I was cornered.

He had me trapped against the cell door. His hands gripping the bars tightly as he leaned in towards me. The mans breath smelt of rot, a bad sign to what he considered hygiene. The heat from that wretched stench sent a shiver through me. The hairs on the back of my neck standing as I tried to turn my face away from the smell.

"What a skinny prick like you do to get in here boy?" He was eyeing me all the way down to my feet and back up where he tried to catch my eyes.

My mind was already in a panic. My natural defenses kicking in as soon as I saw him.
Besides already hunching to look smaller, my eyes looked anywhere but his or his face. This I found out was taken as rude. One of his grimy hands moved and caught my chin, forcing it to turn to face him.

I continued to look elsewhere before clamping my eyes tightly shut.

"Are you trying to piss me off? Look at me boy!"
His grip tightened to the point I knew bruises would certainly form later.

Shaking my head as best I could in that vice grip, I slowly began to peak as I felt myself start to hyperventilate.
A malicious rotting smile greeted me as I teared up.

"That's better. Now answer my question Kid, why they put you in here?"

I swallowed roughly, wanting to let my eyes dart away. But as soon as I'd let them he'd slap me hard on the side of the face.

"Focus!"

"I...I..."

"He's accused of killing an officer in Derry, Maine."

Budd looked behind me, releasing me quickly before stepping back. A guard I hadn't met stood behind me as I put myself to the cell was beside the door.
Now free I looked back to the ground, continuing to try and look small.

"This twig?" Budd snorted.

"He was found on the scene having set the body and car on fire. Supposedly he had been harassing her."

"Yeah right, and I'm not in here for three accounts of murder. What a joke."
Budd still eyed me as he took to lying on his bed. Leaving me to shaking in my spot unmoving.

"Kid never got a trial. Now don't let me catch you man handling him again. Dinner will be soon and I will not resist telling Cookie you can't have your extra desert nor the standard. We clear?"

"Yeah yeah." Budd grumbled closing his eyes with his hands behind his head.

He didn't move from his position while the guard left nor did he move after. Myself still too much in shook to even think let alone move.

It took the door unlocking to alert me time had passed and food would now be being served.
Budd walked past me, eyeing me with a grin as he took up as much space as he could on his way out.
It was only when I felt sure he and any other possible threat was gone from the immediate area that I made my own way out of the cell and down to the cafeteria part of this section of the prison.

Heads turned and popped up to watch me. All in different stages of eating or getting ready to. I kept my head down as I followed the line that was formed to receive our portions. The staring continuing even as it became my turn to receive my meal for the evening.

It was nothing spectacular nor was it quit to the point of nauseating. It was less then standard and I wondered if this was intentional on the prisons part or the states. My face scrunched at seeing what I barely called edible portions. I wouldn't need to worry at the taste for long for as soon as I found the most remote part Budd reappeared and had his group of fellow inmates he called 'friends' with him.

"Alright twig, time you pay for your protection. If you want me to not beat your ass or let any others then better fork over the best foods."

Before I could even affirm or deny his offer he was grabbing at my good. Budd went straight for the dessert before grabbing whatever meat was put on my tray. By the end he left only my apple and bread.

"This'll do for now. But you better start getting other ways to pay as well. This is the discount for new blood. Better get moving on it twig."

He chuckled stuffing his face with my food and heading off with his gang, all laughing after him as they left.

I didn't have the will to fight at this time. The shock from the sudden change leaving me feeling dazed and disoriented. Was this really my new existence?

As I ate my bread slowly I focused inward for any word or even sign from IT. I could feel IT seething below the surface but eerily quiet.

''You're plotting aren't you?''

'Yesssss...' IT hissed in a deep growl. 'Must find a way to pick off the weakest and make it to the top...' he purred quite pleased.

''Y..you'll only kill those who deserve it...right?''

'Who deserves it in your mind Bobby? Only those who have committed murder? Theft too far? What of those who have done such horrible things to those so pure and innocent?'

''You..you can read my mind...that is what I prefer.''

I almost expected him to protest, but instead after a short time of silence, 'I will respect your wishes for now... Tonight I shall feed. The short one there...'

I looked carefully where he said, knowing without anymore of a direction. There sat a short man, barely as tall as my own chest. He was laughing away with the others around him, about I am unsure.

'He deals in drugs. He sold them to youths even after he found his last batch was laced with something that would kill them. He will be the first. Simple. Weak. Forgettable.'

His logic was sound and I could feel my mouth water as he spoke of his plan for tonight. The bread growing moist before I even noticed.

'Sometime after lights out we shall go...you can sleep, let me take the helm. Make it easier on yourself Bobby.'

I shallowed almost nodding, ''I..I'd prefer that, please.''

I felt a calm come over me upon agreeing with him.

'It's too soon for you...still remembering so much...Pennywise will take care of it all. Make him float nice and high.'