A/N: Hello, everyone. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe.
I'm sorry it took me a little longer than I initially thought to update. I had gone through this chapter numerous times to make sure everything flowed well and delivered what I had envisioned. So, a fair warning is in order. There are some mild violence and self-harm, nothing gory or extreme detail to rate it an M. There is even a surprise ending that I wish not to mention. It is a long chapter, too, like 9,615 words.
I had the next chapter pretty much ready, but I'm going back and revising several scenes. So, it's going to take me a bit to finish.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the read.
Be safe, stay safe, and be kind to one another.
08/27/2020 Update: I apologize it's taking me so long to update. I've been working on my next project, which is revising and rewriting chapters for the original storyline for this story. I went back and fixed a few things I found. I will have the final chapter up soon.
Present
The tension is unbearably heavy and tense. Ruth stood before the Losers, her eyes burned with rage and a vicious snarl fit for the devil. Her muscles rippled, and hands tightened around the weapon, ready to strike at a second's notice.
The Losers stepped back one, eyeing her in confusion and astonishment.
"Ruth, what_." Richie started to question, only to get talked over.
"Just who in the fuck do you think you are for intruding on my home?"
Bewildered at her hostility and the strange tone coming from her mouth, the Losers remained silent for an uncomfortable moment.
"Someone better answer me," Ruth growls and takes a step forward, forcing them back. "What possessed you irritating brats to trespass on my home?" Ruth questioned as her voice wavered from a deep, gravely tone to her own.
Stunned, the group exchanged glances then back on Ruth, forgetting about Pennywise, who watched the encounter unfold.
"You-you're home?" Eddie questioned.
"Of course, this is my home! I made it so a year ago! Now answer my question, why are you here?"
Panicking from being asked a third time, Beverly chimed in.
"That fucking freak behind you abducted me, Ruth! They're only here to save me and kill that damn clown."
"No one touches him," Ruth growls in a slightly different feminine voice. "Anyone who lays harm on my friend answers to me."
Stan and Eddie exchange glances, noticing the different octaves in Ruth's voice.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" Eddie mouthed to Stan.
Beverly, who saw him, answered. "She's just a fucking lunatic playing make-believe! I tried telling you, but none of you would listen to me!"
"Shut your mouth, you little whore," Ruth's gravelly voice boomed.
She glares at Ruth, her lips forming a tight line. "And you're not, freak?"
A sadistic grin spreads across her lips, humming a groan.
"I'm not the one going around flaunting my shit to every male that batted their eyes at me, you pathetic promiscuous human trash. You don't think I've seen you flirt with the rotund boy behind you? What about the stuttering one who's had a crush on you since that monstrosity of a play? I know every dark secret you have, Beverly Marsh. Especially the one where my little puppet threatened to kill you on that bridge."
Startled, Ben glanced at Beverly. "She-she what? Why didn't you say anything?"
"She threatened me into silence, Ben! I swore I wouldn't say anything because she scared me to death."
Ruth deeply chuckles. "Enough so where you pissed yourself."
"Shut up!"
"I could have let you drop, you know. Watching you plummet to your untimely demise would have been ideal, considering it would be one less child for me to deal with."
"W-why did you?" Ben questioned, hurt evident in his voice.
"She saw me without my mask," Ruth's voice echoes softly. "I wanted to remain hidden for a reason," she paused as a low growl reverberated from her throat, and neck rolls with a crack.
"I'm going to extinguish your very existence, you little_."
Ruth shouts from slashing at her arm, cutting shallowly to stop herself from talking.
"Holy shit!" Eddie screeched.
"What the hell are you doing?" Mike shouts.
He rushes forward, hoping to snap Ruth out of her bizarre behavior.
Mike doesn't get far when Ruth's weapon of choice collided onto his jaw again and landed harshly on the ground.
"Stay the fuck away from me!" Ruth screeched, her voice normal now.
"Mike!"
The Losers quickly approached him, assessing Mike's injury.
"You alright?" Beverly whispered.
He just nodded his head.
"What the hell is the matter with you, Ruth? What," Richie stumbles. "Why are you acting like this?"
Ruth groans as she held onto her bloody arm.
"Keep the old man away, VG. Just keep him out," she mumbles under her breath, her voice slightly higher.
"Ruth, come on. Please, talk to me," Richie pleaded as he uneasily approached her.
Ruth turned sharply and shoved him away, who staggered.
"I said, stay away! I'm going to end up hurting you," Ruth warns, her refined and silvery voice sounds.
"You're not going to hurt me, Ruth. I know you won't. I'm going to get you out of here and get you some help."
Richie started forward again but stops from a low, menacing growl coming from Ruth's lips, her neck rolling and audibly cracks.
"Stay away," she snarls with her non-bloodied hand gripping at her hair and tugs harshly.
He instantly backs off, alarmed and baffled of what's happening in front of him.
"The Disease Lunatic doesn't need help, Richie. Ruth is just a loose cannon who needs to be locked up in a mental ward." Beverly remarks snidely.
Ruth growls impatiently. "Oh, shut your fucking meat-hole, Beaver-ly. VG is not by any means a lunatic."
Beverly opened her mouth to retort but is interrupted. Eddie stepped forward, blocking Beverly from Ruth.
"Back off, Bev. Alright, just who we are talking to right now?"
A couple of heads snapped, eyeing Eddie strangely.
"Duh, who do you think, Sherlock? We're talking to Ru_." Richie starts put is talked over.
"Oh, that's right, I didn't get to formally introduce myself." Ruth's back straightened, and her smile grew wider.
"Hiya, sugar, my name is Pennylight," she replied sweetly with her head cocked slightly and curtsied for added character.
Richie, along with the others, stare.
"Huh? Um no, your name is Ruth."
Ruth rolls her eyes but remained to smile. "Oh, you silly boy. I am Ruth, and yet I'm also Pennylight."
He continued to stare, befuddled at this development. "Huh?"
"Oh, I guess you never known anyone with a mild borderline personality disorder, along with multiple personalities, huh?"
He balks, while Eddie and Ben nod in understanding and awe. Bill gapped like Mike and Stan, yet he noticed Pennywise slap his bulbous forehead and pulled at his hair, mouthing "Damnit! I should have known."
Bill then wondered how the clown knew Ruth. He wanted to ask, but Eddie continued to question Ruth.
"Oh, um uh wow. I guess I should have seen that coming, considering some of the symptoms over the last few months. Um, okay then, hi, Pennylight," Eddie replies with a timid wave. "It's a cute name."
