#ch: phoebe hopper | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

strangerficsx · 8 months ago

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Prologue Four

story: Midnight Rain wc: 2.8k

[a/n: all characters, plot, etc. are not mine. The only thing I own is my original character. credit to gif owner.]

{ November 4, 1984 }

Author's point of view.

With a lifeless Phoebe laying on the ground, the air was filled with silence. A stranger appears, kneeling and examines the body. Without hesitation the male check for a pulse with his two fingers resting against the skin of Phoebe's neck. Her pulse is weak as be begins performing CPR. After a few attempts, her eyes flutter open. She begins a coughing fit, looking around panicked prior to seeing the male above her. Phoebe's chest rises and falls heavily, cursing. Pain seeped into her frail body whilst he helps her up and away towards Hawkins Memorial hospital.

The doctor's wheel her into a surgical room where she will stay for the next few hours before getting transferred to a recovery room. An unconscious phoebe's body settles in the bed beneath her. A heart monitor beats rhythmically beside her, her arms bandaged, her face bruised and scratched. Eventually, Phoebe gains consciousness as she begins panicking, unaware that she is safe and is getting the help she needs. Phoebe tries to speak, but all she can do is gurgle and whimper. She pushes the nurse's button, afraid she might die.

Soon a nurse responds, removing the tube from her mouth as she heaves. "Wh-Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital. You were attacked,"

"By what?"

"A wolf, maybe? The were unusual bites, but you're safe now. "Is there anything you'd like?

"Yeah, c-can you call The Byers residence, please?"

The nurse nods, stepping out the room as Phoebe lays her head against the pillow behind her. The nurse returns with a soft smile. "I couldn't get a hold of anyone."

Those word hurt Phoebe deep down, knowing that they were probably busy fighting those creatures that attacked her. But what if they were in trouble? So many thoughts ran through her tired mind as she eventually dozed off without realizing it.

After a month in the hospital, Phoebe was discharged, not knowing where to go. She stumbled through the town of Hawkins as people around her stared at her unpleasantly, but she continued and made it to the Henderson residence where she steps up to a bedroom window, peaking through. She watches Jennifer rummage through belonging that were shared with Phoebe, tears streaming down her best friends cheeks, knowing that her "death" hit the brunette hard. Phoebe had hot tears prick at her eyes as she continues on.

Is she gonna be okay knowing that her own best friend is heartbroken?

Phoebe holds her hand against her stomach, feeling the patch that lies against her healing wound. She needed a place to stay as she continued on, walking towards Maple Street. She sees the two story house in the distance as she continues toward the front door. Stepping on the front porch, she rings the doorbell as a brunette answers. Nancy Wheeler.

"Phoebe? I thought... I thought you died. That's what Jennifer told me at the Hawkins Laboratory."

"I did, yes, but was helped and went to the hospital for two months. I hate, uh, to ask this but do you have any extra clothing I could borrow till I have my own?"

"Yes, come on. My mom and I have a bunch of clothes in storage."

"Nancy?" Mrs. Wheeler called. "Who's at the door?"

"Oh, uh, it's just Jennifer. She came by to check up on me cause of what's happening on the news."

"Oh, okay."

Nancy quickly leads Phoebe up the stairs and into her bedroom. She takes off her dirty shoes, and clothing as the blonde gets handed some new clothes. She quickly throws them on before looking Nancy in the eyes.

"Don't tell Jennifer I was here, okay? I don't want her to know--"

"That you're alive?! You should tell her."

"No, no, no, I can't. Not yet...at least. Give me the next year to process my plan, OK? Please, don't say anything about me, not even where I was."

"Okay, I swear not to tell her, jeez."

Phoebe leaves quickly, swiftly stepping down the steps before leaving the Wheeler house entering the bright neighborhood. She heads for her grandfather's hunting cabin, a place she hasn't been for many years as she hopes and prays someone will be there. And sure enough, her father was there stepping out of the wooden refuge, locking up.

"Dad,"

The tall male stiffened up, arms dropping to his sides before turning his head slowly. They made eye contact with each other as he hurriedly runs down the few steps and toward his daughter, scooping her in his arms. Phoebe wraps her arms around his waist, sobbing into his shirt.

"Oh, my girl, My beautiful girl."

"D-Dad, I'm here."

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Lost,"

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry. You could've called me for help. The police station would've helped too."

"I-I know, Dad. I didn't want to scare anyone."

"I was scared, thinking you were dead." He sobs.

Phoebe held onto him tightly. Her face buried in his chest, weeping. They stand there for a long while before she pulls away from her father, looking him in his teary eyes. She could tell he was in pain as was in pain too. How does she explain that Hopper's little girl died and came back to life?

