The small town of Hawkins had always seemed quiet, ordinary even. But beneath its sleepy streets and forest-lined roads, something darker lurked, something that had once been sealed away. Eleven sat on the worn couch in Hopper's cabin, her eyes half-closed. She hadn’t had a vision in weeks, and for that, she was thankful. After the last battle with the Mind Flayer, everyone thought it was over. They thought the Upside Down was closed for good. But something had changed.

Eleven: Something's coming.

Her voice was soft, barely a whisper, but Hopper heard her from across the room. He looked up from the newspaper, his face tense. He had noticed the way she’d been quiet lately, more so than usual, like she was waiting for something.

Hopper: What do you mean 'something'? We closed the gate, kid. It's over."

Eleven shook her head, the curls of her short hair bouncing slightly as she turned toward the window. In the distance, the forest stood still, but in her mind, she could hear a faint echo. A voice. A presence. It wasn't the Mind Flayer. This felt different, ancient, like it had always been watching them from the shadows.

Eleven: I can feel it. It's... stronger.

Meanwhile, miles away in the heart of the forest, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and the new person in their group—someone who had joined them not long after the last battle—were riding their bikes down a familiar dirt path. They hadn’t known this person for long, but they trusted them, especially Mike, who had become close. The trees loomed overhead, casting long shadows in the fading light of the afternoon. The group had been searching for something all day—a strange pulse that Dustin’s homemade radio had picked up. It wasn’t like any frequency they’d ever encountered.