max asked. " Sounds like it." Will said. " But it wanted El. I'm assuming it wanted to use her powers." " But it's just as strong as I am." El stated. " True." Max stated.
"Let's assume this thing is capturing people in our group to get to El." Will suggested. " But then why would it show up here?" Max asked. " Maybe to test its opponent's strength. Figure out it's strengths and weaknesses." Mike said. " That's why it knocked you two out. To isolate her." Mike stated.
" How did it know what Papa looked like?" El thought out loud. " Maybe it was one of his creations?" Mike thought. " Maybe." Will said. They sat in silence for a while until Will spoke up. "We need to stay close to one another so we won't be easy to target." Everyone nodded in agreement. " You all can stay here tonight." Mike offered. " Thanks." Max said as she started to set up camp on the floor.
….
Mike awoke to the sound of radio static. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he sat up. He looked over to where the sound was coming from to see El sitting in the blanket fort he made for her all those years ago. She had the handkerchief covering her eyes and the walkie talkie layed on the floor in front of her. A pile of bloody tissues sat next to her, signifying silently that she had been in the void for a while.
He got up from the couch and walked over to her. As he sat down on the hardwood floor, El ripped off the covering, huffing in frustration. She looked at Mike and smiled in greeting. The circles under her eyes told him that she hadn't gotten much sleep.
" Did you stay up all night?" He asked her. She nodded yes. "Is it because of Lucas and Dustin?" " Yes. I was hoping I could find them. That they'd give me a clue." Mike nodded. " Why don't you try again in a couple hours. Right now you're going to get some sleep." Mike insisted. " I'm fine." She yawned. Mike raised an eyebrow. " Sure you are."
He started to fix the pillows in the fort to make it comfortable. " Lay down." He told her patting the pillows. " Fine." She rolled her eyes and layed down, letting her head rest safely on the pillows. He made sure she was comfy before he pulled the blanket up to her chin. " I'll check on you in a couple hours. I'll even bring you Eggos." " Thanks." She mumbled as she drifted off.
…..
She found herself inside the Hawkins Lab. She looked around turning in circles, studying her surroundings. She walked forward down a long hallway, feeling uneasy by the many open doors that hung by their hinges. She soon found herself staring at a fork in the hallway.
She decided to go right. She reached a dead end finding herself staring at a door. Above it had a plack that stated that this door opened up into the stairway. She slowly opened and walked down the stairs. She took her time, having a bad feeling about her situation.
She reached the lowest level and opened the door that sat in front of her. She found herself in another hallway. This one had flickering lights. All the doors looked closed shut and the rooms looked like interrogation rooms that you would find in a police station. She realized that this was the place she grew up in. The place she had learned to use her powers, where she was tortured.
She continued down the hall looking at each room she pasted. She heard the crunching sound underneath her feet and looked down to see glass shards. Curious, she decided to follow them. She heard banging coming from inside one of the rooms nearby.
"Help!" Someone screamed from inside. She rushed over and took a peek inside. Her eyes grew wide when she saw who was inside. Her best friends Dustin and Lucas were trapped, banging on the door hoping anyone would help.
She stood back and tried to use her powers but to no avail. She tried again but to only fail again. She let out a huff of frustration. How was she supposed to help her friends if she couldn't use her powers. She heard footsteps coming closer down the hall. She ran to the opposite side of the hall where the footsteps could no longer be heard. She peaked her head around the corner.
What she saw shocked her to her very core. The person standing in front of the door was in fact the real Doctor Brenner. " Papa." She said out loud, fear gripping her every word.