Time: Three Days After Matty's Disappearance (May 1962)
Location: The Front Porch
Waiting for the narrative to catch up to him was boring, but necessary.
Adrian sat on his porch railing, whittling a piece of wood with a pocket knife. He was twelve now, but he watched the street with the bored detachment of someone who had already read the script.
The neighborhood was quiet. The kind of quiet that feels suffocating. Matty Clements had vanished three days ago, and the town was locked down. Police cruisers were circling every hour. The adults were terrified.
Adrian checked his watch.
'According to the timeline,' Adrian mused, shaving off a curl of bark, 'The Hanlon family moves in today. Will is the moral compass. If I secure his loyalty now, I control the group's conscience.'
A low rumble shook the pavement.
An Army transport truck turned the corner, followed by a dusty station wagon. They hissed to a halt in front of the empty Miller house across the street.
Adrian activated Eagle Eye.
A tall man in an Air Force uniform stepped out. Leroy Hanlon. He looked stressed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Then, the passenger door opened.
A boy stepped out.
He was Black, lanky, and scanned the street with intelligent, anxious eyes. He squinted slightly against the glare, looking at the peeling grey paint of his new house with pure disappointment. He looked like prey entering a predator's den.
Suddenly, a vertical blue window shimmered into existence in Adrian's peripheral vision.
[ KEY CHARACTER DETECTED ]
Name: William "Will" Hanlon
Significance: High Priority Target
Current Bond: 0 (Stranger)
Adrian paused. 'Bond?'
Another window popped up next to it, scrolling text rapidly.
[ SYSTEM TUTORIAL: RELATIONSHIP BONDS ]
You have unlocked the Influence Module.
Mechanic: Track your social standing with Key Characters.
Value Range: -100 (Nemesis) to 100 (Devotee).
0: Stranger / Neutral.
50+: Trusted Ally (Will take risks for you).
90+: Unquestioning Loyalty (Will follow orders blindly).
Rewards: Increasing Bonds with Key Characters yields [Scenario Points] and unlocks unique [Team Buffs].
Adrian read the text, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face.
'Blind loyalty,' he thought, closing the knife. 'Now that is a useful mechanic. He's scared, isolated, and new. Perfect conditions to start farming affection.'
Adrian hopped over his porch railing. He didn't rush. He walked across the street with his hands in his pockets, projecting an aura of effortless confidence. He needed to be the coolest thing Will had seen in this town—an anchor in the storm.
Will was reaching into the backseat to grab a box of books. He looked up, startled, as Adrian stopped at the edge of the driveway.
"Yo," Adrian said smoothly.
Will straightened up, clutching the box to his chest like a shield. "Uh. Hi."
Adrian looked him up and down, offering a small, knowing smirk. He didn't offer a handshake yet; he offered validation of Will's fear.
"You picked a hell of a week to move in, New Kid."
Will blinked, looking around the empty, sunny street. "What? Why?"
"Curfew," Adrian said, leaning against the station wagon like he owned it. "Local kid went missing three days ago. Matty Clements. Police are everywhere. The town is on edge."
Will's grip on the box tightened. He looked at his dad, who was busy with the movers, then back at Adrian. "Missing? Like... a runaway?"
"Like gone," Adrian corrected. "Vanished. Poof."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice to create an instant sense of intimacy. He was letting Will in on a secret, separating him from the adults.
"I'm Adrian. I live across the street."
"Will," the boy said. "We just got here from Texas."
"I figured," Adrian glanced at the Air Force plates. "Listen, Will. I don't know how things worked in Texas, but Derry is... different."
"Different how?"
"Paranoid," Adrian clarified. "The cops are looking for someone to blame. You're new. You stick out. And in this town, sticking out is dangerous."
Will frowned. He was smart; he understood the subtext immediately. A Black kid in a white town during a crisis. He looked at Adrian, expecting hostility, but finding only a pragmatic warning.
"Great," Will muttered, looking down at his shoes. "Just great."
"Don't worry," Adrian said, his voice turning warm, protective. "I've lived here my whole life. I know where the landmines are."
He finally extended his hand.
"Stick with me, Will. I'll make sure you don't step on any."
Will hesitated for a split second. He looked at the empty, hostile street, then at the boy offering him a lifeline.
He took Adrian's hand.
"Thanks," Will said, a genuine look of relief crossing his face. "I... I appreciate it."
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
Bond Increased!
Target: Will Hanlon
Value: 15 (Grateful)
Insight: Target feels safer in your presence.
"Don't mention it," Adrian said, releasing the handshake but holding eye contact. "Curfew is 6:00 PM sharp. Don't be the idiot who gets caught out after dark. The cops aren't friendly."
He turned to leave, pausing just long enough to drop one last hook.
"You like to read?" Adrian asked, nodding at the box of books Will was holding.
"Yeah," Will said defensively.
"Good," Adrian smirked over his shoulder. "Brains are rare around here. Try not to let them rot."
He walked back across the street without another word.
[ SCENARIO COMPLETE: The Arrival ]
Reward: 25 Points
Bond Status: 15/100
Adrian sat back on his porch railing. He watched Will carry the box into the house, glancing back at Adrian one last time before closing the door.
'Fifteen points for a handshake and a warning,' Adrian thought, satisfied. 'Too easy. If I play this right, I won't just have a team. I'll have an army.' At least that's what Adrian initially thought.