"Why, thank you, Eddie-kins."
"Your welcome. So, how did you, um you know, come about?"
She perks at the question, "Oh, you mean, when I was born?"
"Well, yeah kind of, in a way," Eddie casually shrugs.
The others just stood quietly while he and Pennylight, well Ruth, had their exchange, utterly confused.
"Well, if you must know, I've always been here since VG was a wee girl of three, Eddie-kins. The whore and swine never took notice of my split personality because they were either high off their horses or drunker than an Irish Man on Saint Patrick's Day. I just became a little more conspicuous once I met my now, very dear friend, Penny, at the beginning of summer last year. I guess all I really needed was someone a lot like myself to accept me for who I really was." Pennylight explains with a beaming smile.
"Oh, really, that's interesting. Hum, one question, though, who is your friend?"
Her smile curves wider into a toothy grin. "Oh, you should know who. I mean, you were just beating him up moments ago, you naughty boy."
Baffled, Ben, who stood behind Eddie, glances over Ruth's shoulder at the clown. He quickly noticed the concern in Pennywise's eyes, even looked disturbed, even astonished.
"Wait, you mean him?"
Pennylight's smile widens further if it were possible, glaring at Ben with a devilish gleam.
"Yes, Benny Ben, him. Pennywise is his name, and he's my friend," she points at herself and giggles.
"You-you're friends with that sadistic asshole clown? What are you nuts?" Richie exclaims, dumbfounded at this discovery.
"Ooh, I would be careful if I were you, Mr. Trashy Mouth. Neither I nor VG appreciates it when people such as yourselves come between us. Granted, Penny and I separated under certain circumstances, no one fucks with him and gets away with it. I'm quite protective of my Penny Pen."
Pennylight withdrew her switchblade from the front pocket, flicking it open with a single finger, and grins.
"Now," she pauses, her gaze shifting from Richie to Ben then the others. "Which one of you wants to die first?"
Her gaze lands on Mike, who stares helplessly at Ruth.
"Eenie," Pennylight points.
"No, Ruth, stop!" Mike urges, panicking.
Ruth playfully giggles as she swiftly advanced on him with a mischievous grin.
Beverly quickly stands in front of Mike, protecting him from Ruth. The last thing she expected was the switchblade slashing at her chest, ripping the bust of Beverly's dress. Startled, Beverly screamed and backed away into Mike, who gripped her shoulders. She touched the spot where Ruth struck her to check for blood. Thankfully, the blade only cut through cloth and not skin.
"Christ, you are a fucking lunatic!" She seethes.
Ruth cackles, her eyes seemingly brightening from sheer joy.
"Aw, meanie," Pennylight points at Beverly with a playful, evil grin. "And I most certainly am not a lunatic, Beaver-ly. I'm just theatrical. You can thank Jojo for that little aspect of myself since she is quite an actress herself. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I'm not the only personality VG has. Jojo is another, who is similar to VG's deceased whore of a mother, only a Swede and friendlier. She won't come out and play, though. She is currently preoccupied."
Eddie, along with the others, gaped.
"Two? She has two different personalities?" Stan mouthed.
"Yep, sure do. So you know, Beaver-ly, Mikey Mike is really not the person I want to kill first. He may have screwed things up for VG the day before her birthday. However, Mister Heart-eyes did it with the best of intentions. He cared so much that he kept a secret from all of you."
"Wait, he what?"
Eddie, along with the others, glanced at Mike. "What secret?"
Mike went to answer only to be interjected.
"Miney," she points at Eddie and giggles. "He kept his promise in keeping VG's whereabouts to himself. Unlike Ginger Curl over there," Ruth motions towards Stan, who rightfully shrinks and cowers. "He opened his bucket mouth and spoke to Mikey Mike about seeing her in town. The two love-struck buffoons have known for quite a while, too."
Stunned and hurt, Richie explodes. "The three of you seen Ruth and didn't even bother to say anything? What the actual fuck is the matter with you?"
"I," Stan opened his mouth to explain but couldn't articulate a thought.
"I stayed quiet to protect her, Richie," Mike defends.
"To protect her from what? The town, Mullet Head and The Two Dinguses, us?"
"I wasn't protecting her from anyone! Besides, it was what she wanted!"
"Fuck what she wanted! You should have said something!"
"Why should we?" Beverly bit. "I didn't say anything because the psycho scared me to death. Who knows what she would have done if I opened my mouth. That's why I stayed quiet about it. We were all doing just fine without her until you brought her into the group, Richie!"
"What was I supposed to do? I certainly didn't want to go back to be the fucking asshole I was to her. I hated pushing Ruth away. I was the first one to be threatened thanks to that fucking bimbo Jordan just for being two feet away from her the first day of school several years ago. Hell, I'll even admit I secretly like her. Ruth needed us! And it was Bill who convinced Ruth to join us, not me."
"Don't you be placing the blame on him!"
"I'm not!"
Beverly opened her mouth to shout back, only to get introduced to the Skip-It ball again with a mighty thwack on her mouth. She cries out and steps back, nearly colliding into Mike, which he avoids touching her. Thankfully, none of her teeth are busted from the impact. Beverly's mouth is sore, though.
"Mo," Ruth growled deeply with her blade pointing directly at Beverly's heart.
She stares at the group with eyes gleaming menacingly, observing them with dangerous fascination.
"You sure are a mouthy lot. It is no wonder the stupid little puppet stayed near you to drown me out the best she can. No matter, I will kill you_," the deep voice stops as Ruth cut her arm again with a painful cry.
"Jesus Christ! Ruth stop," Richie shrieks.
"Quit hurting yourself, you stupid freak!" Beverly chimes, panic starting to surface in her voice.
Ruth whimpers while gently moving her bloody arm low, faintly whispering.
No one noticed her fingers gently twist.
"You need to stop referring to her as a freak, Beverly. Christ, clearly something is wrong with her." Eddie says as he points at Ruth, who is mumbling still.
"There is nothing wrong with her. She's making this shit up!"
Eddie ignores Beverly to focus on Ruth and only her.
"Ruth," Eddie calls softly.
"Not here," she faintly replies in Pennylight's voice.
"Ruth, can you hear me?"
She failed to respond.
Needing to take a different approach, Eddie stepped closer. Ruth's gaze momentarily snaps in his direction.
"Stay back," she advised lowly.
Eddie instantly stops. "Alright, okay. I won't come anywhere near you."
She doesn't say anything, just glares at him with a scowl.
