KEEP ME SANE, steve harrington

The Night Will Went Missing

November 6th, 1983
Hawkins, Indiana

"Something's coming," Mike whispered, "Something hungry for blood. A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness. It's almost here."

Dustin, Lucas and Will all leaned in closer as they sat around the round table in Mike's basement.

"What is it?" Will asked, his doe eyes full of innocence and fear.

"What if it's the Demogorgon? Oh, Jesus, we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon," Dustin cried out.

"It's not the Demogorgon," Lucas told him.

"An army of troglodytes charge into the chamber!" Mike continued.

He slammed a figurine onto the table.

"Troglodytes?" Dustin asked, confused.

"Told ya," Lucas responded.

The boys laughed when Mike suddenly looked around nervously.

"Wait a minute. Did you hear that? That... that sound?"

The other boys listened intently.

"Boom... boom... Boom!" He slammed his hands on the table, startling the other boys.

The teenage girl with white-blonde hair who was lying on a couch was also startled awake. She sat up wide-eyed, her school book falling off of her.

"What?! What happened?!"

Mike ignored her, "That didn't come from the troglodytes, no, that... That came from something else. The Demogorgon!"

Mike slammed another figurine onto the table.

"We're in deep shit, Nessie!" Dustin called out.

Nessa, the teenage girl, groaned and lay back down, "Great. Let me know when you're in some real trouble."

The boys went on to ignore and annoy her.

"Will, your action!"

"I don't know!"

"Fireball him!"

"I'd have to roll a 13 or higher!"

"Too risky. Cast a protection spell."

"Don't be a pussy. Fireball him!"

"Language," Nessa scolded Lucas while her arm was draped over her eyes.

"Cast Protection."

Nessa's head shot in Dustin's direction, "You're eleven. Why do you need to use protection?"

Dustin gave her a dirty look, "Not that kind."

"The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering! It stomps towards you. Boom!" Mike shouted.

"Fireball him, Will!"

"Another stomp, boom!"

"Cast Protection."

"He roars in anger!"

"Fireball!"

Feeling the pressure from his friends, Will threw his dice, but it fell off the table.

"Oh, shit!"

"Where'd it go? Where is it?"

"I don't know!"

The boys got up from the table to search for the dice.

"Now what are you looking for? Your brain cells?" Nessa complained.