The rest of the ride was eerily silent for the three of us. I could feel Bill's eyes on me, trying his best to hide his concern when I settled back in my seat.

The poor boy, I still can't imagine how, was wedged in the back of the police cruiser along with his bike. His long arms and legs weaving about it as he held it close. The back bore more room then expected, perhaps to house any size of criminal arrested and transported to their final destination.

They had tried the trunk, but it was too narrow and the handle bars too wide. I had even offered to sit in the back with it instead of Bill, but both protested due to my injured hand. I had forgotten all about it after the run in with Officer "Dick" Aubrey.

That man oozed trouble and it wouldn't be long before his shit began to stick around him. Stinking up the place and the whole town for that matter. A feeling that gnawed all is he more at me as I remembered the encounter.

Thankfully Linda looked calmest of us three. Her sights on the road ahead and no sneaking peeks at me. Aubrey must have upset her a great deal to not be worrying over me nightmare or asking any questions about my make up.

"Officer Linda, where exactly are you taking us?" Bill finally pipped up from the back.

"You mentioned Bobby's, but I've bikes in this area many times, I've never seen him out here. If anything we're headed towards the old Neibolt house. No one even lives there, at leas nothing human."

I can't help looking over my shoulder confused before looking to Linda and back.

"What do you mean? That block is filled with people. Not a single house stands on my street empty." I smile cheerfully as I remember my neighborhood.

"In fact the house I live in has been in the family for generations. The first Robert Gray made a fortune with his brewing company and used the wealth to buy the land to build a home prefect of the times. Supposedly it was cheaper due to an old dried up well on the property. The house was built over it and the yard filled with beautiful sunflowers."

Why did it feel lost or I had just read the lines of a brochure or all the more feeling a script?

"You've never told me that..." Linda looks like I've pulled a rug out from under her.

"You've always said you don't remember things about your family. And when did you become the descendant to a rich beer brewer? I've seen that beer. I thought it just coincidence you'd have the same name as the famous Derry brew."

"I've seen that beer. It never clicked they were the same name. I've always seen dad drink it. Actually I think it's the only brand I see the adults drink around here." Bill mentions off hand. As if he's noticed something odd about what he'd just said.

We can't help but look at each other and I can tell we are both bothered and worried by the oddness of this sudden family info on both our ends.

"I never drink the stuff." Linda piped up. "I hate beer. More a wine girl. I don't think I've ever had a drop of any of that Robert Gray sludge. Sniffed it once and it was like sewer water poured into a bottle." She stuck her tongue out to make sure just how much she hated the stuff.

We would have dwelled on it more if Linda wasn't pulling into my driveway.

As I pulled my attention back to my surroundings my face fell as all the more confusion hit. The houses around my home were farther then ever. In fact it was like there had never been any homes right next to my own.

I'm not alone as both Linda and Bill stare. Linda double taking as she looked on either side of my home, but it's Bill that brings a chill up my spine.

"You live in IT's house?"

I turn to stare at him and see just how uncomfortable and startled he is. I've not seen him ever this unnerved.

"What? No, it can't be. I would have noticed an Evil Clown in my home."

"Last time I was here this place was all empty and run down. It's the Crackhead House of Derry. IT uses it to scare anyone that paces this place. There's an eroding old well in the basement that leads to the sewers and IT's den. We found all the missing children down there. Henry Bowers tried to kill Mike in that basement before falling down the well."

I can't stop myself looking to Linda to say this was just crazy. That it couldn't be right. But she's glaring at the house. When I try to see what she is I now see that mom own home is no longer bright and happy. The exterior is dark and foreboding. The color is gone and the walls are peeling. The trees outside are bare of life and my heart breaks as my mouth drops.

"N... ...this...this isnt r..rrrright!" I quickly close my eyes tight, using my hands to block out the sight all the more. This wasn't my lovely home. This wasn't where I'd been living happily for so long.

"We're leaving." Linda states before sliding into reverse and backing out and away quickly.

I don't dare peek out. My world is swirling and dizzying. My reality is crumbling and all my solid footing is breaking and falling away from underneath me.

I'm thankful that neither of them try to talk to me. I'm breathing raggedly, trying hard to not get ill or pass out.

"We're are we going?"

"We're heading to my house Bill. I'm not letting either of you set foot in that house. Especially Bobby. No wonder that bastard has its hooks into him. That piece of shit has been looming over him this whole time! The sooner he's away from there the better. Bobby will stay at my place from here on out. That's it. No discussion."

Bill fell silent after that.

He wasn't against this plan and neither was I.

Linda was my last solid foot hold to sanity and right now I needed her the most. Her word was law and I wasn't about to break it.

Even Bill was becoming one as well. His calm at my worst moments solidifying the hand grips to this rocky cliff.

Even now he was just a boy compared to me. I was no longer a teenager, but an adult, yet I couldn't handle it all.

My breathing began to even out as I took long deep breaths before letting them out slowly. My eyes we're still shut tight, though my hands now clenched the seat belt around me tightly. I tugged it tight as I could, a feeling of security, holding it in place so it wouldn't loosen or let me go. Keeping me grounded, my mind only on how the seat and the seatbelt felt.

Linda had pointed the AC at me on a nice leave that helped keep me cool. The heat outside would only have made it all the worse for me. Discomfort and agitation brought on by the heat would only send me deeper into myself. I was thankfully for Linda knowing without a word and I made a note to thank her later.

"Bill, I want you to help me with Bobby."

I could feel the car slowing before she stopped, parking before turning the engine off.

"We're going to help him to my couch and then get him an ice cold water. I'll help you with your bike after that. Bobby, you can try and relax when we get you situated. Let Bill and myself handle things for a while."

I nodded mutely at Linda's words.

I still didn't want to let the seatbelt go, but a new grounding where I could lay down sounded nice.

Once my door opened and I felt Linda touch my shoulder lightly, I let my security go. I could feel her reach across and free me before gently guiding me out of my seat.

Another pair of hands joined hers and I knew Bill was doing as requested.

I hated it, but had to chance peeking to watch my step. Barely open, I made sure my feet didn't hit anything. Once they helped me to my new seat I closed my eyes tight once more. Linda guided my head down to a pillow before carefully placing a blanket over me.

"You just rest Bobby. Thanks Bill. Bobby there's a glass of cold water next to your head on the side table. If you get thirty it's there for you."

I nodded weakly so she knew I'd heard and understood.

Shortly after I heard two sets of footsteps leading away before a door closing and silence following.

With a shaky breath I tried to relax, no longer focus on what was around me and just try and drift to sleep.

It must have worked because the next thing I could make out was the bright light of the kitchen and the darkness around me everywhere else.