• disappearing: a stranger things choose-your-own adventure •

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭 - 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜

It's dark outside the Wheeler household. Rain is pouring down outside. You can hear a muffled clap of thunder from where you sit at the table. Thankfully, you're nice and warm inside.

Muted music is playing from the headphones sitting around your neck.

𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. . .

𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬. . .

A pound on the table in front of you brings your attention back to reality.

"Something is coming. Something hungry for blood," Mike says ominously.

"It's the Demogorgon!" Dustin yells.

"It's not the Demogorgon," Lucas says, rolling his eyes.

"We're screwed if it's the Demogorgon," you mumble.

𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱. . .

"An army of troglodytes comes charging into your camp!" Mike announces, placing a piece onto the Dungeons and Dragons board.

Will breathes a sigh of relief. "Not the Demogorgon."

"But wait. . . what's that sound?" Mike murmurs. "That's not coming from the troglodytes. . ."

Everyone pauses, holding their breath.

𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. . .

"It's getting louder. . .boom. . .boom. . .boom!" Mike slams the game piece down onto the table. "the Demogorgon!"

You all groan.

Dustin curses under his breath.

"Will, your action!" Mike orders.

"I don't know!" Will says

"Fireball him!" Lucas tells him.

"I'd have to roll a thirteen or higher," Will says.

"Too risky." Dustin shakes his head. "Cast a protection spell."

However, you agree with Lucas. "Fireball him," you tell Will firmly.

𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳. . .

Mike slams a hand down on the table. "The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering! It stomps toward you, growling!"

You all jump and look over at him.

"Don't be a pussy! Fireball him, Will!" Lucas yells.

Will grabs the die hesitantly.

Everyone is on the edge of their seats.

"Fireball!" he throws it across the table.

𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. . .

The die scatters across the room.

Everyone jumps to try to find it.

You look under the stairs, seeing the faint outline of a 7. You reach to grab it, before-

Mike's mom, Karen, opens the door to the basement.

"Oh come on, we're in the middle of a campaign!" he starts walking up the stairs.

"You mean the end," Karen taps her watch. "15 after."

Mike runs up the stairs to try to get more time.

"Does the seven count?" you ask, picking up the die.

"Did Mike see it?" Lucas asks.

When you shake your head, he says, "Then it doesn't count."

Will looks over at you, worried.

You all head up the stairs.

𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. . .

- - - - -

You all congregate in the garage, about to go your separate ways.

You reach your bike, dismayed at the sight of it. It seems to have run over something sharp, probably a pine needle or rock. The wheel is flat, and it doesn't seem like you can ride it home.

Dustin notices this and offers for you to ride home on the back of his bike. He assures you it won't be a big deal, as you only live a few blocks away anyway, but you're a bit unsure. You wouldn't want him to stay out any later than necessary, especially with the rain, which has slowed to a less intense drizzle. The ground still looks wet and muddy, though, and it does still seem to be thundering.

You think for a while and come to the possibility of simply just walking home by yourself. You only live a few blocks away, but it would still get you pretty drenched. Along with the thunder, it might take you a bit of time to get home. Plus, dragging your bike along with you would be heavy. . .but it won't burden anyone else. Plus, your flashlight is in your backpack, and you'll walk carefully, won't you?

Then, Mike's mom comes into the garage and looks at your busted bike. She offers to drive you home. This seems to be the safest option. You'll be sheltered from the rain and wind. You don't want to inconvenience her, especially since it wouldn't be too big of a deal for you to walk home. Gas is expensive!

𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲!

○ 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝗮. 

○ 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝗯. 

○ 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝗰.