March 20, 1986
The late afternoon sun filtered through the curtains in Chrissy Cunningham's bedroom, casting a warm glow over the space. Posters of pop stars and fashion icons covered the pale pink walls, and the scent of vanilla-scented candles filled the air. Dove sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, absently flipping through one of Chrissy's magazines while Chrissy herself stood by the mirror, adjusting her cheer uniform.
They were hanging out before the big basketball game that night—Hawkins High versus Christian Academy. The excitement of the upcoming game was palpable, but there was a comfortable ease between them, a friendship that had grown over the past few months.
"How do I look?" Chrissy asked, turning around with a wide grin, her cheer skirt twirling slightly.
"Like you're about to lead Hawkins to victory," Dove said, tossing the magazine aside. "You look great, Chrissy. As always."
Chrissy giggled, but before she could respond, the door to her bedroom creaked open, and Mrs. Cunningham stepped inside. Her eyes immediately went to Chrissy, scanning her daughter with a critical gaze.
"Chrissy," Mrs. Cunningham said, her tone sharp but laced with faux concern. "Have you been eating a lot of sweets lately?"
Dove felt her stomach churn at the comment. Mrs. Cunningham's question was light, almost casual, but there was an edge to it that Dove had come to recognize. The way Chrissy's expression shifted—her bright smile faltering for a split second—made Dove's irritation flare.
"No more than usual," Chrissy said, her voice tight with forced cheerfulness as she adjusted the hem of her skirt.
Mrs. Cunningham gave a tight smile, her eyes flickering briefly to Dove as if realizing she wasn't alone in the room. "Well, just remember what we talked about. You want to look your best for Jason, don't you?"
Dove clenched her jaw, biting back the urge to say something. This wasn't the first time Dove had heard Chrissy's mom make some snide comment about her daughter, and it was infuriating. Chrissy didn't deserve that. No one did.
There was a tense silence that hung in the air after Mrs. Cunningham's words. Chrissy glanced at Dove, her smile now tight and awkward. Dove could tell Chrissy just wanted the conversation to end.
"Anyway, we should probably get going," Chrissy said quickly, smoothing her hands down the front of her uniform. "Don't want to be late for the game."
Mrs. Cunningham gave a brief nod, seemingly satisfied with herself. "Of course. Good luck, sweetheart." With that, she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
The second she was gone, Chrissy exhaled deeply, her shoulders slumping as if a weight had been lifted. The cheerful mask she'd worn for her mom slipped for a moment, and Dove could see the tension lingering behind her eyes.
"You okay?" Dove asked gently, standing up and grabbing her own jacket from the bed.
Chrissy forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. It's nothing. Let's just.. get to the game."
Dove hesitated, wanting to push further, to tell Chrissy that she didn't have to pretend everything was okay. But something in Chrissy's demeanor made her stop. This wasn't the time. So, instead, Dove gave her a small, understanding nod.
"Alright," Dove said softly. "Let's go win this game."
Chrissy's smile brightened, just a little, as they headed out the door. But as they walked toward the car, Dove couldn't shake the anger simmering beneath the surface. Mrs. Cunningham's comment lingered in her mind, and the way Chrissy had brushed it off only made it worse.
She wanted to tell Chrissy how incredible she was—how she didn't need to change a thing. But for now, all Dove could do was be there for her friend and hope that, in time, Chrissy would see that for herself.
The gymnasium echoed with the sounds of squeaking sneakers, the thud of the basketball hitting the floor, and the roar of the crowd. Dove was down on the sidelines with the rest of the Hawkins cheerleading squad, pom-poms in hand, chanting along with Chrissy, their voices filled with enthusiasm, even though the game wasn't going in their favor.
The scoreboard flashed a painful truth—Christian Academy was up by ten points as the clock ticked down to halftime, and tension hung thick in the air. Dove could feel it as she cheered, the way the energy shifted among the players, the crowd growing quieter as the opposing team seemed to dominate.
