Grief. It's a complicated process and has no limitations for time. People hold on to that grief, forever, altering their perception of what is real and can't individuate the reality they're in. It's hard to let go of an idea their deceased loved one will never return, it's a twisted prank god is trying to play. Melissa bear witness to the cruel grip grief had on her mother, shouts of claims 'that the body didn't belong to her boy.' And insisted on her ideological belief that it was a 'Fake replica of Will'. Jonathan wanted Milly as a means of talking sense to Joyce but, instead of hoping for a change in her mind, she stuck to her claims she had. Milly knew validation was needed for her mother's health.

" I feel real bad for your mom, 'Mel. It must be hard on her, and you, knowing will died in the most terrible way he did." Amanda proclaims, flipping pages of 'vogue magazine' latest issue, woefully. Katherine shifts her focus on packing a grey sweater inside a brown bag.

" What if... I told you, girls, I know where will is." Milly says, using an expression of hush as if telling a secret. Kat and Mandy both share a 'what the hell' look before walking up to the customer service counter, being mindful to not disturb the ladies browsing.

Melissa, regarding how busy her store is, spoke using a low whisper. For her friends.

" I know how insane this might sound. It...s a feeling I have. He's here. I need you to believe me when I say there is another dimension. It's not like our world, though.."

Amanda scouts the store, for eaves-dropping, then starts to talk. " You think will .. he is there? In this Alternate parallel world?".

An image, from her time of caring for her brother when her mom was working nights, Katherine recollects of Dustin participating in a role-playing world game 'Dungeons and Dragons' in mike wheelers basement. She had heard of an identical fictional realm. Vale of shadows. " Dustin. He mentioned that place in his D&D campaigns. But he calls the.."

Milly finishes her sentence. " the Upside down. Yeah that is how will describes it, to me, in his letters. Don't be in total surprise I know the name. I listen to my brother's interests."

She dismisses Amanda's jaw drop.

" Nerd." Mandy coughs. " Just joking. That seriously sounds so insane, though. If he is in this freaky ass world how would we get him back home?".

'I honest to god don't know.' Melissa rubs both palms of her hands on her eyes. " I never told you girls this, before." Holding one finger up, Kat motions to the store door rushing over to flip the 'Closed' sign. " I've been in that Place."

"... Upside down?"

Melissa stuck close to Henry, specs of strange spores float in her line of sight, not failing to see how he was surveying for a reaction. " T.. This is unreal. How can this place exist? It's nothing I've ever seen before."

Living existential Organisms, and ghastly creatures of every kind inhabiting the world before her, made Milly's face grow more expressive with interest by the second.

Henry steers Melissa out of reach from a black tendril.

" This realm was left unclaimed for me to take, and mould to my will. It was unspoiled. It's not all bad, I do admit at times there are days where I wish to have company. There is lonesome, some of the time, in being in a place such as this."

She, bewildered, gazed out in interest at Henry focusing on materialising an entire Kaleidoscope of butterflies from floating mass of sentient particles. " I can reshape each of these forms to my liking. Control is an illusion that I use as an advantage, over every thing you see here. And Melissa." Henry positions a hand on Milly's shoulder, guiding it up to rest on her cheek.

" This could be yours as well. My love. All you need is to say you accept, I can make all your wishes for the pain to stop and.. vanish."

Melissa hadn't believed Henry, before about his 'Shadow realm' not until the evening he teleported her there, thinking it a metaphor which he understood and no one else. Her sigh made Henry tighten how he held her face.

" H..Henry. You know how I feel about you. I.. don't.." he hushes her speaking, bringing her in to embrace her. " Don't fret. I was playing a little joke. I am aware of your exisiting feeling of non-romantic advances when it comes to our friendship. That is something.. I respect. Don't worry." Henry forces those acidic words out. 'Friendship' how moronic.

Of course, he couldn't have her.

His plan for Melissa to join his world hadn't failed. Just need rerouting of how he approaches the matter. I will have her one way or another.'

There's a glimmer in his eye which darkens his gaze.

" Wait. I've heard stories. Henry... you mean the same kid whose dad went psycho, killed him, his sister and mother? That Henry Creel? You must be mistaken. He's Dead, Mel'. How.. how could he be alive? Then?"

Amanda implores, not sure whether she should believe her friend. There are old news articles hidden in Hawkins public library records but no one has touched them in decades. Katherine, now leaning her elbows on the counter top, taps her chin.

