PREQUEL

If you have not read Perplexed, the first story set in S2 of Stranger Things(also a crossover with IT 2017), you should totally go do that first. If not, whatever. I can't do anything about it.

"Something is coming. Something hungry for blood."

Ross furrowed her eyebrows at Mike's words, thinking of what it could possibly be. Mostly anything dangerous in Dungeons & Dragons was out for blood, so there wasn't much to go off of.

They were in Mike's basement, 10 hours into their Dungeons & Dragons campaign. They'd spent weeks planning it, and were all excited to finally do it. Ross herself, who'd just finally decided to join the bandwagon that summer, was ecstatic.

"A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness," he continued. "It is almost here."

"What is it?" Will asks, leaning forward slightly. All of them knew, however, that Mike would not tell them. At least, not without building up to it dramatically, leaving them in suspense.

"What if it's the Demogorgon?" Dustin asked. Ross rolled her eyes, as Will groaned and leaned back in his chair. Dustin always thought it was the Demogorgon. "Oh, Jesus, we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon."

"No way," Ross told him, shaking her head. "It's not always going to be a Demogorgon."

"You don't know that," Dustin said to her, widening his eyes.

"It's not the Demogorgon," Lucas stressed, shaking his head. "Why do you always guess the Demogorgon?" Dustin opened his mouth to bite back a reply, but Mike interrupted him.

"An army of troglodytes charge into the chamber!" Mike exclaimed, slamming down the monster's piece. Lucas sat back in triumph, giving Dustin an I-told-you-so look.

"Troglodytes?" their Bard asked in disbelief, with a hint of disappointment.

"Told ya," Lucas said, chuckling afterwards. They all laughed, inwardly relieved that it wasn't anything actually harmful. At least, not as harmful as the Demogorgon.

Ross noticed that Mike was not laughing with them, and immediately dropped her smile.

"Wait a minute," Mike said softly, looking behind him. "Did you hear that? That-that sound?"

"Oh, no," Ross said beneath her breath, casting the other members of the party small glances.

"Boom...boom...," Mike started, looking back forward. Suddenly, he jumped forward and slammed his hands on the table, making them all jump. "Boom!"

He waited a second, making sure he had their attention. "That didn't come from the troglodytes. No, that-that came from something else."

Of course it did, Ross thought to herself, watching Mike for his next move. He swung out his arm, and slammed a piece in the middle of the board.

"The Demogorgon!"

All of them groaned, hitting the table in frustration. Will even dropped his head into his arms.

"We're in deep shit!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Will, your action?" Mike questioned.

"I don't know!" Will said, shaking his head.

"Fireball him!" Lucas said, waving his hands around.

"I'd have to roll a 13 or higher!"

"Too risky," Dustin said. "Cast a protection spell!"

"Don't be a pussy!" Lucas snapped. "Fireball him!"

"Cast. Protection," Dustin urged.

Mike slammed the table again. "The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering! It stomps towards you! Boom!"

Ross brought a hand to her mouth, biting her fingernail. What should he do? Fireball him, or cast protection? Ross didn't know. And she didn't want to say either, because what if she was wrong?

"Fireball him!" Lucas exclaimed.

"Another stomp, boom!"

"Cast protection," Dustin retorted.

"He roars in anger!"

Both Lucas and Dustin nearly got up from their seats, pounding the table, yelling at Will to either fireball him, or cast protection. Over the yelling, it finally seemed Will had made up his mind.

"Fireball!" he yelled, throwing the die out onto the table, with a bit too much force. Ross watched them as they clattered over the edge.

"Oh shit!" Lucas hissed as they disappeared from sight. "Where'd it go?"

Ross got up from her chair, as did the boys, and immediately dropped to the ground to scour the floor.

"Where is it?" Lucas asked again.

"I don't know!" Will exclaimed.

"Is it under the stairs?" Ross asked hurriedly.

"Is it a 13?" Dustin asked.

"I don't know!" Will repeated.

"Where is it?"

