Dear Diary, Today was another strange day in Hawkins, and honestly, I’m starting to think there’s more going on than anyone realizes. It all began when I woke up this morning, and I noticed that the power was flickering in my house. At first, I thought it was just a typical outage, but then I remembered that the lights downstairs flickered last night too. It’s like the town has been acting weird lately, and I can’t shake the feeling that something dangerous is lurking just beneath the surface. As I got ready for school, I saw Max outside riding her skateboard. She looked nervous, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds. I asked her if everything was okay, but she just shrugged and said it was nothing. Still, I could tell she was hiding something. During breakfast, my brother Will kept asking me if I’d heard about the strange noises coming from the woods at night. He sounded scared, and for the first time, I started to wonder if maybe the stories I’d heard from him about that mysterious creature weren’t just tales to scare younger kids. At school, things felt different. The hallways were unusually quiet, and I noticed a few students acting weird—glancing around nervously or whispering in hushed tones. During science class, our teacher, Mr. Clark, mentioned unusual electromagnetic activity, but he quickly brushed it off as a technical glitch. I couldn’t help but think there’s more to it. After school, I decided to visit the old Hawkins Laboratory, the place everyone avoided because of the rumors that it was abandoned or haunted. Today, I saw lights flickering inside, even though I knew the building had been shut down years ago. As I moved closer, I saw a faint glow coming from one of the windows. My heart pounded because I remembered the stories about secret experiments and strange creatures. Suddenly, I heard a rustling noise behind me. I spun around and saw a figure dart behind a tree. It was small, maybe no taller than a child, and it moved so quickly I couldn’t get a good look. I thought about chasing after it but decided to stay hidden. Whatever that was, it seemed dangerous, and I didn’t want to get caught in something I didn’t understand. Later that evening, I overheard my parents talking about strange power surges and odd animal behaviors all over town. My mom said she heard rumors about government experiments and people disappearing. I wanted to tell them what I saw at the laboratory, but I wasn’t sure if they’d believe me. It’s hard to explain these things without sounding crazy. Now, as I sit here writing, I keep looking out the window, wondering if I’ll see that strange figure again or if there’s something even more terrifying lurking in Hawkins. I can’t shake the feeling that we’re all being watched, and that whatever is happening isn’t over yet. I just hope I can figure out what’s real before it’s too late. Tomorrow, I plan to go back to the woods and see if I can find any more clues. Maybe I’ll discover what that creature is or what those lights are hiding. Whatever happens, I’ll keep my eyes open. Hawkins may look like an ordinary small town, but I’ve learned that sometimes, the most ordinary places hide the most extraordinary secrets. – Sam

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.