HOW TO STOP LIKING BOYS ━ Stranger Things ✓

TWO: THE DEMOGORGON

TWO: THE DEMOGORGON

IT HAD BEEN TEN HOURS. Ten hours that Daniel had spent reading through Mike's comic book while he listened to the Dungeons & Dragons campaign the four boys were deeply invested in. He never understood the hype for the game, but he was going to always support his friends' love for it.

"Something is coming," Mike's cool voice got Daniel's attention. He put down the X-Men comic he was reading and began listening to the story, "Something hungry for blood. A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness. It is almost here."

"What is it?" Will cut in, his voice excited. Daniel cursed him for interrupting, as he was just as anxious.

"What if it's the Demogorgon?" Dustin asked, sounding nervous. Daniel had absolutely no idea what that was or what it meant, but he did realize that it was clearly nothing good. "Oh Jesus, we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon."

Although Daniel loved his friends, he really wanted them to stop talking so Mike could stop keeping them guessing as to what creature he was describing. He understood little to nothing about D&D, but he always seemed to get roped into these campaigns whenever the boys participated in one. Mike was so detailed and thorough, it was actually kind of impressive.

"It's not the Demogorgon!" Lucas attempted to reassure, but it did little to calm the boys down.

Mike slammed a piece down onto the board, "An army of Troglodytes charge into the chamber!"

"Troglodytes?" Dustin spoke with a bored disbelief. He was clearly expecting more.

Lucas, on the other hand, was chuckling, "Told ya."

All of the boys started laughing and Daniel felt as though a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He moved so he was sitting at the table next to Mike, kneeling beside his chair.

Despite the now calm attitude, Mike's expression was solemn as he spoke softly, "Wait a minute." There was just something about the way Mike told the story. He had crafted it himself and his passion behind it was obvious. There was something about the tone of his voice, the way he described things. The way he spoke caught everyone's attention in the room and refused to let it go. Maybe that was just Daniel. He was resting his elbow on the small part of the chair Mike wasn't on and was looking up at the boy with stars in his eyes.

"Hey," Mike broke, looking down at the curly-haired boy, "I thought you didn't care about D&D?"

Daniel rolled his eyes, "Shut up and keep going."

Mike smiled slightly, but in seconds the solemn expression was back, "Did you hear that? That. . . That sound? Boom. . . Boom," he slammed his hand down on the table and yelled, "Boom!" Everyone jumped. "That didn't come from the Troglodytes. No, that. . . That came from something else." All of the boys were leaning in, so incredibly eager to hear what was coming next. Mike slammed a piece down on the table, "The Demogorgon!"