The dawn painted the sky over Hawkins, Indiana, with orange hues, breaking the stillness of Mirkwood Forest. Cassian, Jill Valentine, and Terri Morales had spent the night in a clearing, taking turns keeping watch, though the forest's silence offered no immediate threats. Cassian, leaning against a tree, cleaned his dagger, his mind racing from his conversation with Helen the previous night. At 19, his youthful but battle-hardened face allowed him to blend into any crowd, though his intense eyes betrayed his divine lineage. Jill, holding a canteen, scanned the horizon, while Terri, curled up with her broken camera, tried to process her new reality. The sound of an engine shattered the calm, and a black jeep emerged from the trees, stopping a few meters away. Helen stepped out, her athletic figure clad in a leather jacket, her long blonde hair cascading in waves over her shoulders. Her eyes locked onto Cassian immediately, a mischievous smile crossing her face.
"I told you not to do anything stupid," she said, striding toward him quickly. Before Cassian could respond, Helen grabbed him by the nape and kissed him with fierce intensity. Their lips melded, her tongue exploring his with hunger, a low moan escaping her throat. Cassian reciprocated, his hands sliding to her waist, pulling her close, their bodies' heat colliding in a torrent of desire. The kiss was raw, charged with months of separation, their breaths mingling in a desperate dance. Helen softly bit his lower lip before pulling back, panting, her eyes gleaming with promises. "When we're done with Hawkins," she whispered, her voice husky, "you're going to make it up to me. I want you to fuck me until I forget my name, Cassian. Five months is a long time, and I'm not waiting any longer."
Cassian let out a low laugh, his fingers still on her waist. "Deal," he said, his voice deep, meeting her gaze with a spark of defiance.
Jill cleared her throat, breaking the moment. "Nice welcome," she said, with a touch of sarcasm. "Is it always this… passionate?"
"Only with him," Helen replied, turning with a smile. She assessed Jill and Terri, her gaze sharp but not hostile. "You must be Jill Valentine. And you, Terri Morales. Cassian told me about you both. Welcome to our mess."
"Charmed," Terri said nervously, standing. "Though I'm not sure how welcome I feel in a world with demons."
"You'll get used to it," Helen said, shrugging. "Or not. But if Cassian trusts you, that's enough for me. Now, we've got work to do."
"First, update me," Cassian said, turning serious. "Last night you mentioned Japan, the Winchesters, but what's happening here? And what do you have for us?"
Helen pulled a tablet from her backpack, displaying forged documents with government seals. "These are your tickets in," she said. "The Vatican has connections, and I have skills. Jill, you're a new police officer at the Hawkins station. Your tactical experience fits, and no one will ask questions. Terri, you and I will be civilian investigators hired by the Hawkins Lab. Impeccable documents, courtesy of a friend in Langley. Cassian, you're going to high school as a transfer student. At your age, you blend in perfectly, and it's the best way to get close to the kids who might know something about the portal."
"High school?" Cassian said, raising an eyebrow. "Not my idea of fun, but it'll work."
"Suffer in silence," Helen teased, winking at him. "And listen. Two months ago, someone tried to contact you. Susie. Remember her? The medium. She said she had a message, something about 'shadows seeking divine blood.' I couldn't track her down afterward, but once we wrap up Hawkins, reach out to her. It might be important."
"Susie," Cassian murmured, nodding. "I will. What else?"
"The Hawkins Lab," Helen continued, her tone growing serious. "Seven months ago, when you infiltrated it, we confirmed the portal to the Upside Down—by the way, I found that name in classified files; it's likely the dimension the portal opens to. Back then, you didn't know how to close it, and the place was chaos, but now it's under heavy surveillance. Military, scientists, private security. The Vatican believes that portal is the key to what's drawing the demons, but it's not tied to the anomalies across the U.S. It's a Hawkins-specific problem, and we need to move fast."
"And our plan?" Jill asked, crossing her arms. "I don't like going in blind."
"You won't," Helen said. "Each of us has a role. Cassian, you blend in with the students, especially Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington. They're seniors, tied to the portal events. Jill, at the station, you'll be close to the police chief, Jim Hopper. He's tough but knows more than he lets on. Terri and I, at the lab, will investigate the director, Dr. Sam Owens, and find a safe way to access the portal so Cassian can close it. We move slowly, gather intel, and when we're ready, we act."
"Sounds like a puzzle," Terri said nervously. "I'm not great with conspiracies, but… I'll try."
"You'll do fine," Helen said, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "Now, move out. Hawkins is waiting."
Hawkins High School buzzed with the energy of teenagers preparing for Halloween. The hallways were decorated with paper pumpkins and fake cobwebs, the air thick with the smell of sweat and cheap deodorant. Cassian, a backpack slung over his shoulder and a fake ID marking him as "Cassian Blake, transfer student," moved through the crowd, blending in effortlessly. At 19, his athletic build and natural charisma made him fit in, though his eyes carried a depth that set him apart. Helen had given him names: Nancy Wheeler, Steve Harrington, and a group of younger kids, including Mike Wheeler, all linked to the Upside Down.
In the cafeteria, he spotted Nancy and Steve at a secluded table. Nancy, with brown hair and a serious expression, flipped through a notebook, while Steve, with perfectly styled hair, tried to make her laugh. Cassian approached, tray in hand, and sat a few meters away, pretending to focus on his food. He caught snippets of their conversation: Nancy mentioned "Barb," her voice breaking, and Steve talked about a dinner with someone's parents. The pain in their voices hinted at secrets beyond typical teen drama.
