George and Nicole Harper had never had an easy life. From one set of divorced parents to another, these half siblings have had it tough.
Ever since their mother, Naomi, split from George's father and forced them to move from England back to her hom...
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"Something's coming..."
The boys turned to stare at Mike, their dungeon master. George was grinning from ear to ear.
"Something hungry for blood." Mike continued, dramatically. He glanced all around him as if he were really there, listening out for the low rumbling of the monster. "A shadow grows on the wall behind you swallowing you in darkness."
The boys all leant forward, hanging on the edge of their seats, waiting.
"It is almost here."
"What is it?" Will asked eagerly, looking at George as they both grinned. Dustin didn't look so excited.
"What if it's the demogorgon?" He asked nervously, rubbing his hands together is apprehension. "Oh Jesus, we're so screwed if it's the demogorgon..."
"It's not the demogorgon!" Lucas persited, getting increasingly more frustrated with them. He'd spent the entire campaign telling everyone that they weren't going to find the demogorgon, to which Mike replied with a knowing smile.
Mike smiled at them all, a cheeky, crooked smile.
"An army of troglodytes swarm into the chamber!" He bellowed, slamming the character down on the table with such forced it made George jump.
"Troglodytes?" Dustin asked doubtingly. Mike just shrugged.
"Told ya." Lucas replied smugly, leaning back in his chair and relaxing.
"But wait..." Mike continued in hushed tones. George leant forward and smirked at Will who did the same from the seat beside him. "Do you hear that? That...sound."
Dustin gasped quietly and he too leant forward. Lucas' smug smile was swiftly replaced with a toothy, nervous grin.
"Boom...boom..." Mike whispered. George's breathing quickened as he became so engrossed in the game he was no longer aware of his surroundings. It no longer felt like he was sat in his new friend's basement, it felt real, like he was really in the cold, damp dungeon waiting for a beast to attack him.
"Boom!" Mike shouted, slamming his fists on the table and sending the pieces of the game flying. George flinched and smiled, laughing nervously at his own fear. Dustin gasped lightly, as did Will. Lucas looked unimpressed, like he knew what was coming.
"That didn't come from the troglodytes. No, that- that came from something else..." Mike said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The demogorgon!" He announced, firmly placing the figurine on the board. George shivered as the figuring hit the table. It seemed to echo all around him, engulf him. There would be no escaping the demogorgon.
*
Nick was only a few miles away from home. She had turned off the main road, down the side road that would lead to their drive. If you could call it that. In reality it was just a bit lawn where the grass had died. As she turned off down the side road, she left the street lamps behind. Her headlights had flickered a few minutes ago but if she went slowly, she'd be okay. It would only be a few more minutes before she reached their wooden shack of a house.
In the not so far off distance, she thought at least, as she squinted into the blackness, Nick could make out a piercing beam of white light. As she drove steadily closer, the source came into view. A man waved to her in passing, out of politeness more than anything, as he walked past her. He carried a torch and was walking a golden white labrador through the thickets. As she drove past, the man's torch began to flicker. On and off and on and off, until it went out all together. He groaned and gave it strong, hard whack. Sure enough, the light flickered back on and he went on his way. Nick frowned. Her headlights were still off.
*
"We're in deep shit." Dustin groaned, reminding them all that they were about to face their most powerful enemy yet: the demogorgon!
"Will! Your action?" Mike prompted, his voice raised in urgency.
"Er, I don't know." Will fumbled leaning back in his chair in defeat and shaking his head.
"Fireball him!" Lucas prompted, he too was shouting.
"No, he'd have to roll a thirteen or higher! It's too risky!" George argued, flailing his arms around in desperate articulation.
"I agree, cast a protection spell." Dustin reasoned. Lucas groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Don't be a pussy." He protested, "Fireball him!"
"No, cast protection." Dustin countered, locking eyes with Lucas in a fierce stare off for authority. Will turned to George, his eyes wide in confusion and make-believe terror. Mike slammed his palms on the table and Lucas and Dustin sprang apart.
"The demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering!" He bellowed. "It stomps towards you. Boom!"
"Fireball him Will!" Lucas yelled.
"Another stomp!" Mike narrated.
"Cast protection!" Dustin shouted over Mike's demogorgon impressions that mainly consisted of screeching and wailing. George smirked. If it hadn't had been so tense, it would have been funny.
"It roars in anger!" Mike screamed atop Lucas and Dustin's bickering.
"Roll the dice Will." George said shrugging, "You'll have to at some point."
Will's eyes darted between Dustin and Lucas, then fell on George, then back to Dustin and Lucas before settling on Mike. He looked to the dice.
"Fireball!" He blurted and desperately chucked the dice as if ferocity would improve the chances of him rolling a higher number. But his enthusiasm sent the dice rolling off the table and clattering across the floor.
"Oh shit!"
"No!"
"Where'd it go?"
All four boys leapt up from their seats and chased after the dice. George scanned the floor with his eyes but could see no sign of it.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know!"
"Is it a thirteen or higher?"
"I don't know! I can't find it!"
"Oh, god. Oh, god!"
They were at the mercy of the demogorgon now.
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