***

It was a regular November night in Hawkins, Indiana. It was getting late in the night and people were starting to get off work. It was cold so Mari made sure that she brought a jacket with her. She wasn't one for coats, they were too big and heavy for her. She just didn't want to deal with it. She was sitting at a small table in her friend's, Mike's, basement. They were playing a game called Dungeons and Dragons with their other three friends, Dustin, Lucas, and Will.

"Something is coming. Something hungry for blood. A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness. It is almost here." Mike said. Mike had dark hair and blue eyes. His voice wasn't that deep, but it wasn't high-pitched either. It was just right for a boy his age.

"What is it?" Will asked, curiously. Will had his brown hair as a bowl cut. It looked like it was getting a bit long which meant that it needed to be cut soon.

"What if it's the Demogorgon?" Dustin looked worried. His wild curls were hidden beneath his hat. Will leaned back in his seat with a huff, "Oh, Jesus, we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon."

"It's not the Demogorgon." Lucas told them. Lucas had darker skin than the others. He looked annoyed at the boy for thinking that.

Mari was getting a little impatient, "It might be! Now, shh!" She brought her finger up to her lips. Mari had brown hair that went a little past her shoulders. Her eyes were almost the same color as her hair. Her jacket was tied around her waist, revealing her short sleeved shirt. She had her jacket, but the basement wasn't exactly the coolest place.

"An army of troglodytes charge into the chamber!" Mike slammed down a figurine on to the table.

"Troglodytes?" Dustin was no longer worried.

"Told ya." Lucas said to him and Mari.

"Told ya." Mari mocked him. It was all light-hearted fun, though. The three laughed at themselves.

Mike suddenly became nervous and started looking around, "Wait a minute. Did you hear that? That... That sound? Boom... Boom... Boom!" He slammed his hands onto the table, making the boys jump. Mari just looked at him with a blank stare.

Mari smiled in amusement at the boys actions, "Sissies."

Mike continued, "That didn't come from the troglodytes, no, that... That came from something else. The Demogorgon!" Another figure was slammed onto the table. The group groaned at this new piece of information.

Mari looked to Lucas and quoted him from earlier, "Told ya." Lucas just rolled his eyes at the girl.

Dusin started freaking out again, "We're in deep shit."

"Will, your action!" Mike said to Will.

"I don't know!" Will exclaimed.

"Fireball him!" Lucas suggested.

"I'd have to roll a thirteen or higher!" Will informed him.

Dustin got Will's attention, "Too risky. Cast a protection spell."

Mari was sitting on the edge of her seat. It wasn't even her turn and she was already nervous. She was nervous for Will. She leaned over closer to him and said, "You won't be able to roll a thirteen or higher. Just cast a protection spell!" Dustin nodded in agreement.

Lucas wasn't even going to think about the protection spell, "Don't be a pussy. Fireball him!"

"Cast Protection." Dustin ordered. Will was looking between the two of him. He was caught in the middle. He just didn't know what he was going to do.

Mike spoke again, "The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering!"

"He isn't the only one." Mari stated.

Mike laughed a little which broke his character. It took him a second to get back to it, "It stomps towards you. Boom," Mike exclaimed. The other two boys yelled at Will. He was starting to panic. He didn't know which one to do, "He roars in anger!"

"Just do something!" Mari yelled, panicking as well.

"Fireball," Will said. He threw the dice which ended with them rolling off of the table, "Oh, shit!"

Mari's hands rose up to clutch her head, "What are we supposed to do now?"

"Where'd it go? Where is it?" Lucas questioned. They all got up from the table to look for the dice. One of the chairs fell to the floor because of their rushing. 

"I don't know!" Will replied while they looked. Everyone was freaking out and panicking. They jus had to know what would happen. Mari would have even used... You know what to find it, but she couldn't risk being seen.

Mike's mom started calling out for him, "Mike! Mike!"

"Can you find it yet?" Lucas asked.

"No, I can't find it!" Will responded.

"Keep looking!" Mari shouted.

"Mike!" Mrs. Wheeler opened the door to the basement. Mike was at the bottom of the stairs.

Mike looked up at her, "Mom, we're in the middle of a campaign!"

"You mean the end? Fifteen after." Mrs. Wheeler left them. Mike got up and went after her.

"Oh, my God! Freaking idiot!" Lucas insulted.

"Why do we have to go?" Will inquired.

Mike called after his mom, "Mom, wait, just twenty more minutes!"

Mari stood up on her knees and looked at the boys, "Everyone just calm down," She shouted. They looked over at her, "You might kick the dice and we won't be able to find it if you keep moving around and freaking out!" They went back to looking.

"Oh, I got it" Will picked it up. Mari went running over and about knocked him down. She had to see what he rolled, "Does the seven count?" Everyone was starting to get ready to leave.

