I must have drifted off at some point as I waited cause as I open my eyes I see Linda at the wheel, driving us back to my place.
"Good to see you waking up." Linda grins at me, giving me a side ways glance before focusing back on the road. "Feeling better?"
I nodded slightly before sitting up, struggling against the seatbelt. She must have buckled me in while I was out.
"Yeah… a bit…" I mumble, finally getting myself sitting up straight in my seat. Darn seatbelts feel more of a burden then a safety at times.
"I figured it was getting too hot out there for ya and all those attacks you were having. A little AC is what you needed."
I nod agreeing with her. "Yeah, you always know me better then I do." I let a chuckle escape.
Linda was smiling at that.
"Sounds like you are doing better then a bit Bobby. You just rest, we'll be back at your place shortly and I'll make something for you to eat after I get you a nice ice water."
"Lin, you really don't have to do that for me. I know how to take care of myself."
"Don't you start with me Bobby Gray. After that spell, I want you to rest and let me take care of you. You must be exhausted after all that and the stress. I feel it and I don't have attacks like you do." She sighed, going from smiling at me to a gloomy look towards the road ahead.
"I think you should stay home tomorrow Bobby. I can call in and explain to your boss what's been happening."
"NO! Lin, I can handle it. I, I don't want to be stuck at home right now." The last thing I need is to be stuck by myself as she goes to work and leaving me to my own panicked minds imagination. Or worse, that creature Pennywise's own devices he considers to be fun.
"Linda, I don't want to be alone right now. If that… that thing is actually messing with me from the inside out, I don't want to be left alone with IT."
Linda seems to be taking this into consideration. Biting at her lip as she thinks before sighing, obviously coming to a hard decision to answer my request.
"You're right Bobby. Right now being alone would not be the best thing for you. Get your mind off it all would be good, doing work could do that. Along with keeping you from being alone with that thing. I have requests though since I'm agreeing to let you go."
"You mean demands." I snort, giving her a sly look. I know it's more an inconvenience what she'll ask most likely for me personally then she'll admit to me.
Rolling her eyes at my comment, Lin glares a moment at me, "Do you want to go to work?" She grumbled which I can do nothing but nod, mumbling yes under my breath.
"Now, what I want is you to call me when you take breaks and if anything, ANYTHING BOBBY, happens. Be it real or not, you call and tell me. I have a desk round today and will be by the phone all day. That's my request."
I sigh heavily, but nod, "Yes, I promise to call no matter what Lin. Real or not, I'll call and tell you what is going on. Anything else? Want me to wear a collar with my name and address and return to owner Officer Linda of Derry Police Department?"
I didn't even see it coming, "OW!" I yelp as soon as she lands the punch to my arm. I rub it glaring at her, "What the hell was that for?"
"Your sassy ass comment dick." She snaps, glaring ahead.
My brows rise in my surprise, she's genially angry at me. I've never seen that before in my life.
"I'm trying to keep you safe you little shit and you sassing me and acting like a dick over a simple request as calling me is not welcomed. Bobby, I swear, I may look calm, but I'm freaking out!"
I stare confused, seeing tears began to form in her eyes. She still hasn't turned to look at me, giving the road the her most angry look I have ever seen.
"I was trying hard not to let you see how this is all affecting me, but your dumb ass just had to push and send me over the edge. Bobby, you are a brother to me and to hear all this.. this crazy shit… I'm scared. I'm genially scared for your safety and sanity. You aren't crazy, but if this thing is left alone with you, if we can't get rid of it, I'm scared you'll lose it and snap. You have no idea how many people I've had to deal with that seemed normal and now… now they should be in an asylum. I don't ever want you to end up in a place like that Bobby. So don't you sass me ever again or so help me…"
The tears are flowing now, she wipes at her eyes, trying her best to get her vision clear.