Jason Carver, Chrissy's boyfriend and the star player of Hawkins High, was breathing heavily as he paced back and forth on the court, his hands on his hips, clearly frustrated by the way the game was going. Even from where she stood, Dove could see the determined look in his eyes, a fire that wouldn't be easily extinguished.
As the halftime buzzer rang out, the cheer squad began their routine, and Dove threw herself into the movements. She and Chrissy executed their jumps and cheers with precision, but Dove's mind kept wandering back to the game. Jason had been playing well, but the team was struggling to keep up. She could see how much it was eating at him.
After the cheer, the team huddled together on the sidelines, the cheerleaders taking a quick breather. Jason gathered the team around him, his voice hushed but his expression intense.
The players nodded, some of them wiping sweat from their foreheads, others catching their breath. Jason wasn't the kind of guy to let them wallow in defeat. He had a way of rallying the team, and even Dove, standing on the sidelines, could feel herself drawn in by his confidence.
Jason continued as he stepped into the center of the group. A few of the players grinned, the fire returning to their eyes. Dove could see Chrissy smiling proudly from beside her, her eyes never leaving Jason as he spoke. There was something electric about the way he carried himself, the way he refused to give up, no matter the odds.
Jason clapped his hands together, the sound echoing through the gym. "Now, let's go out there and show Christian Academy who owns this court. We are going to win this game! For them!"
The team cheered, their spirits reignited by Jason's words, and Dove couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline herself. She exchanged a glance with Chrissy, who beamed at her, excited and full of belief.
As the team broke from the huddle, Dove and the rest of the cheerleaders got into position, ready to amp up the crowd. The second half started, and Jason was like a man possessed. He raced down the court, stealing the ball, scoring, making plays, and pushing his teammates to give everything they had.
Dove found herself cheering louder, her voice blending with the rest of the squad as they chanted Jason's name, encouraging the crowd to get behind them. And just like that, the energy in the room shifted again. Hawkins was closing the gap, point by point.
With every basket made, Dove could feel the momentum building. The cheer squad fed off the energy, the crowd roaring louder with each play. Dove glanced at Chrissy, who was beaming with pride, her eyes glued to Jason as he led the team in their comeback.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Hawkins had pulled ahead, securing a narrow but decisive victory. The gym erupted in cheers, students rushing the court, lifting Jason on their shoulders. Dove, breathless and exhilarated, found herself caught up in the celebration, laughing as she and Chrissy hugged each other, their hard work on the sidelines paying off.
Jason met Chrissy's eyes as he was lowered back to the ground, making his way through the crowd to where she and Dove stood. He pulled Chrissy into a tight hug, lifting her off her feet as she squealed with delight. Dove couldn't help but smile at the two of them, feeling a sense of pride in her friends and the team's victory.
"See?" Jason grinned, still holding Chrissy in his arms. "I told you we could do it."
Chrissy beamed up at him, her face flushed with happiness. "You were amazing!"
Jason turned to Dove, giving her a confident nod. "And you guys were great out there too. Couldn't have done it without the cheer squad keeping the crowd alive."
Dove laughed, feeling the excitement still buzzing through her. "We just follow your lead, Carver."
Jason grinned, giving her a playful nod before turning back to Chrissy. Dove was about to say something more when, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted someone who didn't quite fit with the sea of cheering students.
Eddie Munson stood near the back of the gym, leaning awkwardly against the wall, looking completely out of place. His wild hair and leather jacket stood in stark contrast to the letterman jackets and jerseys that filled the room. He caught her eye for a split second before quickly looking away, like he wasn't supposed to be there.
"Hey, I'll catch up with you guys later," she said to Jason and Chrissy, excusing herself from their conversation as she made her way over to where Eddie stood.
"Eddie," she called out, approaching him with a curious smile. "What are you doing here?"
Eddie gave a half-shrug, trying to appear casual. "Wanted to show some school spirit, you know? Go Tigers and all that." He threw in a smirk, but Dove could tell there was more to it.
Dove raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Really? Because it looks like you'd rather be anywhere else."
Eddie chuckled nervously, his eyes darting around the gym. "Yeah, well.. maybe I'm not the biggest fan of sweaty jock, but, uh, sometimes you just have to.. mingle with the common folk, right?"
