*Chapter 7: Trapped*
Georgie woke up the next morning, recovered from the state of the Deadlights, and found himself in his own bedroom. He doesn't know how he got here. He got out of bed and rush to his brother's room. Georgie climbed on Bill's bed and shook him with one arm. Bill groaned and turn to face his little brother. He sat up quickly and grabbed Georgie's shoulders.
"Georgie! Y-y-y-you okay?"
"I...think so." Georgie replied. "What happened? How did I get home?" Bill bit his lower lip. Georgie won't like hearing the bad news. Bill told Georgie what happened to Belle. Georgie started to tear up. The brothers hug each other. "I want Belle back." Georgie said with a sob.
"Me too, G-G-G-Georgie." Bill said. "But, we can't do anything. The clown will kill us." The boys continue to mourn over Belle's price. There is nothing they could do, but to move on with their lives without their favorite babysitter. She did it to save Georgie and their friends that are close to her only. The town will find out about Belle's disappearance sooner or later. The kids will have to keep quiet about her.
Belle is walking down the deserted town of Derry, but it looks different. There are no vehicles around, just carriages and horses. Is Belle back in time somehow? By the way people dress is very...Victorian. Strange.
'What time period is this?' Belle wondered. She feels out of place. If only she knew what year it was around here. She walked up to a man, asking him what year it is, but the man didn't face her. Belle reached for his shoulder, but her hand went through.
"What?" She gasped. Is she a ghost? No, she isn't dead. She's back in time and no one could see her. But, why is she back in time? "Am I dreaming? I could be." She said. Then, laughter is heard from the streets, making everyone turn to see a circus coming through. Belle watched the clowns juggling and dancing, a wagon with tigers caged in, more clowns, more wagons. What caught Belle's eye is one familiar wagon with a name and picture. Pennywise the Dancing Clown. He was here then.
'People see him back then? I thought no one but me can't.' Belle thought. She followed the band of circus roaming through as people followed with wonder but thrilled that it arrived. Even the children. The circus was placed around the park. Female clowns are handing out cotton candy to children who happily accept, other clowns are doing magic tricks to adults to wow them. Belle walked up towards the wagon of a certain clown. The side was open, fireworks shoot out, and revealed Pennywise. He looked at the crowd with hungry yellow eyes, grinning at the children.
Before anything could happen, a bright light appeared in the sky. Belle covered her eyes, grunting a little. She could hear a voice calling for her. Telling her to wake up.
Belle's eyes shot open and see Pennywise looking down at her. She let out a shriek, backing up against the bedpost. Pennywise couldn't help but to chuckle at her startle.
"Oh, I didn't mean to scare you. I only wanted to wake you." He told her. Belle realized that she is in the Neibolt House. So, last night wasn't a bad dream after all. It actually happened. She looked over her shoulder to see scars from the bite Pennywise gave her.
"It...wasn't a bad dream." Belle whispered.
"Be glad it wasn't, Belle. Or I would've eaten Georgie then." Pennywise said, giving her a playful frown. Belle faced him after she got out of bed.
"Just tell me what I must do. You imprinted me last night, so...what's the second step?" She asked.
"You must drink my blood so you will become immortal." Pennywise simply replied. "I can't let my mate age and die. She must be with me for all eternity." Belle wanted to gag. She has to drink the monster's blood in order to become immortal? She shuddered in disgust. "Would you rather skip to the third step?"
"I don't know if I want to know about it." Belle replied. "If I drink the blood of yours, does it also mean I will become...whatever you are?"
"I wouldn't know. Perhaps you would." Pennywise said. "As I said before. I've never done this before. You are my first. But it's too late for you to turn back now. You're imprinted."
"I...need some time." Belle told him. Pennywise didn't say anything. He smells her fear. Not because she is afraid of him, it's because she is afraid to change into something she didn't want to be. She will become a monster like him possibly. She could feed on someone. Belle's stomach started to growl. "Umm, there must be something for me to eat, right?" She asked.
"Oh, I have food for you to eat. There's peanuts, cotton candy, hot dogs, popcorn, and..."
"I want breakfast. Not circus food."
"No need for that, dearie." Pennywise said with a grin. "You don't need to worry about fattening yourself up." Belle was about to argue, but her stomach kept growling. She needs to eat something or else she will pass out. It's either what Pennywise had in store for her, or nothing at all. Belle accepted the food and Pennywise brought out a bag of popcorn. The buttery smell hits Belle. She ate two pieces and the popcorn was delicious. So much butter and salt. Unlike the popcorn she buys from the store. "Well?" Pennywise asked, raising a brow at her.
"It's good." Belle said with a nod. "Thank you."
"Anything for my mate. Now, I must be on my way." Pennywise walked out of the room, but he turned to her. "When I return, you will be prepared to drink the blood of mine." Belle turned away from him. The clown disappeared. She knew he is going out in town to feed off of children. The poor helpless children. Belle couldn't do anything about it. If she tries to go out there and save them, Pennywise will kill the Denbrough children and others she knew. She puts the popcorn down and sat on the bed.
"God, forgive me." She said. She got up and look at her reflection. Her eyes were flushed from crying last night, and the nasty scar on her shoulder. It made it look like she was bit by a bear instead of a killer clown. No one will see it anyway. She took off her top that had bloodstains on the side and look through the closet. But, she just thought of something. What if she needs to shower? The water ain't gonna work in this house. Unless Pennywise did something about it for Belle.
Belle walked inside the bathroom that is not as dirty as the other rooms. She walked over to the sink, turn it on, and the water runs.
'He did this for me. He doesn't care about me that much, does he?' Belle thought. She turns on the shower and feel clean, cold water hitting her. At least it's clean, not dirty and gray like in the sewers. Belle took off the rest of the clothes and step in the shower. When the warm water hits her hair, she started to think about her future with the clown. She won't be human anymore. She didn't want to kill and feed off of everyone in town.
After a long shower, Belle wrapped a towel around her body and step out of the bathroom. While she was drying off and getting dressed, she started to think back about the dream she had. It was years ago in Derry, and Pennywise was there. How old is he? She will find out sometime. Right now, she must stay in the house and wait for the clown to return from his...hunt.
"The blood will taste gross..."
