"Up! Get Up! Time for breakfast!"
The sound of cell doors opening rang through out the halls of the prison. The sound louder then I remembered it before. A pained moan left me as I went to cover my ears, finding I already had my pillow on top of my head, covering my ears and supposedly muffling the sound already. I groaned to imagine what it would be like after I removed the pillow. I wasn't wrong.
Along with the noise joined the brightest light I had ever seen. Closing my eyes quickly as I covered them quickly. Struggling which would be better, to cover my sensitive eyes, or my throbbing ears.
I didn't feel as hungry as I thought I would as I shuffled my way to the door and out into the hall towards the cafeteria.
"Did you hear, that drug dealer that got all those kids killed, he disappeared last night."
I turned my head slightly as I listened to the men in line behind me talking. They were so quiet, I don't know how I could have heard them from here.
"There was nothing left. Nothing! Someone said they thought they heard shouting last night, like a scuffle, but this morning there wasn't a trace of fight. There wasn't even evidence that he got out of his sell on his own. They're questioning all the guards to see if one of them might have lost a key. I doubt he's still alive. Most likely someone paid them off so they could kill him. Some parent probably paid one of the hitmen to do it."
Flashes of suddenly bombarded me of what really happened to the missing man last night. I had woke to him trying to choke me to death, but upon him insulting Linda… I killed him. My eyes widened as the memories returned. I had pushed them so far and down until this point. After I had been able to get up something had changed. I remembered growing in height. The smell of delicious fear on him as he watched me tower over him.
''WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!'' I was frightened, but focused all the more on how upset that I had no control anymore. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Not for twenty seven more years. Wait, … why would I think that?
'Nothing… I made it in just fine…'
''You dragged me along. You said I could stay behind to sleep.''
'I never said stay behind. You slept… until you suddenly woke… a nightmare…such a human weakness…' He grumbled. If I could see him I was sure he would be scrunching his face in frustration and shaking about enough to ring his bells quite loudly. I could almost hear them as I imagined it.
''Then… how did I end up there? Why did I I suddenly…''
'You haven't remembered yet?' Pennywise sounded a bit amused. 'I thought perhaps you had remembered after last night…' He sounded so giddy at my misery. 'Though you did seem to fade as soon as you took the first bite.'
''P…pardon?''
'First bite. He was so delicious. His screams of fear only grew all the more as we held him down and ate his arm. His sobs muffled as we held his mouth shut tight.'
I felt myself grow dizzy as I took my tray of food and rushed to take a seat. He was telling me I had been there and we had both taken a bite out of that awful man? Placing my tray aside, I leaned on the table, feeling myself shake as my breathing picked up. I had to be losing it. I would never had done what he was saying. Never… right?
It felt like Pennywise was poking around my mind, looking for something, but he didn't find it. A frustrated noise coming from him as I closed my eyes, trying to calm down.
"Bobby, what's wrong?"
My eyes shot wide open as I looked from where I was hearing the voice. It was one I had known for over twenty seven years. I didn't believe I would hear it again.
"Hey there softy." Linda grinned sitting next to me. She was no longer a burnt corpse. She was whole and beautiful as she had been before she had been killed.
My gut reaction to look about to see if I was crazy or she was really here. From the looks or better yet lack there of it was obvious to me I was going insane.
"I know that look and no, you're not going nuts." She grinned, reaching out to brush at my hair. Her slim fingers ghosting through them, causing a frown on both our faces. "Well… that was just disappointing." She sighed, looking at her hands sadly. "He said there would be limitations…"
My mouth opened to ask, but I stopped before I started. I didn't wish to add crazy guy that talks to self to my list of reasons why people would pick on me here. Thankfully Linda picked up on it.
"I know, it's alright. I can hear you just fine if you think to me." She smile returning. "All of you."
I looked at her confused as I suddenly hear Penny's response.
