Authors Note: First and foremost I want to thank everyone who's read and/or going to read more of this story. This is my first time uploading anything of mine so I'm happy to receive as MUCH criticism/reviews as I can so I can get better at this sort of thing. I also feel obligated to note that this story contains MAJOR spoilers pertaining to the series itself, so I strongly recommend that you don't read this until after you've finished all eight episodes of season one. Without further ado...enjoy!

Chapter One - Displaced

"Will the Wise casts protection and the Displacer Beast roars in anger, SLAMMING his paws into the ground. His long, spiked tentacles flick about angrily and his black ears fold back in fury. He readies himself, then strikes…BAM!" Mike's hands slammed into the table for added effect. The boys flinched back in shock, entirely engrossed in their imaginary realm of Dungeons and Dragons.

"The protection spell saved us, right?!" Dustin demanded. Mike nodded, grinning mischievously to himself.

"Are you sure you even know what you're doing Dustin?" Lucas prodded his friend's shoulder quizzically. As far as the many beasts they'd fought, Dustin knew the most about them – aside from Mike, who HAD to know their abilities as Dungeon Master – and helped his friends cooperate to defeat the monsters.

"Yeah! We have to be careful though, Displacer Beasts can project images of themselves so it looks like they're standing in one spot when he's really somewhere else…" Lucas and Will eyed each other worriedly.

"Well how do we land a hit?" Lucas asked.

"We have to cast a location spell on it…or risk the chances of missing…then getting hit…and dying…" The entire party looked at Will.

He knowingly smiled, "I can do that." Will picked up the die and tossed it onto the game board.

"He got a seven!" Lucas announced.

"The cat-like creature's image vibrates for a second, and then it fades as his true position is revealed…" Mike peers frightfully around the room, searching for the invisible feline. Suddenly, he points and shouts, "He's perched in a tree, ready to pounce!" His friends immediately began shouting over each other, bickering over what to do next. There was something so hilarious about being the Dungeon Master; maybe it was watching his friends argue over imaginary troubles. He liked to think it was seeing his friends overcome these great obstacles unscathed. As Mike lowered his finger, he watched his friends scramble for the die.

"Lucas, shoot it down with your bow!" Dustin hastily suggested. Will leaned forwards excitedly as Lucas shook the die in clasped hands.

"I shoot three poison-tipped arrows at it!" Lucas announced, tossing the die. He gets a ten and the party cheers, rising from their seats in exaltation.

Mike continues his animated narration, "All three of the arrows pierce the beast's chest and he howls in pain! His claws leave trails as he slides down the tree, his tentacles reaching out for the three adventurers desperately. He hits the ground and hisses one last time, 'My brethren will avenge me!' And then, just when the Displacer Beast appeared beaten, HE-"

"BOYS! Dinner!" Mrs. Wheeler called from above. Lucas, Dustin and Will all let out a collective groan as Mike stretched his arms over his head.

"Aren't you gonna finish the narration?" Will pressed.

"Nah…it's basically dead. You guys killed the Displacer Beast," Mike put plainly with a smile, packing up his campaign book. Each of them simultaneously drew a relieved breath.

"For a second, I thought we were screwed," Lucas admitted. "I wasn't sure I would hit it."

"Oh please! Displacer Beasts are nothing compared to Dragons and…Demogorgons," Dustin stressed the last word, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah…I don't think any of us will have trouble with Demogorgons anymore," Will stated, smiling broadly.

"Yeah, you're right," Lucas snickered, lightly tapping his friend's shoulder with a closed fist.

"You guys can go on up. I'll be right behind you," Mike said. The three boys nodded, noisily chasing each other up the stairs. As Mike finished scribbling down today's progress, he couldn't help but peer over at his radio. It sat nestled comfortably amidst the blankets and pillows he'd set up beneath the tiny fortress. There was even that same pair of sweatpants and the blue sweatshirt piled neatly between the two chairs.

Was there any point in still keeping it up? It'd been half a year since she'd slept there… Mike stepped cautiously over to the fort, as if he expected her to suddenly climb through the wall and into that very spot. Was she even still…? His hand grasped the thin sheet acting as the roof of the fort, but he froze in place.

"Mike."

The boy spun around, staring at his friend standing on the stairs. "Oh! Lucas…it's just you…" Mike trailed off, turning back towards the fort. He could hear Lucas descending the rest of the stairs and crossing the room to stand behind him.

After a long silence, a hand landed on Mike's shoulder. "Come on Mike…you gotta let it go…"

"I know…" Mike sighed, gingerly grasping the edge of the sheet and draping it over the entrance. He told himself he wouldn't do this again; this sick cycle of contemplation, depression, regret, and acceptance.

