The bell cuts through the air like a knife, and the room erupts into the shuffle of backpacks and chatter. You lift your head, that strange feeling still sitting heavy in your chest—like your heart just dropped and never came back up.

A voice cuts through. Familiar. You turn and see Will Byers jogging toward you, a little out of breath, his backpack half-hanging off one shoulder.

You can see them behind him. Steve Harrington leaning against the doorframe, keys jingling in his hand. Nancy Wheeler beside him, arms crossed, her brow furrowed. Dustin and Lucas are bickering about something near the parking lot exit. Max is standing off to the side, chewing her gum and watching the sky with a strange intensity.