𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐄

𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄
MARCH 22ND, 1986

Henry and Scarlette hadn't been more relieved than when they finally made it to Family Video. As they barged through the door, the two practically collapsed onto the counter, cutting off Robin and Steve mid-debate about which movie to play during their shift.

"Uh, hello?" Robin raised an eyebrow, glancing at the disheveled couple leaning on the counter as if they'd just run a marathon.

"We just walked three miles to get here," Scarlette groaned, standing up and rubbing her face with both hands. Her hair was slightly messy, her makeup smudged, and exhaustion written all over her face.

Steve immediately caught on, narrowing his eyes. "Are you hungover? And more importantly, did you bone my sister, Hargrove?"

"No!" Henry and Scarlette shouted in unison, their faces flushing with embarrassment.

"Well... I am hungover," Scarlette admitted sheepishly, wiping under her eyes in a futile attempt to fix her makeup.

"Jesus Christ," Steve muttered, looking like he was about to launch into a full-blown lecture.

Before he could start, Robin, sensing the tension, grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV to distract everyone. The screen immediately cut to the local news, and the room fell silent as a reporter's voice filled the air.

"We're in the Forest Hills Trailer Park in East Roane County. Details are still scarce, but we can confirm that the body of a Hawkins High student was discovered early this morning. Police have not released the name of the victim yet..."

The image of a cordoned-off trailer surrounded by police cars flashed across the screen.

"Holy shit," Steve mumbled under his breath, his irritation forgotten.

Henry and Scarlette exchanged a confused and concerned glance, their hangovers suddenly feeling like the least of their worries.

"Who could it be?" Scarlette whispered, her voice shaky.

Henry shook his head, his jaw clenching as unease settled in his stomach. "I have no idea."

The group stood frozen, staring at the screen as dread filled the room. None of them had any answers, but one thing was clear—something terrible had just happened in Hawkins, and it was only the beginning.

The silence in Family Video was suffocating as the news anchor continued reporting from the trailer park. Steve, however, was the first to snap out of it, shaking his head and turning to glare at Scarlette and Henry.

"You've got to be kidding me," he said, crossing his arms and glaring directly at his sister. "Hungover? Really? What were you even thinking?"

Scarlette sighed, leaning her head against the counter. "Steve, not now. Please."