The Greyhound bus rolled to a stop in Hawkins, Indiana, a town that seemed trapped in time. Levi stepped off, adjusting the strap of his duffel bag as he took in his surroundings. The town was smaller than he expected, eerily quiet, yet tinged with an undercurrent of something... unnatural. But that didn't matter. He had a mission.
He wasn't just passing through. He was infiltrating Hawkins National Laboratory.
Getting Inside
Forging credentials had been easy. A few well-placed spells, some modified documents, and a well-crafted backstory painted him as a young scientific prodigy, eager to assist with the lab's research on electromagnetism and alternative energy sources. The officials at the lab were skeptical at first—a teenager in government research?—but Levi had an answer for everything.
His alias? Dr. Levi Harper, apprentice scientist.
When he stepped through the gates of Hawkins National Laboratory, Levi knew he had entered a place where science had gone too far.
The Scientists
Levi was assigned to Dr. Matthew Ryland, a physicist obsessed with electromagnetic anomalies. Ryland was sharp, inquisitive, and always questioning everything, which made Levi's job harder. Then there was Dr. Valerie Kensington, a biochemist specializing in neurological effects of radiation exposure. She had a sharp wit, saw through lies, and would be a dangerous enemy if she ever got suspicious. Rounding out the team was Dr. Owen Trask, an engineer who seemed more interested in UFO conspiracies than actual research.
Levi had to play his role carefully.
"Dr. Harper, you're with me today," Ryland said on Levi's first day, leading him to a lab filled with tangled wires, blinking monitors, and large machinery humming with unfathomable energy.
Levi nodded, keeping his expression neutral. This was the lab where the Gate had been opened.
Blending Science and Magic
Levi's goal wasn't just to observe—he needed to understand the forces at play. The lab's technology, their experiments on the Upside Down, their electromagnetic research... it was all connected to something bigger.
But Levi had another angle.
He tried to merge science and magic.
In the privacy of the unused lab rooms, he pulled out his wand. Alohomora. A locked cabinet popped open, revealing classified documents. Easy. Lumos Maxima. The flickering lab lights steadied, glowing with an unnatural radiance.
But when he tried to infuse magic into their experiments, things went wrong.
The first time, he whispered, "Finite Incantatem," trying to neutralize an unstable electromagnetic field. The energy surged instead, causing the monitors to explode.
The second time, he used "Diffindo" to sever a frayed power cable. The result? A blackout in half the facility.
Science and magic refused to cooperate.
Levi realized something terrifying: whatever power the lab was tapping into was beyond both magic and science.
Secrets of the Lab
Over the next few weeks, Levi learned more about the lab's experiments.
They weren't just studying energy fields—they were studying consciousness itself. The scientists believed they could access alternate dimensions through psychic amplification, using human subjects with extraordinary abilities.
One night, under the cover of his Invisibility Cloak, Levi slipped into the restricted areas. He navigated the cold, sterile hallways until he reached a hidden sublevel. Room 011.
Inside, he found files on test subjects.
Subject 001 – Unknown. Escaped.
Subject 002 – Deceased.
Subject 003 – Deceased.
Subject 011 – Active.
Eleven.
Levi clenched his fists. The lab had been experimenting on children.
But the most disturbing file was labeled Project Mind Flayer.
It detailed an unknown entity, something beyond their understanding, something that wasn't just an experiment, but a mistake.
The Watchful Eye
Levi's infiltration hadn't gone unnoticed.
Dr. Kensington had been watching him. One evening, as Levi reviewed documents in the research wing, she appeared in the doorway, arms crossed.
"You're not like the others," she said.
Levi kept his expression blank. "I don't know what you mean."
"You disappear for hours, show up in places you're not supposed to be, and somehow know things you shouldn't." Her gaze was sharp. "I don't trust you."
Levi met her stare. This was dangerous. If Kensington reported him, his cover could be blown.
"I just want to understand the work here," he said smoothly. "Don't you?"
She studied him for a moment before turning away. "Just remember," she said, glancing back. "People who dig too deep tend to disappear."
A warning.
Levi exhaled. He needed to move carefully.
What Lies Ahead
Levi had learned enough to know that Hawkins Lab was playing with something beyond their comprehension. The Mind Flayer. The Upside Down. Eleven. It was all connected.
And if he didn't act fast, the lab would doom them all.
He had to prepare.
Because the storm was coming.