By: Lifeguard on Duty
The quiet hum of an engine filled the dimly lit room, casting long shadows over the stacks of equipment and papers scattered across the table. It was a small, nondescript building on the outskirts of town, the kind of place no one would bother looking twice at. But inside, it was a different story.
She sat at the center of the room, her bag tossed on a nearby chair as she leaned over a large map of Hawkins spread across the table. Red lines crisscrossed the map, marking key areas—hot spots they'd been monitoring for weeks. Some of the lines led directly to the Hawkins National Lab. Others, more concerning, veered into the heart of town, toward the homes of its residents.
A tall man stood at the other end of the table, arms crossed as he studied the map. His name was Harris, a senior agent sent in to oversee the operation, and his expression was one of thinly veiled frustration. "We've been here for months," he said, his voice low but sharp. "Still no hard evidence of activity."
"We're getting closer," she replied, her tone steady but focused as she pointed to a series of circled areas on the map. "There's been increased energy readings here, here, and here. The Upside Down's influence is still present. It's subtle, but it's spreading."
Harris didn't seem convinced, his gaze flicking over the notes she'd scrawled next to each point of interest. "We've got whispers. Data fluctuations. But that's not enough. We need confirmation."
She straightened, locking eyes with him. "We've been tracking unusual behavior patterns in some of the residents," she said, her voice calm but with a quiet intensity. "Strange movements, random disappearances, people acting out of character. There's something going on, and it's tied to what happened with the Upside Down."
Another agent, a woman named Callahan, stepped forward from the corner of the room, a file in hand. "We've identified a few key individuals who've had repeated exposure to the Upside Down, either directly or through proximity to known events."
She slid the file across the table, and the cover flipped open to reveal a stack of photographs and documents. She glanced at them, then back at Callahan, her stomach tightening slightly.
"These are the ones we're keeping an eye on," Callahan continued. "The Byers family, Mike Wheeler, and of course, Eleven. But there are others—people who don't even realize they're being affected."
Harris leaned over the file, flipping through the photos with a frown. "And you think they're still in danger?"
"Absolutely," she replied, her voice firm. "Whatever's left of the Upside Down hasn't been eradicated. It's quiet now, but it's evolving, waiting for the right moment to resurface. These people are the key to understanding how it works. If we can track the influence on them, we'll have a better chance of stopping it before it gets out of hand again."
Harris stood up straight, letting out a slow breath. "And what about the locals? The ones outside our target list?"
She hesitated for just a moment, her mind flashing back to Billy Hargrove. He wasn't on their list—not officially—but he was something else. Something she couldn't quite place. She'd noticed how people talked about him, the way they whispered about what had happened last summer. The scars, both physical and emotional, were still fresh, even if Billy didn't show it.
He wasn't directly connected to the Upside Down, but he'd been pulled into its orbit, just like so many others. And now that she'd gotten closer to him, she could see it—the way he carried the weight of something darker, something that had left its mark on him. She wasn't sure how much he knew, or if he even realized what had really happened. But he was part of this town's tangled web, and that made him part of the equation.
"Keep watching the residents," she said, keeping her voice level. "Even the ones who don't seem connected to the events. People change. Something in Hawkins is still changing."
Harris eyed her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You've gotten close to some of these residents," he said, his tone almost accusatory. "Including Hargrove."
She met his gaze without flinching. "He's not a threat. But he's been through more than people realize. If we're monitoring the effects of the Upside Down on survivors, we can't ignore him. There might be residual..."
"Emotional entanglements are messy," Harris cut in, his voice cold. "Don't let your personal involvement cloud your judgment. Hargrove's not a target, so he's not your concern."
She bit the inside of her cheek, resisting the urge to argue. Harris didn't understand. He didn't know Billy the way she was starting to. He saw things in black and white, threats and non-threats. But she was starting to realize that Hawkins didn't work like that. Everyone here was connected, whether they knew it or not.
"Understood," she said finally, her voice clipped. But her mind was still turning over Billy's image in her head, wondering just how deep his involvement really went.
Harris didn't look entirely convinced, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he nodded to Callahan. "We keep monitoring. We need a lead—something tangible. Keep an eye on Wheeler's house. And find out if Byers plans on returning. They're key players. The rest is just noise until we have proof."
Callahan nodded, scribbling notes on her clipboard, and the meeting began to break up. She remained standing by the table, her eyes lingering on the map of Hawkins. The town was quiet now, but it was just the calm before the storm. She could feel it. And despite her training, despite the mission, her thoughts kept drifting back to Billy Hargrove.
Whatever was happening here, he was tied to it. Maybe not directly, maybe not in a way that her superiors cared about, but he was connected. And the more time she spent around him, the more she realized that he wasn't just another resident trying to escape his past.
He was a survivor.
And in Hawkins, survivors were never just bystanders.
—-
Calling Billy was a risk, one she had been trying to avoid since the moment she realized how closely she'd been pulled into his orbit. But poolside conversations weren't enough anymore. She needed a better view—something beyond the casual glances, the guarded banter. If she was going to figure out what was really going on in Hawkins, she had to get closer.
Her fingers hovered over the wall receiver for a second longer before she took a deep breath. The phone only rang twice before Billy's familiar voice came through on the other end, his tone as casual and cocky as ever. "Didn't think you were the type to call, princess."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, well, there's a first time for everything."