"Pennylight, I need to speak with Ruth, please." Eddie pleads slowly, and eyes locked on hers.
That's when he noticed her gaze flicker from her beautiful hazel eyes to a bright crimson then back again.
"I'm afraid you cannot," she answers.
"W-why not?"
She tilts her head, exposing her neck for Eddie to see four long pink scars. "She's trying to keep the evil one away."
Eddie's brows scrunch, and head tilted slightly, "Evil one?"
Pennylight doesn't respond, only glares.
"Pennylight, who is the evil one?"
He saw Ruth slowly glide the switchblade across her arm, hissing and seething in pain with little emotion.
"Pennylight, you need to stop cutting yourself, please." Eddie began, fear bubbling in his stomach.
She stops on command as a deep growl reverberates in the atrium.
Eddie gulps, his palms sweating, and shook. "Um, oh shit. W-who is speaking now?" He stammered.
"I am Ram Abbalah, the Lord of Discordia and Ruler of End-World," she answers in the deepened, gravelly voice of which sounded like an old man's. It is disturbing, really. "From across a vast space unknown to man, I saw the girl's potential and power before she was birthed. She is destined to provide me with a new body to bring chaos to yours and my world. I worked for fifteen long years, perfecting her life full of deceit and worthlessness. I even took advantage of her deepest, darkest fear, and drove the child into complete madness."
The group stared at her with mouths gaping, fear creeping in their veins from the red color of her eyes glowing. They can even feel the temperature drop a little.
"And at my command, she will kill you all."
"Oh, shit," Eddie squeaks nervously, petrified like a statue.
She growls lowly, shifting on her heels as if preparing to strike.
"Kill them," the male voice demanded.
"Oh, shit," he repeated.
Ruth's mouth curves into a devilish snarl and targets Eddie. She jumps to attack only to stop short with a painful yell. Ruth drove the switchblade into her right thigh then collapses onto her knees crying.
"Ruth!" Ben shouted and stepped forward.
Within a blink, Ruth's behavior switched and swiped at the approaching boy. She just barely cuts at his stomach, snarling.
"Stay the fuck away from me!"
Ben recoils, nearly colliding into Eddie, who remained awestruck and horrified at the situation.
"Jesus, Ruth. I'm just trying to help!"
Her eyes went wild and neck rolled with an audible crack, growling.
"Just stay the fuck away," she ordered through clenched teeth, slicing at her arm again.
"Christ, Ruth, uh, I mean, Pennylight or who-whoever you are. Who is she trying to keep out?" Eddie questioned while the others stood behind.
Ruth stalls her actions on her arm briefly, gazing at him in horror.
"The fucking crazy old man dressed in crimson," Pennylight answered with a sneer and started to her feet.
"Who?"
"He is best known as the Crimson King," a more mature, fruity, and orotund voice with a Swedish accent sounds.
Eddie's head twitches sideways from the new voice, bewildered at the gradual change.
"Um, who are you?"
Ruth hums lightly and smirks. Her arms cross and jut her hip out like Jordan used to do when she spoke. "The name is Jojo, kid."
His eyes widen, and jaw slacked.
"O-oh, so you're Jojo that Pennylight mentioned earlier?"
"Ja I am. What do you want with my liten svan?"
Eddie blankly stared in uncertainty. "Um, what was that? Oh, never mind! I need to speak with Ruth and not her two different personalities."
"My liten svan is busy in keeping Big Red from possessing her mind and soul. It would be best if you vacate the premises. At least then, she wouldn't be distracted with you rövhåls." Jojo explained.
He blinked a few times and scowls. "I'm not leaving until I speak with Ruth. Well, more so get her out of here."
Ruth stares at Eddie for a moment before her lips curved into a Pennywise-like grin.
"If you so desire to speak with my liten svan, you just need to say the magic word."
"Huh, magic word?"
"Don't play dumb, pojke. Has your mother ever taught you any manners?"
Eddie awkwardly stared while fidgeting with his nails. "Oh, um, my apologies. May I please speak with Ruth, Jojo?"
Ruth's grin stretches, which showed off her pearly white teeth. "Mycket bättre, and ja, you may."
Ruth's bizarre behavior dissipates in an instant. She ends up collapsing onto her knees, panting as if Ruth just ran a marathon. Her vibrant ginger hair appeared like a silver veil cascading down her shoulders from the faint blue light of the day above. She doesn't regard them, just stares at the ground and mumbled while tracing patterns and symbols on the ground near her feet with a bloodied finger.
"Omvänd den plåga han skapar," Ruth murmured in her own voice.
No one noticed.
Concerned, Mike cautiously approaches Ruth's hunched form with a hand reaching out to touch her shoulder.
"Ruth?"
The second he touched her, she recoils and swipes at his forearm. Ruth succeeds in landing a blow and cuts him.
"Ow! What the hell?"
"Don't you fucking touch me!" She spat.
Ruth then stood to her feet, snarling. It quickly turned into a confused frown upon seeing Mike and the others. She stared dumbly at him briefly before looking around. Her brows knitted close when Ruth found herself in the sewers before catching sight of Pennywise. A wave of relief rippled through her body after seeing him near. She would love to rush at him and wrap her arms around his neck. Ruth desires to feel his long arms embracing her comfortingly and tightly.
Eventually, Ruth smiles brightly at her dear friend, a smile the Losers will never see.
"Pen," Ruth shakily breathes, smiling still.
From afar, Pennywise returns the gesture, and with a wink.
Despite the calm washing over her, the evil man continued to claw at Ruth's soul for repossession again. It hurts, too. She grimaces as tears welled in the corners of her eyes. Ruth even suppresses a whine.
"Ruth? Talk to me," Mike's voice suddenly disturbs her.
Remembering where she was, Ruth whirls on him and clocks Mike in the jaw with a right hook. Ruth watched him stagger backward and nearly rammed into Beverly while clutching his jaw.
"Argh! Fuck!"
"You have some nerve imposing on our home, you fucking son-of-a-bitch."
"Ugh, ow what the hell are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Michael! How fucking dare you bring them here? You knew the Neibolt House was my home, and you brought them here anyway!"
Ruth stopped when she noticed several of the Losers snap their gazes on Mike.
"Oh, he didn't tell you the Neibolt House is where I was hiding this whole time?"
Richie's jaw squares, even Bill's, then glared daggers at Mike for keeping something like that from them. Beverly stared him down as well with a purse of her lips.
"You knew? You knew Ruth was here, and you didn't even bother to say anything! What in the fuck is the matter with you? How long have you known?" Eddie yelled.
