March 7th, 1985
It took the entire night to drive to Chicago and I spent most of it stuck to Steve's side as close as I could get. The guy wasn't that comfy thanks to the zip ties but they eventually cut them off at around 4am. Kali and her gang realized that as long as I was there, Steve wasn't going anywhere. She found it quite cute that I refused to leave his side and kept mentioning how sweet the two us were together. I didn't believe any of her compliments since she tried to kill Steve a couple hours ago and looked as though she'd actually go through with it.
I was still wary of the girl and it only got worse when they pulled up in front of a medical building. It was a very large building and covered in windows which made the morning sun a tad bit blinding. I raised a brow as Kali pulled out a set of blueprints before turning to Steve and I.
"Dr. Coleman works on the fifth floor in a genetic research lab. You need to go there, talk to him and force him to restore your memories."
"And then what?" I inquired and Kali smirked.
"Then you'll be so angry you'll kill regardless of what I'm about to tell you," she shot back with a smirk and I glared daggers.
"I doubt that, I don't kill people," I shot back and Kali chuckled.
"He messed with you head and did something to your memories of out time at the lab. The answers that you've been looking for lie with him and trust me when I say it wasn't pleasant. That man did a lot to a lot of people, you included."
I hated how scared Kali sounded regardless of the fact that she kidnapped Steve and I. It was almost as if she grabbed us so I could be the one to deal with the doctor. There was something more going on with him and my only option was to go in there and find the answers I had been looking for.
"Can I talk to her, quickly?" Steve asked and Kali reluctantly nodded.
She moved back to near the front of the van and Steve shifted so that he was facing me. He grabbed my hands and held on tight so I could feel how nervous he was and hear the scared thoughts running through his head.
"You don't want me to go?" I asked and Steve nodded.
"No, I don't. I don't like this, any of this," he admitted and I nodded.
"I don't either. But I also know that every answer to every question lies inside that building," I informed and Steve sighed. "Besides, I need to know what he did because Kali sounded scared and I don't think that's a good thing."
"If you go in there then I can't go with you," Steve pointed out and I held his hands tighter.
"I know, but for this, I think it's better if I go in there alone. I need to face my own demons and I need to do it without using our connection as a safety net. The key to unlocking my past lies within those walls and I wanna go find it."
Steve sat there and thought for a second before letting out a sigh and pulling me in for a tight kiss. I wrapped my arms around him and willed all my confidence into him and kept it up until the worry had faded. Steve was just as certain as I was that it would turn out great and that's all I wanted. I sighed and turned to Kali before reaching towards the door to the van.
"I'll do it," I told her and she nodded as I got out.
I shut the van and brushed off my jeans before letting out a loud sigh and heading towards the building. It was even bigger up close and I stepped through the sliding doors before walking over to the lone receptionist. She raised a brow as I walked over and stood in front of the desk, my hands deep in my pockets.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Dr. Coleman."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No. But if you phone him and tell him Seven is here to see him, he'll let me up," I said and the receptionist eyed me before dialling his number.
She did exactly as I said and her eyes widened before she hung up the phone and turned to me.
"Floor five, room 502," she informed and I nodded with a quick thank you before heading to the elevator.
The ride wasn't that long and in just minutes I was standing in front of the door for room 502 which looked more like a lab. I lifted my hand to knock but the door swung open, revealing a man in a lab coat with disheveled greyish brown hair. He pushed his glasses further up his nose and peered at me as I stood there, rooted in place, my hand still in the air.
"Seven?" He asked and I nodded. Dr. Coleman grinned before pulling into the room and the closing the door before locking it.
The room was in fact a lab and filled with various equipment and test tubes full of random liquids. I eyed the rack nearest to me as Dr. Coleman stood there and studied me and I could tell that he was mentality taking notes about me.
"So...what brings you here, Seven?"
"Call me Ren," I said and the guy nodded.
"Of course. You can call me David," he informed and I nodded.
