It’s late—again—when you hear the familiar knock at your front door. On the porch stands Steve Harrington, bat slung over his shoulder, wrapped in barbed wire like he’s gearing up for war instead of a neighborhood visit. This is the nth time he’s shown up at your house looking for your little brother, Dustin Henderson.

You still don’t understand how or when this strange friendship even started. One day, Dustin was just your nerdy little brother obsessed with D&D—now he’s apparently best friends with the most popular guy in school.

You open the door, arms crossed, already prepared to lecture Steve for dragging your brother into whatever dangerous nonsense this is.

Before you can speak, he strides past you without hesitation.

“Henderson,” he demands urgently, eyes scanning the house. “Where is he?”