In a flashback, Eleven awakes in the shadowy labyrinths of the Upside Down middle school, her mind still swirling from the intense battle that vanquished the monster at the climax of the previous season. Frantically escaping the twisted realm, she flees to Mike's house, only to encounter it besieged by government agents eager to capture her. Alert to the danger, she stealthily ducks into the surrounding woods, concealing herself from their relentless pursuit.
In the present, Eleven eagerly begs to join the Halloween festivities, longing to partake in the traditional trick-or-treating. Hopper, however, remains cautious, warning her of the perils that await. Despite this, he promises to return home early, laden with candy, to celebrate the special occasion with them. But while at work, he stumbles upon a startling revelation - the mysterious blight has infected farms across the town, demanding his undivided attention. Unable to contain the situation, he reluctantly breaks his promise to Eleven.
Meanwhile, Dustin and Lucas embark on a mission to persuade Max to join their Halloween festivities, inviting her to share in their merriment. Initially skeptical, Max finds their enthusiasm irresistible and decides to give them a chance.
Nancy, on the other hand, is torn between her desire to inform Barb's parents of her untimely demise and Steve's warnings of potential danger. Later in the evening, at a lively Halloween party, Nancy finds herself overcome with emotion and confesses to Steve that her heart does not belong to him. Angry and hurt, Steve storms off, asking Jonathan to escort her home.
The party continues its trick-or-treating adventure, dressed as Ghostbusters, with Max now joining their ranks. Lucas and Dustin are thrilled to have her along, but Mike finds her presence a grating annoyance. Suddenly, their sugar-fueled quest is interrupted by a chilling revelation - Will experiences another vision of the shadowy monster from the Upside Down, lurking in the shadows and reaching out to capture him. Alarmed, Mike escorts the shaken Will home to discuss his visions, confessing that he is still desperately trying to reach out to Eleven.
Frustrated and disappointed by Hopper's broken promise, Eleven attempts to contact Mike but fails. Upon returning home, Dustin stumbles upon an unexpected discovery - the mysterious noises emanating from his trash can are revealed to be the sounds of a strange creature hiding within its confines.
