Raining Hellfire 2

Chapter 0: The Past Will Always Catch Up To You

It had been around 10 months since you discovered the secrets of Hawkins. 10 months since you fought what had lurked in the dark. 10 months since El saved lives and disappeared. 10 months since you met Eddie.

And in those months, you couldn't have been happier. You and Eddie spent almost every day together after that, learning more and more about eachother until it felt like you knew eachother completely. Well, almost completely. Neither of you had shared much about your families. But, you both preferred it that way; it was like a comfortable secret.

Eddie finally gave you your Walkman back, holding a suspicious smile when he handed it to you. You still haven't figured out what he was smiling about.

You attended the majority of his bands rehearsals. Eddie was afraid you were going to be bored and would always have a selection of books for you to read just in case. However, you don't remember ever picking up one of those books much less reading the titles; you were genuinely captivated by Corroded Coffin. The way they always gave 100% even though it was just a practice. Despite the fact that they were playing in a garage, you always felt like a member of a huge audience staring up at them on stage.

He even told you about his mysterious club that he attended every Thursday night. Eddie was slightly embarrassed to tell you about Hellfire Club, mostly because it was for Dungeons and Dragons, yet was pleasantly surprised at your excitement. You told him about the party, about how the kids you babysat from time to time were obsessed with it.

There were so many happy memories you had collected throughout '84, and you were ecstatic to have been able to share them with the boy you were certain you were in love with. You were grateful for those memories, especially since not everything had been rainbows and sunshine over those months.

You still had nightmares from the Demogorgon. Barb died and El sacrificed herself. And every now and then, you swore you could feel something breathing down your neck, whispering in your ear. And you couldn't tell anyone about it. You didn't want to involve Eddie; it was wrong to drag someone else into this Upside Down mess. And the party finally got Will back and were happy again. You didn't have anyone in your life you could speak to about it.

You didn't even have a best friend anymore.

***

"Y/N!" Dustins voice echoed in the Wheeler kitchen, slightly muffled by the pancakes he had shovelled into his mouth.

As you entered the room, you saw that the party was all together, happily sat with their sweet-tooth breakfast.

"Hey, guys. Another campaign happening?" You ask, setting the empty mixing bowl you were holding onto the kitchen island. You had borrowed it from Karen earlier in the week so you could bake a cake. It wasn't for anything in particular, you were just really craving chocolate cake.

"Mmm-mm, mm-" Dustin was trying to communicate but seemingly forgot the mound of pancakes he had stacked and then attempted to eat all at once.

"Translation?" You looked to the small boy sat closest to you.

"We're going to the arcade before school." Will smiled, using his fork to prod at the barely eaten pancake on his plate. He looked tired lately and you wondered if he was kept up by nightmares of the Upside Down. He wouldn't be the only one.

"Yeah. Why don't you come join us?" Lucas smiled, leaning toward you. You swore that this boy flirted just for the hell of it.

"Ah. Well have fun. Without me." You quickly added, raising your eyebrow at Lucas who still had a smirk on his face. "And can someone please beat Dustins high score on that Dig Dug game. It's all I ever hear about."