Chapter Text
It was a quiet Sunday night in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. A group of kids who referred to themselves as the party sat in the middle of the Byers’ living room, campaign papers and character sheets cluttered the floor.
Their dungeon master, Will Byers, sat across from the other three grinning mischievously as he plotted against his friends. He cackled as groans of annoyance rang through the room at each new obstacle he’d thrown in the group’s path.
Will prepares the next move with a sly grin, they had no idea what he had prepared for them, “You can feel it, the shadows lurking toward you. All you can hear are you racing heartbeats filling your ears.” He narrated dramatically.
The other members of the party leaned forward in anticipation, “What is it?” Jane asked, watching Will carefully.
“It’s definitely a Demogorgon, it has to be.” Lucas said confidently.
Dustin shook his head, a doubtful expression on his face, “It can’t be! It’s too early in the game.” He countered.
They looked at their Dungeon Master, eyes full of curiosity. “It’s a Demogorgon!” Will bellowed as he slammed the figure onto the board.
Dustin threw his head back while Lucas turned to him, “I knew it!” He whisper-yelled at the other boy making Jane giggle at their silly behavior.
Will whipped around to face Jane, “Jane! Your action! What do you do?”
She hesitated; protection, or fireball? On one hand, protection would be playing it safe. However, if she rolled and got higher than 13, she would be able to kill the beast.
“Come one! Fireball!” Lucas called.
“But I have to get a 13 or higher.” Jane squeaked.
“No, it’s too risky, cast protection!” Dustin argued back.
“Don’t be a wuss, fireball it!” Lucas quipped.
“Cast protec-”
“The monster grows tired of your silly human bickering! Jane, what do you do?” Will said, voice slightly deepening. He always became more animated when it was his turn to be the party’s dungeon master.
Jane clutched the dice in her sweaty palms, “Fireball!” She cried, rolling the dice with so much force that it skittered under the nearest couch.
“Damn it!” Dustin cursed, instantly reaching under the couch.
That roll was important! It determined the fate of Jane’s character and probably the outcome of the campaign as a whole, the others had also leaped to shove their too-short arms into the dark abyss that was the nether of Will’s couch.
Then, the door opened, inviting a cold gust of November air to blow into the house. “Hey mom!” Will called out momentarily popping up from his place on the floor. The others echoed a ‘Hello Ms.Byers’ as well before resuming their frantic hunt for the missing dice.
“Will, what are your friends still doing here?” She scolded lightly, she found that she was never able to stay entirely upset at her youngest. She shrugged off her jacket and toed off her shoes, making sure to avoid the mess on the floor as she walked to the kitchen. “You know they’re always welcome but it’s a school night.” She said, stressing the school part.
Will put on his best innocent smile, the one that made Jonathan drop everything to take him out for ice cream or cover for him when he did something less than innocent. “I know, but we wanted to finish the campaign tonight, we only need 10 more minutes.” He followed her to the kitchen, leaving his friends to tidy up.
“No buts.” She said firmly, ignoring the fit of giggles Dustin broke into over in the living room. Boys. Besides, there’s always next weekend.”
“But mom.” He complained, “It’ll ruin the flow,” He continued to try reasoning with his mother.
“Crap,” Jane said, back in the living room. She had finally fished the dice from underneath the couch, the roll was a seven, which meant that her character had lost to the Demogorgon. She tossed her head back dramatically as she sighed.
Dustin raised an eyebrow, “What?” He was organizing the campaign papers while Lucas was packing his backpack.
“I rolled a seven.” She said lamely.
Lucas plopped down next to them, “Did Will see it?” He asked, voice carefully low, the two shook their heads. “Then it doesn’t count.” He shrugged, zipping up his backpack.
Will reentered the living room with a heavy sigh. His shoulders hung with defeat and his feet dragged on the floor. “Mom says you have to go, it’s a school night.” He said sadly.
Joyce poked out from the kitchen, and her eyes landed on Jane instantly, “Jane, if you need a ride or anything, let me know, your house is pretty far in the woods, isn’t it?” She offered.
Jane shook her head politely, “Don’t worry, it’s not too bad.” She said as she slung her backpack over her shoulder.
The others said their goodbyes as they left the house, Will stood on his porch as Dustin and Lucas rode off on their bikes. He noticed that Jane stayed behind, “It was a seven.” She said, Will’s head tilted slightly. “The roll, it was a seven,” She clarified. A soft smile spread across Will’s lips as he nodded at the girl.
He watched as she rode off into the night on her bike, only looking away to glance up at his flickering porch light.
Jane gripped the handlebars of her bike as her brown hair blew around in the wind. She turned into the woods that led to her father’s cabin. She rode until she heard a low growl behind her. What was that?
A tall shadow lurked in her peripherals; she pumped her legs harder, she needed to go faster, and her fear began to consume her. Trees rustled behind her as loud footsteps snapped stray branches under them.
Jane dumped her bike and ran the rest of the way to the cabin. She struggled to twist the knob open with her quivering hands, but she managed to swiftly swing the door open, locking it behind her. “Dad!” She yelled, into the empty house. “Dad!” He must’ve been getting home late again.
She ran to the phone, frantically dialing 9-1-1. Her foot tapped anxiously as she waited for an operator to pick up but all she could hear was distorted static. The lights flickered wildly as the thing chasing her tried to get inside.
Jane ran out from the back door to her father’s shed. She pulled the shotgun from the wall and hastily loaded it, Jane learned how to use it from her dad the summer previous.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
The pounding of the creatures feet became increasingly violent and an inhuman growl could be heard as the girl backed into the wall. She aimed the gun and shot as the door was torn from its hinges
The bullet didn’t find its target, but the monster did, Jane let out a shriek as she was taken. All of the lights stopped flickering and it was silent again.