The night could have gone better.
Pennywise had hoped his giant bird eater spider would scare Ruth, but she wasn't afraid of him! She fought him off. For a frail child, Pennywise had no clue the girl had that powerful arm. Well, the girl did punch him once, so he should have remembered that bit. She was determined, that's for sure. This Ruth girl is clever since she saw through him despite not knowing he is a shapeshifter. The child even apologized! Who does that? You don't crack a thick 2x4 board on someone's cranium and ask for forgiveness after they realized who you were. You just don't do that, do you?
That irritating little brat! My head still hurts, argh.
Next time, he will be better prepared.
Pennywise skulked in the shadows as he ventured to the den. Ruth is still her. He can tell. He's not exactly fond of the fact she stayed the night. This is his home, after all. When he got closer to where the girl slept, an odd sound filled his ears. He paused to determine what could make this unusual yet obnoxious noise. He came to the edge of the wall and peered around. His eyes land on Ruth's hand, hanging off the couch's edge. Pennywise gleefully grins, an opportunity arose. He slowly shifts into a snake, hoping to scare the girl. He slithers across the floor, cackling in his head.
Hehe, this is perfect! Everyone is afraid of snakes.
Pennywise stops when he hears the obnoxious sound again. It occurred to him the girl is snoring. He inwardly frowns.
Fantastic, the irritating child snores, Pennywise replies sarcastically.
Curious, Pennywise slithers up the couch. He glances down at Ruth, expecting her to be laying on her back. Instead, he is greeted by something completely different. One arm is bent underneath her and most likely dead asleep. She'll have a hard time using it until the girl regains feeling. The other is outstretched, with her hand hanging off the edge. Ruth must have hugged herself during the night for warmth if she is like this. She has one leg straight out where it stuck halfway off the couch's arm. Her other leg is bent and laid on the dirty floor. To add on to her awkward sleeping position, Ruth's hair is disheveled. Her mouth even hung open, snoring, and drooling.
She is no sleeping beauty, that's for sure. Jeez.
Pennywise stared for a moment, bewildered. He noticed as he continued watching the irritant, there are dark circles under her eyes. Obviously, the girl had a restless night of sleep. His so-called scare didn't help either. The girl must not be getting enough sleep these days. He had to wonder why that is. Alas, he's still going to try and frighten her awake. Hopefully, this time he'll sink his teeth into her.
His slithery form slowly eases itself towards Ruth's exposed neck. His tongue tingled at her skin. He noticed Ruth moving but paid no mind to her movements. He should have, though. Ruth felt his small tongue lightly brush her face, swatting at him. The back of her hand hits him square on the side. The tiny brain in his skull rattles, causing Pennywise to whimper inwardly. The throbbing knot from last night stinging slightly. Despite the backhand, Pennywise furthered his goal of scaring her. He was inches away from landing on her neck. His tongue flicked, tasting the air.
Wakey, wakey, Ruthie, Pennywise says to himself.
Unfortunately, Pennywise got another surprise. The girl snatched him around the neck.
Eek!
"Knock it off," Ruth mumbled.
He doesn't know how it was even possible, but Ruth managed to fling him. His slithery form rockets through the air and collides into the wall with a smack. He drops to the floor, whining. Pennywise slowly returns to his clown self, rubbing his cranium. He whimpers, squatting on the floor. His golden eyes glared venomously at the couch, growling.
Irritating child!
Pennywise silently but quickly crawls over. He peers over the edge at the girl, discovering Ruth is still fast asleep. She's on her right side now, no longer snoring. He silently watches her. For the first time, Pennywise takes a moment to take in her features. Why would he? He doesn't know. Maybe it's because the busted lip caught his attention. It's swollen still. The purplish-blue and black are stark in contrast to her fair creamy skin. That's all Pennywise could see. He felt a slight pang of guilt upon realizing how and why the girl got the bruise — the cookie tin.
