The One

September 6th, 1985

One Year Later

The Wheeler's basement was something that was immediately recognizable and intriguing. The basement was filled with boxes and boxes of things from Mike or Nancy's childhood. But this was the hangout place that the boys came here for. This was their own lair. They don't remember how they had decided to be there. Maybe it was from how loud they were and maybe Mrs. Wheeler couldn't take it? But whatever it was, they loved it. The basement for these four boys was simple; Dungeons and Dragons. This game had changed their lives when Mike Wheeler got it from Lucas Sinclair for Christmas. Now, almost every weekend, they played DD to fantasized about their lives as heroes. But tonight, that would change all of it. Mike began their last journey for the boys before their worlds would change.

"There is something lurking in the darkness. Something hungry for blood," Mike exclaimed in a serious voice, his eyes glaring at the three boys around him. On his right was Lucas Sinclair, a small but fierce friend who cares about his friends after the divorce of his parents. On his left was Dustin Henderson, his chubby appearance and his disappearing two front teeth,that were claimed to be from his disability, made people believe that he wasn't the smartest kid in his class, but he was. And lastly, in the middle was Will Byers, Mike's best friend. Will was small for his age with maple, brown hair that was dressed into a bowl cut. His beautiful, hazel eyes and expression made him look pure and innocent, which he was. Will never swore, did anything bad, or be mean towards others. He was the good kid in the group, the person that most people wanted to be.

"What is it?" Will asked in a curious voice, his eyes staring at Mike with the excitement of being the cleric of the group.

"We're so fucking screwed if it's the Mind Flayer," Dustin exclaimed in worry.

"It's not the Mind Flayer," Lucas exclaimed. "It's most likely going to be the Demogorgen or something,"

"Which is also shit for us, Lucas!"

"The monster comes out through the darkness, its' golden eyes staring at you as it is-" Mike exclaimed as he slammed a figure on the board, shaking the table dangerously. The figure was a tall figure with the head of a spider and somewhat of an octopus. "The Mind Flayer!"

The three boys erupt in a groan, knowing that this would be their end. Dustin yells to Lucas with his voice cracking. "I told you so!"

"Shut up!" Lucas snapped in annoyance.

"The Mind Flayer is getting impatient! Will what's your action?!" Mike exclaimed in a loud and sonuous voice, becoming impatient with his friends.

"I don't know!" Will said in a panic. He had never beaten the Mind Flayer before and by his panic he had forgotten what he could do to stop it.

"Use your protection spell, Will!" Dustin exclaimed to Will, his eyes showing safety and concern.

"No! You should fireball it!" Lucas yelled louder than Dustin as the two boys began to argue.

"Protection Spell!"

"Fireball!"

"The Mind Flayer rolls his hands towards Will the Wise readying his powers!" Mike yelled.

Will felt himself panic, holding the 20-sided die in his hand and yelled. "Protection spell!" He threw the die quickly, the boys all watched as the die went to the edge of the table, flying past them before falling onto the ground.

"Shit!" Mike exclaimed and stood up, making the other boys stand while they frequently tried to find the die. Their expressions were filled with worry, Will's especially because this was the life of Will the Wise could be killed from the number.

Then a yell called out from above the basement. It was Mike's mom, Mrs. Wheeler, looking at her son and his friends as she said. "Mike, it's nine at night!"

"Come on, Mom!" Mike exclaimed, looking up at his mom before running up the stairs. "Just a few minutes!"

Will was too busy to care about what was going on with Mike and found the 20-sided die, underneath his chair. What? He thought in his head. How could that be? He picked up the die, seeing the number shown plainly in his fingers. The number was written in a bold font which made Will sigh. It was a one.

Will knew his demise and told the others. "Guys I found it," He said in disappointment.

"What is it?" Lucas asked as he walked towards Will quickly. His eyes looking at the die before he sighed. "Fuck."

"Oh no. Please let it not be a one," Dustin whined, eyes showing panic.

"It's one," Will sighed, showing defeat. Will the Wise was most likely dead by the destruction of the powerful Mind Flayer.

"Well, we lost," Lucas sighed as he looked at his two friends.

Footsteps were heard down the stairs to reveal Mike with a sad expression. "Sorry guys," He said softly. "You have to leave," The three boys nodded and stayed quiet, not saying a word as thunder rumbled in the distance.

002

Rain poured down onto the ground in the dark night that echoed through the roof of the garage. Mike stood in the garage while the boys were getting on their bikes. Thunder growled in the distance, storming as the pouring rain as it ran towards the sewer drains.

Will Byers zipped his jacket and got on the bike as he said his goodbyes to his friends. He got on his old bike that was worn down after using it too many times to count. He looked at Mike, whose eyes looked off into the distance.

"Hey Mike?" Will asked softly. Mike's head quickly turned around, his mopey hair curling towards his face just like the freckles that danced them.

"Yeah?" Mike asked quietly.

"It was a one," Will said softly. "It got me,"

"The Mind Flayer?"

"Yes," Will said, his shoes getting on the peddals as he biked down to the road. "Bye Mike,"

Mike settled on a wave towards Will before going back into the house, not knowing that this would be the last time he would have a normal life.

But none of them would.

That night, Will quickly biked down the road as rain poured on his head but that did not stop his mood. He hummed the song that his brother had showed him the day Georgie died and heard the song inside his head.

"So you gotta let me know.." Will sang softly, biking through the rain. His eyes staring into the darkness above him. He stared off looking into the woods the calm woods that were laced with darkness of the unknown. He was going to sing more but someone stopped him before he could.

"Should I stay or Should I go?" A voice ripped through the silence. Will's eyes immediately widened he looked up to see a monster.

Will quickly tried to go for the breaks, his head spinning as he tried to stop himself. Out of fear, he sent his bike hitting curb before falling onto the ground. The storm above him thundered and knew that if he screamed, no one would know.

He could feel the monster coming closer. It's golden eyes glaring at him with a evil smile. The silohouette of a monster lurking towards him. His body was stuck, in between the bike while he panicked on what to do.

He quickly jolted out of the grip of his bike and ran into the forest. His heart pounding in fear as the storm thundered in response. Will's breathing irregular as he felt like he was in a horror film or even worse, what he saw was the man that was killing kids.

While he was running and thinking at the same time, he felt himself fall onto the ground by the next minute. He quickly tried to get up, his heart pounding in fear. He could see something in the distance while he ran, his heart racing and panting. It was a dark hole that was surrounded by cement with a sign that wrote that this was the Derry Sewers.

He ran towards the entrance, thinking that this could be a safe place to run towards and hide. Then, like every horror movie in existence, he tripped. He slammed into the ground, his head hitting the edge of the cement. He screamed in pain, trying to get up while blood ran down his head. He struggled to stand up, feeling something grab him. He could feel something wrapping his legs, digging himself into the ground.

"Hello, Will," A voice said from behind him. His head immediately turned around and saw the monster in disguise. He tried to get up and run towards home, but he knew this would be the end. A chuckle arose from its' red lips, leaning down towards the young boy.

Will immediately knew he need to run, he need to get out but the world seemed to fade into darkness as he stared into the monster's eyes. He tried to stop himself but he had already faded once he closed his eyes. "We all float down here." The voice whispered softly in his ear before he felt darkness overcome him. "And you'll float too. . . . ."