Author's disclaimer note:
This is my original work, purely for fun, based on headcanons and character traits. It is not canon to the Stranger Things show, but it is a concept based heavily on the show. There are minor trigger warnings, such as mental abuse, death, blood, gore, PTSD, and more. Mature audiences are advised.

1958

Icy, cold fingers grazed Jane's left forearm. The sudden cold touch alarmed her. She spun her head to come into contact with her father's blue eyes. He noticed he startled her, although it wasn't on purpose.

"Jane, are you all right, sweetheart?" Henry noticed his daughter was staring off into space again. It was perfectly normal, but not when he asked her a question.

"Yes, Dad. I'm okay." Jane smiled warmly. She inhaled the scent of the misty air. She enjoyed being outside, especially at night. She could hear the insects and creepers come out to place themselves and fly in the air.

Without questioning it further, Henry dropped the topic. His focus was on his two daughters tonight. It was unusual for a single man to raise two children by himself, let alone two daughters, yet they managed. No one dared to ask questions or explore the Creel's family life, and Henry preferred it that way.

From the two-story house came the peaceful time of night. It wasn't too humid, and there was just a breeze that would blow and hit the back of your neck, eradicating a chill down your spine. It wasn't much, but Henry made it possible for the three of them to live together.

This was home.

The porch was lit with nine lights: one on both sides of the door and one just in the middle. Two were on the other side of the porch where Henry's chair was. However, there were four above where Holly, Henry, and Jane were relaxing in the evening air. Henry and Jane took two chairs. On the small table between the chairs were Holly's toys. The dim light made it visibly easy to be out past seven p.m.

Henry was lost in thought until he felt a tug on his shirt sleeve, drawing his attention to his youngest.

"Dad, look!" Holly, the curious little blonde girl, smiled. She caught a rolly polly in her small hand and allowed Henry to observe it. There was a hint of pride in her movements, a sign of her accomplishment.

Henry's gaze shifted to see the tiny insect crawling across his daughter's palm. Yet his eyes travel between the creature and Holly to take in her reaction. She seemed proud of herself and fascinated by such a weird creature. Yet she didn't seem to mind it one bit.
"That's wonderful, sweetheart."

She moved her wrist From Holly's hand, curling her fingers to ensure the small creature stayed within her grasp. But at last, what was meant to be could never be. Henry saw this happening and knew the tiny creature would escape his daughter's grip. He tried holding out his hand to hers.
"Don't let it-"

"Oh no!" Holly dropped the little ball insect and watched it roll away until it went underneath the porch step. It disappeared in the cast shadow.

Jane chuckled and shook her head at Holly's playfulness. A sly smile tugged at her lips, and she watched a frown display Holly's sadness.

"Don't fret, my dear, come here." Henry turned Holly around where her back was to him. A slight pout came across the blonde's lips, crossing her arms over her chest. Henry tucked his hands under Holly's shoulders to lift her up in the air and place her on his lap. His grip on her small frame held her on his right side. Holly huffed and sank into her father's warm embrace. She was still upset from the rolly polly escaping her grasp. But that feeling was slowly replaced with tiredness. Although she didn't admit it, her comfort was sunk into her father's embrace.

Moments like this made Henry reflect on how all of this was possible. He looked at Holly, then at Jane. His heart was now filled with joy and hopefulness. And he couldn't have done it without-

"Dad, tomorrow night, could we have ice cream?" Jane's voice interrupted his thoughts. Her innocence seemed genuine and sincere.

A small smile formed on Henry's lips, "Why, of course. When I see your report card, we can have ice cream. Deal?"

Jane smiled, nodding her head eagerly. "Yes! I promise."

"All right." Henry glanced down to see Holly was falling asleep. And the air was beginning to get cold. He stood up slowly from his chair with Holly in his arms. She turned her body to be in his grasp. Her delicate head rested on his shoulder. He smiled at the small gesture, supporting her weight. Henry looked at Jane and made sure she was looking at him. "I'm going to take Holly to bed. Come inside."

"But Dad, can I stay here just a little longer?"
There was a small plea from Jane that made Henry chuckle in amusement. "All right. But not too long, okay?"

