Dray Pov
The cold night pressed down on me as I crouched in the brush outside Hawkins Lab. For half an hour, I'd been watching the compound, waiting for my moment. My ribs ached with every breath—a sharp reminder that my body wasn't ready for another fight. And yet here I was.
Headlights cut through the dark. One after another, convoys of military trucks rumbled down the long stretch of road. Their engines growled, tires grinding against gravel, and each truck was loaded with soldiers in full gear. Dozens of them. The noise faded into the distance as the last vehicle rolled out.
I exhaled slowly. They're shifting Brenner's men. That means they're going after Eleven. That means it's time.
The chain-link fence loomed ahead, the gap Hopper had carved less than an half an hour ago still gaping open, edges gleaming under the dim light. The hole still gaped open, jagged edges catching the faint light. I slipped through, crouching low, every step measured.
Inside, the compound felt different—emptier, quieter—but no less dangerous. Security cameras swept their mechanical eyes back and forth. Guards lingered near doorways, but far fewer than before. My advantage.
I moved like a shadow, hugging the walls, weaving between blind spots. Twice I froze, waiting for a camera to turn away before slipping past. The second time, my chest burned with pain from holding still, but I forced my body into silence.
Then I saw him. A lone guard, just a few yards ahead, roughly my size. He paced slowly, humming under his breath. Perfect.
I approached from behind, silent as the night, and struck. An arm around his throat, pressure applied, his body stiffened then slumped within seconds. I dragged him into the woods just beyond the fence line, stripping him of his uniform. My clothes wrapped tight around his wrists and mouth, binding him, gagging him. His unconscious form disappeared into the dark.
Moments later, I returned as him—same uniform, same weapon strapped across the chest. A new mask to wear.
But disguise wasn't enough. I whispered to myself, steadying my focus. "Absolute Hypnosis."
The world shifted. With my ability, I could manipulate perception, bending their minds to see not me, but who I needed them to see. The problem was my condition—I could only sustain it for ten minutes before the strain tore through my body. Ten minutes. That was all.
I walked through the front doors. A guard inside glanced at me. My pulse spiked. He looked at me—then nodded. He sees the guard I replaced. Good.
I forced my steps to stay calm, even as my ribs protested with each movement. Inside the elevator, I jabbed the button for the mid-level floor. The numbers ticked upward, too slow, like the elevator itself was testing my patience.
When the doors opened, the sterile smell of disinfectant hit me. Doctors in white coats walked briskly through the halls. I ignored them, keeping my stride purposeful, until I reached a small room tucked away at the end of the corridor. The monitoring station.
I eased the door open. Two men sat hunched over glowing monitors, their eyes fixed on the screens displaying every corner of the lab.
One looked up. His face creased in surprise.
"Doctor Nile? What are you doing here?"
I felt the tug of strain in my mind as I twisted their perception again. To them, I was no longer a soldier. I was Nile, the doctor I'd passed just minutes earlier.
I kept my voice steady, measured. "We've received new orders from Dr. Brenner. All records from the last week—every file, every tape—must be destroyed immediately. And shut down the cameras. Everything. Now."
The second man frowned. "Destroyed? Why? What's going on, Doctor?"
I leaned closer, lowering my voice as though sharing a secret. "There's an inspection from higher command in two days. Eleven's escape was never reported. If they find out, Brenner's career is finished. Do you want to be caught up in that?"
Their hesitation broke. They exchanged a look, then nodded quickly. "Understood, Doctor Nile."
"Good," I said, pressing the order with a quiet edge. "Move faster. No mistakes."
One tapped at the controls. The wall of monitors flickered and went dark, cameras shutting off one by one. The room plunged into half-darkness, only the hum of machines filling the silence.
I felt the ability collapse. My head throbbed. My body screamed in protest. Ten minutes were gone. The illusion dissolved, and for the first time I allowed myself to lean against the wall, forcing breath into my lungs.
No more hypnosis. Not until I recover. From
here, it's just me.
I left the room without another word. The corridors stretched endlessly, humming with fluorescent light. I pushed forward, making for the inventory room. Inside, weapons lined the racks. My hands found what I needed: two axes, an MP5, and a black mask. Heavy, but familiar.
Elevator again. This time, I pressed for the lowest floor. Deeper. Underground. Where the gate waited.
The ride down felt like sinking into a grave.
The doors slid open. The deeper level smelled of metal, damp, and something else—a faint, sour odor I'd smelled once before. The Upside Down.
I moved quickly, every step echoing against the concrete walls. Then a voice called behind me.
"You there—soldier!"
I turned. A doctor approached, his brow furrowed. "That area is restricted. You're not authorized. Where are you going?"
I didn't hesitate. My voice was sharp, commanding. "Orders from Dr. Brenner. The civilians he allowed in earlier? He's rescinded clearance. They're no longer to leave this place."
The doctor blinked, his suspicion wavering. Then he nodded, almost relieved. "Understood. Carry on."
I faced forward again. And there it was.
The Gate.
The massive, pulsing wound in reality itself. Vines crawled across the walls, slick with moisture, writhing like they were alive. The sound—the low, constant hum, like a heartbeat from another world—gnawed at my ears.
For a moment, I stood frozen. Two days ago, I swore I'd never go near it again. Two days. That was all it took for fate to drag me back.
I sighed, shoulders heavy beneath the stolen uniform. "Seems I have no choice. Again."
I pulled the mask over my face, adjusted my grip on the axes, and stepped forward.
Toward the Gate.