Hawkins Middle School had a rhythm once Thomas Wayne noticed it, he couldn't stop hearing it.Lockers slammed in uneven patterns. Sneakers squeaked in the halls. The same teachers gave the same speeches at the same times every day. It was predictable, almost comforting which meant it was dangerous.
Predictable things were easy to break.Thomas sat in his usual seat near the window in Mr. Clarke's class, half-listening while sketching a rough map of Hawkins in the margins of his notebook. He'd drawn it dozens of times by now, refining it marking places where the System reacted faintly.The woods,The Lab,The Byers' house and the school.
"You play D&D?"
The question snapped him out of his thoughts.Thomas looked up to see a curly-haired boy standing beside his desk, eyes bright with curiosity Dustin Henderson behind him hovered three others Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, and Will Byers.Thomas hesitated for just a moment long enough to look natural."A little," he said.That wasn't a lie. He knew the game strategy, probability, risk management it all translated a little too well to real life now.Dustin grinned. "We're short a player, Campaign tonight."
Lucas crossed his arms. "He even know how to play?"
Thomas met his gaze calmly."I can learn."Mike studied him more carefully, dark eyes sharp in a way that reminded Thomas uncomfortably of himself. After a moment, Mike nodded."Basement. Seven o'clock."Just like that, a door opened.
The Wheeler basement smelled like dust, cardboard, and old carpet Thomas liked it It felt safe. Insulated real he sat cross-legged on the floor as dice clattered and character sheets were passed around. Will explained the campaign enthusiastically, hands moving as he described monsters and magic.Thomas listened more than he spoke.He watched how they interacted how Mike naturally took the lead, how Lucas questioned everything, how Dustin filled silence with humor, how Will got lost in the world he was creating.They trusted each other that trust would matter.When combat started, Thomas surprised them."You flank here," he said quietly, tapping the map. "Force the save, Then hit from range "Dustin blinked. "Dude. That's actually smart"Lucas smirked. "Beginner's luck."Thomas smiled faintly.
[Social Bond Formed: Minor]
The System pulsed softly, unnoticed by everyone else.
Days turned into weeks.
Thomas started sitting with them at lunch not every day not suddenly slowly enough that it felt natural.He helped Will with math. Lucas helped him with science. Dustin talked endlessly. Mike asked careful questions Thomas never fully answered.
At night, Thomas trained.Not physically not much but mentally. He practiced grounding techniques to keep his sanity stable. He experimented with Presence Suppression in controlled environments, learning how far he could push it before people started forgetting he was there.
[Presence Suppression → Rank C (Stabilized)]
School life grounded him.It also made what was coming feel heavier.One afternoon, as they packed up after another D&D session, Thomas felt it.
That pressure again.The System flickered.
[Timeline Convergence: Approaching]
He looked at Will.
Will was smiling unaware.
Thomas clenched his fists.