"Okay," Jane nods. She understood what was being asked and watched her father take Holly inside to get ready for bed. Her eyes never left until she saw him disappear inside, his back no longer invisible.

Now it was just her. And her thoughts.

Jane took a deep breath from her chest and exhaled. It was relaxing. She clasped her hands together before standing up. She brushed her tiny dress down and touched the pillar of the house. She overlooked the small view. It was nothing special. But it was quiet. Too quiet.

"Eleven..."

What?

"Eleven..."

A sudden chill ran down her spine. Was she speaking to herself? What was that?
Her mind began to ponder what she heard. Level? No. That can't be it.

"Eleven..."

There it was again.

Toying with her mind, she moved back from the pillar. Her eyes quietly looked from the left and to the right. No one was around. It was a silent night. Nothing out of the ordinary. At least, that's what she thought.

Jane took a step back and began to take nine steps down the porch and onto the pavement. She walked towards the end of the yard. Turning around, she looked at her house. She took note of how many shapes and windows there were. It relaxed her, but now it was a different feeling. She was...anxious. Her heart was beating across her chest. Again. Again. Again. With a pause. Repeat.

A small, wet nose brushed against her white sock. Making her jump.
"Whoa."

Jane turned around quickly to come into contact with a stranger and his dog. The pup backed off and continued to walk with its owner. Jane caught her breath in her throat, watching the gentleman walk away. She couldn't make out his face because it was too late.
Thinking it was best to go inside now, Jane swallowed a lump down her throat and hurried away to head back inside the house.
Once she was inside, she didn't hesitate to head to her room. Running up those stairs, she didn't care if she made noise or woke up Holly. She just knew she needed to go to her room. It was bedtime now.

Henry watched from afar. His hands were behind his back. He walks past Holly's bedroom and sees Jane hurrying inside. He didn't speak or move for a moment. He reached the front door once he could hear Jane's door shut.

He opened it. Glancing back and forth between the beginning and end of their road from the porch, he was inspecting anything out of the ordinary. Right when he noticed the flickering lights to his left, he knew they needed to be fixed.

Sigh. Henry exhaled, taking off his glasses. He tucked them in his shirt pocket and looked at the light. With a wave of his wrist, he motioned his hand towards the light, causing it to turn off entirely without breaking the bulbs.

He turned slowly to head back inside, shutting the door behind him. With his fingers, he locked up and headed towards his sleeping quarters.

In the middle of the night, Jane tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep. In her dark room came the dim light from outside. The lights flickered gradually. Her heart raced in anticipation. She got up and walked over to her window. Drawing the curtains slowly, she could see the empty and quiet street. Not a sound in sight. In a blink of an eye, she could feel something off. She jumped at the sudden sprinklers going off in the distance. She grabbed the hem off the fabric to close the curtains when she noticed something from afar.
It was a person. They emerged from the sewer drain to make their way to the surface. Jane watched this unfold. They wore a hazard suit. She dropped her hand from the curtain. She couldn't believe her eyes. Many questions flooded her mind. Once, her hand grazed the window. There was a slight electricity shock.

She winced from the slight shock from the window sill. Drawing her hand back, she saw the mysterious figure gone. Without another thought, it was best not to question it further. She gulped, closing her curtains. She backed up and turned her heel to retreat to her bed. Sinking back into her blankets, she stared at her ceiling, lost in thought.

"Wake up."

Come the following day, Jane opened her eyes. She didn't remember how she ended up sleeping, but she seemed well-rested—better than yesterday. She kept hearing the same voice in her mind, but no one was there. It was just her in her room.

Before she could gather her thoughts, there was a knock at her door.

Holly ran into Jane's room. She grasped the door handle with a big grin on her face. "Jane." She looked at her sister, "Dad wants you to see you."

Hearing her sister's mischievous tone raises Jane's brow. Without any further explanation, Jane walked over to the door.

Holly opened the door wider and watched her sister walk before her. Her head dipped down for a better observation. Her eyes were fixed on Jane the entire time while Jane stepped in front of her.

Holly closed Jane's door and skipped down the hall to her room.
In the kitchen, Henry sat at the table. His glasses helped him observe the headlines and small fonts in the newspaper that had arrived this morning.