'He sent you didn't he? He's doing this to mock me now? Send the only child I didn't wish to kill and eat to mock and torment me. You are not really here. The dead die and disappear. Only shells left to decay and feed the weeds.'
"Hush now. You know better then to think Maturin would do that."
I wanted to question who this Maturin was, but didn't get the chance.
'He keeps trying to stop me from enjoying myself….' Pennywise grumbled.
"Well, I'm not going to get into that here. We have little time to get you back to Derry before that asshole tares it apart and kills your friends. Bill needs you Bobby. He's trying his best to find who did this to me, but if he figures it out…"
''We can't let him… he'll end up dead as well… before I can even get to him and keep him and the others safe.''
"Exactly." She looked sad taking in how right we both were. "Why we have to hurry up and get you to tip top shape." Linda rose to her feet and stretched, more out of habit then need from what I could tell.
''Are you a ghost Lin?'' Even the voice from my head cracked from my upset. Steering away from what she was talking about. Deal what was needed.
"Actually… I'm not too sure… you can see me, but no one else. I can't touch you… perhaps in a way I am a type of ghost… Last I remember was being shot. That.. that sleazy asshole standing over me before taking the finale shot." She was seething as I took her words in.
My head whipped to look at her in shock, "You saw who killed you?"
I had made an error in my moment of shock. I had not only spoken out loud, but I had also caught the attention of my fellow prison mates. The room feel silent as they all seemed to turn to look at me in confusion, glares, and some as if they were sizing my up for a coffin after they beat my ass to death. I blinked rapidly and turned back to my food.
''You saw who killed you Lin?''
"Yes… though I wasn't given the time to warn you… and had no idea what he was even as I watched him kill me. The last thing going through my mind was, who's going to look after Bobby. He's going to be so lost with out me. Sadly I was right… but not in the way I thought."
She sighed, taking a seat, placing her hand on my own. Hovering over it, unable to take it and sooth me as she had so much of her life.
"Maturin showed me… what happened after you found me… I think that what he saw… that is why he was willing to send me to help you… offer his own help as well if you aren't stubborn about it." She laughed lightly as if it was long known joke.
I looked confused, but Pennywise appeared to know all too well what she was talking about. A deep growl coming from my chest that I wasn't in control of.
"Don't, I am not trying to upset you." The growl quieting under her soothing words. "It was meant to be a light joke. Nothing more. I know you get that." She smiled softly, looking into my eyes. "Let's focus on what all of us want for now. To kill that thing that killed me and framed you before he can destroy what is left of our town. Cause no matter what I have learned, I still love you Bobby."
I looked up at her more closely, hearing her talking to me now.
"You have meant so much to me since the day we met and that hasn't changed. Only gotten stronger. Now let me help you. I've never tricked you or done anything to harm you before. So don't start thinking I will now, just because I am here with Maturin's help."
I felt confused why she would think I was upset by her helping this Maturin guy help us. Though I was more confused when I heard the purring coming from me.
"That's what I thought." She looked so sad as her hand continued to hover over my hand. I could tell how she felt and how I wished I could hug her and she me in return. I slowly noticed the fact I was crying. Trying to hide it from those around me. I didn't care if I cried in front of Linda, but these men who could use it as an excuse to attack me. Not a chance.
I no longer had an appetite. It had long left me since I remembered the night before. It was a haze after I decided to attack the man myself. I didn't remember what Pennywise told me we had done. Only flashes of red, muffled screams, and nothing much more.
"I know that look. You're trying to remember… Bobby, don't try to hard to. You'll only give yourself a head and heartache. You're not ready to remember more then what you do right now. Trust me. In good time. Now try and eat a bit of food. You need it still." Linda eyed my food softly, urging me to go on and take a bite.
With a heavy sigh, I decide to pick at the bread. Only getting a few bites in before I hear a voice I rather avoid the body of which it belonged to right now.
"Hey cellmate, time to pay the protection bill. Fork over the food."
