Trials of the Damned

1. The Magician: In Which the Curse Has Been Set

"Oh traveller, how I wish our tale could be a sweet one, but it is not. There are forces far beyond our understanding at work beneath the plains of our psyches. Do you wish to fall victim to this siren's demands? Perhaps you're the Valkyrie come to counsel those who plummeted to a higher path? Either way, it is time to cast your spells on the journey of deeper desires or perish with those you wish to nurture."

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Munson Pov:

Graduation was just a mere few flimsy and desolate months from my grasp, that's of course if I could manage the attention span to focus on class with an even more momentous occasion underway. After the meticulous storey building, I went through as their Dungeon Master, this is the finale. Leaning against my van with a lit cigarette I sighed releasing the smoke as if to relinquish all the wound-up stress inside me; before heading inside. Upon seeing the bevvy of balloons and people I visibly grimaced, recoiling with a step backwards, I swiftly swivel led around. "Yeah, that's a bit too much school spirit for my liking-!!"

The self-dialogue was intercepted by a surprising collision, Chrissy Cunningham... I certainly felt the sheepish grin crawl onto my mug as I made the sauve movement to catch her by the bicep. "Woah there blondie- Hey you ok..?" She had a cold sweat decorating her forehead as she pulled her arm away, shaking her head she kept glancing back as she fiddled with her pom-poms."Yes-no. Hey um, I hear you sell-" I raised a brow that was hidden by the frizzy mass of curls I call bangs. "You want drugs? I don't know Chrissy.." She looked back chewing on her lip causing my gaze to follow only to see the average mass of students slugging their way to the gym. "Uhh look, Chrissy... Just meet me at the picnic table behind the soccer field after class, ok? I'll see what I got." Chrissy looked back nodding shakily before scurrying off into the gym leaving me quite stunned if I had to put a word on it.

Proceeding to slink back to my van, I thought about why the hell the little cheerleader would need weed, I managed to cause another collision. It would've been a hit and run till I heard pens scatter to the damp cement. Crouching down I was bombarded with the surprisingly good mix of citrus and coconuts; daring to look up as I shook damp dirt off a paper. It was Harper Sinclair, maybe today is the day my luck has either dangerously increased or I'm gonna die a gruesome back-breaking death. Don't get me wrong who wouldn't want to run into the two girls labelled to be platonic soulmates, by Hawkins High Yearbook, but more so than Chrissy's sweet nature Harper was a force not to be toyed with unless you were crazy. Good thing I bordered psychotic. "Harpie, you should get your head out of the clouds." I watched her face contort in bitterness at the foreign nickname causing her to squint up at me. Fighting the urge to bite my lip at the sheer eye contact we were making, I opted to stare for a short moment while she rearranged her papers. Harper wore the usual flair jeans with a plain short sleeve blouse, orange today, tucked into her pants with some muddied converses. She had gotten her done it seems as it was down in long braids falling to the middle of her hips. Everything was generally tied together with her layered gold necklaces and multiple ear piercings.

Realizing I had been rambling for the better portion of my daily Harper glancing, I finally caught her attention. "So the Hellfire club?" Raising her sculpted brow at me she explained through glossed lips that she was unsure of her little brother's agenda before casting me the final warning. "Don't call me Harpie, Munson." I followed her with my gaze, instinctively letting out a whistle as Harper walked off. Panicking in hopes she wouldn't look back I swiftly walked off, slamming the door when I was safely in my van. "You are losing it, Eddie," I whispered allowed as I rested my head against the steering wheel.

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Harper's Pov
(after 4th period)

Pinching the bridge of my nose I groaned massaging it gently. Why on all that is holy did I ask him to take us to the party? What would Chrissy think? I mean it's not as if anyone's obvious attraction to Eddie Munson would fester into a full-blown crush, right?? I let out an exasperated laugh as I headed to Chrissy's locker I see her run out of the bathroom, Max behind her, standing at the ajar door. Quicking my pace I gave Max a small nod before hastening my steps to follow after my friend.

Not entirely sure why I was hiding but something told me that this matter required a 'delicate' touch. I watched her scurry across the field into the trees, "What are you doing Chris-" I mumbled to myself as I made my way across the dried and decaying lawn. Treading lightly on the dried leaves and hopefully to my imagination avoiding branches as my spying leads me to the Picnic table....? I stood in wait to see if she was just here for a make-out session before the game or perhaps alone time in which case I feel like a total bitch for stalking her. Upon further investigation and a cracked branch or two, Chrissy began looking around in sheer terror before her eyes fixated on a broken tree. Not entirely sure I should go help console her I peeked around the tree to find Eddie approaching, this time without the silly jean vest. Eddie gently turned her around by the shoulder," Woah Chrissy you good?" He put his hands up in defence of the terrified girl. They both made their way to the table, Eddie opening what I could only believe to be his stash of nefarious goodies. "How do you um-?" Chrissy fidgeted nervously on the bench as Eddie sifted through his little baggies. "You don't remember me do you?" He squinted at her in disbelief before his theatrical reintroduction began.

Holding his oh-so-wounded pride he rolled back onto the ground, the leaves crackling under the pressure of his stellar performance. Rolling my eyes, I continued to watch the scene unfold, a foreign bitterness crawling around in my mouth. "Remember the middle school talent show when-" Chrissy's face lit up in recognition as she pointed in awe."You and your brother's guitar performance! Do you still play?" Eddie shook the leaves from his hair and twirled the ends in an almost giddy way. "Granted I didn't have these sweet tats But of course, my band and I play at the pub on Wednesdays you should come.." He pulled at the collar of his well-worn 'hellfire club' shirt to reveal part of his chest that was adorned in ink, earning Chrissy's charming giggle and my immediate turnaround to leave. I could feel the heat racing to my cheeks as I fanned the naive secondhand embarrassment from my disposition. "Let's just go." is what I mumbled as Eddie's stupid grin replayed in my mind.