Was it something I said?

Before running out of the house I brewed a pot of coffee, grabbed a thermos and made it perfectly sweet and creamy. Having been awake almost 24 hours with intensive trauma in between meant that there's a good chance of me face planting anytime after 11 am. Hopefully, when the time comes, I won't crash too hard from both the sugar rush and sleep deprivation. In truth, I figured it would be cold down in Penny's place so the coffee had a dual purpose. Since I didn't get cold at the quarry earlier when I had wings and horns, who knows if that same effect happens when I'm regular old me. If only there was a place, like a search engine, with endless information that could help you pinpoint what might be going on with you? Oh wait..? Seriously, Brain, whose side are you on? Plus, I've been busy. As soon as I find out what happened to Penny I can troll the internet for answers.

The sky was just hinting at the new day when Olivia and I stepped outside to walk over to the run-down mansion that was supposed to be Pennywise's home. It was still very early in the morning as everything was quiet on the street and I didn't see or hear a car in sight. Pulling my cell out the time read just after 5:30 am. I contemplated texting Penny again but since I had no missed messages I figured it was pointless. The action gave me a sense of deja vu from when I was looking for a rental and this house gave me a supernatural tour on the app I had been browsing. If only I knew how to manipulate everything the same way Penny does. If that were the case I could save myself this trip and take a much needed nap instead.

The two of us strolled up and walked into the fenced off area and for a fleeting moment, emotions of dread and despair crept up the back of my neck. A slight breeze swayed and twitched a few pieces of overgrown grass that had not been covered by the snow. A KEEP OUT sign hanging from the fence creaked as it swayed with the wind. My breath came out in huge puffs since the temperatures were below freezing. Even in just a sweater I was feeling cool but not frozen which was a good sign that down in the well wouldn't be too unbearable. I looked down at Olivia to see how she felt about this creepy ass adventure.

"I know you don't understand what's going on but if we can avoid this," pointing my finger at the two of us, "turning into a Scooby-Doo adventure then that would be great. No scary stuff or barking at inappropriate times which I know is your M.O. Got it missy?" Olivia just continued to stare and wag her tail while I stared her down with a stern look. Great, she is definitely going to scare the crap out of me at some point. If I pee myself I'm turning her into loafers I swear.

The two of us walked up to the door and walked in. Surprisingly, the door wasn't locked, bolted or even boarded up. A little detail I found both odd and suspicious since I half expected us to have to go through a window or find another way in. What didn't surprise me was what state the house was in on the inside. This place was literally falling apart.

"Maybe we should get Penny some throw pillows and scented candles. You know, give it the Home Good's touch?", I said to Olivia. Her blank expression tells me that she either didn't understand my joke or did not think it was funny. Wow, having a conversation with the dog now, Quinn? How desperate are you? Whatever, brain. This damn dog had a whole conversation with a demon like two days ago.

Olivia stayed close to me as I closed the door behind us. The room to our left had a few pieces of old furniture that was covered in an inch layer of dust and dirt. In fact, every surface was covered in it. The fact that any visible color remained from the old wallpaper is surprising to say the least. Not to mention there are cobwebs everywhere. I have to admit, I'm probably one of the few women in this century that isn't bothered by spiders. Back home I have a few that I've let live and build webs in the house because they will eat all the other bugs that I hate more. Death to the centipedes and mosquitos, though. Those little bastards deserve a painful death.

But this? Yea, this was taking it to a whole new level of uncomfortable. The webs, not only numerous, hung down in very large clusters from the ceiling to the floor. Olivia and I carefully navigate our way forward, careful not to touch anything in case something crawls onto me.

"Penny? Hello!?"