There was a beat of silence on the other end, the faint sound of music playing in the background. Then, Billy's voice lowered, a little more serious now. "What's up? You sound...different."
She bit her lip, her mind racing as she tried to find the right balance between her cover and the real reason she needed to get him out of his usual environment. "Thought I'd see if you wanted to get out of that pool for a change. Maybe grab a drink or something."
The silence stretched for a moment, and she could almost hear him weighing her words, trying to figure out what game she was playing. She hadn't made a move like this before, hadn't given him anything beyond the teasing back-and-forth. This was different, and they both knew it.
"You asking me out?" Billy asked, his tone playful but with a hint of curiosity beneath it.
She leaned back in her chair, forcing a relaxed smile she didn't quite feel. "Maybe I'm just bored. Or maybe I want to see if you're as interesting off duty as you are in your little lifeguard chair."
Billy chuckled, but she could sense the shift in his mood. He wasn't entirely sure what she was up to, but he was intrigued. That was exactly what she needed.
"All right," he said finally, his voice smooth. "Where and when?"
"Tonight," she replied, glancing at her watch. "There's a place just outside of town—small bar, low-key. Figured it'd be a change of pace."
He hesitated for a second, but then she heard the faint sound of him grabbing his car keys. "Sounds like a plan. I'll pick you up around eight."
She gave him the address, her heart beating a little faster as she hung up the phone. The plan was in motion now, and she knew there was no turning back. Billy was sharp—too sharp for his own good sometimes. If she wasn't careful, he'd start asking questions she wasn't ready to answer.
But this was the only way. She needed a closer look, needed to see how he acted away from the pool, away from the town's eyes. Maybe he didn't know what was happening in Hawkins, maybe he was just another piece of the puzzle, but there was something about him she couldn't ignore. He was connected to all of this somehow, and getting him to open up, to trust her, was the only way she could find out what he really knew.
As the clock ticked closer to eight, she changed into something casual but carefully chosen—nothing too flashy, nothing that would draw unnecessary attention. She couldn't let that cloud her judgment, couldn't let herself get too close. But she needed answers, and Billy was the key to getting them.
At exactly eight o'clock, she heard the familiar rumble of Billy's car pulling up outside. She took one last deep breath, steadying herself, and then grabbed her bag and headed out.
Billy was leaning against the hood of his car, arms crossed, that familiar cocky smirk on his face as she approached. His eyes flicked over her, taking in her outfit, and she could see the appreciation there, but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he pushed off the car and opened the passenger door for her, his grin widening.
"Ready for your big night out, princess?"
She rolled her eyes, slipping into the seat. "Just drive, Hargrove."
Billy laughed as he climbed into the driver's seat, the engine roaring to life as they sped down the quiet streets of Hawkins. The bar she'd picked wasn't too far, but it was far enough from the usual spots that they wouldn't run into anyone they knew. That was important. She needed to keep this off the radar, needed to keep her cover intact while still getting what she needed.
The drive was quiet at first, the tension between them simmering just below the surface. Billy seemed content to let her make the first move, his eyes occasionally flicking over to her as they cruised down the road. She could feel the weight of his gaze, but she kept her expression neutral, her mind focused on the task ahead.
When they finally pulled up to the small bar, Billy parked the car and shot her a sideways glance. "Not your usual scene, huh?"
She shrugged, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Maybe I've got layers you don't know about."
Billy's smirk returned, and he leaned in just a little closer. "Oh, I'm counting on it."
They stepped out of the car, the cool night air hitting her as she followed him toward the entrance. The bar was exactly as she'd remembered it—quiet, with just a few locals scattered around, most of them more interested in their drinks than in who was walking in. Perfect.
Billy held the door open for her, and she slid past him, her eyes scanning the room as they found a small booth in the back. It was the perfect spot—just far enough from the bar to avoid eavesdroppers but close enough to keep an eye on everything happening around them.
As they sat down, Billy leaned back in the booth, his eyes studying her with that same mix of curiosity and amusement he always had. "All right, princess. What's this really about?"
She kept her expression cool, offering him a small, teasing smile. "Maybe I just wanted to see if you could keep up with me."
Billy laughed, but there was an edge to it now, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "You're not like the other girls around here. You've got a secret."
Her heart skipped a beat, but she kept her face neutral, her smile never faltering. "Everyone's got secrets, Billy. Even you."
Billy held her gaze for a long moment, his eyes searching hers, but she didn't give anything away. Not yet. She was playing the long game, and for now, he was still in the dark.
The waitress came by, and they ordered drinks, the tension between them thickening as they waited. Billy was watching her closely now, more focused than he'd ever been at the pool. This was the side of him she needed to see—the side that didn't just play around, the side that thought deeper, questioned more. She had to keep him interested, keep him on edge without tipping her hand too soon.
The drinks arrived, and Billy took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're not here for small talk," he said, his voice low. "So, what are you really after?"
She leaned forward, matching his intensity. "Maybe I'm after the same thing you are."
Billy raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued now. "And what's that?"
"Something more," she said, her voice soft but with an edge that hinted at the secrets she wasn't ready to share. "Something real."
Billy's gaze darkened, and for a moment, they were locked in a silent standoff, neither of them willing to give up ground. But she could see it in his eyes—he was hooked now. He wanted to know more, wanted to figure her out.
And that was exactly what she needed.