So this idea came to me after watching IT Chapter 2 and there were a few things I wanted to change. Because you cannot just give me a new amazing ship and then rip my heart out even though I knew it was coming! I am planning to write this in two stories. One of them will be going back through the story of IT Chapter 2 with some things added, and then will continue on after. The second one just might be a crossover with another King Novel, but I won't tell you guys which one yet. And since this is a Reddie story I will be mostly focusing on Richie and Eddie. I'm actually posting this a little sooner that I had planned on, but my Richie muse has just been so excited to share this since we started. Also I am still working through the IT novel so most of the story will be from the way the movie went. However there were some elements in the book that I wanted to add to my story that will help lead into the second story I will be writing. So with that long author's note out of the way I present the first chapter. Feel free to leave a review for me if you wish.
Richie Tozier found himself pacing back and forth, glancing over his script, moving his lips in silent speech. Soft footsteps echoing over a concrete floor had Richie looking up to see his manager walking over to him.
"You're on in ten minutes, you ready?"
Richie nodded his head and started to follow when he heard his phone. Richie paused to retrieve the vibrating device from his pocket. His manager's reprimand faded as his eyes landed on the area the call was coming from.
Derry, Maine
"Richie."
"I'll be right back."
"Richie, you're on in five-"
"Just give me a minute."
Richie turned on slightly shaky legs as he hit the accept, bringing his phone up to his ear, the electronic feeling cold and steely against his skin.
"Hello?"
"Richie."
"Who is this?"
"It's Mike Hanlen."
Richie gasped as his eyes suddenly burned as if someone had blown smoke into them. When he closed his eyes he was assaulted with visions of people and places. Memories that were completely foreign to him, but yet familiar.
Mike's voice abruptly snapped Richie out of his trance, "Richie, you need to come back to Derry. IT's back."
A chill rushed up Richie's spine, locking around his chest, making it hard to breath. Sinking dread surrounded him like a thick blanket of fog. He couldn't begin to describe what this horror felt like, Bill had always been the writer of the group. Bill…as soon as that name came to Richie's mind he suddenly could recall the others: Beverly, Stan, Ben, and…
Eddie
Just the thought of that name brought on a new emotion, a deep sorrow and ache that swelled within his heart. Richie was shocked by the intensity of it. Granted this wasn't the first time he felt this ache. It had usually occurred whenever he attempted to remember anything about his past. It would claw at his heart until he was driven to numb the pain with the bitter taste of alcohol.
But Mike was speaking again and his voice suddenly made everything shift. The terror was back and Richie felt lightheaded from the emotion whiplash he was receiving, barely catching what Mike said, "we made a promise Richie."
"I don't remember much, let alone making a promise" a statement that was only half true since his mind was still being overwhelmed with memories, but his anxiety was too heightened for him to even be able to begin making sense of them.
"Did you ever wonder where you got that scar on your hand?"
Richie glanced down at his hands, bringing his left up to stare at the scar across his palm. A flash of a grassy clearing danced through Richie's mind.
"We made a promise Richie, that if IT comes back-"
"We'll come back too" Richie whispered softly in a surprisingly steady tone, the words coming to his mind as if he had never forgotten them.
"How soon can you be here?"
"I-"
"Tomorrow? We have to do this quickly."
Richie was silent for a few moments, the fear within him preventing him from speaking. He didn't even know what it was that was triggering it, but he did know this promise he made was important.
"Y-yeah."
"Good, I'll send you what you'll need."
The fear within him continued to surround Richie even after ending the call. He stood frozen for a moment, terrified that any little movement he made would cause the panic to completely swallow him.
"Richie?"
Suddenly nausea consumed the brunette as he rushed over to a side door. He got to the balcony before emptying his stomach. He could feel his body shaking and he barely registered that his manager was speaking to him. He saw a flash of white as a handkerchief was offered to him. After taking a deep breath he was able to rein in his anxiety and put up his usual mask so he could at least reply.
"I'm fine."
But Richie wasn't fine. He felt almost like a zombie as he was walking. Not even the taste of his favorite drink could help fix the issue. He tried his best to calm himself as he stepped out on stage, but nothing worked. Every time he blinked he received hints of memories, flashing in his mind like a swarm of eager paparazzi. It became too overwhelming and security had to escort him off the stage.
~~~**~~~**~~~**~IT~**~~~**~~~**~~~
"You can't go."
"Myra please."
"Eddie you're scaring me, you've never acted like this before."
"Honey understand I have to do this, I made a promise" Eddie said as he dug through his medicine cabinet.
"You are leaving now? When our anniversary is only a few days away? Is it because you don't love me anymore? It's true isn't it. There's another woman isn't there? That's who called you isn't it?!" Myra demanded, her voice becoming shriller with each word.
"There isn't another woman-"
"You're lying, why else would you leave me! You can't just leave me Eddie!"
