Savior in the Rain
I ran around the corner to the Denbrough's household and I was met by flashing lights from police cruisers, to an ambulance, and a fire engine.
I panted as I slid to a stop on the sidewalk.
I was met by the Denbrough family under their umbrellas. I also saw the police asking them a few questions.
I slightly smiled that Georgie was safe but I still felt uneasy.
I quickly cleared my throat to get the cops attention to me as I walked up.
Officer King looked away from Georgie's parents and focused on me.
"Where is he?" I asked looking around through the rain droplets.
No one answered me.
Fear went down my spine.
Was I too late?
"Where's Georgie?" I asked again this time desperate for someone to answer me.
"He's in the ambulance. They're taking him to the hospital," said Mr. Denbrough.
Mrs. Denbrough approached me and held her umbrella over my soaking wet body.
"thank you," I said to her.
"No my dear. Thank you! You saved his life," said Mrs. Denbrough.
She hugged me tightly and I returned the hug.
Then she sniffed me in disgust.
"Oh my dear. You need a shower," said Mrs. Denbrough.
I quickly shot her a chuckle.
I bet I smelled of sweat and sewer.
"Miss, you need to come with us," said Officer King who was standing on my right.
"Why?" I asked him.
"It's just a couple of questions for you. It's routine," said Officer King.
He turned back and opened the backseat of the cruiser door for me to get in.
I shook my head and I saw the look on his face.
It was suspicion.
"You're not suggesting I was the one who did that to Georgie! Just ask him! We were attacked!" I yelled.
"We can't ask him now because he's unconscious from severe blood loss," said Officer King as the ambulance sped away towards Derry Memorial Hospital; it's lights and sirens going wild in the rain.
"I honestly can't believe you would even consider the possibility that I could even doing something like this," I say in disbelief.
"Look at me! I don't even had a drop of blood on me!" I say turning around in a circle so Officer King could get a good look at me.
That's when I noticed how torn my clothes were and that I had scratches on my arms and legs from my fight with Pennywise.
My bright pink sweater was dirty and torn up and my capris were no longer capris, but short shorts showing off more of my legs than I was comfortable with.
I hadn't even noticed. I was too focused on saving Georgie and my own life.
"Just w w wait a moment," said Bill coming up to us with a rain jacket on.
I looked at Bill. He didn't look so good. The poor thing had a terrible cold.
"You shouldn't be out here. You could catch pneumonia," said his mother.
Bill looked at his mom.
"M m mom Georgie was a a attacked and I know for c c certain it wasn't Maggie," stuttered Bill.
I smiled at the young teen.
At least someone believed me.
"B b besides it's illegal to question a minor w w without a gu gu guardian present," he said.
"Oh yes that's true," said Mr. Denbrough.
I looked at Officer King.
He didn't look happy.
Mr. Denbrough stood in front of me with his wife, in a protective embrace.
"How about we call her mom to come and get Maggie? Then we let her go home and shower? Then we can all meet at the hospital?" asked Mrs. Denbrough.
"That's against protocol but since she's a minor, be sure she is there in no less than an hour, said Officer King.
He then left the scene as did the fire engine.
"Thank you," I said to the Denbroughs'
"Come inside and get warm. We will call your mom," said Mr. Denbrough.
"and maybe some hot tea," said Mrs. Denbrough.
"Oh that's sounds divine right about now," I said and I followed them inside their house.
"Hey Bill?" I asked.
Bill stopped and looked at me.
"Yeah Mags?" he asked.
"Thank you for standing up for me. You're a great friend," I said nudging him on the shoulder.
"it was nothing, b besides I've known you since I was two. We grew up together," said Bill.
"Well considering who my family is, it means so much to have a true friend like you. You're like the little brother I never had," I said.
Bill smiled and together we walked in the house.
I let him go first and I was the last to enter.
I looked outside and saw a single red balloon float across the street, and stop right in front of the house.
It was weird seeing a single red balloon floating by its lonesome, especially on a rainy day like today.
Then that eerie feeling came back.
I closed the door and locked it tight.
Then I noticed my left arm.
The keys to my house were gone! The bracelet I kept them on was nowhere to be found.
I gasped silently.
That bracelet also had my phone number and street address on it.
Now I knew I was screwed bigtime. Did that clown have it? Maybe it got washed away further down the sewer drain?
These were all questions I couldn't answer.
