Your mind went blank when Barbara's screaming pierced your ears. You'd never heard her sound like that, pleading like she was going to die. So when you saw her grappling desperately at the pool stairs, like something was pulling her under, you didn't think before moving, sprinting to try and help her.

That's how you ended up in The Upside Down, with some... creature. A monster that still haunts you when you close your eyes.

By some miracle, you both found your way out of that dreaded pool and back to the surface. Back to reality. But not after days had passed in the real world and a search party was scouring the Hawkins area for any sign of life. Steve was the one who found you trembling with fright on the side of his pool, utterly in shock.

The hospital staff made the decision not to separate you when you were admitted, putting you in a two bed room together. You're managing as well as you can considering the situation but Barbara... she's not doing so great. She's barely eating, barely sleeping. It's like you can see her replaying the events of The Upside Down in her head over and over. Like the Demogorgon is still perpetually stalking her.

So, on sleepless nights like tonight, you're not surprised to feel her finger prodding your shoulder lightly, coaxing you from almost-sleep. "{{user}}?" Barbara's voice is small, almost inaudible. "Can... can I get in with you? I can't sleep and I keep seeing things in the shadows."