The two of us explored further back into the house, each foot step causing the floorboards to creak and moan the deeper we went. Occasionally, Olivia would get distracted at the sound of something scurrying under us or I would catch my breath seeing a tall shadow in a new room. Every corner, I half expected to see my clown boyfriend lounging on a dusty couch like he had been waiting for us the whole time. Room after room brought nothing but disappointment after reaching the kitchen, the last room downstairs. My head swims with more memories from a few days ago. This kitchen is exactly the same as I saw it then too. The broken kitchen table was in pieces in exactly the same spot I last saw it. Even the fridge and basement door were still left wide open.

"Hey, clownboy?," I called out, glancing around the room. "You ever heard of Molly Maids? This place is a pigsty. Ugh, what is that on the floor? No! Olivia, don't lick it! LEAVE IT. Ugh, gross."

Olivia moved away from her pile of whatever and pushed ahead of me, working her way down the basement stairs. I'm really glad I decided to bring her otherwise I would look like a psycho talking to myself. Plus, hating to admit it, I was scared. Even though I knew what Pennywise was (mostly anyways) and we were essentially a monster couple, it didn't mean that I enjoyed exploring sinister, dilapidated, disgusting mansions that were for sure 100% haunted for funsies. Did you also forget we are supposed to be on vacation because some of us are wondering when that can resume happening? Cool it, brain. Something is wrong and I need to help Penny. The clownboy came for me when I needed him so it's only fair I go after him too.

It wasn't until we got to the bottom of the stairs and I saw the well in person that I realized this was about to get way more involved than I had anticipated. Olivia was off exploring the rest of the basement, sniffing around and digging in a few spots while I examined the well. I assumed that since she didn't bring me back anything of note that there wasn't any reason to wander around. Looking down into the well was just pitch black void. Luckily, when you live near mountains, have a dog, and try to avoid people as much as possible, you tend to get outdoorsy. Olivia and I haven't gone in a while but her backpack is designed for mountain climbing, as is mine.

It wasn't easy or quick but I finally got her and I both hooked up to rappel down into the well. Olivia was connected in a way that she hung below me. There were also several glow sticks hanging off the side of her so there would hopefully be no surprises as we neared the bottom.

"Good girl, Olivia", I continuously reassured her. I had to keep reminding myself that Olivia wasn't like other dogs. If by chance something sinister did come after us she could defend the both of us. Especially, now that I knew I owned some sort of Hellhound hybrid and not just a standard pit bull. Although, I'd really prefer not to find out what would happen if Olivia turned into one while we were suspended from an unknown height.

Luckily, the ride was smooth going down and was shorter than expected. When we hit the bottom I noticed right away that we were deep in the sewer system of Derry, smack dab in the center of a 4 way intersection. The water down here was just above my ankles so I had to be careful that my feet didn't stay submerged for too long. Long treks with wet and cold feet were not a good mix, which made me realize how stupid of me it was that I chose to wear converse. Everything around us was damp, covered in some sort of algae and very, very old. The walls were individual bricks that must have taken years to build back in the day. Sadly, most of the bricks were warped or damaged in some way after years of water runoff. There was also graffiti spread about on the walls which to me meant that there were multiple ways in and out of the sewer, not just the well we had come down. It only took a few minutes to disconnect ourselves from the climbing ropes and packing everything back up. I also made sure Olivia had her glow sticks attached and my flashlight on a high beam before choosing a path. Choosing to follow the direction of where the water is flowing towards.

Olivia scouted ahead, moving deeper into the sewers as I followed faithfully behind her. What really bothered me was how much trash and litter there was down here. It seemed like every chinese take out container, energy drink can and newspaper to come within 5 miles of Derry was down here. Too many times I had to yell at Olivia to leave whatever she was about to eat alone. Hell hound or not, I can't have her eating rotten nastiness from grey water. Gross. Another weird find was kids shoes. There seemed to be one every 15-20 feet in every size, color and style. I bet half of Derry's kids' shoes had to be down here.

At our next intersection we found the two of us staring down a 2 way split tunnel. The water was still running off to the right side but something else was drawing me to the left. I can't really explain the feeling, only that this way seemed to make the most sense.

"Penny?!", I called down into the left tunnel. "Pennywise, are you down here?"