Mike opened his swollen mouth to explain, but Ruth interjected.
"Since the day after Halloween," her response dry and uncaring.
"What the hell, Mike? On top of seeing her, you knew for almost a year that Ruth was staying here of all places?"
Mike fidgeted, falling silent, and diverted his gaze elsewhere. "Yeah," he admitted lowly.
Eddie glared at him, stewing over the fact Mike hid Ruth from them for so long.
Ruth scuffs and sneers. "Wow, some friend you are."
Mike whirls and scowls. "Seriously, now! What about you, Ruth? What kind of friend are you for starting shit like this?"
"The only thing I did, Mike, was let the cat out of the bag since you broke your promise."
"Well, you know what, I'm not sorry! And you know what else, it's really fucking shitty of you to throw me under the bus like you did. I-I thought we were friends here, Ruth."
"When was I ever a friend to you, any of you?"
They gaped as hurt crossed their slacked features.
"Excuse me?" Mike questioned her.
"Do you know how hard it was for me to pretend?"
"What do you mean by that?" Ben chimed.
"It's not exactly easy to accept a title change overnight, you know. I still haven't forgiven any of you after what you did over the years."
"What the fuck did we do?" Richie snipped.
"Oh, look, it's the Bastard Kid," Ruth mocks. "She's the daughter of a whore and could have contracted a disease. We can't be friends with her, she'll get us killed. You don't want to hang around the Bastard Kid when she's Henry Bower's girlfriend."
Several of the Loser's features fall, Richie's especially.
"I'm, I'm sorry, Ruth, I," Richie offers with sincerity.
"Sorry? You're sorry? A simple apology is not enough, Richie!"
"I know that! What do you want me to do? Do you want me to get down on my knees and grovel?"
"I don't want you to do anything except getting the fuck out! You shouldn't be here!"
"I'm not going anywhere without you."
Before Ruth could respond, an unseen force struck Ruth across her chest. She screamed loudly while stumbling backward with blood trickling down her pretty white blouse.
"Holy shit!" Eddie exclaims.
Ruth staggers a little, groaning and covering long scratch marks that ran along her chest while mumbling.
Richie starts forward to help her but stops. Ruth held a bloody hand out, urging Richie to stay back.
"Stay away! Don't come near me!"
"What the fuck is going on, Ruth? What, what just happened?"
She groans in response, staggering a little in her spot while her fingers drew patterns in mid-air.
"Ruth, please, talk to me."
She opened her mouth when another unseen force scratched at her forearm. Ruth screams loudly just as Richie and the others yell. There they can see four distinctive claw marks running down to her wrists.
"Jesus, fuck! What's happening?" Eddie exclaims while clutching his hair.
Her nimble fingers never stopped moving while incoherently whispering.
No one can make out what she is saying as Ruth spoke in Swedish. Ruth groans in the middle of her mumbling, then grip her arm, shuffling only a little in that one spot.
"Ruth, please, what is going on?" Richie urged.
She doesn't answer.
"Damnit, Ruth, answer me!"
Ruth opened her mouth to speak, but it came out as another painful cry from more slash marks running down her stomach. Her blouse now in shreds. Ruth maintained to stay put, groaning from the pain covering her body.
"Gah, fuck!"
"Christ, Ruth, what is_?"
Richie doesn't finish when he hears a soft growl.
"Kill them," the deep voice spoke.
Ruth's eyes threateningly glowed red, and lips formed a deep scowl. She regards the group, glancing from Richie to Eddie then Mike, contemplating on who to attack first. After a second of consideration, Ruth targets a horror-stricken Eddie.
With an animalistic snarl, Ruth launches forward.
Petrified, Eddie just shrieks.
"Eds!"
Richie rushed over and shoved Eddie out of the way. He was about to take the blunder when Ruth stopped suddenly and just inches away from them. There was even a confused grunt.
Ruth stared at the frightened boys, her snarl growing wider. She tried moving again, causing Richie and Eddie to flinch back, but still couldn't move. Her fingers reach for Richie's throat but couldn't touch. Something is causing her to not land a critical blow onto them. Her burning red eyes flick downwards, discovering Ruth's enchantment surrounding herself.
"You will not hurt them," Ruth's voice whispers.
The Crimson King growls, "Damnit, you gypsy witch! Release your sorcery on me at once!"
"No," Ruth boldly refused.
With a furious growl, the undead spirit struck Ruth once more. Four long claw marks ran along the curve of her shoulder and chest, causing the pinks scars to reopen from the impact. Ruth's scream echoes in the atrium, staggering slightly but remained in that spot. She clutched the amulet around her neck, muttering in Swedish.
"Skydda mitt ljus, skydda min själ. Behåll den här_."
Another striking force hit Ruth at her wrist. She doesn't yelp this time. In fact, Ruth doesn't stop whispering.
"Skydda mitt ljus, skydda minsjäl_."
"Damnit, shut your mouth!" The Crimson King booms through her whispers.
Richie and Eddie quickly back away, watching in horror as Ruth is struck again.
She collapses to her knees, but never stopped whispering.
"Skydda mitt ljus, skydda min själ. Håll denna ondska från att konsumera_."
Ruth suddenly gags and gasps for breath, "mig."
Around her neck are deep impressions of unseen fingers constricting her airway.
"Holy shit," Eddie utters with tears streaming from his eyes.
"Shut your mouth," the Crimson King growled from Ruth's lips.
Growing fearful, Richie starts forward to help Ruth in some fashion. Once he got close, Ruth regains her composer then swipes at him with a vicious snarl. With a startled yet painful yelp, Richie falls flat on his ass. He sat there for a split second before scrambling backward when Ruth tried attacking him again. Thankfully, Richie escapes by a mere inch.
"Shit, Jesus, Ruth snap out of it," Richie begs.
She groans with a crack of her neck. "Lägg av."
"What?"
"I said, Get out!" Ruth snaps.
"No, I'm not leaving!"
Ruth goes to argue, except she screams from yet another blow to her chest. Blood trickled onto her shredded blouse, creating a new pattern besides the floral. She groans as her body grew numb from the constant attacks. Her arms wobbled as Ruth had sat on all fours and is panting heavily.
"You need to leave," Ruth heaves.
"No," Richie growls.
"Goddamnit, Richie! Get the fuck out of here before I end up killing you!"
"No! I'm not leaving without you, Ruth. And not until we finish what we came here to do, which is kill that fucking clown!"
