Satanic Panic

Chapter 1

Seth's POV

I make my way down the hall, searching for my locker. It was lunch, so I didn't want to lug my books around anymore. Really, it's my first day and my Trapper Keeper was already stuffed full of assignments.

I quickly find my locker and put in the combination. I then give it a gentle tug to open it, but it remains shut. Did I put the combination in wrong? I try the combination again with no luck.

A voice appears over my shoulder as I feel hair tickle my neck. "That locker gets pretty stuck sometimes, dude." I turn around to see a guy with curly, long black hair. "Might wanna ask for a new one or something."

"Oh, it's just stuck?" I yank at the door much harder this time, pulling it open. "Thanks for the tip." I shove my books and Trapper Keeper in and shut the door, quickly locking it.

"You're new here, right? I'm Eddie." The stranger stretches out a ring-covered hand. I take it in my own and shake it.

"Seth." I look at his outfit in approval. He was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, a leather jacket, and a denim vest with band patches and pins on it. "Finally, another metalhead! Everyone I've met so far was so boringly..."

"Normal?" He says with a smirk.

"Yeah! It's like they were made using the same cookie cutter." I give him another once over. He's cute. "Turn around real quick, I wanna see the back patch on your vest."

He does a little spin in place. "Whatcha think?"

"I think we're gonna be friends."

Eddie's POV

We start toward the cafeteria and talk about our favorite metal bands. Mine is obviously Dio, as indicated by my back patch, but it turns out he's more into thrash and loves Iron Maiden. I couldn't help but smile the entire time I was talking to him. It was about time someone fun showed up in this town.

As we meander through the halls, I take a moment to appreciate his style. He wore his dark blond hair in a liberty spike mohawk, a Judas Priest t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, a distressed black kilt (which I'll admit I had mistaken for a skirt at first), and a pair of nice combat boots. He had a few piercings: two in each earlobe and a septum ring. He also wore a little bit of eyeliner.

"So, Hellfire Club? What's that?" Seth gestures to my shirt as we walk to the cafeteria.

"It's a Dungeons & Dragons club. I'm kinda its president."

His eyes light up almost instantly. "Wait, so you like metal and play D&D? I should've moved to Hawkins years ago."

"You play?"

"Hell yeah, I play! D&D, DragonQuest, Call of Cthulhu... I've dabbled in pretty much everything! I'm a bit of a geek." He chuckles to himself.

"Well, you should join us after school today," I say, nudging him slightly. His smile falters slightly.

"Sounds fun, but I can't today. I gotta finish unpacking. Maybe next time?"

I nod in understanding. "Next time."

Seth's POV

Eddie invited me to sit with him and his friends, and I gladly accepted.

I set my tray down and sit beside Eddie, ignoring my food and immediately asking about the Hellfire Club. "So what campaign are you running right now?"