It felt like it took my all to sight up, let alone stand from the couch. I felt drained even from all that time asleep and as if I was coming down ill. The room felt tilted as I weaved my way to the kitchen where I now made out Linda. A cup of something hot in front of her, steaming away as she flipped through papers laid to the side of her mug.

As soon as she noticed my entry into the light of the kitchen she closed the file of said papers. Looking up with a tired if not worryingly sad smile.

I tried to find a label on the folder, but it was blank. I frowned looking up at Linda to see tears forming in her eyes.

Before the words could leave my mouth she spoke.

"How's the hand?"

I was a bit confused, but then the morning came flooding back. I stared down as I lifted my injured hand to inspect it, only to find it wrapped in gauze.

"After Bill helped me get you in and you'd fallen asleep I got to work cleaning and treating it."

She took my hand gently to look it over. Peaking at it without me getting a look at the damage.

"It doesn't hurt anymore..." I said honestly. It didn't feel like I had ever even I injured it.

A look came over her face before she let my hand go.

"Leave that on until I tell you otherwise."

I agreed with a sigh as I watched Linda stand and pour me the same hot liquid drive no as her own.

"Hot coco." She grinned placing it in front of me before taking her seat again.

With the sound of the chairs legs scrapping the floor, I pulled a chair free to sit with her, sipping my drink carefully to make sure it wasn't too hot. The last thing I needed was to burn my tongue.

Thankfully it was cool enough to enjoy without further injury to myself. Sipping away I continued to eye the folder she now had her arm on top of.

"Where's Billy?" It was dark, obviously night, but for how long and was he still here?

"He went home shortly before the sunset. Said he didn't want his parents worrying after what happened with Georgie."

My chest tightened hearing what I should have already guessed and why. Hearing about Georgie was still a new wound and stung with the reminder.

"That makes sense. Smart boy."

I stare at my mug , a feeling of unease coming stronger over me.

"Linda, what where you looking at before I woke up?"

When I look up to hear her answer there is a very torn look greeting me on her face.

A look of unwilling to share some dark secret. Linda looks away quickly as she fidgets with the folder. Evening papers inside that were sticking out.

"Nothing, just papers from school since I moved her. Some pictures and such. I told you I was going to look into the school history and did. Nothing to worry your little head over Bobby."

Her smile doesn't reach her eyes. A hollow joy with pain behind its surface.

"Linda..."

Her eyes snap to my own as if a magnet has activated. She won't look away now, no matter how hard she is trying.

"Bobby, please..."

Her voice breaks as she pleads.

How bad could it be to have her resist this hard. I can see the tears forming as I keep eye contact. I'm not about to break. Not this time.

A sob escapes her as she finally gives in, pushing the folder over to me.

As I break my eye contact to look inside. I slowly flip the cover to look at the first page. It's nothing unusual. Linda's form filled out by her parents to start school here in Derry.

I look up at Linda and she says nothing, only urges me to keep going.

I flip the page over to see her school photo. Flip again, class photo appears. Again and it is a random in class photo. I don't see it at first. It's very small to catch, but as I continue to look through the photos of the class and through out the year with Linda I spot what's off.

The worry had always been I hadn't been in school with her, oh but the contrary, I was there in everyone. Even her alone photo I could find a reflection off her old glasses.

But that's not the part that was causing me sudden alarm. No, that wasn't causing the panic rising in my chest.

I always pictured us the same age. Though I times I felt I was the younger of us too. But if these where real, I was the elder and some how never changing of us.

I shoved the folder away as if it was burning my flesh.

The last image of Linda smiling in grade school with myself holding her hand and grinning no older then I was now.

"What the f..."

My eyes feel like they are going to pop out of my head as I stare wide eyed and confused at Linda.

"The...they got to be fake...you're messing with me aren't you Lin? This isn't funny!" I snap, shoving my chair back with full force in my anger with my hands on the table. But it's not my chair that moves. The table screeches pushing forward and past Linda and straight into the back kitchen door. The mugs and paper fly about as the table hits the wall with a deafening crack. The wall is sentenced and the table looks all the worse as it gives from the force crumpling in half.

I'm speechless as I stay frozen in mid movement after. I look of startled horror on my face and one of worry on Linda's. No fear. I can't find it, I don't see or smell it from her as I turn slowly to look at her.

My mouth still hangs open as I try to take in what just happened.

"Lin...wh...what's ...wrong with ..m...me?" My while body is shaking as I ask what I know she cant possibly answer.

That doesn't stop her from trying.

She leaps up, wrapping her arms tight around me, shushing and soothing me as she always has. Not like I've just done something violent and out of my control.

"Shhh, Bobby, shhh. It's going to be alright. I didn't want you to know cause of this. Neither of us did."

I hold to her, my eyes closing tight as it becomes clear, not only does Linda know about these papers but Bill as well.

"He knows...?" I know the answer but I ask all the same.

"Yes... He was the one to point it out to me. I found photos my parents took as well... they're the same... it's all real Bobby. Until now I never noticed. My parents never noticed. Until Bill said something I didn't see..." She speaks so soothingly as she strokes my hair gently, rubbing my back in circles.

"We both agreed not to say anything to the others or anyone else until we find out and understand what this all means. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you Bobby. Bill is worried just as much as myself. He really cares about you Bobby. He said I only should tell you if I had too... he didn't want you anymore upset and afraid as you were already."

I could feel her lips on my forehead, kissing me softly before pulling me close.

"I love you Bobby. You're the brother I never had and no matter what that will never change. We'll fix this. We'll find out what It did to you and break it."

I could hear the manic laughter deep in the back of my mind as she said this. My gut turning as I heard IT.

'Boy do I know how to pick them... Say Bobby, think she'll still love us when she finds out I'm here?'

My body tenses at IT's words. My breath hitching as I listen to it speak, mocking me.

'Oh Bobby boy, did you think you've been alone all this time? I've been here the whole time. What you see, I see. What you hear, I hear. No, you wouldn't remember, I make sure of that... but this time... you can thank your little friends for making that not possible. Enjoy your memories for now Bobby. Perhaps I may share all the more in time."