Ruth's eyes seemed to change in an instant. She glares at him with a snarl and unrelenting fury overwhelming her gaze.
"I will not allow any of you to lay more harm to my friend."
"How in the fucking hell is that asshole clown your friend, Ruth? He's just using you!"
"You don't know him like I do. He's been more of a friend to me than any of you ever have!"
"I call bullshit!"
Ruth growls, "If you knew all the bullshit I've gone through for the last year, you would understand my relationship with him!"
"Yeah, I probably would if you had just opened up a little more! What the hell does he have to do with anything anyway?"
She deeply growls, and eyes started to turn red again. Ruth slams a hand on the ground, ultimately impaling a shard of glass through her palm. She yelps from the pain, causing Richie to flinch.
"Shit, Ruth!"
Ruth ignored his plea and dragged her palm along the ground. She seethes from the stinging pain followed by a deep, low growl.
She opened her mouth to declare all of her secrets, but it came out as a painful scream. Another set of unseen claws struck Ruth's back.
From behind her, Pennywise painfully watched as the undead Crimson King continued to assault Ruth's body. He desperately wants to intervene but is unsure of what to do. Or maybe, Pennywise is dumbfounded from discovering the harsh truth about his dear friend. He always knew there was something off about Ruth, but to find out she is possessed by a long distant relative shocked him. How can anyone do anything when they are stunned into immobility? The fact Ruth has multiple personalities startled him as well. How could he not have known, and how did Pennywise not notice?
A scream filled his ears, snapping him back to reality. He saw the claw marks running along Ruth's toned back, causing him to deeply frown.
"Viv," he breathes.
Pennywise needs to do something soon. Otherwise, Ruth will meet a grisly end before his very eyes. He doesn't want to see her die like this.
Ruth groans from being lashed at and tries to stand, only to fall back onto her knees. She wobbled slightly then glances over in Pennywise's direction and locked gazes. Her eyes said it all. Ruth wants him to interfere. Except, how could he resolve the issue? How, can she?
Think, Ruth, think!
"Ruth," Richie whispered to catch her attention. "Tell me, what did he ever do for you?"
She doesn't answer straight away. She can feel the Crimson King's claws scraping at her soul. Ruth has very little time left before he eventually takes hold of her body for good. Afflicting damage onto herself helps keep him back for a short time since he hasn't had a physical body for who knows how long. The Crimson King has forgotten what pain felt like. So, for the Red Asshole attempting to take possession of her, he experiences what Ruth does.
Ruth lost focus for only a second when her neck rolled with a loud crack. She is quick to slash at her already bloodied arms.
Richie shouts and backs off. "Jesus! Ruth stop! Why are you_?"
"Answer this for me," she starts through clenched teeth. "Why do you want to kill my friend?"
"What?"
"What did Penny do to warrant such brutality onto him?"
Richie goes to answer when Beverly came up from behind him and yanked him back.
"Your friend there abducted me, you fucking freak!"
Ruth smiles in a Pennywise like grin, then fluidly stood as if the pain didn't bother her. Jojo, along with Pennylight, resurfaced gleefully.
"Is that so?" Jojo croons.
"You deserved it since you caused VG a lot of pain, Beaver-ly," Pennylight adds.
"Do remember Penny detest people who hurt me," Ruth reminds them.
Beverly gaps at this and took a step back.
"He has terrorized us, Ruth," Ben chimes, his cheeks flushing red.
"I know. Penny has told me all about his scares on you, gullible fools. Do you know what else? He is the only one who has really made me laugh. I find him quite humorous. I've even seen his transformations, which don't even faze me. I'm fascinated by him."
Ben's face falls, realization walloping him in the gut.
"He has killed dozens of children," Eddie adds, defending his friends' cause.
"I know. I discovered my friend's domain, along with the missing dead children, about a year ago. I was upset at first, but I eventually got over it. I see him as a cuddly fuzzy wuzzy bear after hibernating all winter."
Eddie's eyes widened.
"He-he took G-Georgie!" Bill stutters.
"I know. I was angry with him for eating your little brother, too. However, he was just looking for a meal to fill his belly."
Growing furious, Richie speaks out. "Yeah, well, your asshole friend tried to make a deal with us in leaving him with Bill! He wanted to eat him, Ruth."
Ruth's grin falters. She didn't know anything about that. Is she mad at Pennywise for trying to make a deal with them? No, not really. In fact, Ruth seemed to be considering something with the blank stare she has. Her eyes started to glow crimson again. She attempted to speak when another yell leaves her lips from digging her blade into her thigh and groans painfully.
Several of the Losers yell from Ruth's brutality on herself, even growing fearful she will take it much further.
"Ruth?" Stan called.
She doesn't bother acknowledging him, which hurt him deeply.
"Ruth, please. Will you talk to me, at least?"
She ignores him still, going quiet for a long moment, breathing raggedly, and gasping for air.
With a heavy breath, Ruth finally spoke, but it wasn't directed towards him or the others.
"Is that all you need," Ruth pauses then glances over her shoulder at Pennywise.
"One last meal? Then take me," she offers in a wavered voice.
She took one good long look at his beaten form and sadly frowns. Ruth doesn't have to see his body to know he has welts and bruises underneath his silver clown suit. The fact Pennywise is exhausted from fighting the Losers is another good indicator he was putting up a fight. Ruth visualized the encounter through the golden orange of his eyes, which only made Ruth's blood boil. All she wants to do now is kill The Losers instead of saving them from the Crimson King. Ruth can feel him clawing at her soul for repossession again. It hurts, too.
Pennywise stares at Ruth with a mixture of emotions, startled by her request then barely shook his head. She even sees him mouth, "No."
"What the fuck are you doing, Ruth? Don't offer yourself to him. Just," Richie paused to consider his words. "Come home with us. We'll talk about everything later. Just please, let me help you."
Ruth growls deeply and snaps a furious crimson gaze on him.
"Foolish boy. It's too late to help the girl now. She's mine."
The moment the Crimson King spoke, Ruth cuts herself again. Except, she slashed at her shoulder, crying out in pain, and almost fell to her knees.
"Ruth, stop!" Stan pleads and rushed forward.
Ruth quickly stood and shoved him back harshly.
"Stay away from me! Now get the fuck out of here before I hurt any of you!"
"Ruth, please! Let us help!" Richie insisted anxiously and took one step forward.
She snaps her gaze on them, seething. "I don't need help, Gray Water! Now stay back!"
"You're cutting all over yourself, Amber! Why would?"
