Jill had gained some trust at the Hawkins police station, though Hopper remained a wall of caution. That morning, while patrolling near Mirkwood forest, she received a call from Hopper to meet at a secluded cabin, a place that didn't appear on any official map. Intrigued, Jill arrived at the site, an old wooden structure surrounded by pines. Hopper was waiting on the porch, smoking a cigarette, his face more tense than usual.
"Carter," he growled, putting out the cigarette. "I need you to make a delivery. Food, supplies. No one can know about this place. Understood?"
Jill raised an eyebrow, noting the urgency in his voice. "What is this place, chief? It looks more like a hideout than a hunting cabin."
"Don't ask questions," Hopper said, handing her a box of provisions. "Just leave it at the door and go."
But Jill wasn't one to blindly obey. As Hopper walked away, she left the box and circled around, peering through a window. Inside, she saw a young girl with short hair and an intense gaze, fiddling with a radio in frustration. Jill frowned. Was this the "Eleven" Terri had mentioned from the files? Before she could see more, a rustle in the bushes made her spin, her hand on her gun. There was nothing, but the air felt charged, as if the forest knew she was there.
Back in her patrol car, Jill contacted Helen on a secure channel. "I found something," she said. "Hopper's hiding a girl in a cabin. I think it's the one from the lab. We need to investigate."
"Good work," Helen replied. "Keep your eyes on Hopper. If he's protecting someone, he knows more about the portal than he's letting on."
At Hawkins High School, Cassian was growing closer to the kids connected to the Upside Down. He had noticed Will Byers' fragility, Mike Wheeler's arguments, and Max Mayfield's curiosity. That day, in the courtyard, he found them gathered in a corner, whispering urgently. Dustin Henderson was holding a glass jar, showing off a small, slimy creature with tiny legs and a bulbous body. Cassian, feigning casualness, approached.
"Hey, what do you guys have there?" he said with a smile. "A new pet?"
Dustin, excited, held up the jar. "It's D'Artagnan! Dart, for short. I found him in my trash can. He's… unique, right?"
Cassian studied the creature, his blood humming with a warning. It wasn't a normal animal; there was something supernatural in its movement, an echo of the shadows he hunted. Will, pale, spoke with a trembling voice. "It's from the Other Side. It makes a sound… like the one I hear in my visions."
Mike looked at him, worried. "Will, don't say that in front of…"
"The Other Side?" Cassian interrupted, keeping his tone curious. "Like some kind of… weird dimension? I've heard rumors around town."
Lucas frowned, suspicious. "You don't know anything, newbie. This isn't your problem."
"Maybe not," Cassian said, shrugging. "But if you're dealing with something weird, I've seen worse. I can help."
Max sized him up, her eyes narrowed. "What, are you like a monster hunter or something?"
Cassian smiled, not answering. Before he could press further, Will shuddered, his eyes glassy. "It's coming again," he whispered, falling to his knees. Mike and Dustin held him, while Cassian watched, his instincts screaming. The creature in the jar, Dart, stirred, as if responding to Will.
"Get him home," Cassian said, taking charge. "I'll cover you. No one needs to know about this."
As he helped the kids get Will out, Cassian felt a chill. Will's vision wasn't just an episode; something was reaching for him, and his divine blood told him it was more than the Upside Down.
Helen and Terri had made progress in their investigation of the lab, but security remained an obstacle. That morning, Helen received a tip from a Vatican contact: Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers were planning to meet in a public park, far from phone lines they feared were tapped, to discuss Barb's death. Helen saw an opportunity to intercept them and gather intel on the lab.
In the park, under a gray sky, Helen and Terri posed as passersby, sitting on a bench with fake newspapers. Nancy and Jonathan arrived, nervous, and sat on a secluded bench, speaking in low voices. Helen listened from a distance, using a directional microphone disguised as a prop.
"I can't keep living with this," Nancy said, her voice breaking. "Barb died because of what they did in the lab. Every day we keep this secret, it's like betraying her."
Jonathan took her hand, his face tense. "I know, Nancy. But if we talk, the lab will come for us. Owens isn't trustworthy, and that portal… it's bigger than we thought."
"So what do we do?" Nancy said, tears in her eyes. "We can't let them keep hurting people. Murray Bauman says he can expose them, but he needs proof."
