The Other Side

The Demogorgon

Four boys sat around a wooden table. One with a red white and blue cap and a pleasantly plump build wearing a yellow hoodie, a dark boy wearing a red and grey jacket and a navy blue shirt, his complexion shining the overhead lights into his eyes, a pale boy with a long face, a green and white shirt and a mop of black hair, and a thin boy wearing plaid and jeans with messy brown hair and a timid look about him.

"Something is coming.... Something hungry for blood." The black haired boy's voice drifted across the table ominously.
"A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness." His voice fell to a whisper.
"It is almost here..."
A silence fell over the room.
"What is it? What if it's the Demogorgon? Oh, Jesus, we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon." Another boy's nerve racked voice sounds from across the table.
"It's not the Demogorgon." Another boy insisted, his voice dubious.
"An army of troglodytes charge into the chamber!"
"Troglodytes?"
"Told ya."
"Wait a minute."

The table feel into silence once more, the boys leaning forward in anticipation.
"Did you hear that? That....that sound?" All three boys listening intently, held their breath.
"Boom!" They startled, jumping a little from their chairs.
"Boom....Boom! That didn't come from the troglodytes." The boys looked at each other, expressions expectant and pensive.
"No, that? That came from something else." From behind a tall Dungeons and Dragons encyclopedia laden with post it notes, the pale boy slammed down a silver playing piece onto the board.
"The Demogorgon!"
Chaos broke loose.
"We're in deep shit."
"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!"
"Cast Protection!"
"The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering! It stomps towards you!"
"Do something!"
"Boom!"
"Fireball him!"
"Another stomp-Boom! "
"Cast Protection!"
"He roars in anger!"

"Fireball!" The boy named Will, the skinny one, rolled the dice frantically before accidentally dropping them onto the ground, where they scattered. The boys fell to the floor, groping restlessly.
"Oh, shit!"
"Where'd it go?"
"Where is it?"
"I don't know!"
"Is it a 13?"
"I don't know!"
"Where is it?"
"Oh, my God!"
A call sounded down the steps.
"Mike?"
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God!"
"Mike??"
"Can you find it yet?"
"No, I can't find it!"
"Mike!"
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God!"
"Mike!"

The long faced boy with the voice of a storyteller straightened dramatically and stomped up the steps.
"Mom, we're in the middle of a campaign!" He whined.
"You mean the end?" A woman standing beside a cutting board replied sensibly.
"Fifteen after."
A yelp of frustration could be heard from the open basement door.
"Oh, my God! Freaking idiot!"
"Why do we have to go?"
"Mom, wait, just 20 more minutes!" The boy begged.
"It's a school night, Michael; I just put Holly to bed; you can finish next weekend-"
"But that'll ruin the flow!" He insisted.
"Michael I'm serious-"
"Mom. The campaign took two weeks to plan. How was I supposed to know it was gonna take ten hours?" He stated innocently.
"You've been playing for ten hours?!"
Realizing she wasn't going to change her mind, he turned on his heel and switched gears towards his father.
"Dad, don't you think that 20 more-"
"I think you should listen to your mother." Mike threw his hands up in irritation.

Another series of yells emanated from the basement.
"Dang dumb piece of junk."
"Oh! I got it!" There was a fumbling of motion as the boys raced upstairs to Mike's bedroom.
"Does the seven count?"
"It was a seven?"
"Did Mike see it?" There was a shaking of heads.
"Then it doesn't count." There was an argument of protestation as he boys clambered down the steps again.
"Yo, hey, guys." Mike waved to them halfheartedly. The boy who had found the die, the capped one, walked towards a slightly ajar door as a conversation over an almost empty pizza box and a deck of Magic cards occurred behind him.
"Does anyone want this?"
"No."
" Uh, yeah."

The boy reached the door and peered in hopefully to see a petite brunette lounging on a neatly made bed and spinning a phone cord around her finger as she spoke into the receptor.
"No, I don't think.... Yeah, he's cute! ... Barb, no, ...I don't think so. Barb, you're not-"
"Hey, Nancy!" The boy gave a presumptuous wave and a big goofy smile, but she turned over on her side, readjusting to make it quite evident she was too busy to reply. His smile fell in disappointment and he turned away, back to the kitchen.

"There's a slice left if you want it."
"Sausage and pepperoni!" The boys sat down at the table to finish it off before wiping their grease smeared hands on their pants, waving goodbye to Mike's mother, and walking their bikes to the beginning of the house's cobblestone driveway.
"There's something wrong with your sister."
"What are you talking about?"
"She's got a stick up her butt."
" Well, yeah." Mike said plainly, rolling his eyes.
"It's because she's been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington."
"Yeah, she's turning into a real jerk." The plump boy agreed, tweaking his nose.
"She's always been a real jerk." Mike sighed, heaving his small shoulders.
"Nuh-uh! She used to be cool. Like that time she dressed up as an elf for our Elder tree campaign." He said defensively as he reached the gate
"Four years ago!" The dark boy rebutted, joining him.
"Just saying."
Mike waved from the garage door as the boys reached the end of the driveway and paused on the street. "Later, Dustin, Lucas."
Dustin tilted his cap in acknowledgement and rode off. Lucas followed close behind him.

"It was a seven."
"Huh?" Mike turns to see Will, perched on his bike beside him.
"The roll, it was a seven. The Demogorgon, it got me."
There was a silence.
"See you tomorrow." Mike closed the door and Will stood alone, poised to push off the graveled ground. Suddenly the light over his head let out a buzz and flickered. Shrugging, Will shoved off and bumped over the stones to the road where he pumped his legs to catch up with Dustin and Lucas. Riding together down the dark narrow road, their voices blended together as they spoke. Arriving at a turn Lucas gave a bright smile and a wink.
"Good night, ladies." Lucas turned and began to pedal off.
"Kiss your mom 'night for me." Dustin replied snarkily, raising a hand in farewell from his handlebar for a mid second. The ride continued, Will and Dustin pedaling along the curb.
"Race you back to my place? Winner gets a comic." Dustin suggested.
"Any comic?" Will asked dubiously.
"Yeah!"
"Hold on I didn't say go! Son of a bitch!"
Dustin's legs were screaming in pain and he stopped in the street, winded.
They took off, speeding off on alternate routes they both thought was the faster one. Dustin took the lead but soon after his legs began screaming in resistance and he stopped in the middle of the street watching Will change routes home, laughing.
"Man..."
Will rode his bike right past an open electric fence, a bright fluorescent yellow sign reading:

Keep Out
Private Property

pinned to the side. Ignoring it, he continued pushing his leg muscles to the limit until he could hardly hold his hand brakes with the amount of sweat accumulating on his clammy palms. Little did he know how dangerous this place was, and how insignificantly the sign expressed it.

Swerving along the windy road besides the high wire fence, he watched his bike's wheel shift back and forth along the dusty road, feeling his arm hairs raise in apprehension for something he couldn't identify. Looking up, he saw a dark figure outlined in the gloom by the streetlight standing dead center in his path a few meters away. Squeezing the brakes, the wheels came to an abrupt stop, throwing Will and his bike down a small steep hill and into the forest.

Lying against the dirt and leaves, Will closed his eyes to catch his breath from the shock of the fall. Twisting up onto his side, he saw his bike lying a few yards away, the handlebar dented.
"Damn."
A noise pierced the quiet drone of the cicadas and Will froze. A deep guttural groan was emanating from the top of the hill. Sc ambling up, he spun towards the sound. Branches swayed in the cool breeze. Foliage rustled. The sound grew closer. Will's nerves had had enough. Abandoning his bike, he turned and ran.