He didn't finish when Ruth took a swipe at him without success. Stan stepped back, startled and alarmed at how close she was in slitting his throat.
"Do not call me by that name, you fucking traitor!"
Ruth surged forward in an attempt to land a critical blow on Stan but halts in her spot. With the enchantment surrounding her still, Ruth can't do anything. Her fingers reached for his throat, grunting and growling in displeasure.
"If it weren't for the blasted puppet's sorcery, I would have killed every single one of you irritating brats for getting in my way!" The Crimson King bellows.
A painful roar leaves Ruth's lips when she drove the metal blade on her thigh again. The masculine yell diminished into Ruth's own, crying from the constant abuse she's putting on herself.
"Gah, fuck! You do not touch them!"
"Ruth!" Ben shouts. "Stop it! You're going to end up killing yourself!"
"It would be better if I did!"
"Don't say that! Everything would be better if we got you out of here, Ruth. Just please come home with me." Mike interjects.
"Why? I will have nothing left to live for. Once Penny goes into hibernation, I will be left alone! I'm nothing without him."
"That's not true, Ruth, and you're not alone. You have me, Richie, Eddie, Bill, Ben, Stan, even Beverly, to help you."
Ruth growls, "I don't need any of you! The only person I need is him. Why do you think I've made it this long?" Ruth points to Pennywise, who remained disturbed at her request.
"You don't need him, Ruth! You need us!"
"You don't know jack shit of what I need!"
She pivots in her spot, begging Pennywise to end her suffering. "Please, Pen, please just kill me! I'm tired of fighting him!"
He defiantly shook his head, whimpering a strangled no.
With Ruth's guard slightly down, Stan, along with Richie, made their move. They snatched her by the arms and pulled Ruth back, an action they will immediately regret. Ruth's foot slipped from within the circle of which she created, unknowingly breaking the enchantment.
Within a blink, Ruth's demeanor drastically changed. Her eyes burned a menacing red then lashed out on the two teenagers. She struck Stan first with her switchblade, slashing at his already gnawed up face. Horrified, he stumbles back while cupping his bleeding cheek. Richie gets a nasty deep slash on his shoulder, of which he cries out. They both tried escaping her weapon but were meet with more lacerations on their faces and arms. Richie attempts to push her away but to no avail. She grabs at his injured shoulder, gripping the wound tightly. Richie yelps while Stan tried prying him away from Ruth's vice grip.
"Ruth, please, snap out of it! This isn't you! This isn't you!" Stan screams.
The possessed Ruth ignores his pleas. Her crimson eyes narrow and target Richie's throat with the intent of killing him. She would have done just that if Ruth hadn't regained control by directing the blade on herself. The switchblade dug deep into her shoulder, causing her to scream. Ruth's grip on Richie lessens enough for him to wrench backward with Stan. They both stumbled away, whereas the others rushed over to their side.
Beverly scanned over Richie's injuries, assessing them critically and fearfully. After watching Ruth flip from one personality to another and getting possessed by some evil entity has her terrified. She has tears falling the corners of her eyes, and lightly whimpers. Beverly makes a quick glance at Ruth, who is doubled over and groaning painfully. She doesn't like the sight of Ruth's brutality on her body, causing the ginger to grow extremely worried for her rival. Beverly may hate Ruth, but doesn't want her to suffer like this. She needs to try talking with her in hopes of Ruth to continue fighting the unseen enemy. Beverly knows Ruth is starting to lose that battle, too.
It might be a stupid move, but Beverly started towards Ruth.
"Beverly, what are you doing? Don't go near her." Eddie urged with fright and tried making a grab for her. She walks out of his reach.
"Ruth," Beverly started while cautiously approaching.
"I'm sorry," Ruth barely whispers.
Beverly crept closer, observing Ruth upon approach.
"Ruth, it's okay."
"I'm sorry," Ruth repeats.
Her fingers curl and tightened around the handle.
"It's okay, Ruth, it's okay. You didn't mean it, I know. Just calm down."
"I didn't want to hurt them," her voice trembled.
"I know you didn't. It's okay, Richie is fine, even Stan," Beverly reassures.
"No, I'm not," Richie complains.
Ruth whimpers a cry then stood with her back straightened and fingers flexing.
"I can't take it anymore," she whines.
The group watched as she pulled her switchblade on herself and below her larynx.
"Ruth, please, don't," Mike utters with his bottom lip quivering.
"I'm sorry, Mike. It's the only way to keep the Crimson King from taking over my body. Now get the fuck out of here before he_."
An angry snarl sounds from her lips then glared at the bunch with eyes glowing crimson again. Despite her insistence to end her life, the Crimson King continued to regain possession. Her hand shakily pulled away, struggling to keep control.
"I've worked too damn hard to get here, you fucking little gypsy witch. Now give me your power." He growls.
"Fight the asshole, Ruth," Richie suddenly shouts.
"I can't anymore! I've already hurt you because of him! Now fucking leave me alone!"
"No!"
She growls again, her arm quivered and twitched to lay harm on him.
"Stop resisting me, puppet! You will be no more once I take what is mine!"
"Shut up, you fucking asshole! Now let go of my friend!" Richie roars. "Come on, Ruth! Fight him off!"
Ruth struggles in regaining control over herself as the switchblade trembled in her hand.
"I'm trying," she strained.
"Your attempt is futile, puppet. Now kill them all!"
Within a blink, Ruth started after the group again snarling.
Just as she came close, Ruth grinds to a halt from plunging the switchblade into her thigh. She screams out in pain, staggering in her spot with heavy pants.
"I can't take it anymore! Please, just kill me, you Silver Monkey!" She directs this towards Pennywise.
Once the name slipped from her lips, Pennywise is jolted into a memory. He remembers now. How could he forget, especially after all the mentions of Ruth's father? Easy, it was nearly forty years ago when Pennywise met a young Rutherford. He had ventured into the Neibolt House on a whim to explore. Rutty was his nickname by only a few close friends and bullied just like his daughter. He was an outcast, a strange and unusual boy with an artistic talent Pennywise is all too familiar with. It's no wonder he took a shine to Ruth's creative abilities. Pennywise had impersonated the one thing Rutty feared the most but was unaffected by it. Like father like daughter. He was fearless towards him, which angered Pennywise immensely. The clown caught the young boy in his deadlights, sedating him so he could consume unsalted meat. Pennywise was hungry and didn't care if the boy wasn't scared of him. Unfortunately, Rutty's pagan friend, Roberta, or Berta by some, intervened and saved him from his clutches. The two of them escaped while proceeding to call Pennywise "Silver Monkey." The name irritated him to no end and wanted to pursue the pair. However, that Berta girl made sure he wouldn't lay harm onto her or Rutherford. It was unfortunate, but a blessing in disguise. Pennywise got to meet Ruth. Rutherford's little star of which Pennywise is supposed to protect. He's failing miserably in doing just that.