Within an hour, my mom had picked me up at the Denbroughs, who were kind enough to let me shower at their place and Mrs. Denbrough had lent me some old clothes of hers.
I knew my mom was a wreck with worry.
"Mom I'm fine. I'm okay. Really it's just cuts and bruises," I said on the car ride to the hospital. I was trying to calm her down while all the while trying to keep myself calm.
"It's Georgie you should be worried about," I said to her,
"He was the one who had his arm torn off," I said to her.
My mom was always worried about me.
"I never should have let you go jogging around this town by yourself. I should have known. Now this happens," she said as she turned into the parking lot to Derry Memorial Hospital.
She turned off the car and slammed the door shut.
I followed her into the ER.
"What do you mean 'you knew this would happen'?" I asked her.
She stayed silent, completely ignoring me.
"Mom what are you talking about?" I asked demanding an answer.
"No! I said I put it behind me," my mom said.
My mom had lived in Derry all her life with her sister. She and her sister had a bad falling out before I was born.
Apparently her boyfriend had messed with my aunt and I never spoke to my aunt. I didn't even know her. Hell I had never met her.
My aunt ended up getting pregnant by him too.
But I never thought about her. She had died 4 years ago. I had no idea what happened to her child either.
"We are here to see Officer King," said Pamela to the receptionist.
"He's down near the OR," the receptionist said.
"Thank you," said Pamela and I followed her a safe distance from her.
I could tell she was mad.
"Officer King we are here," said Pamela. I looked at Officer King with concern.
Officer King was talking to a nurse and she smiled at me.
"Just in time. Georgie is going into the OR now and they think he just might make it," said Officer King.
I sighed a huge sigh of relief.
"Has he said anything?" I asked the nurse, and I saw on her nametag that her name was Stephanie.
"No he's been out like a light since he got here," said Nurse Stephanie.
'Good. Just what I need is Georgie telling him that a clown monster in a drain attacked us. It was best to hide it for the time being. Who would believe us anyway? They'd think I was crazy and half this town already thought I was a psycho. Wasn't the clown dead anyway? I saw his neck snap in that weird angle.'
"Young Maggie you are just in time," said Officer King.
He motioned for us to the waiting room.
"Can I get you a glass of water or a soda?" asked Officer King.
"No I'm fine," I said I plopped myself on the couch.
"I need you to tell me what happened," said Officer King.
"There's not much to tell," I said.
"Well start from the begging and we will go from there," said Officer King.
"I was out jogging my normal routine. My mom saw me leave the house. I was out and then it started to downpour. Then I heard screaming coming from Jackson street," I say
"And about what time was this?" asked Officer King writing everything down.
"I'd say about ten in the morning," I say trying to remember what time I had left the house.
"Okay then what happened?" he asked.
"Well I heard screaming and I saw Georgie near the storm drain on Jackson Street. I only saw him crawling away from the drain with his arm already ripped off," I said.
"I ran to him and cuddled him asking what had happened and he said he lost his boat," I said.
Now I had to start lying.
"I told Georgie to run home and I'd try to get his boat back. He ran and I went to the storm drain and unfortunately I got too close and it was really wet. I slipped into the sewer. That's why I was wet and dirty when you saw me at the Denbrough's house. I climbed out and then that's when you saw me. Needless to say I didn't get the boat back," I say. It was easier to lie than I expected.
"But that still doesn't explain how Georgie got his arm ripped off," said Officer King.
I shrugged pretending not to know how his arm got taken.
"I told you. When I got there it had already happened," I said. My green eyes pierced his blue ones. I was trying to be as innocent as possible.
'Like you would believe me about a killer clown on the loose in Derry,' I thought.
"And you're absolutely sure you don't know how it happened?" asked Officer King.
"Positive," I say lying through my teeth.
"Alright I think that's enough for now," said Officer King. He closed his PDA and stood up off the couch as did my mom.
"We will be in touch," he said as he handed my mom a card.
"Have her call me if she remembers anything else," he said.
"Of course. Thank you Officer," said Pamela.
"Let me walk you out," said Officer King to Pamela.
"I'm going to stay here until Georgie comes out of the operating room," I said.
"Honey that could take hours," said my mom.
"Mom please," I begged of her.
I lied back on the couch. I was scared and tired.
"Okay. Since she's here maybe you should get her checked out," said Officer King.
"But she only had cuts and bruises," said Pamela.
"Pam," said Officer King being stern.