"I'm sorry Mike…" Lucas looked down at his shoes. "We really miss her too..." There was another huge silence, and for a second the rowdy dinner table banter dipped in volume as well. It was like the entire house was holding its breath, waiting on Mike to climb the stairs and leave the empty fort behind.

"I know…" Mike repeated. Lucas patted him on the shoulder, crossing the room and slowly ascending the stairs. Mike was still standing there before the chairs, staring down at the radio. He couldn't bring himself to take it down or remove anything from it's spot. So he would finish this cycle of loss in silence, following his waiting friend up the stairs and to the dinner table.

"Hey Mike…everything okay?" Mrs. Wheeler asked.

"Yeah," Lucas and he both replied at once, eyeing the other in surprise.

Mike continued, "I'm fine…" Dustin lowered his gaze to his plate as if in mourning. Will gave him a concerned look while Holly was too preoccupied with the intricacies of her napkin to sense the oppressive atmosphere hanging over the quiet table. It wasn't until after she'd crumpled it into a paper ball did Mike break the silence. "Dinner smells awesome!" he noted, eyeing the thick slices of ham adorning his plate.

"Yeah! I'm glad none of us are Jewish," Dustin commented. All occupants at the table eyed him incredulously as his joke began to deflate. "…because we wouldn't get to enjoy…the ham…" he trailed off, squeezing the life out of his fork. A grimace crossed Mike's face as Lucas pursed his lips as if in pain.

"…right! Well, I hope you guys enjoy it!" Mrs. Wheeler said, trying to curtail the now awkward silence. This wasn't anything new; Mike's friends were normally quite rowdy downstairs, but when it came to supper, their social graces deserted them entirely. Karen knew that this was just another one of those nights, but she smiled nonetheless. Will was here, seated right beside her son through means that escaped her. She was never certain how he'd survived his complicated ordeal…especially since they'd all attended his funeral following the discovery of his "fake body" in the quarry. Mike made a quirky face at Dustin as Lucas began laughing into his milk cup, and Mrs. Wheeler was just glad Will was still here. The youngest end of the table began giggling, then kicking each other (mostly Dustin kicking Mike) beneath the table. Holly watched them all, eyes widening frightfully. "Boys…" Mrs. Wheeler warned.

"Sorry Mom," Mike apologized before giving Dustin a final kick in the ankle. He winced and silently screamed his pain. They quickly returned to smiles and end-of-the-day chatter soon after this tiny battle.

As Mrs. Wheeler set about washing the dishes, her husband lounged in his La-Z Boy recliner, snoring loudly. The boys were picking spots to sleep in Mike's room. Karen had been feeling generous, so when Mike had popped the question she'd called all their parents asking if they could stay over. "I know this is a bit last minute but the boys are having such a blast…plus Mike's been a little down lately…" she trailed off, checking to see if Mike was near. "I think some time with his friends might do him good. If Will can't stay, then I have no problem driving him back to your place."

"Oh, he can stay! No problem at all," Joyce assured her over the phone. "Will's been acting a bit different too…" she said, attempting to relate. She remembered Hopper and her rescuing him in the Upside Down but continued chattering on about some made-up reason for Will's odd behavior. Hopper had sworn her to secrecy, and unfortunately that meant the occasional lie and fake excuse. Jonathan began untying his shoes and relaxing. Joyce gave him a thumbs up, knowing that he had to work early tomorrow morning. He grinned and waved goodnight to his mother, turning in for the night. "…but yes! It'll definitely be good for him to be with his friends."

"So it's alright with you?"

"Yep!" Joyce confirmed. "Thanks for giving me a heads up Karen. I hope they won't be too loud…" she joked, running a hand through her brown wispy hair. They laughed through the phone lines as Joyce added, "Oh I've been there, trust me!"

"Well, you have a good night Joyce."

"You too Karen," and at that, Joyce placed the phone back onto the receiver. There was a knock at the door, so Joyce peered through the windows beside it. She breathed with surprise and opened the door.

"Evening Joyce," Chief Hopper nodded courteously.

"Hey Hop…is-is something wrong?" Joyce asked, eyeing him curiously. The man had a sleep-deprived look about him, and his eyes hung with dark circles. When he didn't immediately answer, she opened the door wider. "Here, come in," she stepped aside as the tall man entered the room. She peered out at the front lawn suspiciously before shutting the door. Her fingers twisted the lock.

To be continued...

Authors Note: Thank you so much for reading this chapter! If you liked it make sure you Follow this story because I do plan on making it quite long and suspenseful, and maybe leave a review if you feel so inclined. I'm open to all the criticism you can give me in case I could be doing something better. I find myself constantly editing these first two chapters anyway for grammar and typos. Keep on writing! -Nightlock