The air was filled with an intensity that hadn't yet been felt before. Everyone in the room remained on edge for what was coming next. Mike Wheeler gave a crooked smile as he looked at the party members sitting around him.
"You feel fear; something that isn't new to you, but it is different kind of fear. One that could only originate from the one of the nastiest beings you would ever come across. This being is one you can't see, but you can feel." Mike said with a sinister grin.
Dustin Henderson, sitting to Mike's right, put his hand on his chin, trying to consider what the creature could be. He decided to take a risky move.
"I'll activate True Sight to see what we'll be dealing with." Dustin said, reaching for the yellow and black D-20.
Lucas Sinclair sat across from Dustin. He gave Dustin a concerned stare.
"What makes you think this thing can be seen with True Sight? Why not just use your lantern to save mana?" Lucas inquired.
"Uh, no. I would rather see what this thing is so we can beat the shit out of it, comprende?" Dustin said, finishing by grabbing the D-20.
Lucas simply shrugged at Dustin's snarky remark and waved his hand, as if to say, just get on with it. Dustin took a deep breath as he readied himself. He tossed the die on the table and he was anxious to see what it landed on. Dustin gave a small as he saw the number "20" being shown.
Mike smiled. "Dustin has activated True Sight and he observes his surroundings. He doesn't know what to consider at first, maybe it was simply just a reflection. But wait, something's off-"
"Oh, shit! What if it's the Beholder?" Dustin said, panicking.
Lucas thought for a moment. "You could be right, but isn't that what True Sight is supposed to tell you?"
"Well, not exactly. Mike can adjust that however he wants." Dustin said, looking back to Mike.
"Let's just get on with the goddamn game already!" The 4th player yelled.
Lucas turned to the red-headed girl, who was crossing her arms. Maxine "Max" Mayfield was looking back at Lucas.
"Let Dustin do what he needs to do. If he loses mana, so what, he loses mana." Max said, indicating for Mike to continue.
"The Beholder!" Mike yelled, placing the indicated D&D piece on the board.
"Goddamn it! This always happens and we're not ready for this bullshit!" Dustin yelled.
"The Beholder looks at you with a vengeance. This is one that you have killed before, but he has returned with strength that couldn't even be comprehensible. He is here to ensure that everyone responsible for his demise is killed by his own hands. Dustin, your move!" Mike yelled.
Dustin placed his hand on his head. "Shit, I used my mana for True Sight. Gonna have to use a protection spell."
Dustin grabbed the D-20 and tossed it on the table. It rolled and came to a complete stop, with the number "5" on the face of the die.
"Shit!" Dustin cursed.
"Your protection spell begins to form, until it's fortunate failure. The Beholder returns this gesture with a magical attack." Mike grabbed his die and rolled it. "The question is, can you counter?"
Dustin grabbed his die and rolled it again, however, it ended up in a far worse result.
"I'm dead, well that's just great." Dustin said, knocking his player piece down.
Lucas turned to Mike, who was waiting for Lucas to play. "Actually, I think I'm just gonna call it. We can't get past this, Max. I don't think we should keep going."
Mike gave Lucas a concerned look, before Lucas stood up.
"Alright Max, you ready to go?" Lucas said, reaching his hand towards her.
Max shrugged. "I suppose. I've gotta go home anyway."
Lucas smiled as Max grabbed his hand. The duo walked towards the stairs. Lucas turned back to Mike and Dustin.
"We'll play later, ok?" Lucas asked, but not expecting an answer.
Before Mike or Dustin could say anything, Lucas and Max quickly disappeared up the stairs. Mike sighed as he began to pack up the game.
"Well, it was good while it lasted." Dustin said, helping Mike pick up the individual pieces.
"Now we know how Will felt, huh? I mean, Eleven's in Ohio, Suzie's in Utah, but Max is still here. Why do we even let her play? She only plays whenever she isn't bored with whatever she's doing."
Dustin shook his head slightly. "Well, we agreed to let her play, but I know what you mean. But I should probably get going though. I mean, I don't know what else we're gonna do."
Mike nodded. "It's ok. You can go."
Dustin knew that Mike didn't want him to leave, but Dustin knew he didn't have a choice in the matter. His mother wouldn't have him being out later than he should be.
"Alright, well, have a good night, man. Hey, she's gonna be ok, alright? What can really hurt her over there?"
Mike nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Dustin patted Mike's back and began walking towards the stairs of the basement.
"Wait!" Mike yelled.
Dustin turned around to face Mike. "What is it?"
Mike sighed. "I'm…sorry. About Eleven and I. I guess I just did-"
Mike was cut off by Dustin's response. "Hey, don't worry about it. This D&D campaign only made up for it."
Mike smiled. "Thanks. See you tomorrow, Dustin."
Dustin waved. "See you tomorrow."
Mike turned back to his D&D table, hearing Dustin's footsteps up the stairs and out of the basement. After waiting a few minutes to make sure that Dustin was gone, Mike walked over to basement window, exposing the beautiful sky that Hawkins had every once in a while. He knew that Eleven would be ok. He didn't get a phone call yet, but he knew that he would get the Byers' number soon enough. He reached for the walkie talkie on the shelf below the window. The crackling noise emitting from the radio was relatively quiet, which is what he wanted. He held the radio tightly in his hands and pressed the button on the side.
"Hey, El? If you can hear me, I…We still miss you. And, even though we may be apart for now, it won't always be like this. We'll be able to see each other again. I'm sure of it. Please…Please respond if you can hear me." Mike said, letting go of the radio's button.
Nothing came from the other side, just static. Dustin looked at his radio with concern. Mike wasn't done with Eleven just yet. He couldn't just let the fact that she's gone get to him. Dustin switched off his radio as he continued his bike ride home.