She leaned in slightly.
"You might find this shocking… but I've been familiar with this place for, oh…"
Her eyes flickered with something dark.
"…around four years now."
After hearing her words, they all couldn't help but exchange confused looks. Questions were already swirling in their minds.
Before they could process anything further, the girl's next words hit them like a shockwave.
"Henry brought me here… four years ago."
The moment they heard that name, Nancy's eyes widened. "Vecna," she whispered, unable to stop herself.
The girl—calm just moments ago—looked genuinely startled. "Wait… you guys know Henry?"
And suddenly, she burst into laughter. Loud, sharp, unsettling laughter that sent chills down their spines.
Still laughing, she said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I really am—but what can I do? So let me get this straight… you're the group who fought Vecna all this time… and nearly killed him eighteen months ago? God, I've been dying to meet you all."
Steve stepped forward, suspicious. "How do you know so much about us?"
"Oh, please," the girl said, waving her hand. "Let me introduce myself properly first. You can call me Raven."
The moment she said her name, something dark flickered in her eyes—shadowy, unsettling.
"Now," Raven continued, "let me tell you my story, so you understand who you're dealing with."
"I was adopted by the military. I know, it sounds crazy, but it's true. They raised me, trained me, used me for their dirty work. Missions where someone needed to disappear… without a trace."
A cold shiver ran through the group.
"Well, four years ago, I was in Hawkins—just wandering around, enjoying a quiet evening—when one of the monsters attacked me. I was so annoyed I didn't even think. I just… killed it."
"Wait… what?" Steve blurted out. "You killed the first demogorgon you saw? You carry weapons everywhere?"
Raven smiled, completely unbothered. "Of course not, silly. I killed it with my hands… and whatever I could grab nearby. Honestly, it was fun. That day was so entertaining."
They all stared at her—some thinking she was lying, others thinking she'd completely lost her mind.
Raven continued, "Well, after that day, more and more monsters kept coming for me. But like I said—I was raised by the military. They could never reach me."
She paused, her expression shifting. "But then… one night, while I was fast asleep, I suddenly felt like I'd fallen out of my bed. When I opened my eyes, it looked like my room… but it wasn't. The air was cold, the walls felt wrong, and there was this weird smell."
Her voice dropped slightly. "And then I saw it. A red-orange tear on the floor—the same one the military men described as the gateway the creatures used."
"And then I saw Henry," she said flatly. "He raised his hand—like he was trying to do something to me—but nothing happened. That's when I realized psychic powers don't work on me."
They stared, stunned.
Raven smirked a little. "As for Henry… he invited me to join his side."
All of them snapped their heads toward her, eyes wide.
Raven chuckled softly. "Hey, don't look at me like that. Relax—I'm not with him. At least… not right now."
Nancy, standing behind Jonathan, snapped, "What do you mean 'not right now'?"
Raven shrugged. "I mean, he asked me to join him, but I didn't care about his goals, so I said no. Still… I told him I might help him sometime in the future if I felt like it. Oh, and don't tell the military. That's our little secret."
Nancy's voice rose sharply. "So you're saying you could still side with Vecna if you want?!"
Raven flashed a teasing smile. "Yeah."
Nancy looked like she was seconds away from exploding.
Before she could, Steve stepped in. "Okay—can you at least tell us what Vecna's objective is?"
Raven tilted her head. "Why would I tell you? I could… but later. When I meet everyone, I'll tell you."
Steve sighed, irritated. "Then what do you even want from us?"
Raven's playful expression vanished. "Well, by now it should be obvious—I'm connected to both Henry and the military. And you guys? You're a headache for both sides. So… what exactly should I do with you?"
The air grew thick with tension. No one dared move.
Then suddenly Raven burst into loud laughter. "Oh my god—I think I scared you all. Relax! Your bad luck ends here." She grinned wide. "I'm bored of this place and I want to meet the rest of your little team. I can get you out of here. So—what do you say?"