After the attack on the two cousins, kids began to go missing.
First it was Kelly Miron, ten years old. She was last seen riding her bike to meet her friends, but she never showed up. Body never found.
Jason Carter. Seven. He was playing with his older brother in the woods. They only found his shoes.
Curtis Labelle. Eleven. He was out trick or treating when his mom lost him. Police figured that with so many kids out it couldn't have been related to the previous cases.
Many more kids began to go missing but it seemed the town didn't care. After those kids had gone missing they were simply faces on a poster. A curfew was set for Derry after Halloween, nobody out past 7, but that did little good to stop the kids from disappearing.
Georgie was treated for a concussion, and some minor external head injuries. Doctors stated that his memory of the event may not come back together, but would be fine with proper care. Georgie wasn't worried about that though, he was more scared of Bill being mad about the S.S. Georgie. All Bill did was hug his brother tight.
Michelle got off a little worse for wear, she had 40 stiches to close the bite on her leg, and was required to stand on crutches until they had healed. Her Aunt and Uncle had praised her over and over for saving Georgie from the attack, her father hadn't let her out of his sight for two weeks, until he was assured that Michelle wouldn't just drop dead.
As far as it went both were alright physically, but Georgie had a long way to go mentally. For Michelle, it would never end. For a time, Georgie would sneak into his brother's room, often waking up from nightmares that would be forgotten the moment he woke up. He absolutely refused to go anywhere dark on his own, even after he could sleep alone, provided he had a night light. After a while the nightmares only came once every few months.
Michelle didn't have it so easy.
The dreams began a few weeks after. It began with her walking through the rain, saving Georgie, and being dragged into the drain. Once she was dragged in, she would wake up in a cold sweat, and immediately calm herself. "Remember what Dad told you, being scared doesn't do nothin', calm yourself and keep on." She would chant this to herself until peace enveloped her, and she fell back asleep. These dreams would come every few nights until they changed after her seventeenth birthday.
She was surrounded by metal, as if she was in a giant pipe, water sloshed around her feet as she walked. Where was she? Stagnant air filled her lungs as she breathed in. Sewers? Why would she be in the sewers? She turned a corner, walked forward, turned a corner again, going a little faster with each step, in hopes of finding a way out. Suddenly cackle echoed through the tunnels. Michelle stopped where she was, listening for any further signs of life.
There was something, or someone behind her, she slowly turned around. Behind her was a red balloon, it slowly floated towards her. It stopped just a hairs breath away from her face. She held her breath until it suddenly POPPED! And behind the balloon stood one of the most confusing yet terrifying things she's seen. A clown stood seven feet, much taller than her five foot five. A sinister grin was plastered on his face, drool slowly making its way down its (his?) chin.
"Time to float Michelle."
It suddenly let out an ear-piercing scream as it ran towards her, thousands of sharp teeth lining its gums. Michelle was too frozen in shock and fear to move, giving it the opportunity to grab her shoulders and sink its teeth into her neck.
Michelle woke up screaming, wriggling and writhing in the blankets, clawing at her neck as if she was prying something off.
Her father quickly made his way into her room, quickly trying to wake her up from the latest nightmare. As he slowly calmed his daughter he failed to notice the steady growing bruise forming on her neck.
Summer – June – 1988
The small town of Derry had one school, combined elementary and high school which was convenient for parents with more than one children. Often when the bells go out you see children walking home with their friends, or walking their siblings home, this was the case for Michelle. Ever since an incident with Henry Bowers giving Bill a black eye, her Aunt had asked Michelle to walk the boys home after school ever since, knowing they would be safe with their cousin.
Michelle was currently making her way to the elementary wing to pick up Georgie from his first-grade classroom, as each child waited for their person to come and pick them up. As Michelle got closer she could hear Georgie's excited voice chittering to his friends about he's hanging out with his brother, his friends, and his cousin, as well as the cool activities they would be doing.
"Georgie time to go!" Michelle called over the squeaky voices of the first graders. He quickly said goodbye to his friends, took his cousins hand, and together they went to search for the second Denbrough brother.
The school yard was filled with excited children, chattering with friends, and signing year books, everyone excited for the summer ahead. As Michelle and Georgie exited the school, she noticed Betty Ripsoms mother standing with the police officers anxiously watching school doors, hoping that her lost daughter would show up. Betty Ripsom was the latest missing child this year, and it seemed that it wouldn't get resolved anytime soon. Seeing this Michelle held on to Georgie's hand just a little bit tighter.
Michelle then turned her attention to the school yard, intending to find her other cousin, who was most likely with his friends, imagine her anger when she finds them being taunted by Henry Bowers. She quickly picked up her pace, dragging her poor cousin behind her, thinking of the many ways she can beat the ever living shit out of Bowers. Even when they were young Michelle and Henry never got along, ever since he thought Michelle was an easy target and had cut off her braid with a pair of scissors, which resulted in a black eye for him. This disliked increased when he had given Bill a black eye when he was protecting Georgie from Bowers taunting.
Henry was walking closer to Bill when Michelle had got in between them, pushing Georgie behind her, towards his brother.
"Hey Bowers, did the mental hospital give you too much drugs today? Cause you seem to forget what happens when you mess with my cousins." Michelle stated as she stepped closer to him. No matter what this boy did he and his gang did they could never scare her.
"You really think your better than me Thomas?" Was the bright reply Henry came up with. Michelle rolled her eyes. "Everyone is better than you Bowers, its not that hard."
Henry stepped closer to her, face taking on an angry red glow, until he froze looking over her shoulder. Michelle looked as well and saw Sheriff Bowers, Henry's father giving him a stern, threatening look. Michelle looked back a Henry, a smirk adorning her lips. "Better run along Bowers, before Daddy dearest decides to spank you." Henry glared at Michelle before backing away.
"This isn't over Thomas."
"When is it ever Bowers?"
Henry and his gang finally piled into Belch's car, and sped off, and the group watched in silence.
Until Richie 'Trashmouth' Tozier spoke up.
"Dude I have never been more scared, and turned on in my life."