Jane came around the corner and looked in the living room first. Once her father wasn't present, she walked outside the table. She stood across from him with her hands in front of her.
"Dad?" Jane then placed her hands on the chair in front of him. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Jane," Henry replied, taking his glasses off. He placed the newspaper on the table and gestured for Jane to sit. "Sit. Here, I made you your favorite meal." Henry got up momentarily to grab Jane's food. It contained waffles, eggs, and bacon.

Jane stared down at the plate in front of her. She grabbed her fork and grazed it at the food.
To Henry, Jane was quieter than usual. She wasn't her normal self, and it couldn't go unrecognized. Her body language was tense, and her shoulders hung low. Something was going on in her head.

"Jane..." Henry looked at the girl. "You hardly touched your food this evening. Is everything all right?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Jane caught herself staring at her plate and poking at her waffles instead of eating them. "I'm not... hungry." She slowly pushed the plate away from her reach. Avoiding his gaze.

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Henry didn't look away. Not for a second. "Hmm?"
Henry's voice wasn't audible. She couldn't look at him. Not after what she dreamt about. Not after what she saw last night either. Her dreams were there, but she couldn't remember what they were like. Her eyes traveled up the table and noted the light bending of the wood, causing a reflection to appear. Her eyes travel back and forth before finally looking at Henry from her lashes. His mouth was moving, talking to her. But she didn't hear anything. That's when she fixed her attention on him once again.

"What?"

Henry shook his head. " How did you get placed eleventh in your class?"

Eleven. There it was again. But it couldn't be a coincidence. Could it? "I-I don't know." She stuttered out. She looked down at her lap, messing with the loose strand on her dress. She wasn't even paying attention to the fact that her school report card was now within his grasp. "I'll try better."

Noting her shift, Henry decided not to push her further. It would only make things worse. "Don't fret. You did your best; remember to concentrate more in class." He tried giving her a small smile to display she wasn't in trouble.

Jane nods her head. There was a rush of silence spreading in the room. The sound of the grandfather's clock ticking made the world sound large. Jane dismissed herself from the table and returned to her room to collect her thoughts. Henry stayed at the table more. He was finishing his cup of coffee with the newspaper he had.

Moments later, Holly peered out from the corner of the hall. She didn't see Jane in the living room. The sound of her father doing the dishes in the kitchen was clear as crystal day. There was excitement in her movements. Daring not to get caught, the young girl grabbed her doll and quietly approached the front door. She waited until the running water was heard from the kitchen before she gripped the doorknob and opened the door. After the door was closed behind her, she left the house momentarily.

In the front yard, she always liked the garden gnomes. She gave them names and adored them. However, she was too occupied to care. She played with her doll and found a ball to kick in between the gnomes. Minding her business, she was too busy to notice the kids across the street.

Not until their white frisbee flew into the Creel's yard. Holly got startled, turning around to see a couple of kids flag her down. She looked down at the small white object and scooped it up.

"Hey, girl!" A boy waved at Holly.

She had never seen him before. He seemed tall, older, and almost intimidating. Holly pointed to her chest and replied, "Me?"

A chuckle left his drip lips. "Are you deaf or something? Can you give us the frisbee?"

Holly looked back at her house for a split second. She knew she wasn't supposed to be out, let alone be talking to people she'd never met. She gulped nervously but saw an opportunity to make friends. After all, the kids were at the playground across the street.

Holly nodded her head. She walked to the edge of the yard. She passed the mailbox and didn't think twice when walking out and onto the street.

She had a wavering smile on her lips with the flying disc in her tiny hands.

Four of the children, including the boy, watched in amusement as the small, petite blonde girl came towards them. They didn't move from where they stood. They weren't going anywhere.
Unbeknownst to Holly, a moving white van was coming right at her. And they weren't slowing down—going more than thirty miles per hour. Holly skipped her way, getting closer to the children, when she heard a honk from the van. But they didn't slow down.
"Hey! Watch it!" The boy yelled at Holly, causing her to turn towards the van.
Her heartbeat escalated out of her chest. She froze like a deer in headlights.
Henry was finishing up the dishes from within the house when the sound of a car horn alerted him real quick. There wasn't supposed to be a car today. He looked up through the small window above the sink and saw Holly- Wait, Holly?