Even with no response my gut pulled to the left so onward we went. Olivia and I only moved about 30 feet into the tunnel before a booming voice that I recognized vibrated along the tunnel walls. Olivia immediately stood very still, ears back, fur standing straight up and made a low growling noise as she too felt the shift in the atmosphere.

"GO. AWAY. QUINN"

That shrill voice I had come to like thundered out, surrounding the very air I was breathing. All around me the sewer tunnel vibrated causing me to stumble but not fall over. Next to me, Olivia took a few unsteady steps and barked at the empty space in front of her. What the shit was that, Penny!?

"BARK! BARK!"

"DAMNIT, OLIVA!", I shouted at her for startling me. The second the words left my mouth I instantly regretted them. "ohhhhh noooo, sweetie, I'm sorry."

Dammit all to hell, now I'm pissed. That son of a bitch made me yell at my dog. I spent a few good minutes petting Olivia to calm her and remind her what a good girl she was.

"Penny! What the hell!?"I tried not to shout but the tunnel walls were making it impossible not to. "An hour ago you were concerned that you had lost me and now you're telling me to get lost? What gives!?"

"LEAVE! NOW!"

"NO! Come tell me to my face why you ran away from me for no fucking reason!"

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Instead of shouting back to the booming voice I chose to ignore it and move further in. This is bullshit. The stupid clown literally ate a man for me, presented said mans heart as a promise, told me he needs me then runs off and demands I get lost? This is a whole new level of mixed signals that would piss off anybody. Not to mention my now traumatized dog. Seeing as how I've already had a really rough night, I'm majorly pissed off now.

It wasn't long till Olivia and I finally came upon a huge, circular, steel door. It had to be at least 10x10 feet if it was an inch. The door itself was partially swung open so I stepped casually through. What presented in front of me stopped me dead in my tracks.

"whathefu…"

I imagine my face was just a wave of awe and pure horror as I tried to process what I was looking at. My mouth hung open as I took in the sight before me. The room I walked into was humongous. Insanely larger than I would have thought a sewer would have needed to be. Towering before me is what I could only comprehend to be a mountain of trash. Years of decay and water damage had to be eating away at the foundation that kept it upright. Yet, it was 70 ft high if it was an inch so the water logged trashed had to be keeping it solid somehow. Toys, clothes and literal trash were the glue that kept this monument standing. At first I tried to rationalize the real life version of I-Spy in front of me. It was then that I noticed the dark, wooden cart settled at the base of Trash Mountain. Not only was "Pennywise: The Dancing Clown" painted on the front but I could faintly hear the bells and chime of a jack in the box.

Was it possible that these were all things that Penny had collected over the years? Okay, so he lives in a literal pile of trash and ...

And then I looked up...

My eyes were wide as saucers as I took in the body parts and corpses floating above, rotating counter clockwise like pies on display in a family restaurant. A grate in the ceiling allowed enough light to shine down on the summit of Trash Mountain. It only took me another moment to finally blink, my eyes having become blurred by tears. The realization of what I was looking at finally pieced together in my brain. The bodies continued to float as I took in the impressive tower of refuge. I knew that Penny was a killer. But, kids?

"I told you to GO AWAY, QUINN!", Penny's voice roared. I couldn't see him but his voice echoed around me as he snapped at me to leave. I had so many questions and my brain was not connecting with my mouth to form words.

Out of nowhere, Pennywise popped in existence right on top of the cart with his name. The fury in his eyes, burning like lava at me, enforced the fact that I was unwelcome. That look was a knife right to my chest. Penny and I may not have known each other long but in that short time he has been more real to me than anything else I've had in my life. Since the moment I seduced him as my peeping clown, sleeping with him as Phillip, being accepted as a monster; I knew there was more to this than happenstance. So, for him to stare me down, crouching like a predator about to defend his house of horrors was more than my heart could bear.