Dove narrowed her eyes, sensing that he wasn't being entirely honest. Before she could press him further, Sarah called her name from across the gym, waving her over.
"Coming!" Dove called back, turning back to Eddie. "I'll be right back. Don't disappear."
Eddie waved her off with a grin, but Dove couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. As she walked back toward the cheer squad, she glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Chrissy walking over to Eddie. They exchanged a few hushed words, Chrissy leaning in close, her expression serious, before they both walked out of the gym.
Dove furrowed her brow, watching the interaction from a distance. Chrissy and Eddie? That was unexpected. She knew Chrissy was friendly with everyone, but there was something different in the way they were talking—something almost secretive.
She wanted to run after them and ask Eddie what was really going on, but the other cheerleaders were already pulling her into a group photo, leaving her with more questions than answers. As the camera flashed, Dove's thoughts were elsewhere, focused on the strange encounter between two people who, as far as she knew, barely interacted.
The photo session dragged on for what felt like forever, and by the time Dove managed to extract herself from the group, almost everyone else was gone. She excused herself quickly, giving a half-hearted wave to the others as she slipped out of the gym and into the quiet hallway. The lights overhead flickered slightly, casting long shadows on the linoleum floors as she made her way toward the exit.
The school felt eerily silent now, a stark contrast to the roaring crowd that had filled the gym just moments before. Dove walked slowly, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. She was just about to push open the double doors when something made her stop dead in her tracks.
It was a feeling at first—something crawling at the back of her mind, like the air had shifted, becoming thicker, heavier. A chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively glanced over her shoulder. The hallway stretched out behind her, seemingly endless, the fluorescent lights buzzing softly overhead.
And then she saw it.
A shadow, long and unnaturally distorted, moved across the far wall. At first, she thought it was just her own reflection—maybe the light playing tricks on her—but as she watched, it twisted, expanding and contracting, like it was alive. Her breath caught in her throat, her feet felt glued to the floor, frozen by the sight.
The shadow grew larger, taking on a strange shape that was far too tall, far too thin, and far too familiar. Dove's heart raced as the shadow seemed to pulse, creeping closer even though nothing else in the hallway moved. She blinked, shaking her head, telling herself it wasn't real. It couldn't be real.
But it was.
Suddenly, a ticking sound—that ticking sound—filled her ears, echoing in the silence. It was the same one she'd heard in her dreams, the same rhythmic click that always preceded something terrible. She clutched her chest, panic rising as the sound grew louder, closer, like a countdown to something she didn't want to face.
The shadow elongated, the figure within it now towering above her, faceless and menacing. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, her vision blurring slightly as the air became thick and oppressive. The ticking morphed into a slow, steady beat that vibrated in her skull, growing louder with each second.
Her breath quickened, and she forced herself to look away, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, desperate to shake the vision. This isn't real. She repeated the words in her head, hoping that somehow they would make the looming figure disappear.
When she opened them again, the hallway was empty.
The shadow was gone.
The ticking sound ceased, and everything was still. The hallway looked exactly as it had before, sterile and quiet, like nothing had ever been out of place.
But Dove knew better. She knew something had just happened, something real. It wasn't like her dreams; this was different. This time, she was awake.
She stumbled forward, her breath shaky as she pushed open the door, desperate to escape the suffocating silence of the school. Her mind raced, thoughts jumbled and chaotic. Was she losing her mind? What the hell had she just seen?
As Dove stumbled out of the school, she felt the eyes of people in the parking lot on her, their gazes lingering just a bit too long. She must have looked disoriented, maybe even pale, but she couldn't bring herself to care. Her heart was still racing, and her thoughts were spinning, unable to grasp what had just happened in the hallway.
What the hell was that?
She blinked hard, trying to steady herself as she walked further into the lot, her feet heavy and unsteady against the pavement. Ahead of her, she spotted Chrissy and Jason, standing near his car, talking and laughing as if everything was completely normal. Dove's stomach twisted, the sight of them so carefree making everything that had just happened seem even more surreal.