"I'm here for answers. Eight kidnapped me and my boyfriend and dragged us here, claiming that this place was where I could unlock the secrets of my past."
David nodded and walked deeper into the lab as I followed. He stopped at a curtain in the far corner before pulling it back, revealing a chair with a helmet attached that had a bunch of electrodes poking out of it. I eyed the chair and the restraints as David grabbed a file folder off a nearby cart.
"This machine is very unique, in the sense that it allows you to use your powers on yourself. You can dive into your own memories and see ones that even you didn't know you had."
I stared at David in mild shock before walking over and running a hand over the machine. I had assumed that using my powers on me was impossible and that diving into your own mind was nothing but a fantasy.
"How does it work?"
"The helmet sends out a different signal than you give it so the brain and your powers are disconnected. I've basically turned your own head into a whole other person and your powers believe it. Would you like to try it out?"
"Do you know what I'll find? What secrets you might be keeping?" I inquired and David's face fell.
"I see, that's why Eight brought you here. You'll find a past that's full of stupid things that I did and I won't put it past you if you're angry. But I also know that you'll find something shocking, a power beyond your greatest imagination and one that will change everything."
I stared at David in mild shock before moving closer to the chair, my mind begging at me to try it out. I sighed and nodded before sitting down and allowing him to strap me in and begin to prep the machine. He locked the restraints and assured me they were for my own protection before strapping the helmet to my head. A couple suction cups also latched onto my cheeks and neck before he announced that I was ready to go.
"Now, just use your abilities, the machine will do the rest."
I nodded and David flicked a switch which made my own brain feel distant and unfamiliar. I leaned back and closed my eyes before jumping into the memories in front of me, my memories, for the very first time. But it wasn't like the times before where I just watched them, I felt myself getting pulled towards them. I tried to resist but my mind persisted and I finally gave in before diving head first into the great unknown.
***
It felt like I was being pulling into the unknown as I hurtled towards a long forgotten memory. But my vision finally returned and I found myself as basically a fly on the wall, watching the memory play out in front of me. A young me was sitting at a table in a room with a rainbow painted on the walls as I played with a young Kali. She was creating little animals that were jumping around and fighting each other as we both laughed at the display. It shifted when Dr. Brenner walked over followed by a much younger Dr. Coleman. He smiled at the two of us as Kali and I got a bit closer, clearly afraid of the two men.
"Seven, Eight, this is Dr. David Coleman and he'll be the one taking care of you two from now on," Dr. Brenner informed and young me shook her head.
"No," I declared and Brenner frowned at me before kneeling in front of me.
"Seven, you're different from the other children here and Dr. Coleman can help you better than I ever could. He'll teach you how to use them and when you learn, you can go home."
I stared at Brenner before letting out a sigh and moving to stand next to Dr. Coleman. Kali wasn't so compliant and glared at them before bolting over to the doors. Dr. Coleman followed just as two guards burst in the room and grabbed her, pinning her to the ground. Kali tried to protest but Dr. Coleman just smiled and got down on one knee to get closer to her. He reached in the pocket of his coat and pulled out a syringe filled with deep red liquid. Kali stared at it, eyes full of fear as he smiled and brought it closer to her.
"To help you comply," Dr. Coleman informed and smiled before injecting Kali who tried to fight it but she quickly fell unconscious.
I wasn't as resistant and Dr. Coleman just walked right over and I stuck my arm out.
"Such a good girl," he cooed and injected me, catching me before I could fall.
I was then booted out of the memory but very quickly tossed into the next one which was set at a different lab. Dr. Coleman was there and so was Kali who seemed to be attempting to do something with her powers. I was there as well, seated in front of Kali with my eyes closed and it almost looked as though I was in pain. I raised a brow but was quick to realize that Kali was attempting to use her powers on me. I've tried to use mine on others like El but they always fail and I couldn't imagine the amount of pain you'd be in if you really tried.