"Pennywise, what the hell is going on here!? You just left me at the house, when I find you it's with a mountain of garbage, they're bodies of KIDS floating somehow above me and now you're kicking me out? What. The. Fuck happened in the last hour that I'm not aware of!?"

"WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN?! Am I going to have to MAKE YOU LEAVE!?"

Penny looked away immediately after threatening me. The shame and guilt spread all across his face was obvious at this angle. Yet, he maintained his distance perched atop of his cart. What the shit! This was not at all how I wanted this fucking vacation to go. For once, I actually agreed with my stupid bitch brain. How did we even get here, Quinn?

Pennywise started muttering under his breath, asking questions to no one in particular. "... just won't listen...doesn't understand…doesn't realize…can't get near, peaches"

None of what he said to himself was making any sense and it only fueled my outburst at him. "NO! I'm not going anywhere till you answer me! What is going on!?"

There was a long pause as Pennywise contemplated his answer. He turned back to me, crouched there like a gorilla staring down at where I stood. That painted face of his was twisted with turmoil. Those red eyes squinted all while he panting like he was about to have a temper tantrum.

And sure enough, a child-like response is exactly what I got.

Pennywise immediately stuffed both his ears with his fingers, shaking his head at me and began humming a tune.

Are you fucking kidding right now? I'm pretty sure I straight up just got the toddler tantrum version of 'I'm not listening'. Ohhhhhhh, the fuck he did not...

"Fine! You wanna be a big baby!?"

I reached down and grabbed the first thing within reach. Pulling back my arm as far as possible I chucked a red Power Ranger action figure right at his face. "AHHHH!"

Pennywise leaned to the right just as the toy zips past him. In return, sticks his tongue out at me!

OH. NO. HE. DID. NOT.

My own anger went into maximum overdrive as I bent over and began grabbing random items off the ground and whipped them at Pennywise.

"YOU STUPID DANCING ASSHAT!", I shouted, throwing a Speak And Spell and missing my target completely.

"YOU TOLD ME YOU WANTED TO SHOW ME EVERYTHING!", a Cabbage Patch doll slammed into the cart below him.

"YOU KILLED THAT BASTARD AND GAVE ME HIS HEART!", the Rubik's Cube only managed to bounce off his knee.

"YOU SAID YOU WOULD KILL EVERYONE FOR ME!", the stuffed bear made a slight squeak when it hit him in the chest but Penny remained humming and unfazed.

"YOU...", I couldn't stop the tears now as the turmoil pushed past rapidly into despair. I lowered the model train engine in my hand. Realization hit me that this was utterly pointless. In any previous relationship, I told myself that I would never be the crazy girlfriend. Look at you now, Quinn. Hurling rotting, vintage toys at a magical killer clown and you expected reason and understanding? Ugh, I know. This is pointless.

With a much smaller voice and cheeks wet with tears I spoke in a whisper knowing he could hear me, "you said….you asked me to be yours, Pennywise".

With that last accusation Pennywise finally lowered his hands from his ears and looked as hurt as I felt. If someone would have told me before this vacation I would be in this situation a week ago I would have recommended a hospital visit. And yet, here we are. Woefully laying my emotions out to this child killer/town terror that completely engulfed my heart within days.

"You asked me to be yours, Pennywise, and when I said 'Yes' I meant it. I was all in and I still am. I still want answers as to what all... this is," gesturing above and around me," but first I need to know what happened between the quarry and this very moment that has made you despise the very sight of me?"

The silence that followed my question hung in the air. A stillness settled in the air around us. Water dripped from a nearby pipe and the occasional howl of wind sounded from the grate in the ceiling. Neither of us moved nor broke eye contact, silently challenging the other to look away first.

And suddenly, without warning, Pennywise lets out a frustrated breath of air and slams his fist on the roof of his cart one time. Instantly, a door on the right whips open. Flickering of light danced on the now open door.

"Fine. Go see for yourself," the clown tells me. But before I could demand more clarification he had blinked away completely out of sight.