I/N = Insult Name
Y/N = Your Name
L/N = Last Name
november, 1983.
Y/N'S POV:
Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and I were sat in Mike's basement.
''A shadow grows on the wall behind you; swallowing you in darkness.''
''It is almost here.''
''What is it?'' Will asks.
''What if it's the Demogorgon?'' Dustin panics, ''Oh, jesus, we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon.''
''It's not the Demogorgon.'' Lucas tells him.
''An army of troglodytes storm into the chamber!'' Mike reveals as he slams down a figure onto the board.
Oh.
''Troglodytes?'' Dustin asks.
''Told ya.'' Lucas teases.
The boys fall into fits of giggles; due to their incorrect assumption.
''Wait a minute,'' Mike speaks up. ''Did you hear that? That sound. boom!''
Mike slams his fists onto the board.
''That didn't come from the Troglodytes. No, that came from something else.'
We all glance around in confusion.
Mike then slams a figure onto the board.
''The Demogorgon!''
We all groan in defeat.
''We're in deep shit!'' Dustin curses aloud.
''Will, your action?'' Mike quickly asks him.
''I-I don't know!'' Will stammers.
''Fireball him!'' Lucas demands.
''I'd have to roll a thirteen or higher!'' Will reminds him.
''Too risky.'' Dustin murmurs. ''Cast protection.''
''Don't be a pussy! Fireball him!'' Lucas says to Will.
''The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering!'' Mike raises his voice as he narrates. ''It stomps towards you...''
''Will, you gotta decide!'' I quickly step in.
''He roars in anger!'' Mike shouts.
''Fireball!'' Will finally decides as he throws the dice.
The dice rolls off the table and onto the floor somewhere.
We immediately rose up from our seats to go find the dice.
''Where'd it go?'' Lucas asks.
''I don't know!'' Will replies.
''Was it a thirteen?'' Dustin asks.
''How's he supposed to know?'' I scoff frustratingly.
''Mike!'' Karen yells as she opens the basement door.
Mike raises his head up to meet his mother's gaze.
''Mom, we're in the middle of a campaign!'' He whines.
''You mean the end?'' She points to her watch on her wrist. ''Fifteen after.''
''Got it!'' I yell as I grab the found-dice. ''It's a...''
''What is it?'' Lucas asks, impatiently.
''Well, if you'd let me finish...''
''It's a seven.'' I say.
We were out in the garage, waiting for Dustin.
The garage door opens and Dustin approaches us.
''There's something wrong with your sister.'' Dustin tells Mike.
''What are you talking about?'' Mike asks.
''She's got a stick up her butt.'' Dustin replies.
I bit my tongue to hold back a grin.
''It's because she's been dating that douche-bag Steve Harrington.'' Lucas says.
''I don't think he's that bad.'' I mumble.
Everyone has something against Steve.
He's the popular guy, the guy people dream to date.
Nancy is apparently dating him.
''Before Steve, Nancy wasn't a jerk.'' Dustin comments, recalling the past.
''She's always been a jerk.'' Mike insults.
''Nuh uh, she used to be cool.'' Dustin defends. ''Like the time she dressed up as an elf for our elder tree campaign.''
''Four years ago!'' Mike shouts over to Dustin who begins to bike away.
''Lucas, let's go.'' I say as I hop onto my bike.
Lucas hops onto his bike.
I turn my head to both the boys. ''See you tomorrow, Mike, Will.''
''Good night, ladies.'' Lucas jokes as he reaches his house.
''Kiss your mom night for me.'' Dustin says.
I was next door neighbors with Lucas, which had its uses.
''Bye, guys!'' I wave as they leave my line of sight.
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As I park my bike at school the next day, I notice my friends.
''Where's Will?'' I ask, glancing around.
''He probably just went to class early again.'' Lucas assures us.
''Yeah, he's always paranoid Gursky's gonna give him another pop quiz.'' Dustin agrees which relaxes me.
However, my relaxation wasn't long lived.
''Step right up ladies and gentlemen!'' A familiar voice speaks from behind us.
Troy.
''Step right up and get your tickets to the freak show!'' Troy adds.
''Who do you think would make more money in a freak show?'' Troy asks. ''Midnight, Toothless, I/N, or Frogface?''
