Chapter Text
The flickering of the lab lights and blaring of alarms deafens an older man as he sprints down the sterile hallways. As his feet pound the hallway, all he can hear is his own breathing as his lungs fight to expand and release.
As he skids towards the elevator, he smashes the button, hoping and praying that today will be his lucky day where the damn thing works for once.
The elevator doors slowly glide open as the man ducks into the, pounding on the next set of buttons so hard, imprints of the button are dented into his hand.
Flickering of lights down the hallway in front of him and an animalistic growl causes his body to tense up. As he slowly raises his head, he is met face to face with a disgusting, slimy monster.
All that was left from the man was his screams trapped in time as the creature tears him apart.
“Something’s coming. Something hungry for blood.” A small boy with black hair says, looking over his book at his friends gathered around the table. “A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness.”
Two of the kids, a boy and girl that look so much alike, they would have to be twins, huddle together, staring at the black haired boy.
“It is almost here.” Says the black haired boy, Mike.
“What is it?” Asks one of the brunette boys, Will.
“What if it is the Demogorgon?” Asks the other brunette boy and the girl, Dustin and Margot.
The twin boy of Margot, James huffs back in his chair, done with his sister’s assumptions. “We are screwed if it is the Demogorgon.”
“It’s not the Demogorgon.” Hisses the last of the kids, Lucas.
“An army of Troglodytes charge into the chamber!” Mike announces, slamming a miniature figurine of a six winged beast onto the drawn out map. “Their tails drum the floor. Boom! Boom! Boom!”
“Troglodytes?! What the hell?” Margot spits out.
“Told ya.” Responds Lucas with a small scoff.
Dustin loses it, doubling over with laughter before Mike looks at him, leaning forward a bit. “Wait... do you hear that? Boom! Boom! BOOM! That sound... it didn't come from the Troglodytes. No. It came from something else...“ Mike slams down a two headed monster figurine. “THE DEMOGORGON!”
All five of the other kids stare at him before Dustin breaks the silence. “We are in deep shit.”
“Will, your action!” Mike urges, kicking the boy across from him under the table.
“I-I don’t know.” Will stutters out trying to think of anything to do.
“Fireball him!” Lucas yells.
“He’d have to roll a thirteen or higher.” James says back, groaning.
“It’s too risky. Use a protection spell." Margot urges Will.
“Don’t be a pussy. Fireball the freak.!” Lucas says, leaning into Will’s space a bit.
“Cast protection dude!” Margot says, leaning over Dustin to get closer to Will.
Mike slams his hands on the table, pulling them out of their argument. “The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering. It stomps toward you. BOOM!”
“Fireball him Will!” Lucas screeches.
“Another step. BOOM!”
“Cast protection!” Margot screeches back.
“It roars in anger!” Mike yells over the two right as they yell at the same time “Fireball!” and “Protection!”
“And!” Mike drags the word out.
“FIREBALL!” Will yells, throwing the dice onto the table. Too hard. They all scatter off to the other side of the basement.
“Where did it go?” Lucas asks, jumping up from his seat.
“I don’t know.” Will says, following his lead.
“Is it a thirteen?” Margot asks as all the boys jump up from their seats, looking for the dice.
“I don’t know!” Will yells at her.
The boys scramble around, looking for the dice when suddenly the basement door wipes open, revealing a woman in her late 30s. It is Karen Wheeler, Mike’s mom.
“Mom, we're in the middle of a campaign.” Mike complains, looking up at his mother from the bottom of the stairs.
“You mean the end. It’s fifteen after.” Karen says, tapping her watch to prove her point.
All the kids let out groans and sighs in dismay as Mike scrambles up the stairs.
“Just twenty more minutes.” Mike begs.
“It's a school night, Michael, and I just put Holly to bed. You can finish next weekend” Karen responds, finishing up on cleaning the leftovers from dinner up.
“That'll ruin the flow.” Mike whines.
“Michael-” Karen starts to say.
“I'm serious, Mom! It took two weeks to plan. How was I supposed to know it'd take ten hours?” Mike tries to explain, but all Karen could focus on was the amount of time spent playing.
“Ten hours?” She huffs in response, trying to keep her cool.
In the living room, Mike’s father, Ted is watching tv, or trying to at least. The screen fills with static as he smacks the top of the tv.
Mike grunts and turns to his dad. “Dad, don't you think-”
Ted is too busy smacking the top of the tv to pay attention to his son. “I think you should listen to your mother. DAG DUMB PIECE OF JUNK!”
In the basement, the rest of the kids are packing up their backpacks
“Does a seven count?” Will asks.
“Like I said, too risky.” Margot huffs, pushing the last of her binders into her backpack.
“Seriously?” Lucas asks and Will nods.
“Did Mike see it?”
Will shakes his head.
“Then it doesn’t count.” James says.
The kids finish packing up their things, racing up the stairs, shoving each other out of the way.
Right as Margot is able to go up as well, Dustin grabs her arm and shows her the last piece of pizza. “Are you gonna eat it?” He asks and she lets out a small laugh.
“No. Have it if you want.” She says, pulling out of his grip and running up the stairs, Dustin on her heels.
He looks down at the pizza box in his hands then looks over at a bedroom, the door slightly cracked open. Inside the room is Nancy, Mike’s older sister. She is laying on her bed, feet kicking as she talks on the phone.
“I know, I know, but– I don't think so– yeah, he's cute, but – Barb –- BARB! – listen to me –” She says into the phone and Dustin waves his hand at her, trying to get her attention.
“Hey Nancy, there's a slice left if you want. Pepperoni and sausage!” He says, opening up the box so she can see the slice inside.
“Hold on.” She says, putting the phone down on her bed before getting up and walking towards the door.
Dustin smiles at her right before the door gets shut in his face, leaving him looking like a fool.
Dustin stomps into the garage, where the twins are arguing over who house their house key and the other two boys are getting their bikes ready.
“Something's wrong with your sister.” Dustin says, his mouth full of pizza.
“What are you talking about?” Mike questions him.
“She's got a stick up her butt.” He grumbles.
“Yeah, Steve Harrington. Our brother is friends with him.” Margot whines.
“Yeah, she is turning into a jerk because of him.” Dustin agrees.
“She’s always been a jerk.” Mike responds, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Nu-uh. She used to be cool. Like that time she dressed up as an elf for our Eldertree campaign –” Dustin says, stuffing the last bite of pizza into his mouth.
“That was four years ago!” Mike exclaims.
“Just saying.” Dustin says with a shrug as he, Lucas, Margot, and James all speed off, leaving only Will and Mike behind.
“...It was a seven.” Will says, climbing onto his bike.
“What?” Mike asks with a sigh, looking over at Will.
“The roll. It was a seven. The Demogorgon – it got me.” Will explains with a shrug. “See you tomorrow.”
Will gives Mike a small smile before kicking off as well, speeding to catch up with his friends.