"It was a seven? Did Mike see it?" Will shook his head at Lucas' questions, "Then it doesn't count."

Mari hit him upside the head, "Yes, it does!"

Lucas rubbed the spot where she hit him, "Jesus, woman!"

She pointed at him with a disapproving look, "That's cheating." They got everything they needed and started heading up the stairs.

"Yo, hey, guys. Does anyone want this?" Dustin was holding the pizza box which still had some pizza left over. Lucas and Will said no while Mari shook her head. They continued up the stairs. They went outside while Dustin went upstairs.

Dustin came outside moments later, "There's something wrong with your sister."

Mike was confused, "What are you talking about?"

"She's got a stick up her butt." Dustin elaborated.

"Yeah," Lucas confirmed, "It's because she's been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington."

"Yeah, she's turning into a real jerk." Dustin continued.

"She's always been a real jerk." Mike told them.

Mari didn't think so, "She's not a jerk to me." She actually really liked the older girl. They would hang out sometimes whenever she came over and Mike wasn't there. She went to her for advice a couple times.

"That's because she likes you." Lucas said to the brunette.

"She used to be cool," Dustin started to slowly ride away. Lucas followed after him. "Like that time she dressed up as an elf for our Elder tree campaign." Mari remembered that. It was one of her favorite campaigns that they've had so far.

"Four years ago!" Mike called after him.

"Just saying." Dustin said.

Mari nodded, "It still counts."

Lucas told him, "Later."

Will stayed behind for a moment, "It was a seven."

Mike looked over at him, "Huh?"

Will started to explain, "The roll, it was a seven. The Demogorgon, it got me. See you tomorrow." Will rode off so he could catch up with the other two. The garage lights flickered for a moment which left Mari and Mike in silence as they wondered what happened to it.

When it didn't happen again, Mari turned to Mike, "It's nice to see that Will told you. Lucas was telling him to not say anything."

"Of course, he did." Mike looked a little annoyed.

Mari laughed at his expression, "Tonight was nice, Mike."

"Do you need a ride home? You didn't bring your bike today." He noticed.

She forgot about that for a moment. Mari had accidentaly caught it on fire with a spell. Her uncle wasn't pleased. She thought and then said, "No, it's fine. I can manage," She walked over and kissed his cheek. He blushed a little, "Thanks anyways," She waved at him, "I'll see you tomorrow." She went on her way. She walked for a little and looked back to see if he was still there. Once she made sure he was out of sight, she hid behind a tree and used a spell to teleport her home.

She ended up in her living room and let out a sigh of relief. It was just glad that she didn't end up somewhere else. That's happened once or twice. She set down her book containing all of her spells on the counter. It didn't have a witch vibe to it at all. This made it easier to carry it around with her without getting asked questions. She carried it around everywhere. It just looked like an ordinary journal. She got it from her uncle when her magic started coming in. Said that it was written by her mother, who was also a witch. She almost wanted to throw it out because of that.

Her mother left her with her uncle when she was really young. She hadn't tried to contact her and didn't even come to see her. The only thing she knew about her mother was that they shared a last name and that she has two other daughters. What hurt was that she kept them, but got rid of her. What was wrong with her? She had no idea. Her uncle says nothing, but she wasn't convinced.

Speaking of her uncle, she looked around the empty house. It didn't seem like he was here. He might still be at work. He worked as the sheriff of the Hawkins Police Department so he usually worked late. She didn't mind being home alone, though, this gave her an opportuinty to practice her magic. Although, her uncle never liked it when she practiced alone because of the bicycle incident.

She was practicing behind their house and accidentally said a fire spell instead of a spell that was supposed to grow a flower. No wonder the words made no sense. She didn't have anyone with experience to tell her it was the wrong spell. Her uncle couldn't do magic, he didn't have any powers like she did. He couldn't see into peoples mind, look into their memories, or make things float like she could. Her telekinesis wasn't that strong, though. She had to admit, it was pretty weak and drained her when she used it. The only person she knew that had magic like hers was her mother. She probably helps out her other daughters all of the time with their magic.

Mari let out a frustrated sigh and just decided to go to bed. She left her spell book on the counter and walked to her room. She got under the warm covers and closed her eyes. Hopefully her mother would leave her mind, just like she left her life, by morning. She drifted off to sleep.

***

Mari had decided to walk to school that day. Well, she actually didn't have a choice. Hopper, her uncle, forgot that he was supposed to drive her and left for work before she woke up. She didn't mind the walk, though. She would live. She had her spell book clutched to her chest as she walk towards the school building. She kept it close to her so she wouldn't drop it or so no one would try to take it. That actually happened once and she had to kick Troy really hard in the shin to get it back. She got in trouble, but her uncle didn't care after she told him the reason why she was in trouble.