But for Kali it looked as though she was really trying and based on the blood coming out of both nostrils, it wasn't going that well. Dr. Coleman was watching the entire thing go down and the man looked very angry at the fact that it wasn't working. Kali glanced at him and her eyes widened before she tried harder, blood now coming out of her ears as well. The me that was stuck watching everything was getting angrier, wishing that Dr. Coleman would allow her to stop. Kali was gonna end up seriously injuring herself if she didn't and yet all the man cared about was his research.
Kali eventually collapsed and broke down in tears, hands running over the blood from her ears. Dr. Coleman shook his head, clearly disappointed and grabbed Kali by her hair. He held her up and she started crying as the man got very, very angry.
"Please...I'm sorry," Kali cried out but Dr. Coleman just looked mad.
"Not good enough eight...you need to do better," he hissed and she nodded.
Dr. Coleman moved his hand from her hair to her arm and held on tight, almost to the point of breaking it. Young me finally did something and ran forward, knocking Dr. Coleman away from Kali. He reeled back and hit younger me before I could even react, sending me back and straight into a table.
"Seven!" Kali cried and Dr. Coleman tossed her aside before heading over to me.
"You little bitch, how dare you," he seethed. "You're not alone in this situation, you can also do better. In fact, your powers are so damn broken that you don't even have the right ones. Shapeshifting, terrible, should be mind control not body."
"What?"
"Dr. Brenner never told you, didn't want to kill you with trying to unlock it. But I'm not him. Now, see if you can do what Eight failed at."
Young me glared at Dr. Coleman before standing and moving over to Eight. I held out my hand and even though I was just watching the memory, I could still feel the strain on my powers. When I tried to use them on El when I first met her it felt like two opposite attracting magnets. It felt like you weren't supposed to be there and I couldn't imagine the feeling if you actually managed to accomplish it. It looked as though young me was having as much as Kali since she was also covered in blood by the end of it. But young me went further until the blood was also dripping out of my eyes. Less than a minute after and I collapsed in a heap which also knocked me out of the memory.
That one was interesting and it proved that there was more to my powers than I ever though possible. I was supposed to be able to mind control and the ability was apparently still there. It was also becoming clear how I screwed up my memory and the next memory, which felt like the last, would give me all the answers I needed. I breathed out a sigh before appeared and sure enough it was the exact same lab. I was standing in the corner and looked about sixteen so it was only a couple months before Kali and I left. It looked as though I was sweeping and I moved a bit closer, shocked to find that my arms were covered in bruises. It seemed even clearer that Dr. Coleman was a huge fan of hitting back and Kali and I didn't seem to get spared from his attacks. Kali herself walked over and pulled me aside, keeping one eye on Dr. Coleman who was sitting in his office.
"What?" younger me asked and she grinned.
"I want to escape," Kali muttered and young me raised a brow.
"Why?"
"Because we don't deserve this and we both know he's lying about everything," Kali hissed and glared at the dr.
"I know my dad is actually Jim Hopper in Indiana but we'll never be able to leave," younger me protested and I raised a brow at the fact that I didn't know dad was my dad.
Dr. Coleman lied about a lot of things and I was slowly starting to agree with killing him.
"You can make him let us leave," Kali whispered and younger me eyed her.
"You want me to mind control him...you know I can't do that."
"You've been getting stronger, I'm sure you'll be able to."
"Why don't I just stuff him in a memory?"
"He can block our regular powers but that ones all new, we have all the power," Kali reminded younger me just as Dr. Coleman appeared and glared at us.
Kali shot younger me a look and she sighed before nodding and waking over to Dr. Coleman. He raised a brow as younger me stood in front of him and smiled.
"I'd like to try again on Kali," younger me said and Dr. Coleman grinned before nodding.
