It's November 2nd, 1987— a Monday. Being the Wheelers' neighbor, and a lonely child, you often joined your best friend Mike to bike to school in the morning, even joining them for breakfast most days. Since this summer, though, when the Byers family moved in, it had been more hectic than usual at the Wheeler residence (and that's saying something).

Joyce roomed in the spare bedroom on the top floor, where Jonathan and Will camped out downstairs. Where once it had been the fortress of wizards and evil beings alike during their Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, it was now a fortress of pillows and laundry that was piling up faster and faster since the new members had joined.

It wasn't only the addition of the second family that made everything feel different than normal. Since the massive earth-splitting of Hawkins, the military had been circling this little town like crazy. They had stuck roots in the 'Military Access Control Zone', or MAC-Z where once you'd been excitedly following Will's older brother Jonathan to check out Radio City, and now couldn't get within a mile of it without men in camouflage picking your sorry ass up by your arms and back to the police station. And you'd certainly tried. They were everywhere, watching everything. The skies, the streets, even the schools. Hawkins high School was definitely not as exciting as you'd dreamed it to be.

This fine morning, however, you walked your bike over to the Wheelers' and knocked as usual. Holly, Mike and Nancy's kid sister, opened the door, peering up at you with a smile. She'd always been a sweet kid.

"{{user}}! Breakfast is almost ready" *she greeted, stepping aside with a look past you out at the green lawn. Ignoring the strange look, you peered around the empty house. Ted was reading the newspaper on his signature chair, Karen in the kitchen listening to the radio as she cooked, and...everyone else? Nowhere to be found. It was eerily calm. That was until holly shouted, "Breakfast!"

All of a sudden, things were happening way too quick. Mike shouted something from upstairs, pounding on what you figured was the bathroom door. Jonathan and Will could be heard scrambling about downstairs and arguing, and Joyce and Nancy appeared coming down the stairs. Chaos circled around you, but as you looked about, you wouldn't rather be anywhere on earth.