Those soft-baked cookies were real. How Pennywise got them? That is left to be a mystery. It was just his way to get Ruth to sleep. He certainly couldn't have her awake to determine Ruth's fears. He took the vintage tin box back yesterday. Pennywise didn't expect the girl to speak about it to the adult. That was a mistake on her part. Not that she should be blamed for the swollen and bruised lip. Pennywise frowns deeply as he continued to stare.
So, the scoundrel struck the girl. Pennywise stated the obvious to himself.
Pennywise frowned when he noticed pink scars adorning her cheeks and brows. He noted the constellation of splotchy brown freckles on the bridge of her nose and cheeks. Pennywise visually traced the marking to create an abstract double helix.
Hmm, fascinating.
Pennywise realized the irritating child is particularly entrancing. Her nose is cute and button-like in shape. Ruth's natural beach wavy hair is relatively similar to his wild ginger color but more vibrant, lusher, and probably soft. He actually had an itch to run his fingers through Ruth's luscious locks to know for sure but refrained himself. Pennywise also noticed the cute baby curl at her upper jawline. She may be a child, but her adorable, maturish feminine features made Ruth appear slightly older by a few years. The girl seems more sixteen than thirteen or fourteen. He doesn't know when her birthday is. Pennywise's conclusion, Ruth, the irritating child, is a lovely young lady.
Pennywise shakes his head suddenly, perturbed at his observation.
Argh, irritating child!
Pennywise silently slinks away. Even though this is a perfect opportunity to eat the girl, he'll leave Ruth be for now. She could use the sleep anyway. Eventually, Pennywise will frighten the girl and eat her flesh. He just needs to figure out what that one thing is Ruth could be afraid of. Maybe then he will put an end to her miserable life.
He'll find someone else to scare. Maybe the Jewish boy or the Twitchy boy Ruth dubbed. Naw, he will save his scare when Ruth is around. She will get a joy out of his fright. Why would he want her to see him scare the piss out of him? Pennywise doesn't know the answer to this. There is the Marsh girl. That little snub turned a cold shoulder when she and Ruth have something in common. The other Denbrough boy would be an excellent choice, too. He ignored Ruth as well. Mr. Gray Water, which Pennywise had to laugh at this, would also be a perfect choice. He deserves a real good scare.
There's a lot of options for Pennywise. Ultimately, he resulted in frightening the Jewish boy, Stanley Uris. His scare will surely be delightful.
That damn brat is back again.
Ruth has been coming here for two days now. Pennywise finds her presence in the house annoying. She has her own place to hang around. So, why here? It always seems Ruth is coming around in the afternoons. The girl should be outside where it is warm and cloudless. She could use the sun anyway since the girl is fair-skinned. Although he deduced, Ruth would only gain more freckles instead of tanning. He has noticed her freckles travel from her adorable face to her entire body. Ruth is a walking constellation, basically. Maybe he should start referring to the irritating child as Freckles. Pennywise chuckled at the name.
Pennywise just wished the kids in the alleyway would befriend her. She could use a friend or two, or even the whole group. Except, from what he understands, the girl Ruth can't be around anyone. Why is that? Is Ruth trouble for them? Pennywise certainly doesn't have to worry. Not like he wants to associate with the child. He is beginning to wonder what the "why" factor could be. The reason could be Ruth's scars. If someone saw them, they would encourage Ruth to leave home and report her parents for child abuse.
Or what if there is something more going on? What if there is a secret?
He scurries across the floor. His tiny rat feet clicking lightly as he drew close to the den. He peers around the sash, finding Ruth on the couch. She's sitting with her legs bent close to her chest and head lightly bobbing. He can hear scratching and brushing from where Ruth sat. Another opportunity arose for him to scare her out of the house.
Perfect! Feast your irritating eyes on this realistic transformation, you brat!
Pennywise hastens to the couch. He climbed up and ran to the headboard. The thought of jumping on her came to mind. Ruth would freak. Except, Pennywise stops. Something caught his attention as he sat close to Ruth's ear. He can hear what sounded like mumbling. Upon quick inspection, the girl has headphones in her ears and humming, well, singing.