"Holly!" He yelled from the kitchen, but she couldn't hear him. Without thinking, he raised his left hand in the air. Focusing on the van until it came to a halt. Not a single sound carried on.
Henry acted fast and wiped the blood from his nose with a rag.

Holly dropped the frisbee down on the ground. Quickly, she crouched down before the van could hit her and covered her ears with her eyes shut tight. But when there was no impact. She slowly opened her eyes and stood back up with caution. She looked at the other children to see all of them in total. There has to be more than thirteen of them. It was hard to make out the ones in the back, but she noted that all of their left wrists were covered. Henry darted out the door before her brain could process what happened and rushed to the scene.
He completely ignored the other children and knelt down to Holly's height. Behind his framed glasses, his blue eyes looked at the girl. "Holly, are you alright? Are you hurt? What happened? Why were you..."

"I'm..." Holly shushed out. Her voice was shaky. She could hear the worry in her father's voice, which made her regret what she did.

Jane came out of the house to barely witness what the commotion was about.

"Shhh. Shhh..." Henry cradled Holly's head, kissing her head. Jane watched the small display of affection, and within the blink of an eye, she remembered when she was Holly's age, receiving Henry's affection. Only they weren't dressed the same...

"Keep your kids at bay, Mr. Creel." The driver of the van emerged from the driver's side. Shaking his head in disappointment.

Henry hugged Holly and picked her up in his arms. He didn't speak or address the driver. "Come along." He whispered to Holly, making his way back inside the house.
Jane looked between the driver and Henry. She was silent yet observing, yeah, one. The driver seemed too familiar—not in sight, but as a feeling. His presence was something else.
The driver huffed; he ran his hand through his hair and noticed a pair of eyes on him. He faced Jane's direction and gave her a small smile.

That smile.
It felt like... home?

Without another thought, Jane walked up the front porch stairs and turned around over her left shoulder to see the driver and the van gone. Not even the sound of the vehicle moving was heard. The children were suddenly gone. It was silent except for the birds and hopping rabbits in the neighborhood.

Jane's heart spiked for a split second.
"Jane," Henry called for her through the door. His booming voice was severe, which was never a good sign.

"Coming..." Jane opened the door and closed it behind her.
She walked towards Henry and witnessed Holly sitting in the chair with her legs dangling over the edge. She was shaken from the events that took place earlier. Henry was tending to the small girl, observing her and washing off the dirt from her knees and forearms.
Henry could feel eyes on them in the blink of an eye from the corner of his eyes. "Jane. Fetch me another rag. And damp it with water, please, sweetheart." His voice was sweet and sincere again.

Jane silently nodded her head, moving to the kitchen drawer. She knelt down to the bottom cabinet to fetch a rag and move to the sink. After following Henry's instructions, she gave Henry the rag and watched him fix Holly.

Knowing that Holly was okay, Jane stepped back from behind Henry.

This was her chance.
Jane turned her heel to walk away from the kitchen. Now, all the pieces she gathered were coming together. And she couldn't hold back on this information anymore.

Henry gave Holly a small, reassuring smile. He rubbed her forearm for comfort and made sure her breathing was steady again.

"Do you understand we can't run out on the road like that? No more going outside without me there."

"Yes, I do understand... I'm sorry, Dad." Holly lowered her head, feeling a pang of guilt and shame. She knew she shouldn't have gone out on the road like that, yet she didn't know why she did it in the first place. It felt like an instinct pulling her towards there.
"It's all right. Just don't do that again." Henry's gaze turned to Jane.

She shook her head. It was now or never. "This... this isn't real."

Holly's attention was diverted to Jane in confusion. "What?"

Jane muttered under her breath. She backed up until she was close to the wall. "Something's wrong here..."

Henry frowned a brow. This was unexpected. The tension began to grow in the air. He stood up to his feet. "Holly. Go to your room. And no matter what you hear or what's happening, you do not open that door. Understood?" Henry looked down at the small girl. His hand gently gripped her chin to make her look directly at him. Only this time, he was no longer wearing glasses.

"Yes, Dad." Holly looked up at him. A small smile now formed on her face. No longer was she curious or afraid; she just accepted her father's wishes.

"Good. Now go..." Henry released Holly, stepping back from her. He watched her jump off the chair and skip to her room.