Had any of that been real? Or had her mind just made it up?
She looked around, scanning the parking lot for any sign of Eddie, but he was nowhere to be seen. It was like he had vanished along with that shadow in the hallway.
Her pulse was still erratic as she took another breath, trying to ground herself in the moment. Chrissy, spotting her from across the lot, looked concerned and quickly broke away from Jason, hurrying toward Dove with a worried expression.
"Dove, what's wrong?" Chrissy asked, her voice filled with genuine concern as she reached out to place a hand on Dove's arm. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
For a split second, Dove considered telling her the truth, confessing what she'd just seen inside the school. But how could she explain something like that? There was no way Chrissy would believe her and the last thing Dove needed was to sound crazy in front of her new friend.
So, she straightened up, forcing a smile onto her face, even though her insides still felt like they were in knots. "I'm okay," she lied, shrugging it off like it was no big deal. "Just got a little dizzy for a second."
Chrissy didn't look convinced, her brow furrowing slightly as she searched Dove's face for any sign of what was really going on. "Are you sure?"
"I'm okay," Dove repeated, her voice more firm this time as she tried to sound convincing. "Really. I think I just need to get home and rest."
Chrissy hesitated, still not entirely buying it, but she didn't push. Instead, she gave a small nod, her expression softening. "Okay.. Let's go."
Dove sighed inwardly with relief, grateful that Chrissy didn't press the issue.
Jason, still leaning against his car, watched them both as Chrissy glanced back at him. "I'll catch up with you later, okay?" she said, flashing him a sweet smile.
"No problem, babe," Jason replied, waving them off before turning back to talk to his friends.
As they headed toward Chrissy's car, Dove cast one last glance around the parking lot, still looking for Eddie. Her mind drifted back to the shadow in the hallway. A part of her wanted to shake it off, chalk it all up to exhaustion or stress, but deep down, she knew there was more to it than that.
March 21, 1986
The locker room was alive with the excited energy of the cheerleaders, their chatter echoing off the walls as they prepped for the pep rally. Pom-poms were scattered across the benches, and the air was thick with the scent of hairspray and perfume. Dove was sitting on the bench, adjusting her cheer uniform and tying her shoes, the buzz of conversation swirling around her, though her mind was still lingering on the strange events of the previous day.
Chrissy walked in late, looking shaken up. The door had barely clicked shut behind her, and she was already heading to her locker, moving with an uncharacteristic stiffness that caught Dove's attention.
Chrissy usually lit up a room, but today, something was different. Her face was pale, her movements slow, almost mechanical. She didn't join in with the usual pre-rally chatter, and the sparkle that usually accompanied her every move was nowhere to be seen. Dove's brow furrowed as she watched her, the rest of the locker room fading into background noise.
"You okay?" Dove called over to her, keeping her voice casual, though the concern was evident in her tone.
Chrissy jumped slightly at the sound of Dove's voice, like she hadn't even noticed her. "What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine," she answered, quickly flashing a forced smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just.. didn't sleep well last night."
Dove nodded slowly, knowing that feeling all to well. There was something off about Chrissy—something in her eyes, in the way her hands trembled slightly as she tied her shoes. But before Dove could press any further, the coach's whistle blew from the hallway, signaling that it was time to head out.
"Showtime, ladies!" the coach called, her voice cutting through the locker room like a drill sergeant.
The girls scrambled to grab their pom-poms, straightening their uniforms and fluffing their hair one last time. Chrissy, as always, took her spot at the front, the team captain leading the charge as they filed out into the hallway.
Dove couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in her stomach as they made their way toward the gym. Chrissy was acting like everything was normal, but Dove knew her well enough to see through it. Something was wrong—really wrong—and she couldn't shake the feeling that it had something to do with what happened at Christian Academy the day before.
The gym erupted in cheers as the team ran out onto the floor, the crowd of students clapping and shouting, their energy electric. The pep rally was in full swing, the air thick with excitement and anticipation for the big game that night. The band played a lively tune as the cheerleaders took their positions, Chrissy front and center as always, with Dove just a step behind her.