Pennywise frowns and sadly shook his head, hesitant in taking Ruth's life.
"Please, Pen, kill me!"
He whimpered, "no."
"I know you don't want to die, Ruth."
Ruth glances at Beverly, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Please, let us help you. Just fight him off," Beverly encouraged.
"I'm sorry. It's too late to help me now, Bev," she replies weakly then stared at the silver blade in deep thought.
Beverly caught the seriousness in Ruth's eyes, which scared her more than Pennywise the Clown.
"Ruth, please, look at me," Beverly urged.
"You'll never reach her," the Crimson King spoke.
Ruth cut herself again, hoping to keep the entity away during her final moments.
"Ruth, look at me," Beverly begs, inching closer.
Ruth ignores her pleas. Instead, she directed her attention to someone else.
"Thank you for everything you have done, Richie."
She intended to end her life then, but the Crimson King took control over her again, preventing Ruth from killing herself.
The blade gleamed under the faint blue light anxiously as it trembled in Ruth's tightened grip near her throat. The cold metal tenderly kisses at her flesh but dared not to draw blood, at least not yet.
"Just let me die," Ruth growls, struggling to regain control over her body.
"I will not have you ruin everything I worked for, gypsy witch! Kill them!"
Ruth fought with him, but she is quickly losing her fight. Her eyes reverted from hazel to crimson and back then glances over at the seven members.
"Gray Water," Ruth called to him with a grimace and voice wobbly. "Please, help me."
He looks at her with mouth agape and eyes widened in horror. Déjà vu swept over him as Richie vividly remembered the nightmare from a year ago. Ruth called out to him, begging for help. Those nightmares were premonitions of Ruth dying at this very moment. Except, this is different. He never saw what caused her to be in this situation.
No, please no, Richie pleaded to himself.
Ruth held the switchblade by her throat, hand trembling, and tears falling.
She opened her mouth to speak, but it came out as an impatient growl.
"Stop resisting me, puppet," the gravely, deep voice of the Crimson King demanded.
Ruth whines as her neck rolls and cracks, her blade pressing harshly against flesh. "I can't keep him back any longer. Now GO!"
Tears blinded Richie's vision, whimpering. "No, not without you."
"Damnit, Richie! It's too late for me! Just leave me be!"
"No!"
"Please, I don't want _."
It happened out of nowhere and without warning. An appendage came up from behind Ruth and impaled her stomach with a sickening rip. She lurches forward with a painful grunt escaping her lips. Ruth's switchblade slips from her bloody fingers and drops to the ground with a clattering clang.
"No!" Richie cries out and starts forward.
Eddie quickly snatches Richie from behind, holding him back around the shoulders and chest. Both boys start crying, heartbroken at the site of a horribly wounded and bloody Ruth.
The others gap with eyes widened in stunned horror.
Beverly stared at Ruth, tears brimming her eyes, and fell quickly.
"N-no, Ruth," she whimpers.
Ruth glances down at herself, coughing and groaning. She can feel the appendage trembling as if hesitating in snapping her backward. She struggled to gulp before turning to the source. Her eyes land on Pennywise, who rightfully has a saddened, guilt-ridden grimace. There are even tears brimming his golden-orange eyes.
She opened her mouth to call out his name, but the Crimson King's voice came through instead.
"Why?" The Crimson King's voice wavered.
Pennywise stares at Ruth briefly, his eyes burning from holding back the tears which threatened to fall. His bottoms lip quivered before turning into a furious scowl and glared distastefully at the undead spirit of which laid beneath his beloved friend's skin.
"For her," he replies simply.
Ruth's eyes flashed crimson, snarling.
"Blinded by love," the King spat angrily. "And for a human girl, no less. How that is even possible is beyond me."
Pennywise refuses to say anything. He didn't want the evil being to know how deep his love for Ruth ran. The likeness of him wouldn't understand after spending every waking moment with her. Pennywise could have let the Crimson King regain a new body by taking Ruth. However, he refused to let his distant relative take over Ruth's body. Besides, Pennywise never realized how much he truly cared for her until the moment Ruth saved him from the irritating bunch with a freaking Skip-It ball. He loves Ruth with all of his might. When she and him laid together the night of New Year's Eve, it proved their connection runs deep. Mind you, their night alone didn't involve getting physical. No, Ruth and Pennywise only snuggled and held hands but nothing further. They desired to be near one another, wanting to feel safe and content.
An image of them snuggling tightly and smiling fondly burned in his mind. Pennywise's stomach twists unpleasantly as regret settled on his heart. He promised he would never lay harm on Ruth, but broke it to keep her from killing herself. Pennywise didn't want to watch the beautiful glamour of a girl die by her hands. She shouldn't be burdened with keeping the Crimson King from reentering into the world by such an act.
Pennywise didn't want to do this, but he had to kill her.
"I'm not sorry," Pennywise utters.
A corner of Ruth's mouth curled in a weak sneer, and crimson eyes flicker back to her own. She turns her gaze onto the crying yet horror-stricken bunch, eyeing them with lips parted as the evil entity finally dissipated from within. Ruth sagged onto the appendage from an invisible weight lifting from her shoulders with a sigh. Ruth weakly regards them for a moment, her mouth opening and closing. She wants to say something but has no strength to speak. What could Ruth say, anyway? That she is sorry for what she put them through or for the relationships Ruth had formed to become the person Ruth never got to be?
Ruth is not sorry by any means. She was at firstS but no longer feels the need. Why apologize for who you really are? Ruth is proud of who she is today and at this very moment. She credits Pennywise for giving her this fighting chance and learn the hard way of how to live. He kept her safe.
Before, she was on the outs and regarded as the disease, bullied unwanted child. Ruth shied away from showing her true colors. Now, after meeting Pennywise, things changed dramatically. Ruth found herself in the Loser's company after having a run-in with Henry Bowers and being rescued by Mike the same day. She developed and recognized feelings for both Mike and Stan during her journey. Ruth uncovered the truth about her barbaric mother and twisted uncle, who murdered her father. Ruth would have never known she had strange abilities and a bizarre religious background. Pennywise triggered a chain of events that led her to this point for a reason.