Henry loosened his sleeves, unbuttoning them to move his wrist. His attention was now on Jane. He could see the fear and confusion in her eyes. She watched him from under her bed as if he were a monster.

"I know what you've done... you've tricked me and Holly into being here with you."

Henry wanted to avoid explaining this. He didn't need to. Not now. "Jane, you're not making sense, dear." He dismissed her comment with a small hand gesture. "Come to the kitchen. I'll make you some vegetable soup-"

"No."

"No?" He raised a brow.

"You lie," Jane spoke firmly. Loud and clear. "About this. About us as a family." She took steps towards him. "Lied to Holly."

He shook his head, "I never lied to you both."

"Holly isn't yours."

"How did you-" His voice dropped to a whisper. He didn't expect her to notice, let alone find out so soon. Jane was his biologically, yet he took in Holly as his own. Adoption wasn't a word Henry would use to describe it. He only opened up his heart and home to the little girl, and stuck with him ever since. He tried reasoning with Jane. "I haven't told her yet."Heh. "You don't know what's going on, Jane.'

"Eleven." She corrected him. All the signs, dreams, and clues pointed it all to her days ago. She only figured it out now. "That's me, isn't it. I... am.. Eleven."

"Fascinating..."
Henry was amused by her statement. "Yes. Yes, you are."

"The signs... the lights... the neighborhood..."

"All fake, Eleven." He admitted to her. There was no reason to fight or argue about it. Now, it was time for the truth. No matter how painful it proved to be.

This only sparked more questions in El. She shook her head in disbelief, and her worry began to grow. "Why? What happens to Holly?"

Henry took a step closer to Jane. "You mean the girl you almost tried to kill with the van?"
"No... I would never." El figured out her use of powers. But she wouldn't harm anyone innocent. Would she?

"No. You wouldn't. Not on purpose." Henry brushed a strand of hair behind El's face. He knew she tried proving her theory, especially when her powers were most active at night. "But don't worry, Holly is safe. Holly has me just like you do. We're a family, Jane..." He took his hand back. "I saved us. We can be together."

El warned. She raised her hand in the air, taking steps away from him. "Don't come any closer."

"I did what I had to." Now, they began to circle the room. Henry composed himself. He was calm. "No one understands us. We are different. You know that; it's in your blood." The small gesture he made to his wrist only proved his point. "Holly is still mine, and she is your sister." He smiled, "I've had my fair share of experiences where happiness was a myth. But here. We can do whatever we see fit. To live normally." He allowed Jane to take a moment to look around the living room space. The photos of the three of them were around the walls.

No matter how long she looked at the happy photos of them, she knew deep down, no matter how hard it was to accept, "It's... wrong. We can't live...like this."

"Stop. Fighting, Eleven." He told her, taking another step forward. "Don't push this away."

She shook her head; their voices boomed back and forth. "Stop."

"We can be a family again."

"Stop. No."

"Just the three of us," Henry stated.

"No. Get out of my head." Eleven felt a tear slip down her face.

"Eleven..."

She shut her eyes, "Get out of my head!"

With her hand extended out, Jane threw Henry across the room. His back came into contact with the bookshelf, making the shelf break and the items fall to the floor. Glass and wood scattered across the carpet. Henry's back was to the wall. He brushed off what was on him, discarding it. A hint of surprise and shock coursed through his veins. He was beyond disbelief at Jane's actions. His own flesh and blood. Yet it shouldn't be too much of a shock. It only brought out more times of their constant fighting and bickering.

He tucked in his knees with a huff to bring himself up to his feet. He glared at Jane. His eyes were fixed on the blood draining from her nose. The blood dripped down her shirt, staining the fabric. Her eyes never left his. Anger wasn't beginning to be close to how she was feeling. He lied to her, tricked her, and put Holly in danger.

A twinkle of hope sparked within her. She knew he wasn't all bad, from how he treated and cared for her and Holly, but the world they lived in wasn't right. It wasn't reality.
Both father and daughter didn't back down, nor did they give in so easily.

The lights flickered off and on throughout the house. Holly noticed that right away, but she remained in her room.