She saw her friends in the distance and made her way towards them. The only one she didn't see was Will. She frowned, that was weird. He usually got here about the same time as the boys. Maybe he's just running late. The sight she saw before her made her upset. Troy and his friend, James, were there talking with them. There was no doubt in her mind that the were bullying her friends, like they always do.

"God, it gets me every time." She heard Troy say.

She now stood behind him and was giving him a glare, "Why don't you just leave them alone, Troy?" Him and his friend looked over at her, "Don't you have some toddlers to push around?"

Troy smirked, "Hey, look, it's big, bad Vera. Don't you look adorable today. Are you going back to preschool?" He had a smug look on his face like what he was about to say next would top it all off, "Or are you going to go to your mom-- Oh, that's right, she left you." That actually stung a little, she couldn't lie. Him and James laughed.

Mike could see that this bothered her greatly, "Leave her alone, Troy."

Mari straightened up and continued to glare at him, "How about you get out of here before I make you."

"Oh, so scared." Troy teased her. They two boys walked away and pushed the others as the left.

"Thanks, Mari." Mike said.

Mari nodded, "You're welcome. They're such--"

"Assholes." Lucas continued.

Mari pointed at him, "Exactly." It was like they had nothing better to do besides bully her and her friends. The lack of a social life probably made them really bored. If only they weren't uninteresting people, maybe people would actually want to be friends with them.

Mike spoke to Dustin who still looked hurt by what they said, "I think it's kinda cool. It's like you have superpowers or something. Like Mr. Fantastic," He then looked to Mari, "You shouldn't listen to them, either." Mari nodded in thanks. She still couldn't ignore shot of pain that comment caused her.

"Yeah, except I can't fight evil with it." Dustin didn't believe him. He picked up his stuff that he dropped on the ground and they all went inside.

***

The school bell blared through the classroom, signaling the end of class.  The class stood up and started gathering their stuff. Mari tried to get all of her stuff while students pushed past her. Everyone was in a rush to get to their next class. The teacher, Mr. Clarke, called after them, "Remember: Finish Chapter Twelve, and answer twelve-point-three on the difference between an experiment and other forms of science investigation--" He went on for a bit, but stopped when he realized that no one was listening. The only people left were Mari and the boys.

Mike made tapped his desk, catching his attention, "So, did it come?" The four of them stood there like kids waiting for their parents permission for something. The all had the same excited look on their face.

The teacher hesitated and looked sad, "Sorry, kids, I hate to be thebearer of bad news, but..," The four of them instantly deflated. Mr. Clarke smiled and brightened up, "It came."

Mar let out a breath of relief and brought her hand up to her chest, "You almost got me there."

Mr. Clarke lead them to the AV room. Mike walked in first with the rest of them behind him. Mr. Clarke closed the door behind them, "The Heathkit ham shack. Ain't she a beaut?" They all gathered around it and started to mess with it.

"I bet you can talk to New York on this thing." Dustin messed the one of the knobs.

Mr. Clarke watched with a smile on his face, "Think bigger."

"California?" Lucas inquired.

His smile got wider, "Bigger."

Mike now had on the blue headphones, "Australia?" He replied with a nod.

Mari's face lit up in excitement, "Woah! That's amazing!" She had never thought it could reach that far. It almost seemed impossible to her. It just blew her mind. There wasn't a lot of cool stuff like that in Hawkins. Other places she knew had iPhones and laptops, Hawkins didn't have that. They had cord phones and the box computer. It really was a town that was way behind the times.

"Oh man. When Will sees this, he's going to totally lose his shit." Lucas said to the others.

"Lucas!" Mr. Clarke crossed his arms and scolded him. Lucas apologized and went back to working on the dials.

Mike picked up the transceiver and practiced what he was going to say, "'Ello, this is Mike Wheeler, President of Hawkins Middle A.V. Club --" Mari laughed at his bad accent, making him smile.

Dustin tried it out and his was ever worse, "'Ello, this is Dustin Henderson, Secretary and Treasurer of Hawkins Middle A.V. Club. Do you eat kangaroos for breakfast?"

Mari didn't have time to laugh at his accent. She was very unimpressed with his question, "You can't just ask someone that!" She hit upside the head like she had done to Lucas last night at Mike's.

"Yes, Mom." Was his response. Mari rolled her eyes at this and gave him a passive-aggressive smile.

Lucas stared at her in confusion, "What is up with you hitting people?"

Mari turned to him, "I don't hit people. I only hit idiots." She said, jokingly. A sharp knock interrupted the fun that the kids were having. They all looked at the door and saw the principal standing there, staring at them.

"Sorry to interrupt..," He started, "But may I borrow Michael, Lucas, Dustin, and Mariposa?" Lucas snickered at her full name being used. She went to elbow him where the principal couldn't see. He put his hands up in surrender and she backed off. They looked back to the door to see her uncle and Officer Callahan stepping into view. All of the expressions darkened at the sight of them.