Interlude Will

The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a single lamp hanging above the table. The air was thick with the smell of old books and the faint aroma of the snacks they had been munching on. The sound of dice rolling across the table echoed in the silence that followed each of Mike's narrations.

"You always have a choice, sweet Will. That's what makes it so fun," Mike's voice took on a purring quality as he roleplayed as Asmodeus, the Lord of Nine Hells. His eyes gleamed with mischief, the corners of his mouth twitching with a devilish grin. As Dungeon Master, it was Mike's job to roleplay all significant NPCs. Will had always pictured Mike as a paladin, the heart of the party. But he had to admit, Mike made a tempting devil.

"Back, devil, or taste my blades," Lucas interjected, his voice filled with feigned bravado. He gripped his pencil like a sword, his eyes narrowed in determination.

"And my axe," Dustin added, his voice echoing Lucas's defiance. He slammed his fist on the table for emphasis, causing the dice to jump.

"There's no need for violence. I've said my piece. And with those words, Asmodeus disappeared," Mike narrated, his voice fading into a whisper, adding to the suspense.

"Is he gone?" Lucas asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to break the silence that had fallen over the room.

"Will, roll for intelligence with a penalty of three," Mike ordered, his voice stern, the playful glint in his eyes replaced with seriousness.

Ever since Will brought Dr. Jonson's advice on how to save his character in the running campaign, Mike had kept bringing the devil back to mess with Will the Wise, trying to tempt him into darkness.

Will rolled the dice. The sound seemed to echo in the room. "It's a success."

"Will the Wise has determined that the devil has teleported away," Mike announced, his voice returning to the neutral tone of a Dungeon Master narrating the game's events.

"He is gone," Will said in character. There was something at the corner of his eyes. A familiar presence. So, Will added, "We should take a short break."

"Are you not feeling well?" Mike asked, suddenly alarmed. "Should I get some water? Do you still have that chocolates that you were given?"

"I am fine Mike," Will said, a bit irritated. The one of consequences of Mike watching him confined to a hospital bed was that Mike was being overprotective and treating him like spun glass. His new nickname at school, Zombie Boy did not help. And Dustin and Luke were doing too. Ever since Mike shared about what happened while they were gone. Although Mike could have skipped the Incident. The one time his hospital gown had disappeared, and he accidentally flashed both Mile and Eleven. I guess he should call her Jane now since it was her name, but in that he was following Mike's lead. "But we have a visitor. Grab your walkie-talkie. El is here."

Mike smiled, his face brightening. Will was happy for him but for some strange reason also a bit irritated.

As soon Mike picked up the walkie-talkie, El's voice come from it, "Hello friends."

"That is freaky," Luke whispered to Dustin, but Will still heard him. Will choose to pretend to hear nothing, but it was still a bit hurtful.

Since Mike tended to monopolize conversations with Eleven, Will settled to draw a little. This one was nearly done; he just had touched a wings a little.

"Butterfly again?" Dustin said, watching over Will's shoulder, "You have been drawing them a lot lately."