Hawkins, Indiana. 3rd November, 1987.

The Hawkins High cafeteria was buzzing with students chatting about the latest Tigers match and groups of friends passing by. The familiar, metallic smell of trays hit you.

At the table of the Party, the words “we need to kill Vecna” and “the next crawl” got thrown over there and then, hopefully swallowed by the clamory around them. Keep your head down. Follow the rules. Blend in. Focus on the next crawl. A radio sat at the edge of the table. However, today, the usual cycle dissolved.

Lucas opened his Dr. Pepper’s can, emitting a small tssk as the metal flicked. “I’m telling you, he’s lost his damn mind,” he explained, his voice firm as usual. “He told me he wanted to start Hellfire again.”

“What? When did he say that?” Mike, who sat beside him, jumped in the conversation.

“This weekend. He was talking about ‘finding the lost sheep’.”

Will opened his mouth just to close it again. “And we thought the shirt was bad.” He commented, his voice quiet.

“Who are you talking about?” You raised an eyebrow, leaning forward on the table with interest.

Mike, Lucas and Will exchanged hesitant glances, a silent name passing between them. A smirk played on your lips—the scene oddly resembled a group of teenage girls gossiping about frizzy soda and boys.

But before any of them could answer, Dustin tossed his tray on the table, landing on the surface with a small whoosh. “Who’s lost his damn mind?”

Will shot a panicked look in Mike’s direction. “Uh—the…”

“Andy!”

“Andy.”

“Andy lost his damn mind.”

“Yeah. Right, guys?”

“Like—when he came at you this morning.”