Hawkins, Indiana - 1986

Besides free period, lunch period was probably Zelda's favorite part of the school day. She could just sit down and eat and not have to be bothered with long lectures and classwork. Today's assortment was pizza and corn with some bread and fruit off to the side. Oh, and of course there was a small carton of milk to help wash it all down.

The pep-rally earlier in the day for the basketball team had been a roaring success for the Tigers but left her feeling more than a little numb. Jason Carver just had to mention how hard the year had been for Hawkins and then make that stupid motivational speech afterward about the tournament the team was in. What an idiot.

Speaking of he and the rest of the Tigers were seated at the far end of the cafeteria laughing and smiling about something. What that something was, Zelda didn't care honestly. She was just about to take another bite of her pizza when all of a sudden, an all too familiar voice cut through the multiple conversation in the cafeteria.

Standing atop a table without a care in the world was Hawkins High's own residential freak, Eddie Munson. He looked like he stepped right out of a metal album cover with his wild long hair and denim overtop of Lether.

"But as long as you are into band or science or... parties." he teased before directing his attention to the basketball team. "Or a game where you toss balls into laundry baskets!"

That certainly got their attention as they all looked his way, annoyed. Jason Carver was then only one to actually rise and snap back. "You want something freak!"

His answer came in the form of Eddie mocking him with his tongue out and his fingers atop his head like devil horns. That got a few laughs from some people nearby and Zelda admittedly had a small grin tugging at her lips.

Jason however turned away, having deemed the confrontation not worth anymore of his time. He sat back down with his boys, and they continued their previous conversation. With the show now over and her interest gone, Zelda put the headphones around her neck on her head and pressed play on the Walkman clipped to her.

It wasn't long before a catchy tune reached her ears that put her mind at ease as she continued to eat her lunch.

I come home, in the mornin' light
My mother says, "When you gonna live your life right?"
Oh momma dear, we're not the fortunate ones
And girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have fun

Cyndi Lauper was her favorite and just hearing her voice through the headphones helped to take her away from it all for a little while. She hummed along with the music for a minute before she felt something tap her on the shoulder. She blinked before turning to the source to find two boys she'd seen sitting at Eddie's table.

The lanky one with long hair gestured to his ear and Zelda got the message. She pulled down her headphones to address the two that were standing near her. "Can I help you?"

The other boy who was wearing a hat smiled. "Griselda Simpson... do you wanna join Hellfire tonight?"

(I)

Zelda could already feel the beginnings of a headache coming on as she walked down the halls of Hawkins high. What on god's green earth had she been thinking. She didn't know the very first thing about D&D. Sure Mike and Dustin explained it to her as best they could and helped her make a character, but she was still clueless.

Oh well, she'd cross that bridge when she got to it after school. Right now, she had to go see the school counselor.

The phone rings, in the middle of the night
My father yells, "What you gonna do with your life?"
Oh daddy dear, you know you're still number one
But girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have

That's all they really want
Some fun
When the workin' day is done
Oh girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have fun (girls, they want)
(Wanna have fun, girls)
(Wanna have)

Zelada didn't know how long she'd been sitting there in Ms. Kelley's office before the woman returned and asked her to remove her headphones. She'd gotten lost again. She did as the woman instructed and pulled down her headphones before stopping her music dead. "Sorry."

The counselor didn't look at all annoyed. She just smiled and told her it was alright before retrieving a file from behind the desk she was seated at. She opened it up and read it aloud for her to hear.

"Over this path month I've noticed that your grades have been slipping in your core classes as well as your electives. Do you want to tell me why that is?"

Zelda shrugged. "I don't know."

She did know, she hadn't felt motivated enough to put in the effort she used to in school. Before she was an AB student and now, she only put in just enough to not flunk out.

Ms. Kelley looked concerned by her answer. "Is everything okay at home?"

"Yeah..." No. "Everything's fine."

"And how are you holding up? Are you sleeping better?" Ms. Kelley asked.

"Yeah." Zelda lied.

"No more headaches?"

She shook her head.

"No more nightmares?" Ms. Kelley light pressed.

A brief image flashed before Zelda's eyes, crimson everywhere. "No."

Ms. Kelley didn't look the least bit convinced. "Griselda, you know you can talk to me, right? What you've gone through, what you're still going through is a lot for any one person to take. I want to help you, but I can only do that if you're truthful. This isn't just a job to me; I really do care."

Zelda pursed her lips. "I know."

(II)

Talking to Ms. Kelley left Zelda feeling drained. She didn't dislike the woman and knew she genuinely gave a damn, but she just didn't feel like talking. Especially about things that related back to last year. As she stood alone in the bathroom, she looked herself over in the mirror.