James thinks for a moment.
''I'd go with Toothless!'' He mimics Dustin's voice.
''I've told you a million times. My teeth are coming in. It's called cleidocranial dysplasia.''
''Do the arm thing.'' Troy demands.
Dustin says nothing.
''Do it, freak!'' James adds.
Dustin sighs before taking his jacket off.
He then cracks his arm bones.
''It gets me every time!'' Troy groans as he walks away.
''Then why ask, shitface?'' I yell over to them.
''I think it's kinda cool.'' Mike speaks up. ''It's like you have superpowers or something! Like Mr. Fantastic!''
''Yeah, except I can't fight evil with it.'' Dustin reminds him.
The school bell rung, signalling class was over.
One by one, all the students ran to the door.
''Remember, finish chapter twelve and answer 12.3 on the difference between an experiment and other forms of science investigation.'' Mr. Clarke quickly spoke. ''This will be on the test, which will cover chapters ten through twelve.''
Once everyone had left; despite Mr. Clarke's warning, we waited patiently.
''So, did it come?'' Mike quickly asks.
''Sorry, kiddos.'' Mr. Clarke apologized with a sad expression. ''I hate to be the bearer of bad news but...''
My eyes fell to the floor in despair.
''It came.''
Just like that, my eyes found their way back to Mr. Clarke's with a glint of excitement.
We race into the AV club room to find it.
The Heathkit ham shack.
''Aint she a beaut?'' Mr. Clarke smiles at our reactions as Mike puts on the headphones.
''I bet you can talk to New York on this thing!'' Dustin exclaims.
''Think bigger.'' Mr. Clarke hints.
''California?'' I ask.
''Bigger.'' Mr. Clarke hints once more.
''Australia?'' Mike asks.
Mr. Clarke nods.
''When Will sees this, he's totally gonna blow his shit!'' Lucas exclaims happily.
''Lucas!'' Mr. Clarke scolds.
''Sorry.'' Lucas sheepishly mumbles.
''Hello, this is Mike Wheeler; president of Hawkins Middle AV club!'' Mike spoke in a ridiculous Australian accent.
''You're hurting my ears.'' I comment as I grasp my ears jokingly.
Dustin takes the headphones next.
''Hello, this is Dustin, and this is the secretary and treasurer of Hawkins Middle AV club!'' Dustin did an even worse Australian accent impression. ''Do you eat kangaroos for breakfast?''
''Do you guys want my ears to bleed?'' I scoff playfully.
Mr. Clarke chuckles at our silly antics.
There was a soft knock at the door.
''Sorry to interrupt, but may I borrow Michael, Lucas, Y/n and Dustin?'' Principal asks.
The police chief was at his side.
We sat in the Principal's office.
Everyone was talking at once.
''Okay, one a time!'' Hopper sighs before pointing to Mike. ''You.''
''He takes Mirkwood.'' Mike says casually.
''That sounds made up to me.'' A deputy spoke.
''No, it's from Lord of the Rings.'' Lucas corrected him.
''The Hobbit.'' Dustin spoke.
''It doesn't matter.'' Lucas calmly replies.
''He asked.'' Dustin argues the point.
''Hey, hey! What did I just say? One at a damn time!'' Hopper raised his voice. ''We'll go with you next.''
He points towards me.
''What my friends were trying to say was, the street where Cornwallis and Kerley meet. They call it Mirkwood.'' I explain with a few small hand gestures.
''Okay, I think I know that.'' Hopper leaned back in his seat.
''We can show you.'' Mike adds.
''No, after school you are all to go home immediately. That means no biking around looking for your friend, no investigating, no nonsense. This isn't some Lord of the Rings book.'' Hopper instructed.
''The Hobbit.'' Dustin mutters.
''Shut up.'' Lucas whispers as he slaps Dustin's leg.
Dustin lunges at Lucas.
''Do I make myself clear?'' Hopper asks.
We don't reply.
''Do I make myself clear?'' Hopper asks, although it was more of a demand. With more authority this time.
''Yes, sir.'' I reply.
Today, I was having dinner at Mike's house.
Karen always cooked the loveliest meals.
''We should be out there right now.'' Mike speaks up. ''We should be helping look for Will.''
