So here we are with chapter 2 of the story. I have tried my best to skip through the parts that everyone has seen before in order to get to the stuff I added in here. Because I had an idea I wanted to put in I decided it would be better to just quickly go through the movie with my idea added in instead of trying to explain everything afterwards. I will be able to explain more about my idea at the end of this chapter cause I don't want to spoil it before you guys read it.
Richie did a last glance over his room before exiting. He could hear voices from downstairs of his friends. His eyes fell on the door just a few paces away. He considered going to check on Eddie, but as another surprise memory flared up in his mind Richie turned, heading downstairs. He was so focused on composing himself that he nearly missed Ben's words.
"You knew how Stanley died."
"What?" Richie asked, a little shocked.
Beverly tried to move away from them, anxiety clearly consuming her. After Ben's persistence she finally relented, "because I've seen it, how we die."
Loud footsteps and clattering of bags snapped all of their attention to the stairs where Eddie was setting down his bags.
Once he noticed all eye were on him he fidgeted nervously, "what'd I miss?"
"Just that Bev has apparently seen all our deaths" Richie replied dryly.
He saw Eddie's mouth move, but whatever he was going to say was drowned out by Richie's sudden cry of pain. His eyes surged with pain that felt like someone had taken a blow torch to them. The white-hot agony forced him to shut his eyes and his mind was bombarded with visions. Visions of a nightmarish creature, a different form of the one they all knew. Visions of some kind of ritual. He could vaguely hear echoes of a voice that sounded like Mike's, but that wasn't possible, Mike hadn't come with them. Finally the pain reseeded and Richie was jolted back.
"Richie? Richie are you ok? Say something man!"
Eddie's voice broke through first and when Richie opened his eyes again he found himself supported between Ben and Eddie, the shorter of the two looking completely panicked.
"I-I'm fine" Richie said shakily.
They all shifted over to the nearest couch and helped Richie to sit down. Once he was settled Eddie glanced back up to Beverly, not willing to let the issue brought up go.
"Ok so what does that mean you've seen us all die?"
"Yeah cause honestly that's a shitty surprise to just drop on us" Richie said after a few moments of recovering.
"Every night since I left Derry I have these nightmares. I've watched all of us…" Beverly started, but was too distraught to continue.
"You've watched all of us what?" the sudden new voice had them all glancing over to Bill and Mike in the door frame.
"I've seen us in the place Stan wound up, that's how we end."
"So then why the hell is she the only one that's seeing this shit?" Eddie questioned.
The mentions of the Deadlights from Bill and Mike would have been enough to explain it, but that didn't explain the visions Richie had been seeing. Even with some holes in his memories Richie couldn't recall ever being caught in the Deadlights himself.
"What do you mean you've had visions?" the sudden question from Ben had all of them glancing over to the dark-haired male.
After locking eyes with Ben Richie realized he had been talking to the comedian. But Richie wasn't sure how Ben heard what he was positive was only in his thoughts.
"How-how do you know that, I didn't say it out loud?" Richie asked.
Ben's coal black eyes widened a little in surprise, "you didn't?"
Confusion caused silence to fall over the group for a moment before Mike spoke up, "there may be something else causing it." All eyes were now on Mike as he continued, "when my parents got caught in a fire I was rescued by a man. Hallorann was his name. He spoke to me a few times after and he told me I was special. He called my gift The Shining."
"The Shining? What does that even mean?" Ben asked.
"He told me a handful of people in the world can shine. It allows them to do things other people can't."
"Like my dreams."
"And my visions."
"And I guess I have the ability to hear thoughts" Ben said.
"So does that mean we all have something?" Eddie asked.
"I think that is the reason we were able to stand against Pennywise. Our shine is able to fight against him. That's why he could never kill any of us."
"Do you realize how crazy this sounds?" Eddie questioned.
"Yeah what are we supposed to do shine the clown into submission? Anyone got flashlight powers?" Richie asked, trying to break the tension still present.
"No, I've discovered a way to beat IT" Mike said.
"There's a ritual-" Bill started.
"The Ritual of Chud" Richie finished.
"H-how did you-"
"I have visions remember? I saw the ritual through your eyes when Mike was showing it to you. But you can't be serious, a tribal ritual? There has to be another way."
"No, there isn't. If we don't stop it now…" Beverly said, not able to finish.
"We die" Bill confirmed.
"Horribly" Eddie added.
"Fucking hell I didn't need the horribly part" Richie said.
"Bev's the one who said she saw it" Eddie snapped.
"This ritual is the only way to beat him and in order for it to work we have to remember" Mike said.
"Isn't that what we've been doing since we got back?" Richie questioned.
"It will be easier if I show you what I mean" Mike said instead of answering.
Mike motioned for everyone to follow him and as they stepped outside Eddie was surprised to see the sun was coming up. Had they really been arguing all night? All the Losers were silent as Mike lead them on a path that seemed familiar the more they walked. Eddie noticed Richie fell into step with him and for a few minutes they did nothing except exchange worried glances.