They went through their routine seamlessly, each move sharp and practiced, each cheer echoing through the gym. Dove kept her focus on the task at hand, though her eyes drifted toward Chrissy more than once, watching her closely as she flipped and jumped and smiled for the crowd. From the outside, Chrissy looked perfect—bright and bubbly, her smile wide as she led the cheers.
But Dove could see through it. Chrissy's movements were just a fraction off, her smile not quite as bright, her energy just a little too forced.
When the routine ended, the cheerleaders took their seats along the sidelines, catching their breath as the rest of the rally continued. Dove dropped onto the floor, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline of the performance. She glanced at Chrissy, who sat a few feet away, her smile still plastered on her face, but there was a tension in her shoulders, a tightness around her eyes.
"Let's hear it for your Tigers!" The announcement boomed across the gym as Jason burst through the paper banner, leading the basketball team onto the court. The crowd roared, the sound vibrating off the gym walls. Dove shook her pom-poms on autopilot, her cheers blending into the noise, though her mind was already elsewhere, still caught up in Chrissy's odd behavior.
Jason reached for the mic, his smile wide and gleaming. "Good morning, Hawkins High!" His voice rang out, filled with energy, as if he had already won the tonight's game. The gym exploded with another round of cheers, and Dove glanced toward Chrissy, who sat a few feet away, still smiling that tight smile.
"First off, I'd like to thank each and every one of you," Jason continued, pointing out toward the stands, his confidence radiating with every word. "Without your support, we wouldn't be here. Give yourselves a big hand."
More applause. The crowd ate it up, cheering and clapping as Jason grinned, basking in the attention. He paused, waiting for the crowd to die down before he added, "And of course, I have to give a special shout-out to the best and the prettiest fans of all time, the Tiger Cheer Squad!"
Dove shook her poms mechanically, her heart only half in it.
Jason's eyes landed on his girlfriend. "Chrissy," he said, placing a hand over his heart in that exaggerated, performative way of his. "Chrissy, I love you, babe."
The crowd gave a collective aww, and Chrissy, ever the perfect girlfriend, blew him a kiss. Her smile was still tight but more genuine now, and Dove couldn't help but wonder if anyone else noticed how forced it seemed. Chrissy was always so full of light, but today.. it was dimmer.
"You know.." Jason's tone shifted, becoming more serious, more dramatic. "I think I can speak for all of us when I say it's been a tough year for Hawkins. So much loss."
Dove's stomach twisted. She could feel the change in the atmosphere immediately. Jason's words sunk into the crowd, the energy shifting from excitement to something heavier. He paused for effect, letting the silence stretch just long enough.
"And sometimes I wonder," Jason continued, his voice deeper now, "'How much loss can one community take?'"
The gym fell silent. The cheers and excitement from moments earlier were now replaced with a thick, uncomfortable quiet. Dove's heart pounded in her chest, her body going still as the weight of Jason's words settled over her like a dark cloud.
"In dark days like this, we need something to believe in. So, last night, when we were down by ten points at half to Christian Academy, I looked at my team, and I said, think of Jack. Think of Melissa. Think of Heather. Think of Billy."
Her ears rang. Billy. His name felt like a punch to the gut, the memories of that night at Starcourt Mall flooding back in an instant. Her mind went to Max, who was somewhere in the crowd, listening to her brother's name being thrown out like it was some sort of motivational tool.
Dove's breath hitched as Jason continued. She knew he didn't mean any harm, but his words felt wrong. Using those deaths to fire up the crowd, to push them toward winning a basketball game—it felt so.. twisted. Her throat tightened, and she had to fight the urge to get up and walk out of the gym.
Jason's voice cut through her thoughts again. "Think about each and every one of our friends who perished in that fire, and the ones who almost did."
Dove's stomach sank further as Jason gestured toward her with that last line. She felt the eyes of the students—the weight of their gaze, the way they looked at her like she was some kind of survivor, the last one standing from that horrible night.
"What did they die for?" Jason asked.
Dove's mind screamed, Not for this. Not for some pep rally speech.