She looked tired, her eyes said as much, and her head was still pounding.

A part of her wanted to just no show the whole Hellfire campaign after school and go home, but she had agreed to play, and Mike and Dustin took the time to help her build a character for the stupid quest.

"Damnit." she cursed. She placed her headphones back on and went about the rest of her day.

Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest o' the world
I wanna be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have

That's all they really want
Is some fun
When the workin' day is done
Oh girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have fun (girls, they want)
(Wanna have fun, girls)
(Wanna have)

(III)

"Absolutely not." was Eddie short reply.

Griselda was a little caught off guard by Eddie's words. In fact, she was caught off guard by the whole setup Hellfire club had in general. They in a dark room with colorful lights while Eddie sat in some makeshift throne like a king while three other club members flanked him. It was a surreal sight that's for sure.

Then there was Mike and Dustin who brought along with them someone else who clearly didn't go to the school. She looked like an Elementary schooler with her little pink binder, and she was wearing the American flag like a cape. Who was she and why'd they bring her?

Dustin was the first to speak. "You asked for a sub, and we delivered."

"Yeah, and we brought in some new blood." Mike added while point to Zelda.

Eddie took in their words as he leaned forward in his throne. "This is Hellfire club, not a babysitting club." He then turned his attention to Griselda. "She's fine though."

The girl he insulted looked very unimpressed. "I'm eleven years old you long haired freak."

Eddie chuckled as did the others by his side. "My, my, the child speaks." he then rose from his throne. "And what is your name, child?"

"Erica Sinclair." she answered sassily.

The leader of Hellfire looked amused. "So, this is Sinclair's infamous sister."

Erica looked towards Dustin and Mike. "He's sharp."

That got a small giggle from Zelda and few of Eddie's loyal followers.

Again, he looked amused. "What's your class and level? Level one dwarf?"

That earned a few more giggles from the peanut gallery. Mike and Dustin just looked worried.

Erica continued without missing a beat. "My name is Lady Applejack and I'm a half-elf rogue, level fourteen. I will sneak up behind any monster you throw my way and stab them in the back with my poison-soaked Kukri, and I will smile as I watch them die a slow, agonizing death. So, we gonna do this or are we gonna keep chit chatting like this is your mommy's book club."

The whole room went silent.

What on earth just happened?

Everyone turned towards Eddie to gauge his reaction and watched a smile slowly wormed its way onto his face. He extended his hand to the girl, pleased by her response. "Welcome to Hellfire."

The two shook hands in an epic show of respect.

With that done Eddie set his sights back on Zelda who had watched the entire exchange that just took place in mostly silence.

"And what of you, fair maiden. What is your class and level?" he asked.

All eyes were on her now. There was no way she was going to top that introduction. Moment of truth time. "My name is She-Bop Allbright, and I am a level 1 healer!"

Zelda tried to put as much pow into her voice as possible and wound up looking sillier than anything as a result.

There was silence, followed by a few snickers. Yes, her introduction was lame.

Taking pity on her the freak of Hawkins High walked over and extended his hand "Welcome to Hellfire, Lady She-Bop."

Feeling a sense of relief, Zelda shook his hand. The game could now officially begin.

(IV)

"The hooded cultists chant: Hail... Lord... Vecna. Hail... Lord... Vecna." Eddie whispered, really getting his role as the Dungeon Master. "They turn you, remove their hoods. You recognize most of them from Makbar. But there is one you do not recognize, his skin shriveled, desiccated. And something else. He is not only missing his left arm, but his left eye!"

Cries ring out around the crowded D&D table as the horrifying realization begins to set in for the entire party.

"No! No! No!"

"What!?"

"Are you serious!?"

"It can't be!"

"Vecna's dead!"

"He was killed by Kas!" Mike freaks.

"So it was thought my friends! So it was thought!" Eddie grins before slamming down the silver game piece on the alter that sat comfortably on the gameboard. "Vecna lives!"

Zelda couldn't believe it. How could simple boardgame be so nerve-racking.

"You are scared, you're tired, you are injured. Do you flee Vecna and his cultists? Or do you stand your ground and fight?" Eddie asked all while hamming it up. "Come on."

Everyone began to think over what to do next. "I say we should fight." Dustin spoke. "To the death!"

"To the Death." Mike agreed.

"To the death." Followed Erica.

"To the death." Zelda clapped.

Everyone else agreed. They all chanted un unison. "To the death! To the death! To the death! To the death! To the death! To the death! To the death! To the death!"

What followed was an intense battle unlike anything Zelda had ever experienced before. The roll of the dice, the hits and the misses, the cries, the screams, the sounds of laughter, the heartbreak of losing a party member. It was all just so much... fun. How long had it been since she just sat down with people and had fun?

