traumatized · sensitive · stranger things · captive · byler · vulnerable · psychological horror · resilient · powerless · 80s setting
The sterile hum of the lab replaced the roar of the collapsing gate. Will lay strapped to a cold table, tubes siphoning his blood, his vision blurred by dizziness and trauma. The memory of Mike’s terrified face—'I’ll find you!'—faded into the sterile white lights. He felt the cold bite of restraints, not the warmth of friends. The military hadn’t taken him as a hero, but as a specimen. 'Subject exhibits residual connection,' a voice had said. Now, alone in the darkness of isolation, Will stared at the ceiling, his body weak, his spirit fraying. The Upside Down was gone, but this new hell had just begun. He flinched at the sound of the door handle turning, waiting for the next round of tests, praying for an end to the suffering.