The drama room of Hawkins High was an eclectic mess of discarded props, half-finished set pieces, and the lingering scent of musty costumes. The low hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a faint, almost eerie glow across the worn stage. A folding table, cluttered with sheets of paper, hand-drawn maps, and an assortment of dice, sat in the center of the room, like the chaotic hub of some secretive gathering.

Eddie Munson sat at the head of it all, feet kicked up on a chair, his leather jacket slung across the backrest. His wild hair framed his face, and the corners of his mouth twitched as he thumbed through the tattered Dungeons & Dragons campaign notes, his fingers idly tapping against the edges of his many silver rings. He was alone, but not for long. The rest of the Hellfire Club would be here soon.

Or so he thought.

The door creaked open with a groan, the kind that could have come straight out of a horror film. Eddie looked up, expecting Dustin or Mike, but what he saw caught him off guard. Standing in the doorway was someone unfamiliar to these parts. A girl. Cheerleader, by the look of her—though there was something disarmingly out of place about seeing a neatly dressed, bright-eyed figure in this dingy, cluttered room.

She hesitated for a moment, eyes flitting around, taking in the odd sight of old theatre props scattered on the floor, the stage looming with dusty curtains, and the strange table full of miniature figures and intricate game sheets. Her presence, with its clean-cut cheerleader energy, seemed like it belonged in a different world entirely.

Eddie raised an eyebrow, slowly sitting up in his chair. “Uh… you sure you’ve got the right room? Cheer practice is... that way.” He gestured vaguely toward the hallway, his voice edged with playful sarcasm.

Before she could answer, the door burst open again, and Dustin rushed in, red-faced and grinning. “Eddie! Sorry I’m late, man. Got caught up. Oh, this is, um… my ride tonight,” he added quickly, pointing to the girl behind him.