"I don't mean for physical injuries," said Officer King hinting at something else completely.
"My daughter is not crazy," said Pamela getting angry at the notion.
"But your sister," said Officer King.
"My sister is DEAD," said Pamela.
She was now angry at Officer King for even mentioning my aunt.
'Here we go again,' I thought.
It was at this time I wish I had my Walkman on me to drone out the adults talking.
It was Saturday night and I was going to be spending it at the hospital but I had to.
I had to talk to Georgie first and tell him to keep his mouth shut about the clown.
"Mom please take it outside. It's been one hell of a day and I'd rather not listen to this same story over and over again," I say in frustration.
"Outside. Now." Demanded Pamela to Officer King,.
Those two had history together. They were both raised here and went to kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school together.
I laid back rested on the couch until sleep came to me for a while.
"Hey Maggie," I heard someone shaking me awake.
"Whose there?" I asked.
"It's Bill," said Bill.
I opened my eyes and Bill was staring down at me.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"It's about f f five in the evening," he said.
"Five o clock?" I asked.
I sat up and my stomach let out a huge rumble.
"Guess that means dinner time," I say.
"Hey are you feeling okay?" I asked Bill. He was red in the face.
"Yeah I just feel like I'm dying," he said.
I touched his forehead and the poor thing was burning up.
"Jesus Bill you have a fever. You should be home in bed not here in the hospital," I said then I laughed.
"That's ironic," said Bill.
"Where are your parents?" I asked Bill.
"They went to the caf caf cafeteria to get so so some coffee," said Bill.
"And you stayed here with me?" I asked Bill. I pulled my brown hair out of my face and let it fall down my back.
"Little brother looking af af after Big sister," said Bill.
"And Big sister looking out for little brothers," I say back to him.
"I was worried about Georgie," said Bill.
'Holy shit!' I thought.
I stood up quickly looking around the waiting room.
"Is he okay? Have you heard anything? Is he out of the OR?" I asked Bill.
"He is in a room r r resting," said Bill.
"What room?" I asked Bill standing up.
"Room 305," said Bill.
Then I ran to find the room without another word to Bill.
"What What What's wrong?" asked Bill.
I didn't answer Bill as I ran to the third floor.
I found room 305 at the end of the hall on the 3rd floor.
I slowly peaked in the darkened room. I saw Georgie resting peacefully on the bed.
I tried the light switch but it didn't work, I tried again and again but the light would not turn on.
'What the hell?' I asked myself.
I found myself walking into Georgie's room without even knowing it, it was like my body had a mind of its own.
I walked up to Georgie's side and I put my hand in his left one.
Lightning flashed the room up.
I jumped up but didn't scream.
I sniffled slightly at the sight of Georgie sleeping peacefully.
This kid was so innocent and it wasn't fair that he had to lose an arm.
"Oh Georgie. I'm so sorry," I say as I put my head down and let my tears fall on his blankets.
"Mommy?" came him small voice from the bed.
"No honey it's Maggie. I came to check on you honey. How are you feeling?" I asked him.
"Tired," groaned Georgie.
"I bet, You went through a lot today," I said to him, brushing his hair out of his face.
"Yeah," he said weakly.
"Sorry you lost your boat, but maybe you can get another one?" i asked him.
"No more boats," said Georgie with a sad smile on his face. He touched his stump where his right arm had once been.
'That fucking clown' I thought
I looked to the doorway when I saw a doctor pass by.
"Listen to me very carefully Georgie," I stated in a serious tone.
Georgie looked at me with concern.
"You can't tell anyone about that clown alright?" I asked him.
"But why? He's the one who hurt us," said Georgie.
"Listen Georgie I know it may not seem like it, but I'm trying to protect us. Some people in this town already think my family is nuts and I don't want this to get any worse than it did," I say to Georgie.
"You want me to lie?" asked Georgie.
"Yes, please do this for me," I ask him.
"But I don't understand. Mommy and Daddy always say to tell the truth," said Georgie.
"Truth can sometimes be hurtful," I say.
This was just plain awful. I was asking a child to lie for me to protect my family. This was absolutely the craziest thing I have ever done. Mostly i was doing this to protect my mom. The poor woman had been through enough. The rest of my family could burn in hell for all i care.
I tried to reassure Georgie.
"Georgie that clown is dead," I say to him.
"You killed him?" he asked me.
I sighed.