Eddie took a deep breath to suppress the urge to yell back at her. This wasn't the first time Myra had said something like this, had twisted words to make her sound like the victim. It was those words that kept Eddie trapped for years, unable to break free from an overbearing female. She had mastered her hurt look that would always make him cave when he saw it.
As Eddie grabbed a pill bottle a sudden memory flickered in his mind, a memory of a time when he was controlled by an even more overbearing female, a memory of a time when he broke that control.
"Gazebo" Eddie found himself whispering quietly.
"What?"
"I'm going Myra, I'm going and there isn't anything you can say to stop me" Eddie said firmly, spinning and grabbing his bags.
"You need me Eddie! I'm the only one that will ever take care of you!" Myra shouted as Eddie made his way to the door.
Normally those words would make Eddie stay. He had been so weak after his mother had died and it had been easy having Myra fill that gap. His hand reached out to the worn brass of the door, ready to open it, before he turned to her. The familiar look of hurt well planted on her face as she gazed at him with watering eyes. Before she could do anything more to guilt him a memory popped into his mind, a memory of a kid with huge glasses that practically shallowed up his face and a goofy grin as he laughed at his own joke. It was that face that gave Eddie the strength to turn and open the door.
"No, you're not."
~~~**~~~**~~~**~IT~**~~~**~~~**~~~
Richie felt nervousness swirl around him as he pulled up to the building, a sign that read Jade of the Orient greeted him in its bright neon glow. He suddenly had the urge to reach for a cigarette which left him confused. He hadn't had the urge to smoke in years after he finally kicked the habit. But ever since yesterday his unease had been worsening and he was desperate for something familiar to provide at least some comfort, even if it was more an empty comfort.
A movement at the entrance caught Richie's eye and he noticed a women with fiery hair walking up to it. He watched as a male with dark hair approached and they embraced. Somewhere in the back of his mind the names came to him, Ben and Beverly. Richie finally gathered enough courage to exit the car. He took a deep breath as he approached the duo, making sure to put his mask in place.
"Wow, you two look amazing. What the fuck happened to me?"
Ben and Beverly turned with smiles as they took turns embracing him. It was a simple action, but it finally relieved some of the tension within Richie. Being able to be with his friends again brought him comfort he couldn't remember feeling in years. They all headed inside and were shown to the room reserved for them.
Richie glanced over the three people already in the room. When he rang the gong to get their attention he found his eyes lingering on the short brunette. He felt his heartbeat pick up as grayish blue eyes met chocolate brown. They remained like that for a few moments before everyone began to sit down.
It wasn't long before The Losers were settling into their conversations. As they talked it seemed as if no time had passed at all. Each of them took turns discussing their lives and what they had been up to in the past 27 years.
Something that Eddie said caught Richie's attention as he knocked back a drink, "so wait Eddie you actually got married?"
Eddie could instantly hear the teasing in Richie's tone that he always used to use. So without missing a beat he shot back, "yeah, something about that funny dickwad?"
"What to like a woman?" Richie teased.
Richie kept his tone light like he usually did, but there was something within the comedian that was bothered by the news. There was still so much Richie had to remember even with his past being less foggy than before. And there was that ache he felt earlier creeping up on him once more. Richie had been so distracted keeping up his jovial façade he didn't notice the worried look Eddie gave him when he said he got married, which was quickly replaced with a frown of disapproval once the punchline was delivered.
"We get it! My mom's a big fat person! Hysterical!" Eddie replied, annoyance coloring his tone.
The flow of conversation veered off in a different direction and for awhile Richie was content to merely listen. He finally chimed back in when he asked Ben about his weight loss. When Stan was mentioned there was a shared worried glance to the empty chair of the absent loser. Richie felt a rush of unease for a moment until Eddie's voice pulled him back.
"No, I ended up becoming a risk analyst."
Richie couldn't resist the chance he was given as he asked, "oh that sounds really interesting what does that entail?"
Richie hardly let Eddie get a sentence in before he snored loudly. He could hear several giggles scattered around as he pretended to wake up, only to be met with an annoyed glare from Eddie.
As they bantered back and forth more Richie realized he had settled into his merciless teasing without even thinking about it. But he couldn't help wondering why it was so natural to tease Eddie more than the others. Almost in answer to his question an old memory popped up into his mind of a time his dad had asked him if he liked a girl at school since he would tease her. That was back when his dad actually still gave a shit about him.
"Why would I tease her if I liked her?" Richie had asked.
"Because all boys do that."
Those words echoed in Richie's mind and the more he allowed them to sink in the more he grew afraid of them. Could that mean that…Richie abruptly stopped that thought as he took a large swig of alcohol. He was not ready to think about that, not with the flood of old memories still pouring into his mind currently, though he was a little worried what he would remember next.