I feel my gut flip watching and hearing all she is saying. I didn't even know I was joining tearing up until I felt something warm and wet dripping on my shirt. I join in trying to wipe my own tears away, sniffling as my nose begins to run.
"Lin…I .. I didn't mean anything by it." I feel so stupid, mumbling my apology, I wonder if she even heard me, but then I see her reach out and wrap her hand around my own.
"I forgive you Bobby. I love you. I will always forgive you, no matter how much a dick you are."
I snort, bursting into a fit of laughter, "Yeah yeah, I'm an asshole. I'm sorry." I sigh heavily as I look out my window, letting her continue to hold and squeeze my hand, with a soothing rub of her thumb across it ever so often. In rare of occasions like this, I don't hate the feel of another persons touch, well not any person, only Linda's.
"I know this isn't all just you meaning to be Bobby. You've had two days full of stress and panic attacks after waking up in a dark hole all alone. No idea how long you've been there and then to see all the things you saw… I would be an out right bitch myself." She chuckled lightly. I can hear the sorrow in her laugh, though she tries to hide it.
"I'm sorry Linda."
She actually turns to look at me, a sad bu thankful smile crosses her lips. Another caring squeeze from her hand and we both know we've made up and forgive the other entirely.
"How about I add ice cream to the menu tonight?"
My lips pull up into the biggest grin I can muster.
"Can we?" I'm eager for some and hope she's bought Neapolitan.
"Yep. Dinner first then some Neapolitan Ice Cream."
I can't holdback my excitement, as I fidget about cheering in celebration.
I love chocolate, strawberry is second, vanilla can't really make it alone though. It has to either join to make a trio or make friends with chocolate syrup or toppings for my liking. I only enjoyed chocolate until Linda introduced the odd ice cream to me. After that it's been my pick when she goes to the store.
It's a circus of frozen dairy, it's three flavors the stripped tent hiding inside the amazing flavors.
Linda just laughs all the more at my excitement. All signs of hurt and sadness gone for the moment.
We spend the rest of the ride in silence, grins on our faces.
I can't help but feel this odd sensation that my home is slowly decaying in front of me. The homes around it inching further away, fading as they do so.
No matter how hard I stare, I can't see any sign of life or movement in or around those homes. No noise, no movement, not even light.
You'd expect a single light in at least a room, but nothing. There aren't even any flood lights on in the front. Not even a single porch light to piece the darkness consuming the homes.
"Bobby... you alright? You're spacing off there." Linda already has unfastened her own seatbelt to get out. She looks concerned, reading my face closely as she waits for me to focus on her.
"Lin...is it just me or do the houses around my home feel...off?"
She looks perplexed by my question before she turns to stare at them herself.
I can actually watch and see as she begins to realize what I mean.
"Maybe...maybe they're all on vacation?"
I give her a skeptical look.
"All of them and not leaving a single light on somewhere? Not to mention I'm pretty sure they've moved."
She has a look of skepticism before looking back and studying them again. A distinct look of confusion to what I can tell quite well as fear. 'Tasty Fear.'
I jolt straight, staring forward unfocused.
That voice, I've been hearing it all day, but not reacting to it, but with that new word added my heart is racing and I can no longer pretend it isn't there.
I can feel the start of a panic attack as my chest grows tight. It takes Linda's sudden touch of my hand to snap out of anxiety's grasp.
"Hey, you just went pale. What happened." She squeezes my hand softly as I take a steadying intake of breath.
"The voice...IT's voice, I keep hearing it in the back of my mind."
Before I can protest, Linda has already pulled me into a tight hug.
"It's just a voice. He can't hurt you or make you do anything against your will."
I hug her back, if not a bit tighter,"I...I'll remember that."
"Good," She pulls free and grabs the handle to my door, shaving it open, "out of the car so I can start cooking."
I roll my eyes, but grin as I do as told, shutting it behind me. I head to the front door of the house, Linda following shortly, making sure her cruiser is locked up before jogging up to unlock the house for us.
