In the AV Club room, Mr. Clarke, or Mark Petrie, finished his story.

Lucas was the first to respond, and it was pretty much like Mark has expected, an incredulous "Vampires."

He shrugged. "I know. Even with all the stuff happening in this town, it's hard to believe. Ever since it happened, I've occasionally wondered if the whole thing was real. But then there's the news reports about people who have been disappearing in Salem's Lot ever since. We killed Barlow, but he still got what he wanted in the end."

Mike said, "I guess we have no choice but to believe it. So, you think it's connected to the Upside Down?" They had shared their full story first.

Mark nodded. "We suspected that Barlow was working for some greater evil, though we never found out what it was. But with all this stuff about the Mind Flayer, I think I can make a pretty good guess."

Dustin snapped his fingers. "It was putting on a show! It knew no one would believe a story like old timey vampires, so that's what it showed you."

Mark sighed. "It makes a lot of sense. This thing definitely isn't just some monster. It was smart enough to set up that whole invasion last year. And I don't feel comfortable assuming it's gone for good."

Jane shook her head. "I would have felt it die. It's still there, in the Upside Down."

Dustin shivered. "Maybe it's watching us right now."

Carrie let out a low moan. "Maybe I should have just stayed with Mama. Then I wouldn't have to worry about any of this."

Nancy gently put a hand on her shoulder. "You can't think like that. That woman was abusive. She's bad for you."

A tear welled up as Carrie replied "But I would feel safe. I don't know what to do with any of this."

The rest of the team gathered around her. "You have all of us," Mike said. He gestured to Mark. "And that includes you too."

Mark was a bit uneasy as he made his way over to this group of kids no older than he'd been while fighting those vampires. No one that age should have to go through something like that. But he was comforted that they had more people to lean on than he'd had for his fight. If anything was going to see them all through this, it was that bond.

Margaret White knelt before her beloved Crucifix, which had been in her family for untold generations and had always brought her comfort even in her darkest moments.

"I know you have a plan," she said. "I am being tested. And I swear, I will prevail. I have never faced a challenge like this before, my own daughter turned against me, and so many villains to defeat to get her back. I don't know how, but I will fulfill what you want of me and emerge victorious. It has all been ordained from the start."

She said the words, but deep down inside, where she was afraid to look herself, there was a kernel of doubt growing. All those determined eyes staring at her, judging her, had been an unnerving sight, and to see her own Carrie take up with such people was almost more than her heart would take. Even her religion was struggling to bring her true peace in the face of such adversity.

The knock at the door made her gasp out loud. She counted herself very fortunate that her prayer had just ended, as to interrupt it with such a sound would be a horrible blasphemy. She crossed herself and stood, trying not to rush and retain her dignity as she answered the knock.

The man who stood there was a stranger. She noticed his long blonde hair with some distaste, but quickly recovered and said "Can I help you?"

"I certainly hope so. I've just arrived in town, and I was driven to go to this house. I'm afraid this will sound very strange, but I felt something pulling me, like some higher power."

It almost seemed too good to be true, but then Margaret's faith had always been rewarded before. "Not many these days would believe you, I'm sorry to say, but I absolutely do. Would you come in?"

"Yes, thank you." He entered the house, but still seemed awkward as he just stood in front of her. "You're Margaret White, aren't you? I talked to some of your neighbors before I came."

Margaret huffed. "I'm sure they had some juicy gossip for you."

The man nodded sadly. "And it sounds like you could use a friend with everything going on. I was horrified to hear about what those people did, tearing your daughter away from you. I want to help."

Margaret smiled, an expression becoming increasingly rare for her. "Well, I'll certainly accept. Oh, what's your name?"

He looked embarrassed. "I'm so sorry, this is all so weird that I forgot my manners. I'm Todd Bowden."

The Mind Flayer was more satisfied than it had been for some time. It had been a while since it had needed to so directly influence a person's mind like this, but Todd Bowden made for an ideal assistant. The fool had willingly opened his mind to darkness in his formative years, making the manipulation of his thoughts insultingly easy. And now that it had a way in, it was only a matter of time before it could take revenge.