As the food arrived and everyone dug in Eddie noticed Richie seemed to suddenly be staring down at his food or his drink and not really glancing anywhere else. He wondered if he had been too harsh with his replies, but that idea was quickly tossed. Eddie didn't change how he would normally respond from when they were kids so he didn't understand why Richie was acting so strange now.
Multiple conversations echoed through the room as the last of the plates were cleared and a bowl of fortune cookies was placed in the center. Richie reached out for one when Ben's voice caught his attention.
"I mean it's super weird right? Everything just seems to keep coming back faster and faster now that we're back."
"Yeah, actually when Mike called I threw up. I'm not even sure why, but I feel fine now ever since being here with you guys" Richie rambled before noticing five pairs of eyes glued to him, "why's everyone staring at me?"
"When Mike called I crashed my car" Eddie said.
"My heart was pounding right out of my chest" Ben added.
"I thought it was only me" Beverly said, echoing what they had all been thinking.
"It was like pure f-f-f-" Bill said, struggling to form the last word despite being able to speak just fine a few moments ago.
"Fear" Mike finished for him before glancing to the whole group, "what you felt was fear."
"Why did we f-f-feel like that Mike? You remember what we c-can't don't you?" Bill questioned.
Richie felt his anxiety creep back up on him with a vengeance and it only became worse when he heard a name that had haunted his childhood.
"Pennywise."
Beverly had said it quietly, but the name struck each of The Losers like a bolt of lightning, driving the fear deeper within them.
"The fucking clown" Eddie said his voice shaking.
An unpleasant recollection found its way into each of their minds when they had to face the demonic clown. Mike continued to explain though Richie silently begged for him not to. There were too many unwanted memories resurfacing, memories he had been more than happy to forget.
"Well that shit got dark fast" Richie said, trying to keep his joking tone in place to hide how terrified he actually felt.
The group began to open their fortune cookies to distract themselves, but when all of them received a one word message in each of their cookies a sense of unease set back in. The tension in the room heightened as they bickered over the order of the words. It wasn't until Beverly laid her word on the darkened wood of the table that the sentence became clear.
Stanley.
Richie suddenly felt a searing burning in his eyes, forcing them shut. His mind was invaded with a quick snapshot of a bloody hand hanging over the edge of a porcelain white tub. The vision occurred so quickly Richie was left unsure if he had really seen it.
He didn't have long to consider the image before a loud clatter drew everyone's attention to the bowl of now unappetizing cookies as some of them began to pop out. The creatures that emerged from the shells were visions of pure nightmares. Richie could feel terror sink its fangs into his mind, a familiar fear he hadn't felt since childhood. Even with Mike yelling none of what they were seeing was real the visions continued until a waitress came over with a question of concern. She was polite enough, but it was clear she already concluded they had lost their minds.
Things only became worse when Richie mistakenly yelled at a kid. He blamed it all on his writer, the jokes were subpar and completely different from his actual style of humor. By the time the group was exiting the restaurant both Richie and Eddie were far too shaken to even consider staying.
"You lied to us Mike, that's not cool dude" Eddie angerly insisted.
"Yeah you should have just said, 'hey man you wanna come back to Derry to get murdered by a fucking sewer clown?' Cause then I would have said no" Richie added.
The two were fully prepared to pile on more accusatory statements when a heart-breaking sob interrupted them. Everyone's attention was drawn to the phone in Beverly's hand, hearing the news that sent dread rushing through each of them.
They were now one member short.
The news drove Eddie's panic level higher. Pennywise somehow knew about Stan before they did. With the clown having that kind of power what chance did they stand?
Richie wasn't faring much better with the news, immediately launching into an argument with Mike. He could feel that familiar terror sink its claws into his mind and all he wanted to do was get the hell out of there.
"Richie other people are going to die if we-" Ben started, but was cut off.
"People die everyday! We don't owe this crappy town shit!" Richie snapped.
This town had caused him nothing but trouble. As more he could recall more he was able to understand his depression, anxiety, and restless nights that he had no source of before.
"Plus I just remembered I grew up here like two hours ago" Richie continued before he glanced over to Eddie.
Unwelcomed memories and emotions snuck up on Richie once more and it took more of an effort to suppress them this time. He shook his head to clear it before going to his car. He had to get out of this town, he couldn't think clearly here. He could hear Eddie arguing with Mike before he was walking back to his car. It was better this way. If they stayed they would all be trapped like when they were children, having to live with memories that were better left forgotten.
I decided to toss in the restaurant part to this first chapter because it just felt too short without it. Also I am aware in the movie Eddie has brown eyes, but I thought since Richie has brown eyes too I would change Eddie's to the color he has in the book. This chapter took awhile to post because my Richie muse just wasn't happy with it. It wasn't until we found this youtube channel with someone that kind of had a similar story to Richie's that he found some inspiration to add to what we had written. Its given him a better understanding of himself.