''We've been over this, Mike.'' Karen calmly states. ''The chief says---''
''I don't care what the chief says!'' Mike snaps.
''Michael!''
''We have to do something. Will could be in danger.'' Mike quickly says.
''More reason to stay put.'' Karen replies.
''Mom!''
''End of discussion.'' She decides.
''So, me and Barbra are gonna study at her house tonight. That's cool, right?'' Nancy asks.
''No, not cool!'' Karen declines.
''What? Why not?'' Nancy asks.
''Why do you think? Am I speaking Chinese in this house?'' Karen retorts. ''Until we know Will is okay, no one leaves.''
''But you let Y/n come to dinner!'' Nancy argues.
''That's because it's at our house. And Ted can drive her back safely.'' Karen responds.
''That is such bullshit!'' Nancy complains.
''Language!'' Ted scolds.
''So we're under house arrest?'' Nancy scoffs. ''Just because their friend got lost on the way home from--''
''Wait, so this is Will's fault?'' Mike raises his voice angrily.
''Nancy, take that back.'' Karen orders.
''No!'' Nancy raises her voice too.
''You're just pissed off because you wanna hang out with Steve.'' Mike comments.
''Steve?'' Ted asks.
''Who's Steve?'' Karen asks.
''Her new boyfriend.'' Mike explains.
''You are such a douchebag, Mike!'' Nancy exclaims angrily.
''Language!'' Ted warns.
Nancy lets out a groan of defeat before storming off.
Mike just smirks.
''Nancy, come back.'' Karen quietly spoke.
''You see, Michael?'' Ted speaks up. ''You see what happens when---''
''What happens when what?'' Mike snaps. ''We're the only ones acting normal here. Me and Y/n are the only ones who care about Will!''
''That is really unfair, son.'' Ted replies. ''We care.''
Mike also leaves.
''Mike!'' Karen calls after him.
''Let him go.'' Ted carelessly says.
''I hope you're enjoying your chicken, Ted.'' Karen picks up Holly and leaves.
And that made for an awkward dinner.
Ted had driven me home.
I immediately jump into bed.
As soon as my head hit the pillow, I closed my eyes to fall into sleep.
But I heard a voice.
Groaning, my eyes open.
''Y/n?'' Mike spoke from the walkie. ''Do you copy?''
I reach over to my nightstand and turn on the walkie.
''I copy.'' I confirm.
''I'm worried about Will.'' Mike spoke.
''Yeah, this is crazy.'' Lucas's voice spoke from his end.
''I was thinking Will could've cast protection last night but he didn't. He put himself in danger to protect the Party.'' Mike says.
''What's your point?'' Lucas responds.
''My point is that he could've played it safe. But he didn't. He put himself in danger to help the Party.'' Mike replies.
''Meet me in ten.'' Lucas finally speaks.
The four of us biked to the woods; The last place Will was ever seen.
''Y/n.'' Mike sternly comments. ''Why aren't you wearing a coat or something?''
''Don't need to.'' I reply back.
We ducked under the blocker.
''Hey guys? Do you feel that?'' Dustin pointed upwards. ''Maybe we should head back.''
It had started to lightly drizzle.
The drizzling had turned to downright pouring.
Thunder roared in the distance.
''Guys, I really think we should head back!'' Dustin raised his voice.
''Seriously, Dustin? If you wanna be a baby then go home already!'' Lucas snaps.
''I'm just being realistic, Lucas!'' Dustin defends.
''No, you're just being a big sissy!'' Lucas insults.
I only wore my school outfit, without even a jacket or anything for sleeves.
''C-Can you t-two stop f-fighting for two s-s-seconds?'' I stutter as my teeth chatters from the cold rain.
''You ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad? And we're going to the exact same spot where he was last seen? And we don't have any weapons or anything?'' Dustin says to Lucas, totally ignoring me.
I shiver from the cold.
''S-Stop.'' I say again, attempting to stop an argument from progressing.
''Dustin, shut up.'' Mike scolds him.
''I'm just saying you---'' Dustin was cut off as the four of us hear a rustling nearby.
I spun around and pointed my flashlight at the figure.
The figure appeared to be a child.
A thin child at that.
She wore a yellow shirt, and she was cold. Much like me.
Her head was shaved, and her brown eyes were squinting.
We never broke eye contact.