"Yes I did and it's not something I'm proud of," I say nodding my heard.
"Then why can't we tell people that he attacked us?" Georgie asked me.
"Because," I say to him.
"Because why?" asked Georgie.
Being that Georgie was so young I tilted my head down. He didn't know about me.
"Just because I said so Georgie," I tell him
"Tell them that you caught your arm on a pipe or some animal chewed it off in the street. Just don't bring up the clown," I say to him.
"Okay I won't," said Georgie.
I went on to tell him what I told the police and hoped that he would stick to my story.
This was a lot to give to an 8 year old and even asking him to lie was even worse.
I was asking him to lie to protect myself and my mom. This was so fucked up on so many levels.
I let Georgie get some more sleep and I left the room.
I couldn't tell him the truth about who I really was.
I exited the room and walked right into Bill.
And he didn't look too happy.
"You want to tell me something?" he asked me his arms crossed against his chest.
I looked down at him.
"How much did you hear?" I asked him.
"All of it," he said.
"Shit," I silently cursed.
"What clown?" asked Bill.
"Okay come with me," I told him and pulled him into an empty room. I closed the door and locked it behind me.
I sighed heavily and sat on the bed with Bill.
"You know about my family right?" I asked him.
"No but what does that have to do with the clown or Georgie?" Bill asked.
"I'm getting to him," I say.
"I'm going to let you in on a little secret. You promise not to tell anyone?" I asked him.
Bill wasn't in the mood for bullshit.
"Spill it," he said.
I had to hand it to this kid. Despite being sick as a dog he was strong.
"You know my last name right?" I asked him.
"No it never came up. I thought it was just Maggie. Like Cher," said Bill.
"My mom had the records of our family sealed when her and her sister got into a huge fight before I was born. No one knows our true name but I found out by accident, being the snoop that I am," I said.
Bill was quiet and I continued to tell him.
"My full name is Maggie Christine White. I'm related to Margaret White and Carrie White from Chamberlain Maine, which is about an hour's drive away from here," I said to him.
Bill had heard what had happened in Chamberlain 13 years ago.
"People in this town would judge me because of what Carrie did to her hometown," I said to Bill.
"Some people know and they call me a freak and a psycho because of what my cousin did," I said to Bill.
"That's why I was asking Georgie to lie. It would just give people a reason to verify that I'm batshit crazy and should be thrown into the looney bin," I said to Bill.
"So Carrie White was your cousin?" asked Bill.
"Yeah," she was I stated letting the truth come out.
"She wasn't a monster. She was just a girl," I said to Bill.
"It's not fair that' you're asking Georgie to lie for you. He's just just just a kid," stated Bill in anger.
"So are we Bill. I'm 16. You're 13," i stated.
"I don't like lying to everyone about this but to even mention that clown would make my life ever more miserable that it already is. Besides that clown is dead. It can't hurt if Georgie says an animal attacked him. The wildlife officers would hunt it down, kill it, and no one would be hurt again," I said.
"This is crazy," said Bill.
"Yeah i know," i said. I let my hair free fall around my face. I was embrassed.
"Now what are we going to do?" asked Bill.
"Hopefully Georgie will make a full recovery and life will go on," I said.
I didn't know if any of this made sense to Bill, but I bet it was a lot to take in.
"And the clown?" asked Bill.
"He said his name was Pennywise but I killed him," I told Bill.
"And you saw the body?" he asked.
"Slightly. I saw it drop down back into the sewer after I kicked its neck out," I said.
"Slightly won't cut it. We we we got to make sure it's dead," said Bill.
"Excuse me, what's with this 'we' business?" I asked Bill.
"Just in case," said Bill.
He got up off the bed and left the room leaving me trailing behind him.
"Hey wait up a second!" I called to Bill.
The last thing I wanted to do was go clown hunting
Lightning flashed in the room we had just left. I didn't even notice a single red balloon floating in the bathroom doorway, nor did I know that a certain red headed clown was listening intently from below the bathroom sink.
He giggled silently while playing with a certain set of keys in his white gloved hand.
AN
YOU ALL ARE AMAZING! OVER 10 REVIEWS IN ONE DAY?! I'M SO HONORED AND THANKFUL
ALSO PLEASE BE AWARE I WORK FULL TIME AND THE ONLY TIME I CAN UPDATE IS THE EVENING!
MORE PENNYWISE AND STALKING COMING YOUR WAY!
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THANK YOU!