Finally Eddie broke the silence, "how are your eyes? I saw you rubbing at them after your vision."
"They're fine. They just burn like hell while I have them" Richie replied.
"Maybe that's payback for getting me in trouble when my mom caught you smoking around me" Eddie teased.
Richie couldn't help smiling as he replied, "maybe, but she still fucked me anyways."
"Shut the fuck up dude" Eddie grumbled, playfully pushing the brunette who was currently laughing.
Even though Eddie always acted annoyed at Richie's antics there was a part of him that loved them. He hadn't realized how much he had missed his best friend until they first saw each other. He had dealt with abuse from Myra for years, but unlike with his mother he didn't have the endless comedian at his side, telling him stupid jokes to cheer him up. Richie had always known just what to say to make Eddie's mood instantly improve. Those beautiful brown eyes that would light up with excitement when he told a joke or teased always captivated Eddie. The vertically challenged male shook his head to clear it. He wasn't sure where that had come from, but it was a familiar feeling nonetheless. Eddie was finally pulled from his thoughts when the group stopped at last.
Everyone glanced around the clearing as memories came back. Ben was the first to speak up, "we came here after the rock fight."
"The clubhouse you built was here" Beverly said as all of them began to search for the hatch.
"I think it was somewhere around here" Ben said, stomping on the ground.
No sooner had he done that when the ground suddenly collapsed in a cloud of dust and a loud crash. The group rushed over just as Ben spoke, "found it! Come down, it's safe."
Slowly one by one each of the Losers descended down the ladder. Until Eddie was the only one left, looking at the ladder skeptically.
"Come on Eds it's just a ladder" Richie called.
A flutter went through Eddie's stomach at the old nickname, something he quickly covered up as he spoke, "don't call me that and it's not just a ladder. This thing has been rotting in a hole in the ground for twenty-seven years, it's only a matter of time before it collapses."
Richie rolled his eyes, unable to hold in a small smile. Eddie was still the same paranoid hypochondriac he used to be, "do I need to come up there and carry you down like a princess?"
"Don't you fucking dare asshole" Eddie snapped.
"What you don't trust me?" Richie smirked.
A glare and a middle finger was the shorter's reply as he finally decided to start his descent, cautiously taking each rung one at a time. When he was a step away from the ground Richie couldn't help reaching up and poking at the brunette's sides, knowing that was one of his ticklish spots. Eddie let out a squeak of surprise as he lost his grip, but Richie was ready and caught him.
Eddie instantly threw a glare at Richie in an attempt to cover up how fast his heart was beating by just a simple touch. He was quick to move away from the other as he felt his face heat up, hoping the darkness of the room hid his face enough.
That simple touch brought back childhood memories of a time when Eddie pretended to be annoyed with Richie about the hammock so he had an excuse to be close to him. Eddie closed his eyes, desperately trying to shake the memories out of his head.
"Hey Losers."
The sudden voice from the darkness firmly snapped Eddie from his thoughts. All the other Losers stared at the dark corner, the same fear gripping all of their hearts. That was until Richie emerged from the shadows with a chuckle. Everyone relaxed with different displays of annoyance directed at the comedian.
"Are you going to be like this the entire time we're home?" Eddie demanded, his annoyance far more sincere this time.
"Just trying to add some levity to this fucked up shit. Everyone's so serious. It's fine I'll go fuck myself" Richie mumbled, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
He had just hoped he could get Eddie to smile. Things had just been so weird between them since they got home, due in no small part to Richie's actions. He felt as if all his friends knew his secret that he'd kept buried deep within himself. Richie took a few deep breaths to steady himself as everyone continued to look around the clubhouse.
Eventually Bill caught everyone's attention when he opened up an old coffee can to find dusty shower caps within them. Suddenly a memory passed through each of their minds almost like they were watching a movie. Without even realizing it each of them repeated their words within the memory. Eventually it disappeared and all of them exchanged glances.
"What was that all about?" Richie asked.
"I-I don't know. I just f-felt something connect with each of us" Bill said.
"Looks like we found Bill's power" Beverly said.
"So why are we here Mike? Just to get more memories?" Richie asked.
Mike launched into the explanation of the ritual and the tokens they had to collect. Richie wasn't eager to wonder around this shitty town on his own, especially since he was barely holding it together as it was. But despite both Eddie and Richie protesting it seemed they had little choice but to split off.
Now I will admit the idea of giving the Losers shining powers isn't originally mine. I got it when I watched Mat Pat's theory on IT and after watching the video it made a lot of sense. If you guys haven't seen it go check it out, it's a really awesome video. So I took some things the Losers did in the book such as Richie's visions and I turned that into shining powers. Each of them have the standard shining powers, but they all have a power that is unique to them. And if you are curious these powers do tie into the sequel I am going to write and they tie in to the crossover I will do. Also the more I worked on this story the more I noticed my Eddie and Richie muses started to be able to write interactions between them in between the scenes of the movie. Before I knew it they had the part in the clubhouse all written out and it worked so well. Anyways let me know what you guys think so far.