Helen filed the name away. Murray Bauman, the conspiracy theorist. He could be an ally… or a problem. Terri, trembling, whispered, "Do you think they know everything about the portal?"
"They know enough," Helen said, turning off the microphone. "And if they're considering exposing the lab, Owens will find out soon. We need to move before they lock down the basement."
Back in their car, Helen contacted Cassian. "Nancy and Jonathan are planning to expose the lab," she said. "They're talking about Barb and the portal. If they do, Owens might block the basement. We need that secondary access blueprint now."
"I'm with the kids," Cassian replied. "Will's getting worse. I think something's possessing him."
Helen cursed. "Keep him safe. If he's connected to the portal, he's our best lead."
Jill had followed Hopper to the Hawkins Lab, using an excuse about "delivering reports." Inside, the atmosphere was tense, with scientists rushing and soldiers on alert. Hopper stormed into Dr. Sam Owens' office, and Jill, pretending to review papers, listened from the hallway.
"You're not containing that damn gate!" Hopper shouted, slamming the desk. "The fields are rotting, things are coming through, and a kid is suffering. What are you hiding, Owens?"
Owens stayed calm, but his smile was forced. "Jim, you're overreacting. The gate is under control. The fields… it's a side effect. We're investigating."
"Damn it, Sam," Hopper growled. "If you don't do something, I will."
Jill, hidden around a corner, felt her pulse race. The "gate" was the portal to the Upside Down, and Hopper was more involved than she'd expected. When Hopper emerged, she intercepted him, feigning casualness.
"Chief, everything okay?" she said, her tone neutral. "Sounded like a heated discussion."
Hopper eyed her, suspicious. "None of your business, Carter. Get back to the station."
But Jill noticed the sweat on his brow, the worry in his eyes. "If there's something in those fields, I can help," she pressed. "I've seen weird stuff before."
Hopper studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Keep your mouth shut, Carter. This is bigger than you think."
Jill nodded, but her mind was already relaying the information to Helen. Hopper was the key, but also a risk.
Cassian had gone with the kids to the Byers' house, where Joyce, Will's mother, greeted them in a panic. Will, trembling on the couch, described his latest vision: a shadow monster with tentacles, larger than ever. Bob Newby, Joyce's boyfriend, tried to calm him, not grasping the severity.
"It's just a nightmare, kid," Bob said, kneeling. "Face it. Tell it you're not scared."
"It's not a nightmare," Will whispered, his eyes glassy. "It's here."
Cassian, in the corner, felt his blood burn. This wasn't just the Upside Down; there was a demonic echo, something he recognized from his battles. When Will stood, screaming, and collapsed, convulsing, Cassian acted. "Get back!" he ordered, kneeling beside Will. He placed a hand on his forehead, murmuring a Latin prayer, a Vatican ritual to repel possessions.
The kids watched, stunned, as Will calmed, but his eyes remained vacant. "It took him," Will whispered before passing out.
Joyce sobbed, holding him, while Mike glared at Cassian. "Who are you?" he demanded. "What was that?"
"Someone who knows what he's facing," Cassian said, his voice firm. "Will's in danger, and it's not just a vision. I need you to trust me."
Dustin, holding Dart's jar, spoke up. "If Dart's from the Other Side, and Will's seeing that… are they connected?"
"It's possible," Cassian said, eyeing the creature. "And if they are, we need to stop it before it's too late."
That night, the group met at a motel on the edge of Hawkins, a discreet place to plan. Cassian recounted Will's possession and the creature Dart. "It's not just the Upside Down," he said. "There's something demonic."
Jill shared about the cabin and the girl. "I think it's Eleven. Hopper's hiding her, and she's tied to the lab."
Helen showed the secondary access blueprint. "We have an entry, but security's a problem."
Terri, more determined, spoke up. "I found a report on 'experimental subjects' in the lab. Eleven's not the only one. There are more."
"So, we have a portal, a girl with powers, a possessed kid, and a creature," Helen said, crossing her arms. "Cassian, can you close the portal if we get there?"
"I can try," he said, his voice grave. "But we need to know what's possessing Will. If it's a demon, my blood will be enough. If it's something else… we'll have to fight."