"For us to lose to some.. some crap school?" Jason's voice crescendoed, pulling the crowd back into a frenzy.
"No!" the students yelled, their voices echoing across the gym.
Dove sat frozen, barely registering the noise. She felt disconnected, like she was watching this all from a distance, her mind racing. The images of that night flickered in her mind—the Mind Flayer, the tendrils, Billy's final moments as he stood between El and the monster.
"For us to return home with our heads hung low in defeat?" Jason shouted again.
"No!" the crowd responded, but Dove barely heard them.
Jason was still going, working the crowd into a fever pitch. "Let's win this game. Let's win this game for them. And that's exactly what we did!"
The students erupted into cheers, their voices thundering in the gym, but Dove was still stuck in her thoughts, the noise distant and muffled like she was underwater.
She felt sick to her stomach, but she forced herself to go through the motions, shaking her pom-poms halfheartedly as Jason finished his speech. She tried to shake the unease settling over her, but the sinking feeling in her chest wouldn't leave.
The cheers echoed around her, but all Dove could feel was the weight of Jason's words and the haunting memory of what had happened at the mall.
As the pep rally wound down and the cheers from the crowd began to fade, Dove wasted no time gathering her things. She stood quickly, her mind still buzzing with Jason's speech and the heavy weight of everything it had stirred up inside of her. She needed to get away from the gym, away from the noise, and numb her brain with the monotony of her classes.
She was halfway down the hall when she heard the familiar sound of quick footsteps catching up to her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Dustin and Mike jogging toward her, both of them looking like they had something on their minds.
"Dove, wait up!" Dustin called, breathless as he reached her side.
"Hey, uh, we were wondering.." Mike started, glancing at Dustin before continuing, "if you could tell Lucas that we can't make it to the game tonight."
Dove stopped in her tracks, turning to face them fully. "What?" she asked, her voice sharp with surprise. "You're not going to the game?"
Dustin and Mike shared a quick, awkward glance before Dustin spoke up. "We have a Hellfire meeting tonight. It's the end of Eddie's campaign, and we can't miss it. Could you just tell Lucas for us?"
Dove stared at them, disbelief washing over her, shaking her head in frustration. "Are you serious right now? You told Lucas weeks ago that you would be there."
Dustin rolled his eyes slightly, like he didn't see what the big deal was. "Yeah, well, Eddie's been building this up for the whole semester, and we can't just skip it."
Dove crossed her arms, her voice firm. "Eddie would understand. If you don't want to go to the game, you should just tell Lucas that yourselves." The boys exchanged another glance, a silent conversation passing between them that made Dove feel even more exasperated. She sighed heavily, her patience thinning. "Seriously?"
Dustin shifted awkwardly on his feet, trying to find the right words. "Basketball is boring," he admitted, his voice taking on a slightly defensive tone. "And Lucas has been on the bench all year anyway."
"That's not the point," Dove said, her voice rising just a little as her frustration bubbled to the surface. "It's not about the game. It's about being there to support your friend. Even if Lucas doesn't play, it still matters to him that you're there."
Mike spoke up now, his tone cautious. "We are supporting him, just.. you know, in spirit."
Dove gave them both an incredulous look. "No, you're being selfish," she said, her voice sharper than she intended.
Dustin crossed his arms now, clearly not wanting to be in this conversation any longer. "Come on, Dove, it's just one game."
"No," Dove said, standing her ground. "It's one night where you show up for your friend because he asked you too. I won't be your messenger. If you want to skip out on Lucas, you tell him yourselves."
Without another word, she turned on her heel and continued down the hall, leaving Dustin and Mike standing there, looking slightly guilty.
Dove rounded a corner and almost bumped straight into Max. Max had her headphones on, blasting music that Dove could faintly hear. Dove wasn't surprised. Max had been using her headphones as a barrier for months now, tuning out the world. It had become her new norm.
"Hey, Max," Dove called, waving slightly to catch her attention.
Max pulled one side of her headphones off, raising her eyebrows in acknowledgment. "Hey."
"How are you doing?" Dove asked, her voice softening as she looked at the younger girl. She hesitated for a moment, then added, "I'm really sorry about Jason's speech back there. It was.. a lot."
