MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Girls

The air of the basement was thick with anticipation, each of the players breathless from the uncertainty, teasing the edges of their seats just waiting for the next major plot device, the next major twist to be raised. It was so silent the faint buzz of the lamp sat, far off in the corner, was deafening to those players lying in wait, their breaths loud, wheezy, laboured, such unprecedented fear clear across their faces. To others, this was merely a game but to this party, this was life or death.

Marley's leg bounced beneath her as she anxiously bit down on her pizza, tomato sauce smudging across her cheek. She absentmindedly wiped it off and went for another, a piece of sausage falling into her lap. They all sat around their campaign table, surrounded by a mess of food, wrappers and empty soda cans, stale chips and gross stains pressed, now part of the floor. It had been the site of their adventures for as long as Marley could remember, a treasure trove of memories and laughs, a safe haven from the reality of life. Figures were scattered here or there, models of terrain sat by crossed legs, behind backs and paints lay carelessly atop a nearby table, abandoned after usage. Marley had quickly refurbished her player piece before the campaign, hoping a fresh coat of paint would deal her some luck.

However, now, it seemed it had delivered her doom.

"Do you hear that? Listen..." Mike murmured. Marley leant forward, the hairs of her arms just as alert as she, "something is coming...something hungry for blood," she swallowed and took another bite, Dustin, Lucas and Will sat with wide eyes as they waited for Mike to finish, "a shadow grows on the wall behind you...swallowing you in the darkness, it is almost here."

The players all look to each other, eyes wide in genuine fear, "what is it?" Will questioned, an audible gulp escaping the confines of his throat.

"What if it's the Demogorgon?" Marley suggested, frozen, panicked, heart thumping so loudly she wasn't sure she'd hear what Mike said next. Dustin shook his head, fearing her suggestion would become the truth. The Demogorgon. The self-proclaimed Prince of Demons, its challengers were few in name, many too afraid by this incarnation of chaos to set even a toe upon its territory, after all, each contender he faced left defeated or didn't leave at all, a truly horrifying foe to meet.

"We're in deep shit if it's the Demogorgon," Dustin muttered. Marley nodded in avid agreement.

"It's not the Demogorgon," Lucas scoffed, throwing his hands in the air. Marley grabbed another slice of pizza, this time a pepperoni fell off, joining the sausage in her lap.

"An army of Troglodytes charge into the chamber!" He slammed a monster piece onto the grid and Marley almost choked, taking a swig of coca-cola to help her pizza go down. "Their tails drum the floor. Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Troglodytes!?" Dustin shouted in disbelief, Marley shook her head and slumped in her chair, muttering under her breath. All of that build-up for nothing.

"Told you!" Lucas smirked, crossing his arms over his chest, Marley rolled her eyes, she hated it when Lucas was right but for once it was a good thing. Dustin laughed.

But then, Mike looked to the back of the room, some fearful apprehension blooming across his front. It seized Marley's attention and she sat up, punching Lucas's shoulder to alert him as well. This couldn't be good and by the sinking of Mike's face, it definitely wasn't just bad either. It was bound to bring some devastating calamity upon the party.

"Wait...do you hear that? Boom! Boom! BOOM! That sound...it didn't come from the Troglodytes. No. It came from something else..." Marley went slack in her chair, once more, dragging her hands down her face with a groan. They were doomed. "The Demogorgon!" He shouted, slamming the piece on the board.