"Hey, you new?" a voice asked. Cassian looked up to see a redheaded girl with a skateboard under her arm. Max Mayfield, also new, according to Helen's files. Her blue eyes studied him curiously.
"Yeah," Cassian replied, offering a calculated smile. "Cassian. Just moved here. You are…?"
"Max," she said, sitting down uninvited. "I'm new too. This place is a circus, but it's not bad. What brought you to Hawkins?"
"Needed a change," Cassian lied. "You?"
"Family stuff," Max said, evasive. "Look, if you want to survive, stick with the arcade kids. Dustin, Lucas, those guys. They're weird but cool."
"I'll keep that in mind," Cassian said, noticing Nancy and Steve getting up. "You know Nancy Wheeler?"
Max frowned. "Yeah, she's… intense. Always with Steve, the hair king. Why?"
"Just curious," Cassian said, standing. "Thanks for the tip, Max."
He approached Nancy and Steve in the hallway, intercepting them with a prepared excuse. "Hey, I'm new," he said, extending a hand. "Cassian Blake. Got lost looking for the chemistry classroom. Any help?"
Nancy eyed him warily, but Steve grinned. "Sure, man. I'm Steve. This is Nancy. Chemistry's on the second floor, I'll show you."
As they walked, Cassian tested the waters. "Heard Hawkins is… weird. Anything a newbie should know?"
Nancy's lips tightened, but Steve laughed. "Just stay out of the woods at night," he said, half-joking. "This place has stories."
Cassian nodded, noting Nancy's reaction. There was something there, a connection to the Upside Down he planned to uncover.
The Hawkins police station was a modest building, its walls covered with community flyers and the air heavy with the smell of stale coffee. Jill, in a new officer's uniform and a fake badge identifying her as "Jill Carter," entered with the confidence of someone who'd faced zombies. Helen's forged documents were flawless. The chief, Jim Hopper, was in his office, reviewing reports, his weathered face showing exhaustion. Jill knocked, and he looked up, sizing her up.
"You're the new one," Hopper said, not standing. "Carter, right? Where you from?"
"Chicago," Jill lied, her tone steady. "Wanted somewhere quieter. Though Hawkins doesn't seem as calm as they say."
Hopper gave a dry laugh. "You have no idea. Sit. You're patrolling with Callahan today. Keep your eyes open, especially around the fields. Something's… off with the pumpkins."
"Pumpkins?" Jill said, raising an eyebrow. "What, they rot before Halloween?"
"Something like that," Hopper grunted, offering no details. "Do your job, Carter. And no weird questions."
Jill nodded, but her instincts told her Hopper knew more, possibly about the Upside Down. While patrolling with Callahan, a chatty officer, she picked up rumors: rotting pumpkin fields, a kid named Will Byers with "strange episodes," and a lab everyone avoided mentioning. Jill filed away every detail, determined to get closer to Hopper. If anyone had answers, it was him.
Hawkins Lab was a fortress of concrete and barbed wire, transformed since Cassian's visit seven months ago, when he confirmed the Upside Down portal. Helen and Terri, posing as "Dr. Helen Price" and "Terri Evans, research assistant," passed security thanks to the forged documents. Their mission was clear: find a safe way to access the portal so Cassian could close it. Dr. Sam Owens, a middle-aged man with an overly friendly smile, greeted them in his office.
"Welcome," Owens said. "The Department of Energy appreciates civilian assistance. Your expertise in… environmental anomalies will be useful."
"We're here to help," Helen said, her professional tone masking her distrust. "We've heard about incidents in the area. Anything we should know?"
Owens looked away. "Nothing unusual. Soil contamination, maybe. Just stick to authorized areas."
Terri, nervous, nodded, but her eyes caught something: a map on the wall, with red-marked zones near the basement, where the portal was known to be. As Owens spoke, Helen whispered to her, "Keep your eyes open. We need to get into that basement."
Later, in a restricted hallway, Helen and Terri found a sealed door guarded by soldiers. A strange hum emanated from within, and Terri felt a chill. "That's the portal, isn't it?" she whispered.
"Probably," Helen said, pulling out a hacking device. "We need to bypass security without alerting Owens. Get ready, Terri. This is just the start."
That night, the group met at a diner on the edge of Hawkins, a place with fluorescent lights and the smell of fried food. Cassian shared what he'd learned from Nancy, Steve, and Max, noting their ties to Barb and the "strange events." Jill mentioned the pumpkin fields and Hopper's caginess. Helen and Terri discussed the lab, the hum, and the sealed door.
"The portal's active," Cassian said, his voice low. "If we don't close it, Hawkins will be the first step toward something much worse."
"And those kids? Will, Mike?" Jill asked. "If they're tied to the Upside Down, they could be our way in."
"Or a risk," Helen said. "Owens is hiding something, and that basement… it's our priority."
Terri, trembling, spoke up. "I don't know if I can do this, but… I want to help. If there are answers, I'll find them."
"We'll find them," Cassian said, looking at them all. "Together."
The diner fell silent, but outside, the shadows of Hawkins seemed to stir, as if they knew new hunters had arrived.