Max shrugged, her expression hard to read. "Yeah, it was," she said flatly, her tone not carrying much emotion. "But I'm fine."
Dove studied Max's face, searching for any sign of what she was really feeling, but the redhead gave nothing away. She had become a master of keeping her emotions under lock and key.
"Are you sure?" Dove asked gently, stepping closer. "You know you can talk to me, right?"
Max's lips twitched into a brief, tight smile, but it didn't last long. She adjusted her backpack on her shoulder and shook her head. "I'm fine, Dove. Really." She glanced down the hallway, clearly ready to escape the conversation. "I've gotta get to class," Max said, her voice brisk. Before Dove could say anything else, Max was already stepping away, slipping her headphones back over her ears as she hurried down the hall.
Dove watched her go, a heavy feeling settling in her chest. She wanted to help Max, to reach out and pull her out of the shell she'd retreated into since Billy's death. But no matter how hard she tried, Max always found a way to slip through her fingers, keeping everyone at arm's length. Even Dove.
She sighed, turning to head toward her own class, feeling even more weighed down than before. First Jason's speech, then Dustin and Mike, and now Max. Everything was shifting, and Dove wasn't sure how to hold it all together.
Dove sat in her first class, trying to drown out the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in her head, but no matter how hard she tried to focus on the teacher's lecture, the words blurred together, distant and unimportant. Everything felt heavy today, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong—not just with her, but with everyone around her.
Jason's speech had reignited everyone's morbid fascination with Hawkins' very own Ellen Ripley. It didn't matter that it had been months since the Starcourt Mall fire or that life had finally started to settle. Jason's words had pulled the scab off the wound, exposing it for everyone to see, once again turning Dove's life into some sort of spectacle.
She tapped her pen against her notebook, staring at the blank page in front of her, the lines merging together as her mind drifted again. She sighed, biting her lip, then glanced up at the clock, watching as the seconds ticked by.
Unable to take it anymore, Dove raised her hand. "May I use the restroom?" she asked, her voice soft but steady. The teacher nodded absentmindedly, barely looking up from his notes.
Dove pushed open the door to the girls' bathroom, the cool air hitting her face as she stepped inside.
She walked toward the mirror, leaning forward as she examined her reflection. Her face looked pale, tired—dark circles had settled under her eyes from sleepless nights she didn't want to think about. She sighed, running her hands through her hair, trying to steady herself, to push away the unease that had been gnawing at her all day.
But as she stared at herself, she heard something. A sound. Faint, but unmistakable.
Heavy breathing.
Dove frowned, glancing over her shoulder toward the row of stalls. The breathing was ragged, uneven—like someone was struggling to catch their breath. Her heart picked up, and she slowly walked toward the sound, her footsteps cautious.
"Hello?" she called softly, but there was no answer.
She reached the stall and pushed the door open slightly. Inside, huddled in the corner, was Chrissy. She was backed up against the wall, her knees pulled up to her chest, her hands clutching the sides of her head. Her eyes were squeezed shut tightly, and her breathing was harsh and frantic, like she was trying to fight something inside herself.
Dove's heart clenched, and she immediately crouched down beside her, her voice low and urgent. "Chrissy? Hey, what's wrong?"
Chrissy didn't respond right away, her whole body trembling as she sat curled up in the stall. Dove reached out, placing a hand on her arm, hoping it would ground her, calm her down.
"Chrissy, it's me, it's Dove," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "What's going on?"
Slowly, Chrissy opened her eyes, her gaze unfocused and distant, like she was trapped in some kind of nightmare. Her breathing was still shallow, her hands still gripping her head as if trying to hold herself together.
"I.. I can't.." Chrissy choked out, her voice barely a whisper. She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as if trying to push away the fear that had gripped her. "It's.. it's my head.. nightmares.. it won't stop."
Dove felt her chest tighten as she listened, crouching lower to stay at Chrissy's level. "What do you mean? You're having nightmares?"
