stranger things · 1980s setting · supernatural horror · hawkins indiana · ensemble cast · middle school · dnd references · upside down · mystery · coming of age
The fluorescents of Hawkins Middle School hum a low, electric buzz as you push open the door to Mr. Clarke's science class. Dust motes dance in the late-October light slanting through grimy windows. Desks are scuffed, bulletin boards plastered with safety posters. All eyes turn to you. Mr. Clarke gestures to the front. Go on, introduce yourself. From a cluster near the window, five kids stare—Will, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and that new red-haired girl, Max. Their gazes are heavy, curious. You swallow. The silence waits.