Kali stepped forward and younger me was about to try my powers on her when she turned and focused them on Dr. Coleman. I could even feel the strain happening and it felt like a burning sensation starting at the base of my neck. Younger me's ears, nose and even eyes quickly started bleeding and she started screaming as Dr. Coleman let out a groan. He dropped to his knees as younger me tried even harder, the sides of the memory slowly starting to fade. By using mind control I was destroying my own mind and all the memories I made while with Dr. Coleman. It was why I didn't remember anything and why Kali assured me that Dr. Coleman did something terrible. I could've killed myself and it looked as though I almost did since Dr. Coleman and I both collapsed. The memory didn't fade and it continued but in choppy pieces, showing Kali dragging me all the way to the farm outside Hawkins. Once the final one faded and I woke up on the side of the road, my powers wore off and I was slowly brought back to consciousness.
It quickly became clear that I had been out of it for awhile since someone was shaking me and yelling my name. I also could feel something wet and reached up to find I was bleeding from both nostrils as well as my ears. I groaned in pain and tried to get the helmet off as the person came closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. I gingerly opened one eye to find Steve standing in front of me, looking very concerned.
"Steve?" I asked and he sighed in relief before pulling off the helmet.
"Ren, thank god. Are you alright?"
"Yeah...where's Coleman?"
"The doctor...Kali's with him. You were taking so long so we came looking for you. It was pretty shocking to say the least, to see you sitting there, covered in blood."
"It's about to get weirder," I muttered and stood before making my way over to Kali.
"Ren? Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I did and you're right," I informed and she smiled before stepping back.
Dr. Coleman was tied to an office chair and he started grinning when I walked forward.
"It worked! I can't believe my machine worked," he exclaimed and I glared daggers before standing right in front of him.
"It did and I plan on using what I saw to give you what you deserve. I apparently have some ability hidden deep inside and I'd like to unlock it."
Dr. Coleman stared at me in mild shock as I locked onto his mind but bypassed his memories. I tried to get past them but my own powers wouldn't let me and I decided to try and a different approach. I grinned and attempted to move the memories and bring ones forward that contained the things I wanted him to do. Like injure himself or just die altogether, which was a tad bit excessive and getting injured was more than enough. There were no memories about him injuring himself so I focused on where he watched someone get injured and tried to force his mind to recreate it.
It felt like it wasn't working until the bleeding started and Dr. Coleman began to twitch. My appendages started bleeding again and I could feel me own mind being twisted and pulled in all sorts of different directions. It didn't feel all that great and I dug in before the pain got even worse. It of course and I was on my knees before something finally started to happen. Dr. Coleman screamed and before I could force his mind to grab a knife and start the injuring process...the man stopped. His entire mind stopped and I fell back before raising a brow, my jaw dropping when I saw it.
"Ren...what the hell did you do?"
I turned to find Steve staring at me in pure shock as I slowly got to my feet. I stared at Dr. Coleman who was still sitting in his chair but had stopped moving. His eyes were bloodshot and his ears were bleeding but that was tame part. Dr. Coleman was also bleeding from his mouth and when I walked around the back of him it became clear what I did. I practically blew up his mind like a gun would since bits of it were staining the wall behind him. I stepped back in shock and slammed into Steve who wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
"Well...that was exciting," Kali muttered and I turned and glared at her.
"This is your fault, all your fault!" I shot back and she chuckled.
"You were the one that blew up his head. Come on, you did what I want and I'll drive you back to Hawkins." Kali walked out of the lab and I followed but was stopped by Steve.
"Hey...what happened?"
"I tried using a power that I'm supposed to have...mind control," I informed and his eyes widened.
"Your abilities can do that?"
"I guess...all I wanna do is go home and forget about this...ok?" Steve was about to protest but let out a sigh and nodded as I wrapped him in a hug.
"Thank you. I love you."
"I love you to, lets head home, spend the rest of spring break relaxing."
I nodded in agreement and we made our way back to van and attempted to leave the lab behind. But there was a part of me that would always remember what happened and what my powers can do. What happened at the lab wasn't normal and I was scared of what I could accomplish if I really put my mind to it. These powers were evolving and I was terrified of what would happened the next time they got that out of control.