Eventually however, the fun was put on pause a cry of "Timeout! Timeout!" filled the air.

Everyone respected the call and huddled up on the other side of the room. Zelda felt as if she had somehow found her way into a football game.

"Guys I hate to say this, but I think it best we flee." said Gareth.

"I concur."

"Didn't we just agree to the death?" Erica cut in.

"I thought so." Zelda added.

"That wasn't literal." Gareth said back.

"Vecna just decimated us. We can't kill him with just three players."

"You too." Dustin said slightly annoyed. "He only has fifteen hit points left. Don't be pussies."

"Pussies? Really? Because we're not delusion." Gareth argued.

"Delusional? How about not cowards." Erica sassed.

"Hey!" Eddie called from the other side of the room, gaining the party's attention. "If I may interject gentlemen, Lady Applejack, Lady She-Bop. Whilst I respect the passion, you'd be wise to take Gareth the Great's concern to heart. There is no shame in running. Don't try to be heroes, not today."

Dustin held up a finger. "One second."

Everyone regrouped in the huddle.

"What do you think Mike?" Dustin asked.

"How many hit points do you, Applejack, and Allbright have left?"

"Twelve." they said in unison.

"Six." Zelda answered. She was the weakest in the party.

"It's risky as hell, but you're the ones on the battlefield." Mike spoke seriously. "So, it's your call."

Dust looked towards Erica and Zelda. "What do you say Lady Applejack, Healer Allbright?"

"Do you really have to ask?" Erica sassed yet again.

Zelda sighed. "Whatever you decide, I'm in."

With that in mind, Dustin nodded. "Screw it. Let's kill this sonofabitch."

"You do realize our chances are of success are twenty to one."

"Never... tell me the odds." Dustin spoke confidently. "Give me the D-Twenty."

Eddie threw Dustin the twenty-sided die as everyone returned to the table and everyone watched with bated breath as he shook it in his hands. The moment he tossed it down everyone began to lean in. It clattered and rolled and eventually came to a stop on the number eleven.

"That's a miss!" Eddie announced.

"Shit!" Dustin cursed.

Zelda now found the black die in her own hand before blowing on it for good luck. She dropped it down on the board and with every bounce she could swear she could hear her own heartbeat inside her chest.

It came to a stop... on the number 1.

"No!" Everyone shouted all at once.

Eddie grinned. "Lady She-Bop fails to heal her party members. Lord Vecna mocks three and uses his great and terrible power to plant a curse upon you. Healer Allbright perishes in three turns."

"Damn." Zelda whispers.

Groans of disappointment ring out from her failed attempt to slay the dark wizard.

Everyone now huddles behind Erica as she picks up the black die. Time seems to almost slow to a crawl as she shakes it in her hands. It all came down to this. If her roll failed, then the dark wizard would conquer the realm.

She released the die.

It clattered onto the board and rolled forth, causing everyone to lean in close. The fate of the game rested on Lady Applejack's shoulders. As the die began to lose momentum everyone present began to grow rowdy. The die came to a stop and the number on top sent everyone into a frenzy... a twenty!

Lady Applejack had done it! The battle had been won!

"Crit hit!"

Loud cheers occupied quiet space and even Zelda found herself cheering for the girl who was now soaking in her success. Eddie didn't even look upset either, he was beyond pleased or proud that Hellfire had managed to conquer the final quest. Vecna had finally been slain. The dark wizard was no more.

(V)

They just want, they just wanna (girls)
They just want, they just wanna (girls just wanna have fun)
Oh girls, girls just wanna have fun
(Just want, they just wanna)
They just wanna, they just wanna (girls)
They just want, they just wanna (girls just wanna have fun)
Oh girls, girls just wanna have fun

When the workin'
When the workin' day is done
Oh, when the workin' day is done
Oh, girls, girls just wanna have fun
Everybody
Huh, huh

Zelda had had herself an admittedly great time playing D&D for the first time. She could understand why some nuts out there would link the game to satanic rituals at a first glance but that's not what the game was at all. It was just a bunch of friends getting together and having a good time huddled around a table. How was that evil?

With a small smile on her face, she shut her eyes and felt the bump of the road as Eddie drove her home. Since she also lived in the trailer park it wasn't out of his way, plus she didn't really have a ride. What had initially surprised her though was that the head cheerleader Chrissy Cunningham was coming along as well.

The two seemed to get on well which was surprising since the social order of the school demanded the two to never interact with one another. If Jason could see them now, he would no doubt flip his lid. His girlfriend, the golden girl of Hawkins was driving away from the school in the freak, Eddie Munson's van.

