Deep under Hawkins Lab, Brenner and his subordinates were still monitoring the sensors. It had been an hour and 15 minutes and they had tried many times to contact Shepherd but there was no response. Brenner said suddenly, "Try contacting him again."
A man sitting down immediately pressed a button, and said, "Shepherd, come in. Confirm comm." The man released the button but all they could hear was static crackling.
The man tried once more, "Shepherd, come in. Confirm comm." The man released the button and they once again heard only static.
Just as they were getting discouraged, Shepherd came in over the radio. Sheperd said, "This is Sheperd. Confirming, over." Everyone faces brightened as the nervousness they had been feeling melted away.
Brenner said, "Sheperd. Where are you? Can you describe to us what it is you see? Over."
Sheperd responded, "It's low visibility. I'm about one click south of the rift. Everything's still here, but it's all eroded. Covered in blood..." Brenner was unable to hear the rest as communication was cut out.
Brenner said quickly, "Sheperd? Do you copy?" All he could hear however was Sheperd ragged breathing.
Brenner asked, "Sheperd? Can you hear me?"
Sheperd said in a panic, "There's something else... There something else in here!" Then some growling could be heard over the radio. Suddenly, the facility's alarm began to blare throughout the entire underground.
Brenner said, "Reel him in."
Seeing that no one was doing anything Brenner yelled, "Reel him back in!"
The man next to him recovered and said, "Get him in." Through the window, Brenner could see two men cranking the wench as fast as they could.
Sheperd shouted, "There's something else in here! Pull me out! Pull me out, pull me out! Pull me out! Pull me out!" The growling noise got louder before the cord attached to the wench started to move around erratically. Sheperd screams being heard over the radio.
Suddenly the fully taught cord fell to the floor limply and Sheperd's screams were heard no longer. The man next to Brenner said into the radio, "Sheperd, come in, over."
Another man said, "Comms are down, sir." The other man continued trying to get in contact, but it was no use.
The wench continued to pull in the limp cord as fast as it could. A couple minutes later, all that came through was a bloody piece of metal. The metal piece was part of Sheperd's suit where the croc was attached. The metal piece was pulled across the floor for a short distance before it stopped, leaving a trail of blood.
Brenner looked at the piece of metal with a grim expression. Brenner thought, 'I wasn't expecting something to already be within this "rift". This has gotten even more complicated. Although, I should have expected it, after all, "she" told me about a creature she saw in that chamber..."
Brenner said, "We need a squad of guards to watch this rift for any activity. We have no idea what happened to Sheperd, but it is safe to say that he is dead."
All his subordinates shouted, "Yes, sir."
Back at the middle school, the principle was finally ending his boring speech. The principle said, "Will Byers' death is an unimaginable tragedy. Will was an exemplary student and a wonderful friend to all of us. It's impossible to express the hole his loss will leave in our community. I'd like to introduce you to Sandy Sloane. She's the local grief counselor from the church over in Jonesboro. But before she comes up here, I just want those of you who are having a tough time dealing with this tragic loss..."
Mike and his friends who were sitting down in the middle of the other student weren't paying attention at all. Mike said, "Look at all these fakers."
Lucas said, "They probably didn't even know his name until today." Suddenly, they heard troy and his goon James laughing.
They heard Troy saying, "Who is interested in this? This is so stupid. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah..." James chuckled.
Troy continued, "Oh, he was such a great student. Oh, he's going to leave a hole in the community."
Eleven looked over at them and said, "Mouth breather." The principle finished speaking and then Sandy started to give a speech.
Sandy said, "I know that this loss has been very hard on some of you..." She continued for a while before she began to end.
She said, "If you need anything please come talk to me before you leave today. I will try my best to help." Sandy then gave the microphone to the principle. Suddenly, the bell rang, and all the students began to charge down the bleachers and out of the gym. Many of the students in the front saw John standing by the door.
The student began to talk amongst themselves about why John was here. John was the King of Hawkins High, after all. Many of the kids were too afraid to approach him however, so they just walk past him through the doors of the gym.
Mike decided to confront Trot about what he said. Mike walked towards Troy aggressively and said, "Hey! Hey! Hey, Troy! Hey, Troy!"
Troy turned around and Mike said, "You... You think this is funny?"
Troy asked, "What did you say, Wheeler?"
Mike said, "I saw you guys laughing over there. And I think that's a real messed up thing to do."
James said, "Didn't you listen to the counselor, Wheeler? Grief shows itself in funny ways."
Troy followed up, "Besides, what's there to be sad about, anyway?"