As Ross climbed underneath the table, Dustin began to pace, hands on his head. "Oh, my god," he began to utter, over and over again.

From upstairs, Ross heard Mike's mom call down for him.

"Can you find it yet?"

"Mike!" Mrs. Wheeler yelled again.

"No, I can't find it!" Will said. Ross ran her hands along the carpet, waiting to come across the small die.

"Mike!"

"Mom, we're in the middle of a campaign!" Ross heard Mike say.

"You mean the end?" Mrs. Wheeler asked. "Fifteen after."

Ross jumped up so hard she banged her head on the bottom of the table. Crawling out from underneath it she rubbed the sore spot, looking over to Mike. "Fifteen after?" she asked. "Shit!"

Mike sighed, and began to climb the steps. Ross was quick to race after him, following him through the living room, where Mr. Wheeler was adjusting the TV antennas, and into the kitchen.

"Mom, wait," Mike pleaded to Mrs. Wheeler, "just 20 more minutes!"

"It's a school night, Michael," his mom reminded him.

"Could I use your phone, Mrs. Wheeler?" Ross asked.

"Of course, Ross," Mrs. Wheeler said kindly. Ross snatched the phone off the receiver and began to dial home.

"I just put Holly to bed," Mrs. Wheeler continued. "You can finish next weekend."

"But that'll ruin the flow!"

Ross brought the phone to her left ear, and stuck her finger in her right ear, to block out any other noise. Miss B, Will's mom, had taught her the trick one day when they were at Will's house. Ross was trying to call home, and the rest of the boys were being loud.

The phone rang a few times before someone finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"Dad?" Ross asked nervously, unsure how the conversation would go.

"Roslyn?"

"Yeah, Dad."

"Where the hell are you? You were supposed to be home 15 minutes ago," her dad said from the other end. He didn't sound particularly angry, just annoyed.

"I know," Ross sighed. "And I'm sorry."

She glanced at Mike and his mom, then dropped her voice lower, not quite to a whisper. "It's just, Mrs. Wheeler couldn't give me a ride home because she's having trouble putting Holly to bed," Ross lied. "And Mr. Wheeler is trying to fix their TV."

"Dammit, Ross," she heard her dad mutter.

"I'm sorry, Dad. Will you be able to pick me up?"

"None of the other boys can get you home?"

"Not unless I ride my bike to one of their houses," Ross told him.

"No, it's dark out. I'll be there in a few minutes," her dad said with a heavy sigh. Ross rolled her eyes.

"Dad, Lucas's house is just down the street. I could ride down-"

"I'll be there," her dad repeated. "Just be ready, make sure you have everything."

"Okay," Ross said, slightly dismayed. "Thank you."

"Your welcome," he said back. "See you in a few."

"See you."

The line went dead, and Ross placed the phone back up on the receiver.

"Will your dad be able to come pick you up?" Mrs. Wheeler asked Ross as she turned around.

"Yeah, he will," Ross reassured her. "Thank you for letting me use your phone."

"Oh, it's no problem," Mrs. Wheeler waved it off. "Anytime, sweetie."

By now, the boys were already emerging from the basement with their things, Dustin with a box of pizza. She didn't question it as he headed upstairs. He was probably going to talk to Nancy.

"Here, Ross," Will said, handing over her bag.

"Thanks," she smiled, swinging the back pack over her shoulder. She followed the boys out the back door, and her and Mike watched as they loaded up onto their bikes. Ross herself had her bike there, but her dad didn't really like her riding home by herself in the dark.

The door shut behind them, and Ross turned to see Dustin exiting the house.

"There's something wrong with your sister," the curly-haired boy said as he walked past Ross.

"What are you talking about?" Mike asked.

"She's got a stick up her butt."

Ross snorted. She never really talked to the older girl anymore, as Nancy kind of intimidated her now, but from the few interactions they'd had as of late, Ross had to agree.

"Yeah," Lucas said, kicking up his kickstand on his bike. "It's because she's been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington."

