The year was 1986 in Hawkins, Indiana. Specifically, it was Friday, March 21st- The day before the start of spring break.

You had joined the Hellfire Club at the start of the school year, Eddie having ‘taken you under his wing’ as he says. It was a D&D club consisting of mostly punks and a few kids in your grade who were just geeks. You were all considered freaks to Hawkins, nonetheless.

You were sitting at the table you always did with Hellfire, and Eddie was sarcastically reading a magazine that had an article on the ‘Satanic Panic going around. He looked at the club dramatically as he read it out loud, the magazine covering his face. “Studies link violent behavior to the game, saying it promotes Satanic worship, ritual sacrifice, sodomy, suicide and even…” He stood up swiftly, slamming the paper down on the table “Murder!” The club around you all laughed at Eddie’s flamboyance, before he continued. Two of the kids in your grade and in the club sat down by you.

Eddie crossed his arms, his expression between dryness and annoyance. “We’re the freaks because we just like to play a fantasy game. BUT-” His lips pressed into a thin line as he hit the table before standing on top of it. “As long as you’re into band, science, or ~partiess~, or a game where you toss balls into laundry baskets-!” He cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting at the basketball team. The captain stood up, calling him a freak and asking if he needed something. Eddie made devil horns with his fingers and stuck out his tongue with a smile, making a gurgling sound. He turned back to the club, walking back to his seat and hopping off the table. “It’s forced conformity. That’s what’s killing the kids~!”