Trials of the Damned

2: The High Priestes: Their Lasp in Judgement

"You've returned yet again to our drab story, perhaps it's time I tell you something different for a change. But we both know the most interesting things are sometimes in the past.."

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{This chapter contains mature content (smoking), reader discretion is advised.}

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Sweaty, that's it, the only logical phrase to describe a Hawkin's summer. The heat was practically palpable in its efforts to show us just why the new pool opened up in town. My curly hair cracked under the sun's pressure as the hairs along my nape clung to my skin. Wiping my sweat I leaned into the trunk and pulled out a small cooler passing it to Lucas who chatted away with his usual companions, Dustin and Mike. "Ok! I put snacks in there and drinks, I wrote my number down, towels... And what else was it..?" I fanned myself as I thought, before the epiphany."Sunscreen-! Here." I pulled it out and tossed it to them. "Wait where are you going-?!" Lucas exclaimed as I was walking to the driver's side of our family's classic station wagon. Holding the rough of the car and the edge of the door with a smirk, "Chrissy says it's the summer to explore so I'm off to do that-!" Lucas scoffed as he readjusts the stuff in his arms. "Liar! We'll be at Mike's after..." Nodding with a wink I clamoured into the humid vehicle.

I didn't lie entirely, I was off to explore, but with Chrissy no. She was on some family beach trip to Florida, so lucky her. Waiting at the red light was taking ages and quite literally cooking me, gathering up my curls to wrangle them in a bun, the calm chirping of birds was interrupted by the sounds of Blondie blasting from an almost dystopian-looking van. I, unfortunately, made eye contact with the jamming owner, his arm was littered with tattoos, his messy brown hair clung to his forehead, and his smirk was speaking volumes in all the right places. Pushing his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose to reveal his eyes, tossing me a wink and a cheeky wave, he sped off.

Flustered was an understatement, I was more so flabbergasted the entire drive to this hole-in-the-wall and abandoned theatre. Now I'm not saying I have a clear-cut type, but I'm not saying the random van man wasn't checking all the boxes on the list. Hell, he could not have a genuine thing for black girls, like Billy, I shuddered at the thought. Upon walking closer you could hear the booming of drums and energizing guitar chords, heart thrumming with excitement I looked at my reflection in the window of some random hatchback. The now heat-stricken 4c curls were up into a puff and a simple mixture of brown plaids was printed on my cotton spaghetti strap dress, which fell into the average curve of my waist. My usual gold jewellery was layered on as usual. Letting out a breathy sigh, I gripped the strap of my cross-body purse and approached the bouncer.

A tall yet portly man stood in front of me his wife-beater damp as he was preoccupied wiping the sweat off his bald dome with what could be assumed as his shirt. The man cast me a visual scan before snorting and releasing the loogie onto the hot cracked cement. "Got ID little lady.." I nodded before I began rummaging through my purse, narrowly dodging some drunk man as he practically fell out of the place. Handing him the thin plastic he smiled, before holding it out and opening the door."Happy Birthday...Good luck-" I hesitated when he opened the door, the smell of weed, cigarettes, and boozes, emanated from the smoky abyss of the theatre. Gulping I walked in, the dark lasted mere seconds before the flashing commenced along with the heavy pounding of the drums leading into a cover band covering a classic rendition of AcDc's 'Shook Me All Night Long' The raspy vocals filled my ears as I walked deeper into the theatre the pounding of feet from the mosh pit had the walls quaking but all I could do was smile with the pure adrenaline. The pit being more in the centre of the room made it easier to navigate the crowd from my viewpoint, I would need liquid courage to conquer that horde. Scanning the room I spotted the makeshift bar, ducking and slinking my way to the table. Of course, upon arrival, I got the sceptical looks of the raven-haired bartender. She was on the taller side, her arms adorned with tattoos like most people here, and her brow was pierced. Casting her a nervous smile earned me a raised eyebrow, "You've never been to one of these before huh?" She asked while shaking some foreign recipe, watching her closely, I nodded. "It's pretty obvious given my mistake of wearing white shoes-" The woman snickered while pouring her concoction into a red solo cup. "Well, the cover band tonight are some kids from Hawkins High, well except for Eddie, also don't set your cup down anywhere-" I nodded curtly before manoeuvring towards the stage, the lights were dimmed but the place was still abuzz with whispers, much like any theatre the seat cascade into a funnel towards the stage, some rows were missing seats others weren't, none the less I made the dangerous trek down towards the stage.  Besides the weird stares, I got I managed to make it, gripping the creaky oak trimming as the lights blasted on with the sweet pounding of the drums. I knew it instantly,' Let me put my love into you, the energy was building up with my buzz as the blazing lights landed on him...