Returning from a friend’s, Will noticed something deeply unsettling. Close by, a dark secret festered within the confines of a government laboratory.

Lucas, Mike, and Dustin attempted to speak with the girl they had discovered in the woods. Meanwhile, Hopper questioned a visibly anxious Joyce about a disturbing phone call she had received.

A growing unease settled upon Nancy as she sought out Barb, piecing together the details of Jonathan’s recent activities. Meanwhile, Joyce felt a persistent sense that Will was attempting to reach her.

Joyce refused to accept Will's death, clinging to any possible connection with her son. Meanwhile, the boys endeavored to give Eleven a new appearance. Elsewhere, Nancy and Jonathan found themselves forging an unexpected bond.

As Nancy and Jonathan faced the entity that had abducted Will, Hopper forced his way into the laboratory. Meanwhile, Will’s friends sought guidance from Mr. Clarke, inquiring about the means of traversing to another dimension.

Jonathan moved through the darkness with a desperate urgency, searching for Nancy, though he was not the only one. Steve was also seeking her. Meanwhile, Hopper and Joyce pieced together the unsettling reality of the laboratory’s experiment…

Eleven strained to connect with Will, a desperate effort against the growing darkness. Meanwhile, Lucas issued a grim warning: "They're coming." Nancy and Jonathan then presented the police with the footage Jonathan had captured on camera.

Dr. Brenner detained Hopper and Joyce for questioning, leaving the boys to await news with Eleven in the gymnasium. Meanwhile, back at Will's house, Nancy and Jonathan made preparations for what lay ahead.