The fight didn't last long. But it wasn't a good one either. Jane slipped into unconsciousness from the overuse of her powers. Henry carried Jane in his arms, her head resting on his shoulders and another arm beneath her knees for support. He had blood on him, not a lot, yet some wasn't his.

He took Jane to her room. He settled her down on her bed, still hopeful that perhaps she would understand one day.
Henry tucked Eleven into bed. He brought the blanket up to her chest, caressing her cheek. "Goodnight..." Henry kissed her forehead before returning to her room. He turned off the lights and closed the door. His head faced the window outside. It was darker and dim. Lighting sparks emerged from the dark clouds, now approaching the house. With a heavy sigh, he released El's doorknob and approached Holly's room.

There's no turning back now. Even with the blood disappearing off his clothes and skin, he needed to check in on Holly.

With his knuckles brushing against the door, he opened the door. "Holly?" He stepped into the room. He closed the door and walked over to her bed. She had her back facing him with her body covered from head to neck with her blanket. Pretending to be asleep was something she did occasionally.

Henry chuckled, "I know you're not sleeping, sweetheart."

Not having any other choice, Holly turned around. She was now looking up at Henry. A small, sad expression was written on her face. "I can't sleep..."

"It's all right..." Henry moved to her bedside. He took a seat right next to her.
Holly sat up slightly, resting on her elbow to look at her father. "I heard yelling. Is everything okay?"

"Yes. Of course. Jane needs some rest for tonight." He explained briefly, wanting to avoid going into detail. "Just like you."

Holly smiled small. She moved to make more room for him to join her in bed. She cuddled up to him, her body facing away from his chest. She breathed softly, finding comfort in his breathing. His heartbeat made it easy for her to rest. His left wrist was exposed to her. "Okay, Dad... thank you."

"Of course." Henry embraced his little girl. The small act brought back happy memories with him, Holly, and Jane. He was glad to experience it, even if it was just a short while longer. He held her close for a side hug. "Just remember sweetheart... It's you and me. Because family is forever."

Holly yawned, slowly closing her eyes. She snuggled close to Henry. "You and me..." She whispered, never forgetting those words no matter how sleepy she was.
"That's right... goodnight my sweet doll..."

By morning, her soft blue eyes blinked, staring at the wall. Holly exhaled, taking note that she was indeed breathing. She began to wake up fully. Pushing herself up with her elbows, she sat in her bed. Exhaling softly, the first thing that caught her eye was the scenery.

This was her room. But it wasn't.
Not anymore.

"Mike, hurry up!"
Distorted noises were outside her room. Her brain now registered where she was at.

"Hey, no running in the house! Ted, do something." Her mother spoke. A loud shout made her look around her room for a moment.

"Kids... listen to your mother."

"Really, Ted?"

The noise coming from her birth parents was loud enough to be heard from upstairs. But Holly ignored it. Trying to suppress their noises out of her head.
She turned to her right. The alarm clock by her bedside flipped from the corner of her eye for a second. It read 9:01 am.

"Holly! Breakfast is ready!"
Silence. Holly ignored Karen's shout, even if it concerned her. She was still processing things, including the fact that her pajamas were different. Then, there were footsteps hurrying up the wooden steps. Someone was coming.

Entering through the door, Mike swung open the door. He leaned against it enough to support his weight and keep him upright. "Hey Holls, mom is calling you," he said without entering the room.

She nods. No hint of emotion was detected.
Mike pressed his lips together. Exiting the room, the door shuts soundly behind him.
Once Mike was gone, Holly looked around her room. Her mind was still settling in to take in her surroundings. She got off her bed, letting her legs dangle off the bed frame until her feet touched the floor.

The small mind of that little girl began to race. Thinking about Henry. About their life together. Especially about Jane. Although it was never real, she could still feel him.
She walked over to her giant, tall mirror. In the reflection, it captured her whole body. From head to toe. She cocked her head to the right out of curiosity.

Then she remembered what Henry told her. What was significant to them would always be something she could never forget. Looking at her left wrist, she traced over her skin with her index finger, twice in a circular motion and a line down the middle. She stared herself down in the reflection. Her hands clasped together to settle in front of her. Her legs were brought together, and her posture was straight. Without any sudden facial change, she spoke.

"You. And me."

A smirk played on her lips.