"Valentine is done. Here, but now they're gone. Romeo and Juliet," Ruth sang softly.
Pennywise inwardly deadpans. What the hell is she singing? Pfft, whatever.
He prepared himself to launch himself at her, only to stop again. Something else caught his eye. Pennywise, the Rat, glances sideways at a pad of paper, graphite, and charcoal strewn about. Ruth is drawing obviously, but the subject matter startled him. He abandons his goal to scare Ruth. Instead, Pennywise wants to take a closer look at the piece of art the young girl is creating. He makes one glance at Ruth, finding her laser-sharp focus on the drawing pad in front of her. Turning away, Pennywise watches.
The drawing is of him, Pennywise. Well, him transforming out of the spider from the other night. Ruth's attention to detail is extraordinary. She captured every single hairy inch of his large spider form. The transition to the clown suit he wears blended smoothly. Ruth has tremendous depth in the folds and shadows he receded in. She memorized the wrinkles in his face along with the snarl he had. The many rows of teeth gleamed, and his eyes somehow glowed on paper.
Pennywise noticed everything, and he admires it. He whistles in his head.
Whoa, Freckles has a gift.
Upon closer inspection, Ruth had drawn his head and hair the way she remembered. Pennywise's hair is wild and receding. He frowned from how far back his hairline is.
Is my forehead really that big? Maybe I should grow some in the front.
Ruth continued to sing as she drew. She bobbed her head slightly and mouthing the lyrics.
"Don't fear the reaper," Ruth hums softly.
Pennywise stiffens and inwardly scowls. Don't fear the reaper, what? You shall be afraid, you irritating child! I am the reaper! Well, sort of, maybe. Argh!
He readies himself. Once Ruth pulled her drawing pad away to inspect, Pennywise jumps. He lands squarely on her chest. Three things happen in seconds flat: Ruth shrieks loudly, flung him off, and bounced off the couch. His form launched across the room and crashed into the wall with a thunk. Pennywise, then plummets to the floor, whimpering and whining.
OWIE!
Pennywise hears Ruth shudder violently where she stood as he laid stunned. His front left paw twitches.
Damnit, Freckles! Maybe you should join a softball or baseball league! Fuck, my head!
"Argh, nasty! I hate those things for a reason!" Ruth hollers, frantically wiping at her arms.
That's because you're afraid of them! Ha-ha, success!
"Argh, yuck, just so you know, Pennywise, I'm not afraid of naked moles rats. They just make my skin crawl."
… Argh, damnit!
"Also, they're native to parts of East Africa," Ruth states matter-of-factly.
Tell me something I don't know, brat.
After getting over his stunned state, Pennywise glances over at Ruth. She's gathering up her things. He is quick to return to the couch and assess any damage to the work of art. He hopes not. Why does he care? Pennywise wished he knew. Once he got to her side and the pad of paper, Pennywise sits on it. He stares at the drawing, relieved that the artwork wasn't ruined. His beady little eyes blink, and cock his head like a person would at a museum.
"Yes, it's a drawing of you," Ruth mentions softly. "I guess you were my inspiration."
His mind went blank for a moment.
Me? I'm her inspiration? Why?
Ruth gently takes the notebook at the spine, pulling it upwards for Pennywise to slid off.
HEY! I was looking at that!
"It's not completely done yet. I'll show you the finished piece of crap when I get the chance."
What the? It's not a piece of crap! You have some serious talent there, kid!
"And I hate naked mole rats as they remind of a man's penis with eyes and scrawny legs. So, basically, you are a dingus right now."
Pennywise stiffens, growling.
Excuse me?
"Better luck next time, though."
He watched her leave, fuming still.
EXCUSE ME! Get your narrow butt_!
"Oh, I almost forgot," Ruth's voice sounds at the doorframe.
Pennywise watches her come into view and stoops to set a box down. He inwardly squeals, and eyes instantly gleam in excitement as Pennywise bounded for the door.