" Maybe, If I am correct in saying this, What If Henry somehow made himself magically appear alive? It's insane, but think. If he wanted to he could have tricked your mind, to think he was there, You did mention Henry's mind tricks and games just now."

She made a point, is one of Mellissa's thoughts.

" let you know the troopers are on duty And... you should be safe, because we think this is just an isolated incident." Milly, upon hearing a state trooper making a statement on live television from her stores TV, switches the volume on higher.

" State trooper David O'Bannon, thank you so much for your help. Back to you.."

Amanda narrows her eyes, distrusting of the whole 'findings.'

" There is more to this shit show than the law and state is telling us. Don't you? Mel? Kitty?" Katherine, before she could answer, takes time to take a brief look outside upon seeing Dustin bicycling on the road. " w.. why.. is my brother not in school. Lucas is with him, Mike as well from what I can see.." she said, which had Amanda snapping her head in the path to kitty's line of sight. " that little sh.. oh he is so in trouble. I'm snitching on him to mom and dad when I get home." Mandy smirks plotting to expose her little brother and his behaviour.

Melissa caught a short glimpse of blonde hair and a girl who wore an old, pink, frilled dress riding behind on Mike wheelers bicycle seat. ' I wonder who she is.' Mandy goes out of the store, cupping her hands to her mouth making a mock microphone. " Hey, you little shit. I'm tellin' mom you are skipping out on school." Lucas head whips around, deer caught in the headlights stare on his face, profanities leaving his mouth.

Dustin sees Katherine waving and does his signature wide smile showing off his gap teeth. " Love you, Katy! See you at home."

Visibly in shock Milly double checks to see if she was imaging Her. It was the girl that saved her from that Monster but now in disguise. 'H..How? I thought I made her up? She's real.'

Eleven's attention is caught by seeing the pretty lady she had fought off a creature to save. Her mouth moves forming the phrase 'Pretty lady' In an instant.

Mike mumbles " What." wanting to know what Eleven meant. 'That is a weird thing to say.' He didn't question it pushing on to the school.

" Mom said the school is holding a vigil assembly for wills death. They are most likely on their way there for it, now." Katherine states, leaning on a street sign. " I think that is considerate of them. Really kind." She adds on.

" Like I said. This is all off, in my opinion." Mandy replies. " But that is just me."

╭━━━━━∙⋆⋅⋆∙━━━━━╮

Indistinct chatter of drunken patrons using foosball and billiard tables, cues hitting eight balls on each corner claiming draws of each round. Melissa, followed by Amanda then Kat file in 'HIDEAWAY' a ran down family owned bar. " Drinks are on me, consider it reparations for working over time. And being my best two only fucking employees."

Milly giggles at her friend's high-five claps hearing 'Free drinks.' It was evening, beer bottles and smell of booze in her nose made her eyes burn from the smell of it alone.

" I'm going to see what I can find on the juke box. I'm in the mood for Madonna!"

Katherine does a clap of her hands bee-lining to the bars music player. Amanda is close by.

" Another, please. And Another for my, uh, friend here." Melissa hears hoppers voice, which made her look behind her draped hair. He hadn't noticed her. Well— not yet, anyway, as he was making a conversation with an older balding grey hair man.

" oh hey. thanks man, I appreciate that."

He thanks Jim, taking time to stop drinking his current beer in hand. " Yeah. That is all right. I'm uh.. I'm celebrating. You know? My daughter, she won the spelling bee today."

Daughter. Melissa wasn't certain if she should listen in. He's drunk, from how he slurs and words are blundered.

Milly nods a thanks to the bartender, placing three Budweiser bottles before her, tipping two twenty dollar bills.

" Yeah. You should have seen the look my wife had on her face. So proud, honestly I was as well. She is our little pride and joy."

Wife? Milly leant her head down, not wanting to be conspicuous of her action. " Odontalgia. That was the word. You know what it means? It's a fancy name for a toothache."

He chuckles then stamps out his lit cigarette.

" Yeah, she is real smart. Don't know where she gets it from. It's definitely not me, but her mother is smart like that academically. Graduated from NYU. So it must be from her mom, definitely."

Melissa, almost causing an accident stopping herself from spluttering her bought beers. Hopper mentioned the university she attended for her fashion classes. 'Why did he mention.. is he.. wait no. You're overthinking here, Mel.'