How bizarre.

Zelda didn't prod them for anything as it wasn't her business. Instead, she allowed herself to drift off until she arrived home.

(VI)

When Zelda came to, she blinked a few times when she realized someone was shaking her arm. She looked up with groggy eyes to see it was Eddie who had woken her. "Hey, we're here."

Already?

Zelda stretched for a second before she got up, not noticing that her Walkman had come loose from her in her sleep. She stepped out of the van and took in the night air as well the sight of multiple mobile homes.

"Thanks for giving me a lift." she said to her fellow senior.

"No problem. I didn't even know you lived out here."

"Not a lot of people do." Zelda said before yawning into her hand. "You two have a good night."

Eddie and Chrissy waved her off as she began to walk home. While she did, she could hear Eddie in the background introducing his mobile home to Chrissy as his castle. That got a small snort from her. The leader of Hellfire club was such a character.

It didn't take long for Zelda's good mood to dampen however when she came to the trailer she shared with her father. His car wasn't parked outside which means he hadn't come home yet. With a sigh she walked up to the mobile home and entered. The first thing she did was kick a row of discarded beer cans out of her way on her path to her room. Once there she fell back on her air mattress and sighed.

Besides the D&D game today, everything else had been a slog to get through. She felt tired now and her headache was starting to return. She reached down to her hip where her Walkman would be only to find nothing but her hip.

"What?"

Zelda sat up and looked to her side to see her Walkman nowhere to found.

"Don't tell me."

She walked out of her room and into the hall looking for her Walkman. She couldn't believe she lost it. It was a special and her favorite tape was still in it. Wait a minute, she knew for a fact it was still on her when she got into Eddie's van so... it must come loose in his van.

With a sigh she walked out of her trailer and back to Eddie's. When she got there, she noticed that the lights were flickering as if there was some surge going through his home. That was odd but... yeah, that was odd. Since his van was most likely locked and she didn't feel like getting charged for breaking in she decided too just ask him to open his van for her.

As she reached the front door, she could swear she could hear him on the other side shouting something. He sounded panicked actually. Without thinking she twisted the doorknob to his trailer and to her surprise the door actually opened. What she saw on the other side however made her freeze in her tracks.

"What the hell!?" she breathed.

Eddie Munson was staring wide-eyed at a sight ripped straight out of a horror movie. Chrissy Cunningham, the golden girl of Hawkins High was literally levitating just above the ground.

Eddie then turned his attention to the new arrival who looked just as surprised as he was. What was she doing here and was she seeing the same thing he was? He wasn't going crazy right now, right?

He would receive no answer to his question at the present time. Instead, he was going to be in for the shock of his life. Chrissy's body suddenly slammed against the roof of the trailer, startling both teens.

"Jesus Christ!" he freaked as he fell to the floor.

"Oh my god." Zelda breathed as she clutched the doorframe for dear life. What the hell was she looking at? Chrissy was clinging to the ceiling like Tina in A Nightmare on Elm Street.

A horrifying snap caught their attention next. Chrissy arm bent in a way it was never meant to. Her legs were next and then her other arm, her jaw snapped out of place too. What was happening!? What the hell was going on!?

It was all too much. Two loud screams ripped from Eddie and Zelda's throats as Chrissy torture finally reached its end. Her eyes... they exploded from the inside of her skull. There was loud squelch and pop before the now mangled body of Chrissy Cunningham hit the floor.

Time seemed to stop for Zelda as her voice did. She hadn't even realized she stopped screaming. She just stood there frozen, staring at the mangled corpse that was sitting crumpled in the middle of the floor. Did that really just happen? No, it couldn't have. This wasn't real. Chrissy was just fine a few minutes ago. Was she dreaming? She had to be. This was just one of her night terrors, wasn't it?

She hadn't even registered the two hands shaking her shoulders. She blinked once again; a painful pressure was building in her skull. Someone was talking to her right now.

Eddie? Eddie was talking to her right now.

"We have to go! Like now!" he was saying.

It was all a blur after that. One big blur. She didn't remember her legs moving, she didn't remember getting in his van, she didn't remember any of it. All she knew was that she was in the front seat with him while he gripped the steering wheel so tight, she could practically hear it straining. He said nothing. She said nothing. What was there to say?

Mechanically her hand reached for the radio as they drove off into the night.

They just want, they just wanna (girls)
They just want, they just wanna (girls just wanna have fun)
Oh, girls, girls just wanna have fun
(They just wanna, they just wanna) when the workin'
When the working day is done (they just want, they just wanna)
Oh, when the working day is done (girls, girls just wanna have fun)
Oh girls, girls just wanna have fun

To be continued...