"I don't know if you enjoyed the Crackerjacks or not, but I got you_."
Ruth doesn't finish her sentence when Rat Pennywise crashes into the box and hugs it.
CRACKERJACKS!
He attacks the box with his teeth to open the blasted confinement of the delicious molasses-caramel corn and peanuts.
Let me at it, let me at it!
Despite the gnawing, Pennywise hears Ruth giggle in amusement.
"I guess you do like Crackerjacks," Ruth replies softly.
She suddenly takes the box from him.
HEY! Unhand my_
He hears a ripping sound, along with a rustling of foil before the box was returned to him opened. Pennywise did not comment as he stared dumbfounded by Ruth's generosity.
"There you go. Now you won't have to annihilate the box while still in your naked ratty form. Well, I got to go. I'll bring you another box tomorrow. Good night, Pennywise."
Pennywise watched her go in astonishment still. He turned away from the street to the opened box. Pennywise grins excitedly, then launches himself inside the Crackerjack box with a wiggle of his bum and dug around for the prize. He found it within a matter of seconds and poked his head out, inwardly frowning.
Well, I have no use for a temporary tattoo. It's a clown even. So, maybe, Freckles would like it.
He spits the little piece of paper out of his mouth with a pfft, then morphed into his own clown form to enjoy the sweet snack.
Ruth ended up coming back that same evening. Pennywise could hear her light sniffles and sobs. Something in his brain is starting to connect the dots. The child does not want to be at home. The constant abuse is the underlining factor. He doesn't necessarily care for it either, but Pennywise is not one to interject in humans' problems.
To distract Ruth from whatever happened, he tried a fourth time to frighten her. No success, of course. Pennywise slinked into the shadows with another knot on the head. He growls and glances over his shoulder at Ruth, who is struggling to fall asleep. Pennywise frowns, growing frustrated with the girl.
He'll try another time.
In the meantime, he'll keep a watchful eye on her tonight despite his throbbing noggin.
Ruth did swing by here the next day but didn't hang around like usual. Apparently, she had some things to do and wanted to drop off the promised box of Crackerjacks. He was already in a scary form to frighten her, but Ruth didn't even bother glancing at him. It was disappointing, to say the least, but Pennywise handed Ruth the small prize from yesterday. She gladly accepted the temporary friendly clown tattoo with a smile. The bright child told him she would come back tomorrow with another and wished him good night.
That night, Ruth returned to the Neibolt house. Unlike last time, she wasn't sniffling but wheezing. When Pennywise went to investigate, he saw the child doubling over on the couch. Ruth had been running, probably since she sneaked out of her house again. He watched Ruth struggling to catch her breath, who also held onto her right arm. His eyes caught the scratches made by a female.
So, it's the mother as well, he had thought.
Pennywise attempted to scare her again.
Five minutes later, he slowly skulked away with an angry snarl and yet another knot on the head.
Blasted child! What are you afraid of?
Again, Pennywise watched Ruth sleep with a soft frown.
By late afternoon the next day, Ruth didn't show up at Neibolt.
Pennywise was glad as he wanted silence. On the other hand, no Crackerjack snack, which only irritated him to no end.
When Ruth didn't come later that evening, Pennywise grew uneasy.
Something in the pit of his stomach didn't like her absence. For some strange reason, he went to her. Maybe, Pennywise wanted to make sure the girl was okay and not seriously hurt or even worse. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. It turns out both of the adults were out that day, resulting in Ruth to stay home and sleep in her own bed. Which, in turn, caused the girl to forget her promise in getting Pennywise his sugar fix. He would have scared her awake but decided against. Ruth needed sleep.
He doesn't know why, but Pennywise stayed with Ruth. He mulled around in her head for a bit to gain ammo and explored the room. Pennywise did a lot of things while she slept, some of which would have made the little irritant laugh. He thought about going through her journals, but that was an invasion of her privacy. Instead, he sought after her sketchbooks. Once Pennywise located her drawing book, he marveled at her captivating talent and wonders why the child brings herself down. Maybe she needs someone to give her a boost of confidence.