Chrissy nodded, her voice trembling. "Every night. It's like.. like they're real. I can't breathe.. can't escape." Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the floor. "I thought.. I thought if I got something to help, it would stop."
Dove's brows furrowed, confusion flickering across her face. "Something to help? Like.. medication?"
Chrissy nodded weakly, biting her lip as she fought back a sob. "I bought something. Just.. just a little bit, from Eddie. Something to calm me down, but it's not working. It's making it worse." Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands. "I keep seeing things. It's like I'm losing my mind, Dove."
Dove's stomach twisted as Chrissy's words sank in. She couldn't believe it—Chrissy, sweet, sunny Chrissy, was caught up in something so dark, so overwhelming. The idea that she had turned to drugs, that she was hallucinating, sent a wave of fear through Dove. And the worst part was that Chrissy looked utterly lost, like she didn't know how to claw her way out.
"No, you're not losing your mind," Dove said, her voice firm but kind. She took Chrissy's hand, squeezing it gently. "You're not. We'll figure this out, okay?"
Chrissy shook her head, her tears spilling over as she whispered, "I don't know how to make it stop."
Dove's heart ached, but she stayed close, refusing to let Chrissy face this alone. "We'll figure it out," she repeated softly, her voice steady, even though inside, she felt just as scared.
Dove gently helped Chrissy to her feet, keeping a hand on her arm as she steadied herself. Chrissy's legs wobbled slightly, and she took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She could feel the tension in Chrissy's body, the way she tried to force her breathing to calm down, the way she adjusted her cheer uniform as if it were armor. Chrissy was trying so hard to seem okay, but Dove could see right through the facade.
"You should let me take you home," Dove said, her voice soft but filled with concern. "No one's gonna care about a few missed hours."
Chrissy shook her head, quickly and with more force than Dove expected. "No, I can't," she said, her voice tinged with a kind of desperation. "I can't just leave. People will notice. They'll talk." She bit her lip, eyes darting around like she was trying to regain control. "I'll be fine. I just need to make it through the day. We can talk more tonight, at the game."
Dove frowned, still uneasy about letting Chrissy go back to class in this state, but she knew she couldn't push too hard. She studied Chrissy's face, seeing the cracks beneath the surface, the fear that lingered in her eyes.
"Okay, but what about after the game?" Dove asked, her voice gentle. "How about we have a sleepover at my place? That way, if you have another nightmare, I'll be there with you. You won't have to go through it alone."
Chrissy's eyes flickered, and for the first time since they'd started talking, some of the tension in her shoulders seemed to release. She gave a small nod, her voice quiet as she answered, "Yeah.. yeah, that sounds good. A sleepover."
Dove offered her a reassuring smile. "Good. We'll have fun. Popcorn, bad movies, all of that. And if anything happens, I'm there, okay?"
Chrissy managed a real smile this time, even if it was faint. "Okay," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of relief. "I'll see you at the game, Dove."
Dove watched as Chrissy took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders like she was preparing herself for battle, and then she turned and walked out of the bathroom.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Dove leaned heavily against the sink, her mind still racing with everything Chrissy had told her. The weight of her friend's fear and pain pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe. She turned on the faucet, letting the cool water flow before splashing some onto her face. The icy sensation shocked her system, grounding her for a brief moment.
She took a deep breath and looked back up at her reflection, the water dripping down her cheeks. Her face looked paler than usual, the dark circles under her eyes more prominent, as if the weight of everything was finally catching up to her.
Just as she steadied herself, she saw it—a shadow. It crossed behind her in the mirror, quick and fleeting, but undeniable.
Her heart lurched into her throat, and she spun around, her pulse quickening.
The bathroom was empty.
Her eyes scanned the stalls, the corners of the room, every inch of the space around her. But there was nothing. No movement, no one. The bathroom was completely silent except for the faint drip of the faucet behind her.
She took a shaky breath, her chest tightening as she turned back toward the mirror, eyes wide as she tried to make sense of what she'd just seen.
Dove's hands gripped the edges of the sink as she stared at her reflection again, searching the space behind her, but the shadow was gone. There was nothing there—just her own tired reflection looking back at her.