" What is your daughter's name?" The man asks hopper, whose face is now more visible in features. An elongated scar, prone from an on-site accident she figures happened, on his left side. " Your daughter? What's her name?" Jim goes to answer but is drawn to look back, just in time where he sees Melissa as she failed to creep behind his back.

" There is my stunning wife. Hey, honey. I was just telling our friend here 'bout how talented our little girl is. Sarah, by the way, is my.. our girls name. Her name is Sarah. Honey, I.. I was going to come by and pick you up, but I didn't know how late you were going to work."

Oh my lord he is definitely drunk.

Hopper pulls Melissa to sit on his lap, not a single care to how it appeared to the patrons, she automatically places her arm around his broad shoulders. Beer balanced in her hand. He puts an assertive hand on her inner thigh. It causes Milly to shift, shyly, under his touch as he cheers for 'Sarah' clanging his whiskey on his new 'friends' beer bottle.

" To Sarah. Say.. I don't think I've seen your wife here before today. I take you are back in town to spend time with your husband and kid? From New York I hear. Jesus. I'm shocked, no one in Hawkins is ever successful in leaving. Then making a name for themselves. You are a lucky man, my friend."

Hopper squeezes Melissa on her thigh.

" Yeah. She is a queen in my eyes. Gets things done and doesn't take crap from other people. That is a trait I love about her."

Drunk thoughts are sober words, Jim knew exactly what he was saying. Milly's face began burning, feeling his scratchy recent shaven beard hairs brushing on her cheek as he kisses her on her cheekbone. " I recognise you. Yeah, I've seen you somewhere, haven't I? And don't mind my wife she is quiet 'round Strangers."

'He's gotta stop saying my wife. Damn you, Jim Hopper.'

" Ub, you might have seen me on TV, I, uh... i was the one that found the Byers boy."

Melissa pales. 'Hang on a second.' Jim could sense her mood change, patting a spot on her leg to calm down. Indicating 'Play along' to her. " So are... you on that case. Or what?"

Hopper inquires, eyes shifting from Melissa then at a seasonal NFL game on TV. Milly tries and fails at keeping a heated glare off her face.

" I just saw him on patrol. You know? Dumb luck." Melissa put a hand on Jim's plaid shirt, scrunching it up in an attempt to make sure she didn't last out.

" so that quarry, that's, uh.. that's state-run, where they found the boy. Huh?" He knew there was a lie being told by the man before him. David O'Bannon. Milly recognises his face earlier on her stores news broadcast.

" Well that's funny 'cause, you know, I know for a fact it's run by the Sattler company. Frank Sattler? Decent guy. Still got a couple operational quarries up in Roane." He's now full-on facing David, moving Melissa out of his view. But still held a hand on her waist.

" So why are you lying to me, Man? Come on."

" What is your problem? You don't want to start something in front of your woman, now, it won't be a pretty sight for her eyes." David glares directly to hopper, he spat the 'Woman' part. Calmly as he could Jim stares haughtily at O'Bannon. " I'm just a concerned citizen. And, I would like for you to put a little respect on how you speak to her, If I was you."

David, agitated, stood up.

" Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. The kid's dead. End of story, thanks for ruining the game for me, dick. I feel sorry for your poor wife, having to deal with you."

Slamming a ten dollar note on the bar, David takes his coat leaving.

" Jim. Jim. What are you... no. I know that look. Do not go 'head and do something stupid."

Milly abandons the room temperature beers on the bar, trailing Jim out of hideaway. In an alley is where hopper finds O'Bannon, going up and flings David on his back swinging his fist right on the man's noise.

" Hopper. Stop it. Hey!"

Fist bloodied from connecting his knuckles to the assholes nose, Jim roughly handles David's face. " Let's try this again. Who told you to be out there?" He grits, determinedly wanting an answer. Melissa draws a hand down her face.

" What were you doing out there? Tell me!".

This man. He's going to put me in an early grave.

Unbeknownst to her, one blacked-out car is  spying on hopper and herself parked on under a broken street light in a parking lot. As Jim interrogates him.

JASMINE SPEAKS;

I wonder who could have possibly been spying on hopper and Milly.

I hope you liked some of the changes i inserted in this chapter, with Jim saying Sarah is his and Melissa's Daughter.

He was 'drunk' but that was a lie. He just acted like it. How do you guys feel about their little moment at the bar?

Melissa basically having to run out and stop him from getting his ass out of line. Tell me what you are thinking below in the comments. I love hearing all of them.

®️ Written by Jasmine. 2024