Hawkins High smells like floor cleaner and fear.
The halls are quieter than they've ever been.
Whispers travel like ghosts:
"Poison…"
"Two girls…"
"Eddie Munson…"
"Something's wrong…"
Then—
The front doors open.
And Dr. Martin Brenner walks in like he owns the building.
Perfect suit.
Calm smile.
Warm eyes.
He stops in the hallway, greeting a teacher.
"Terrible tragedy," he says gently. "But we must keep our community strong."
The teacher nods, teary.
"Thank you for being here, Doctor."
Brenner's smile never falters.
"Of course."
He turns.
And for the briefest second—
His eyes sharpen.
Like he's listening to something no one else can hear.
Nancy Runs to Hopper
Hopper's office door SLAMS open.
Nancy storms in, breathless.
"HOPPER."
He looks up sharply.
"Nancy—?"
She shoves her phone in his face.
"I got a message."
Hopper takes it.
Reads.
His expression darkens instantly.
STOP DIGGING.
YOU'RE NEXT.
YOU ALREADY KNOW ME.
Hopper's jaw tightens.
"…Son of a bitch."
Nancy's voice shakes.
"They're watching us."
Hopper stands so fast his chair scrapes.
"No. They're warning us."
Nancy's eyes blaze.
"That's the same thing."
Hopper grabs his jacket.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?"
Hopper's voice is low, dangerous.
"To see a man who should not be signing poison orders."
The Party Meets — After School
Behind the school building, the air is cold and tense.
Mike leans against the brick wall, arms crossed.
Will stands beside him, too close, not close enough.
Dustin paces.
Eddie looks like he hasn't slept in a week.
Lucas and Max arrive together.
Jonathan is with them now, hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets.
Steve pulls up last, Lena trailing behind him.
Lena's cheeks go pink the second she sees Steve glance back at her.
Steve immediately looks away like he's been burned.
Robin whispers, "Oh my god."
Steve hisses, "Not now."
Nancy appears.
Everyone turns.
"Nance?" Mike blinks. "What are you doing here?"
Nancy's voice is sharp.
"I'm not letting you do this alone."
Mike's stomach drops.
"…What?"
Nancy steps forward.
"Someone is threatening me. Hopper too. This isn't just a murder case anymore."
Silence.
Will's voice is quiet.
"So… someone knows we're looking."
Nancy nods.
"And they're close."
Dustin whispers, "Like… adult close?"
Nancy's face hardens.
"Like trusted close."
Brenner in the Office
Hopper doesn't knock.
He barges in.
Brenner looks up calmly from his desk.
"Oh. Chief Hopper."
His voice is honey.
Hopper slams the folder down.
"Explain."
Brenner glances at the papers.
Poison orders.
Authorization signature.
His signature.
He sighs softly, almost amused.
"Ah."
Nancy steps forward.
"Two girls are dead."
Brenner's expression turns sorrowful instantly.
"My dear… how awful."
Hopper growls.
"Don't."
Brenner folds his hands.
"The substance was not meant for harm. It was meant for research purposes. Educational grants."
Nancy snaps, "Educational poison?"
Brenner's eyes flicker.
Just once.
Then warm again.
"You must be careful, Nancy Wheeler. Grief makes people reckless."
Hopper leans forward.
"And murder makes me pissed."
Brenner smiles gently.
"Be cautious, Chief."
Hopper freezes.
Brenner's voice is still calm.
"Dig too deep… and you may not like what you find."
Nancy's blood runs cold.
Because it sounds like the text.
Watcher — Direct Contact
That night.
Mike and Will walk home together.
Streetlights buzz overhead.
Neither of them speaks.
Until Will whispers—
"Do you think we're safe?"
Mike's throat tightens.
"No."
Will looks at him.
"…Do you think we are safe?"
Mike stops walking.
Will stops too.
The air is thick.
Mike's voice is barely audible.
"I don't know what's happening anymore."
Will's eyes glisten.
"I do."
Mike's breath shakes.
"Will…"
Before anything else can be said—
A car passes slowly.
Too slowly.
Mike stiffens.
Will's skin prickles.
The car stops.
Window rolls down.
A man inside.
Shadowed.
A voice, soft and familiar:
"Goodnight, boys."
Then—
The car drives away.
Will stands frozen.
Mike whispers—
"…I know that voice."
Will's lips tremble.
"So do I."
Town Panic
The Hawkins Post headline the next morning:
POISON IN HAWKINS? SECOND CHEERLEADER DEAD. WHO IS NEXT?
Parents scream at school board meetings.
Kids cry in bathrooms.
Eddie Munson is still hunted in the hallways by stares.
And somewhere—
The watcher is no longer watching quietly.
They're stepping closer.