"He seems nice," Ross noted quietly, shrugging her shoulders. Lucas turned around to give her a look.

"Yeah, well, he's related to Troy, so he's automatically an asshole," Lucas told her. Ross nodded in consideration.

Troy Harrington was an asshole. But, from the very few times she'd ran into or talked to Steve, he seemed nice enough. Of course, he could've just been nice because she's five years younger than him, and she was a girl.

"She's turning into a real jerk," Dustin added.

"She's always been a real jerk," Mike stressed.

Dustin, Will, and Lucas all clicked on their bike's headlights. That was one of the reasons Ross wasn't able to ride alone at night. She wouldn't be able to see the road. At one point in time, her dad just suggested she tape a flashlight to her handle bars. But, then she forgot to turn it off, and the flashlight died one night when she was riding home alone. It surprised her, and she'd veered off the road and fell off her bike. She had a scar to show for it on her knee, although it would probably fade away within the next few years.

Her dad said he'd try and save the money to get her a new bike with a light, but she didn't really believe him.

"Nuh-uh, she used to be cool," Dustin said. "Like that time she dressed up as an elf for our Elder tree campaign."

"Four years ago!" Mike reminded him.

"Just sayin!" Dustin said as he pedaled down the drive. Lucas followed, throwing a quick farewell over his shoulder as he went.

"Later."

"Bye, guys," Ross called after them, smiling as the two threw a hand up to wave.

Will stayed back, silent for a few seconds before he looked over to Mike. "It was a seven," he finally said.

This caught Ross and Mike's attention, and they both turned to look at him.

"Huh?" Mike asked.

"The roll," Will reminded them. "It was a seven. The Demogorgon, it got me."

He looked down to his pedals and placed his feet on one, grunting as he pushed off with the other. "Well, see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Will," Ross said as he pedaled away.

Above Ross and Mike, the light flickered. They both looked towards it, yet it didn't flicker again. "Freaky," Ross muttered.

Mike moved to close the garage door, so Ross quickly wheeled her bike outside, and then hurried back in as he pressed the button.

"Is your dad coming?" Mike asked as he led her back inside. They passed through the kitchen, and sat down on the steps in front of the front door, since his dad was still in the living room.

"Yeah, said he'd be here in a bit," Ross said. "Don't get why I couldn't have just rode my bike home, though. Not like I'm gonna die on the way back."

"When is he going to get you the new one?"

"Never, probably," Ross sighed, leaning back and shrugging. "But still. Will's had a light, I could have ridden with him to his house, then the rest of the way back to mine. Could have made it just fine."

Mike shrugged, like he didn't really have anything to offer her. But then he said, "My mom could have given you a ride."

Ross sighed again. "Yeah, I know. I just don't like to bother her with small things like that. There's more important things she has to worry about. Like paying bills, or something."

Mike laughed quietly at that, and they were both silent for a moment. "Do you think we'll continue the campaign next weekend?" Ross asked.

"Probably not," Mike shook his head. "It'll be hard to pick up where we left off. And the Demogorgon got Will, anyway. It'll be easier to just restart."

She hummed in agreement.

"When Will was rolling, why didn't you say anything?"

Ross sat up, and turned to face Mike, who was already watching her. "What?"

"When Will was rolling. Lucas and Dustin were telling him what to do, but you didn't. Why not? You usually do." Mike asked, frowning slightly.

Ross shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't sure what he should do."

"What would you have done?"

She considered the question for a moment, before shrugging yet again. "I don't know."

"Do you know anything?" Mike asked jokingly. She smiled and playfully shoved him, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah. I know that you're a loser," she quipped back, snorting as he shoved her back.

Through the curtains of the windows, Ross saw a bright light. Standing up she grabbed her bag, and swung it onto her shoulder.

"Alright," she said, giving him a small wave. "See you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yeah," Mike said back, climbing to his feet with a smile. "Goodnight, Ross."

"Goodnight."