For the remainder of the night, Pennywise stood at the edge of Ruth's bed with arms crossed over and watched the girl sleep. He doesn't know why he is, but something made him feel oddly calm watching her. Pennywise eventually climbed onto the bed, grateful the girl didn't stir from the weight of him settling on the mattress, and sat there for the remainder of the night while silently observing Ruth.
Once a thin line of light broke the horizon, it was time for him to leave. At that time, the adults had returned home. They came thundering back in the house, which startled poor Ruth awake. Ruth bolted up panicking, thinking they were coming into her room. She tiredly glanced around to hide somewhere when her eyes land on him, sitting on the bed.
"What the crap? Pennywise, just what in the hell are you doing here?" She questioned him in a hushed whisper.
Pennywise toothily grinned nervously and would have answered if her bedroom door hadn't swung open. Despite the adults not being able to see him, he quickly morphs into a tiny house spider.
"Amber? What the hell are you doing up?"
Jordan had come in with Jonathan standing at the door, watching her tiredly.
Ruth stared drowsily at her mother for a moment before answering.
"What time is it?" She asked groggily.
"It's five-thirty, now answer my question. What are you doing up? I heard you talking."
"Oh," she replies drowsily, then slumped back onto the sheets.
Pennywise could tell that was the wrong move.
Eek!
"Amber," Jordan growled.
Ruth groans, "I guess I was talking in my sleep from a nightmare."
A string of incoherent mumbling left her lips afterward before succumbing to sleep again with a snore.
Jordan watched Ruth for a moment, perplexed yet slightly agitated. However, she did nothing to lay harm onto Ruth, nor did Jonathan. They just observed her critically before lightly shutting the door and whispered amongst themselves.
Pennywise, however, pays no mind to them as he is inwardly cackling. He glances down at the fake sleeping Ruth, quite pleased at her acting skills.
Hey! Hey, hey, Freckles! You can stop fake sleeping now!
Ruth responds with a snore.
He deadpans, unamused now.
Seriously? Here I thought the irritant was faking it. Oh, well.
Pennywise then decides to leave Ruth's side to return to Neibolt. Before he officially vanished into the early morning light, Pennylight reverted to his clown self. He carefully placed a plastic figurine near her hand. He didn't get to give her the prize from yesterday. He doesn't know why he's even bothering giving these prizes to her. Pennywise believes the irritant is gifting him with these sugary snacks to keep him from devouring her. Eventually, he will sink his teeth into her flesh.
Pennywise shrugged, then turned to leave but paused when something caught his eye. He usually doesn't pay attention to the small things, but Pennywise saw Ruth's ears. They're pierced now and sparkled under the silver moonlight from the temporary pea-sized diamond studs.
Like a kid attracted to shiny objects, Pennywise couldn't contain himself and unknowingly reached down to touch. He was centimeters from Ruth's ear when she moved slightly with a small moan. Pennywise retracts as if he just got scalded with fingers contorted and a toothy grimace.
No touchy!
He watched Ruth for any more movement but saw none. Pennywise soundlessly sighs in relief.
He would have turned to leave since Pennywise has stayed here longer than he needed, but a thought occurred to him. Pennywise knows Ruth is a victim of child abuse, so when do abusers gift their victims with something nice like getting their daughter's ear pierced. He watched her sleep for a moment, hoping an answer would surface from memorizing Ruth's placid features. His innards squirmed unpleasantly from this feeling telling him something is wrong here. Pennywise knows Ruth is a smart girl and hopes she will see that every calm brings a storm. Not that he should be worried about the child, but something doesn't seem right once Pennywise saw the earring. Hopefully, his gut is wrong, and nothing will come of her.
With a heavy sigh and frown, Pennywise forces himself to leave.
Once his back turned, he misses the gentle smirk that graced Ruth's lips.
"Later, Penny," Ruth whispers in the dark.