She knows what that reason is now.
For fifteen years, Ruth was stuck here in Derry for a reason. Ruth could have easily left without anyone knowing she disappeared. They wouldn't care anyway. She could have escaped it all, but something kept her from departing. It was destiny, yet it was also the Crimson King. He already had a hold on her soul then, waiting this long for his return. He forced Ruth to live a life full of deceit, distrust, and anguish. It was his way of tearing Ruth down to nothing. He succeeded to a degree. That was until Ruth met Pennywise. The supposed evil clown showed her compassion and gave her a reason to fight. Ruth just didn't realize her inner battle was to conquer an unforeseen enemy. She didn't even know anything about him until today and concluded he was behind the nightmares of Jordan.
Crazy prick, Ruth thought to herself.
Ruth just wished she knew about her powers much earlier than today. She would have seen this coming and be prepared for the worse. Then again, Ruth knew it was bound to happen. Ruth doesn't foresee her future going much further. Maybe this is the end for her. At least Ruth got to embrace the ability to predict with open arms. She had done just the same with her gift to sense Pennywise near. When she learned of her crazy Pagan, Wiccan mixed heritage from her parents, Ruth just as quickly accepted the craft. She could have used her newfound gifts in pursuing hidden agendas.
However, the Crimson King wanted her body for himself. She couldn't allow that, Ruth had to fight him off. She learned only a handful of hexes, spells, and enchantments in such a short time. One of which is an incantation to keep the evil spirit from hurting the Losers. It did work, so Ruth's master plan is somewhat of a success. She had already planned on coming down here and confront her "friends." Ruth had no intention of befriending them. All she wanted was to get in good graces with them and try shutting up the crazy old man.
That's why it's somewhat of a success. Ruth wanted Pennywise involved as he would have conjured one last illusion. Except, he opted out of it. So, she had to alter her plans. Separating was not her idea and regrets it still. If Ruth had known the Crimson King would surface and hinder her objectives, all of this would have gone differently. She is paying the consequences now and at the price of her life.
She's not ready to die, not now, at least. Ruth needs closure with her dear friend after separating for so long. She never got to tell Pennywise he kept the Red Asshole away. Without him, Ruth would have lost control of herself a long time ago. The Eater of Worlds is her remedy, a cure from the negative energy that consumed her. Ruth had hoped his presence would have helped. Except, that wasn't the case. The Crimson King couldn't be deterred. He just had to make his appearance. He probably should have put into consideration Ruth and Pennywise's unspoken love for one another. Pennywise wouldn't allow him to continue possessing Ruth for a body to fulfill his goals for chaos. That's why he drew an appendage through her stomach. It is to save her from falling into eternal darkness.
The Crimson King is gone for good now. The helix-shaped freckles on her nose are proof enough. Ruth's real freckles dusted her cheekbones and across the nose.
After an unbearable moment, Ruth finally spoke.
"Rädsla," she breathes.
The appendage of which impaled Ruth reverted into a tentacle-like limb and wrapped around Ruth's middle. With a jarring jolt, she lurches backward with a surprised gasp. Ruth soon is encased in Pennywise's arms.
"Ruth, no!" Richie screamed, ripped himself out of Eddie's grasp then dashed forward.
Even Beverly shouted and sprinted forwards alongside Richie.
"No, don't, please!"
Pennywise clung onto Ruth and pressed her against his chest. The weight of her body sprung fond memories of the two goofing around and scaring the Losers. Pennywise even remembers the handful of intimate moments he had with her. Their first dance, hug, birthday celebration, Halloween, even the kiss. The night of Christmas Eve when he and Ruth first kissed filtered his vision like a broken film. It wasn't supposed to happen, but he knew it was tradition. Pennywise felt profound feelings for Ruth then, and it is indeed a curse. Loving Ruth unconditionally and passionately brought them heartache. It's tearing them apart.
Beasts like him are not supposed to love.
He watched the two crying teenagers sprint towards him and Ruth with a frown. Pennywise couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic towards them. They are about to lose someone they cared about despite their status. He saw Mike and Stan start forwards as well, along with Bill, Ben, and Eddie. Pennywise shoots them a weak scowl as he crawled backward towards an opening behind him with Ruth, who is starting to lose consciousness.
"Pen, help me," she pleads.
"I got you, Viv. Just please stay awake," he urged softly.
"NO! You let her go, you son of a bitch!" Richie screams as he came close to reaching them.
Without saying a word, Pennywise swiftly slips into the darkened maw of a sewer pipe. His body is enveloped in the shadows, leaving the group of teenagers behind.
The moment Pennywise disappeared, Richie approached the edge, screaming Ruth's name. He stared into the blackness, waiting on Ruth to call out for him or at least hear her cry. Except, his ears were met with silence.
Ruth made not a sound as she fell through the sewer pipe with Pennywise.
"No, no, no, Ruth!"
Distraught, he started to climb over and follow after her. Except, both Beverly and Eddie came up from behind and yanked him back.
"NO! Stop, let me go! Let me go!"
He thrashed in their arms, trying to get out from their clutch, but they kept him still. The last thing Richie expected was Eddie embracing him tightly while crying. He gladly accepted it and cried with him. Beverly soon hugs onto the two boys, weeping with them.
Both Mike and Stan had fallen to their knees the moment Ruth disappeared and cried. Ben stood amongst them, breathing raggedly, and, of course, crying as well while mumbling.
"I'm sorry, Ruth, I'm so sorry," he whimpered.
Bill, too, stood with mouth hung open, and unshed tears burning his vision. Their encounter with Pennywise, the Dancing Clown, didn't go as he had hoped. Bill was sure they would reign victorious and leave with a blind assumption everything would return back to normal. That was far from what he imagined. Bill never wanted to witness his friends passing at the hands of a creepy clown. It hurt terribly to watch Ruth spiral out of control and not know how to help. He could have done something, but Pennywise did it for him, well for all of them. Bill and the others were not meant to decide Ruth's fate.
To save them from the Crimson King, Ruth had to die.
Bill sobs as he eyed the sewer drain before deciding to investigate the grounds to distract himself. Once he turned, Bill caught sight of what he was searching for. His grief for Ruth melded once Bill found his kid brother's yellow raincoat.
Translations:
Omvänd den plåga han skapar — Reverse the torment he creates.
Skydda mitt ljus, skydda min själ. Håll denna ondska från att konsumera mig – Protect my light, protect my soul. Keep this evil being from consuming me.
Rädsla – Fear