He brings her into the cabin, sitting at the small table in the kicthen. They sit opposite of each other. Phoebe clears her throat, siffling.

"What happened?" He asks.

"Well, when I was in the junk yard with Steve Harrington and Jennifer and the kids and I got scared, and ran away. Without thinking, I kept running unaware of the creatures. And, t-they attacked me." She stops, sniffling. Her voice became shaky. "I died, technically. Somehow, someone found me. They brought me back, and took me to Hawkins Memorial. But here I am, Dad. I'm here. And I promise to be here, if you promise to be here with me."

"I promise,"

He brings his daughter into his arms after she stepped onto the wooden planks. It creaked beneath her foot. And they kept those promises until the unthinkable happened later in 1985.

{ the journal of phoebe hopper - 1985}

Phoebe sits, hunched over a table at the food court, writing in her notebook.

'Today is June 30, 1985 and here I sit in Starcourt Mall by myself drowning in the dark thoughts that cloud my mind. Across sat various shops as one keeps me distracted: Scoops Ahoy. The place where Jennifer Henderson works at. She still doesn't know where I am or what I am doing since the last time she saw me was when I died last year.

My father has kept me a secret from everyone we knew. As I hope no one reveals that I had survived being attacked by monstrous creatures in the junkyard. I sit here, trying to process the right things to do or say, not wanting to be a stalker when it came to spying on my best friend. But to others it looks like it, as I try to keep low. Most people knew about my death, but many didn't know I came back from the dead and am haunting Hawkins.

To Jennifer, I hope you understand why I am doing this. This is for your own good, so I can process what happened and to try and figure out how to make things right after you find me.

And someday you will just not at the moment. Jennifer Henderson, wait for me in '86. I'll make sure to explain everything.'

She closes her notebook as she rises walking away from the table, leaving the mall and never looking back. Throughout the summer of '85, she felt as if the world was about to end. Phoebe had nothing to go off of, if her friends were okay, if her dad was alright. Unfortunately, her father kept the promise all the way to July 4. The day her father perished under Starcourt Mall.

———

Days turned into weeks.

Weeks turned into months.

Months turned into a year.

The current year is 1986, and the blonde had no intention searching for her best friend, and gave up. Things to her were different, she hid from everyone still in her father's cabin in the woods, as Phoebe knew her dad was never coming back, so she is left to attend a damaged cabin herself from the events of last year. She didn't know what broke the ceiling, but thought it was a fallen tree that had been ran into and has been removed since, but she was way off.

The few things she wasn't aware of was that a creature from the another dimension is terrorizing students, a freak being blamed for the murder of a cheerleader, a girl trying to fight off the terror of a horrific event, the byers family moving to another state, her father being captured by russians, and so much more.

Today was March 20 as she read on the news paper she had came across on her trip into downtown Hawkins to retrieve more groceries. Phoebe fell into a dark state of depression, but continued as she was coming to terms with confronting Jennifer.

And that was what she planned on doing, she will do it in the next few days...

Her story begins again.

Somewhere else in hawkins...

{ October 4, 1985 }

Jennifer walks away, forcing her tears back as she steps toward the door, grabbing her coat that laid against the peg of the coat rack. She slides on her jacket before picking her keys from her pocket before walking out the door, shutting it behind her. Hot tears pour from her eyes.

Jennifer puts the keys in the ignition as she starts the engine. Driving, she wipes away droplets of salty water, but the tears keep coming, staining the delicate skin of her cheeks. Jennifer stops beside Hawkins High School. In the back, a forest sits as she puts the car in park. She grabs her small backpack and walks away from the school and through dry, large trees. Jennifer stops in her tracks when an empty picnic table sitting all by its lonesome, catches her eye.

Jennifer strides toward the bench and takes a seat, resting her chin on her palm. When Jennifer unzips her bag to retrieve the leftover box of cigarettes she got from Steve, a twig snaps as it catches her off guard, startling her. She zips her bag up, rising from her seat. Not knowing where the noise came from, a male with long curly hair approaches. He holds his hand up.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"Yeah, well, you did."

The two make eye contact as Jennifer watches the male closely. Knowing that he likely goes to Hawkins High, Jennifer calms down slightly but is still on top of her surroundings and approaches the following small talk carefully. The two sit at the table together as the male stares in Jennifer's direction. She catches his gaze, looking into his big brown eyes. Something inside Jennifer flutters, eyes still red from crying.

"So, what's your name, mystery girl?"

"It's Jennifer Henderson."

"Eddie Munson." He looks away, coming back. "Henderson? Why does that surname ring a bell."

"Hmm, don't know. I have a younger brother who goes to Hawkins High School. His name's Dustin."

"Holy shit, you're his sister."

"Yup, he is. My annoying little brother." Jennifer smiles.

