Surreal ✿ M. Wheeler ✿

✿ one ✿

"Do you hear that? Listen," a boy with straight black hair said in a mysterious tone. He sat with four other people at a table, one girl and three boys. They were playing Dungeons and Dragons. It was hour ten on their campaign. "Something is coming... something hungry for blood."

His name was Mike Wheeler. He was one of Josefina's best friends in the small sleepy town of Hawkins. The other three were Dustin, Lucas, and Will. Will was he one with the bowl cut and the big brown eyes. Dustin had curly hair and was missing a few of his front teeth. Lucas was the darkest in the group, but it didn't stop his friends from liking him. Josie also had a tint in shade so there was no harm for being different. The five of them had been friends for a while now.

Josie had met the group in the second grade, when she first moved into the town. Back then, however, it was just Mike, Will, and Lucas. They were pretty shocked when she had approached them. She was a girl and typically, girls would ignore them.

It was lunch when she approached them. They were all enjoying their food when she had taken a seat right beside Mike without a sound. It filled the boys with confusion, but when she opened her mouth they knew she belonged. She was smarter than an average second grader, and she was also a bit of a  nerd and socially awkward. It was no wonder people made fun of her.

"A shadow grows on the wall behind you. Swallowing you in darkness, it is almost here," Mike had continued.

By then, Josie was listening in on what was happening. His voice was so mysterious and she couldn't help but feel intrigued. The other boys leaned in as well, their attention being captured by Mike's descriptive speech.

"What is it?" Will asked as he looked at Mike with wide eyes.

"What if it's the Demogorgan? We're in deep shit if it's the Demogorgan," Dustin said as he sat back in his seat.

"Shut up. It's not the Demogorgan," Josie told him, saying those words for both herself and for the sake of the group. Just because she said the words, doesn't mean she can stop the rapid beating of her heartbeat. If something happened to them, she'd be out for even longer because Will will drain her energy.

"Okay, but what if it is?" Dustin asked.

"It's not the Demogorgan," Lucas said finally, getting annoyed with Dustin's accusations.

"Just shut up so Mike can continue," Josie said as she rolled her eyes for the second time in that minute.

They all looked at Mike who was watching them, waiting for them to stop talking so he could continue. He then slammed down six-winged miniature down onto the board, "An army of Troglodytes charge into the chamber! Their tails drum the floor. Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Dustin's face went from one of knowing to one of confusion, "Troglodytes?"

"Told ya," Josie and Lucas said, smirking at the curly haired boy. Dustin rolled his eyes at the pair as Josie and Lucas both high-fived each other. They were glad that they were right and he was wrong.

However, that happiness was short lived because Mike looked over his shoulder, a frightened look on his face. His eyes were wide. "Wait do you hear that?"

The group all exchanged a few looks, worried about what was to come next. Mike always had a way of changing the mood. It was one of the reasons why he was always the host of these campaigns.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" He slammed his hands on the table with each boom that he shouted. This caused everyone to jump back in their seats. "That sound didn't come from the Troglodytes... no... it came from something else." He slammed a large two headed monster miniature onto the game board. "The Demogorgan!"