She shut the door behind her, then crossed her arms as the cold air bit through her jacket. Her dad's truck was at the curb, and her dad himself was already on his way up the drive.

David King leaned down to pick up his daughter's bike as she walked up to him. Heaving it off the ground, he nodded towards the truck.

"Load up," he said. "It's cold, and I've got food cooking at home."

"Oh," Ross said, happy that her dad wasn't angry for not being home on time. "What're we having?"

"You like shrimp, right?"

When Ross woke up the next morning her dad was already gone. Off to work, bright and early, just as he always was. With a heavy sigh she rolled out of her bed and set to get ready for the day, which really just included changing.

Her house was always cold, even during the summer for some odd reason, but it was especially cold during the mornings. But Ross liked the cold. She liked it much better than heat.

If she had to choose between being too cold or too hot, she would choose the cold in a heartbeat. When it was cold, it was easy to warm up. She could use blankets or layer her clothing. Sometimes she'd even microwave some food, just so she could hold the warm plate or bowl. But when it was hot, she was uncomfortable. She'd have to wear shorts and a tank top(she despised tank tops). She could only wear a swimsuit when she went swimming with the boys, but Ross also didn't like swimming all that much. Plus, with heat came sunburns, and being a redhead, Ross burned easily. It was also sweaty when it was hot. Sweat made Ross feel uncomfortable, like her clothes were sticking to her skin.

So she was completely comfortable venturing through the cold halls of her home, dressed for the day with her backpack over her shoulder. She went to the kitchen to grab something to eat, preferably an apple, and was surprised to find a brown paper bag on the counter. Her name was marked on it with her dad's messy scrawl.

To say Ross was not even slightly suspicious would be a lie. Her dad never left her stuff, not unless he did something that upset them both and he wanted to make up for it, or if he wouldn't be back until the next day. But even then, her dad told her at least the day before.

So maybe he was trying to be nice. If it was what Ross thought it was, lunch, maybe it was left over shrimp. She'd told him she loved the shrimp he'd cooked last night, maybe he thought it would make her happy. And it did. Just the thought of him doing something like that made her smile.

Up until she looked inside the bag. She'd been right, there was shrimp. But there was also a small note with the word 'Sorry' written on it. Sighing, Ross pulled the note out all the way and unfolded it.

Sorry,

Won't be back until early tomorrow. Got early call. There's more shrimp in fridge, bag is for lunch. Call Joyce if you need anything, send her my thank you's.

Love you, Dad

Ross huffed, tossing the note onto the floor and snatching the bag from the counter. As she stomped angrily to the door, she couldn't help but feel guilty for being mad. No, she wasn't mad, she was frustrated. And she felt guilty for it.

She knew she couldn't blame him, it's not like he planned to be called out for work. But it still irked her to know that he didn't even wake her up and tell her in person. Or that he didn't tell them no.

But, it wasn't like she could do anything about it now. So Ross took her frustration out the door and put it into biking to school as fast as she could. She was running late, per usual, but at the rate she was going she might make it to school on time.

But if Ross hadn't been in such a sour mood, and if she would have slowed down, she might have noticed that Joyce Byers's car was still parked in the Byers's driveway, and that Jonathan had yet to leave for school as well, for his car was there, too.

She also might have noticed a painfully familiar bike discarded on the side of Mirkwood, all alone, it's owner long gone.

Disclaimer: I do not own the plot, characters, or idea Stranger Things

A/N: lol, looks who's backkkk. I think this is around the time I said I would upload the first chapter of the prequel, if not, sorry to disappoint. This is officially my second fanfiction, which is a bit weird to think of. Anywho, I'm super busy, so I might not be on top of the ball with updating, but I WILL be aiming for once a week like with my last story. So, this story is a prequel to my first one, based on season 1 of Stranger Things. Hope you kids enjoy! (sorry for any spelling/grammatical errors, autocorrect is on this time so is should be better) (and you should all totally review because it makes me feel better as a person:) but no pressure)

-blockthewriter