"He happens to be in my D&D club." Eddie adds.

"D&D?" She questions, brows furrowed.

"Dungeons and Dragons. It's a club for--"

"For nerds? Yeah, he's mentioned it a few times, but with the crazy stuff I've endured the last two and a half years -- nah, no, I don't like it."

"Well... You seem to like this spot."

"Yeah, it's peaceful and no one's around. I went here for four years, and did not know about this spot. I just found it like a few minutes ago when I left-- I left 'cause I just broke up with someone, and needed some peace and quiet. But now, company sounds nice knowing that I was alone."

"I can't argue with that one. I too, would leave and go somewhere to cool down from anything."

"Hey, you seem... cool. I'd like to get to know you better. Is that--"

"Okay? Sure, we can. How about, this spot is our spot. The the two of us, to get to know one another."

"Yeah, I'd like that."

They smile at each other as a distant bell rings, notifying the two that class has either started or ended. They make eye contact once again, this time holding each other's gaze.

"It was nice meeting you, Henderson."

"You too, Eddie. I feel slightly better,"

"Good,"

Jennifer rises and takes her time to carefully gets back to her car.

{ January - February 1986 }

The only thing Jennifer Henderson did was push people away, so she decided to make a plan to see someone. She found a support group that was hosting every day in the afternoons, so she decided to go. Most of her time was spent her time in the program for people who lost someone important to them. Group therapy is what most people called it. She also attended because she's been having problems drinking and smoking, afraid her friends and boyfriend may judge. With worry, she didn't say anything and kept quiet. The only thing she told her mom was that she was visiting a family member in Detroit, Michigan and to tell people that she's okay.

Once she was gone, everyone around wondered where she was including Steve... but she will be back to try and explain things. That's what her plan was.

{ Friday, March 20, 1986 }

It's been almost two years since Phoebe passed away in 1984, and she has never been better. After seeing a shrink for the last few months (after the violence and terror at Starcourt Mall), Jennifer has been able to cope with her emotions toward the PTSD. Now happy as well, she's hoping this year won't bring anymore surprises from the Upside Down. Not after the last three years; from Will going missing to battling demodogs, to a spider-like creature at The Starcourt Mall. She is able to put her stress aside.

Today, though, Jennifer returned to her life. She enters Family Video with her nametag in hand. At the counter, Steve and Robin eye her. He stands with his arms crossed and Robin gives the brunette a serious look.

"Uh... What's wrong with you guys this morning?"

"Well, you haven't been at work in, like, two months--"

"What's going on with you? Are you OK? Are you sick?" Steve cuts in, shifting his stance but his arms continue to stay folded against his chest.

"Steve, I'm... I'm fine. I've been out because..." She trails off.

Jennifer continues standing her her place before approaching the counter. She swallows as the corners of her mouth mouth dips into a frown. Her eyes lower to the floor, trying to find the right words to say.

"Jesus. Just confess, please?" Robin asks, begging as she holds a tape in her hand.

"I've been getting help for my problems. I fell into dark depression, and went to an emotional support group, or group therapy.

"What?" Robin and Steve ask in unison. Steve was mostly worried, but Robin she wasn't sure how to respond.

"Yeah,"

"Jesus Christ, Jen. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry anyone and thought no one cared since everyone had their own problems."

"I think we all sure our own problems. Especially last year when we fought the spider creature at Starcourt."

"Yeah, and you and me, especially. We've been through fighting a demogorgon, demodogs, the mind flayer, and your friend dying plus the spider creature.

"Okay, well, wan we work and just forget I told you guys this?"

The two nodded as Robin got to work, but Steve stood there and stared at her. "I am happy you're back, Jennifer. However, please tell me what's going on. No more secrets, ok?"

"Yes," She plants her lips on his, stepping back as he turns and walks away.

Hooking the nametag on her vest, Jennifer enters the back and pulls out a stack of VHS tapes, exiting. She carefully walks toward the nearby shelf, loading the tapes on the shelf. She turns her head, glancing at Steve, who talks to a girl as he shows her various VHS tapes. Ever since the breakup, things have been awkward between the two. But they have been keeping their distance.

That night, things began to feel different. Uneasy for Jennifer as she stepped into her house. shutting the door behind her, the brunette makes her way towards her bedroom where she dresses from her work clothes to pajamas. Jennifer removes her makeup and unpins her hair. She quickly freshens her breath before settling into her bed.

"A new day. I hope."

Unfortunately, the next week will be anything but normal for Jennifer Henderson as something mysterious and more sinister comes back to Hawkins for another scare.

#midnight rain #stranger things #stranger things fic #prologue iv #stranger things oc #stranger things season four #ch: jennifer henderson #emily rudd #ch: phoebe hopper

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