Sitting down, you try to summon up your anger towards your mother. Part of you is sort of surprised at just how easy kicking her ass out comes to you. You had expected some dredge of familial love would blind you. You've seen it, a child defending their misguided parents' actions because they are family and that their intent, though wrong, comes from a place of love.
But you don't. As soon as Eggy collapsed, cold and clammy, you knew – you knew you can't forgive your mother.
Your mother's eyes flicker open and you wait for her to get her bearings because you want her to know just how much she had fucked up. You want her to understand that she had crossed a boundary that could not be pardoned and that this was a hill you're willing to die on.
True you forgave Pennywise for a lot worst but at least he had the excuse that he was something beyond human morals. But your mother? Your mother should have known better.
"…where…? Where am I?" she asks, looking blearily around the room. Eggy must have knocked her out quite hard for her to forget, so you clear your throat and she whips her head towards you, eyes wide with confusion.
"[Y/N]? W-what?" she starts but you weren't moved; you remember Eggy's cold skin and the way Penny describe the threats she had spewed.
"Hello, mother. You have exactly one hour to get out of my house." You say quite easily. But your mother seem more intent at the state of your room, as though it has offended her somehow.
"…am I…am I in Derry?"
God, this again, you stand ups, crossing your arms to glare at her, "Yes. You'd better start packing because if not I won't hesitate to throw your shit out of my house."
Your mother pauses at that, scrunching her face in pain, "…d-d-Derry, how did I get here?"
"I don't know and I don't care."
Pushing herself of the floor, she shakes her head and stares at you, her eyes…
…her eyes are…confused?
"[Y/N]?" she asks again, almost as if…as if…
You frown, wondering what she's getting at when her eyes fixes itself upon your slightly swollen belly.
"Why are you pregnant?"
Your snort, "Because I had sex mom." You say blithely but your mother's eyes widen instead and you can't help but note that she seem…sincerely shocked.
"But – but how?"
"I told you-" you start again but she cuts you off, her voice pitched and hysterical.
"No, when did you get pregnant? How did I get here?"
Fury rises in you because you can't believe what she's trying to do, "Mom, cut it out with the act! Penny told me what you did and if you think you can weasel out by pretending to forget what happened then you have another thing coming!"
Your mother lurch forward, "But I don't understand! I was at home and – and – how did I get here? I was at home!" She tries to stand up and some of your anger ebb because for some reason, she looks genuinely distraught. As soon as she crawl up to her feet, a knife slips out of her dress.
And it wasn't just a knife either, it was a fucking butcher's knife, large and deadly. You can't help but be boggled by it because your mother's skinny and there's no way she could have hidden it under all that dress. And you weren't the only one because you mother gaped at the weapon that slid out from her.
"What is that? Is that a knife?" she asks with fear.
"Jesus Christ, Mom. I can't believe you!" you start, kicking the knife aside.
Your mother flinches away as it skittered towards her, "Why was that in my dress?"
"I told you to stop it with the act!"
"Oh my god, I'm losing my mind! The doctor was right!"
Your freeze because you had to stop and look, really look at the woman in front of you.
"Mom?"
She spins towards you, her expression stricken with horror. Then quietly, she steps forward, raising one tentative hand towards you. You fight the urge to step back because something is wrong here and your stomach twists as her fingers taps your collarbone, softly and then insistently before she pulls her hand back.
"You're real." She utters quietly. So quietly you nearly missed it.
Your anger ebbs away but you still keep your wall up because part of you is relieved and scared, "Of course I am."
"Honey," Your mother, now vulnerable and familiar looks up to you, "I think…I'm losing my mind."
Pennywise did not take this revelation kindly.
"What do you mean she's staying?" he all but shouted.
You wince as you start to explain, "My mother's showing signs of dementia, it's –" but Penny waves on hand to stop you, teeth bared in anger.
"I know what that is! And I don't care!" He retorts and you understand – until you found out about your mother's condition you would have taken the same stance as well but you still push on.
"Penny, please, I know it sounds absurd but she's acting like my mom." You continue, "My mom. The one you saw in my memories." You try to emphasize but Penny is not having it.
"She could be lying! To cover her tracks!" Which is true but you believe deep down about her sincerity. Your mother is back in the guest room, still sobbing as she tries to figure out how she got all the way to Derry and there's no way she can fake that.
"And what if she's not? Huh? I can't just leave her like this!"
"Yes. You. Can. Dementia or not she drugged our daughter and tried to have me killed. I want her out!"
"Penny, please, let me just take her to the doctor and –"
"NO! And I can't believe you're risking my life and the life of our child for your mother! You said it's unforgiveable! You. SAID!"
"Yes, but that's before I found out about her brain failing her!"
"She's LYING!" This time he shouts and you fight the urge to cower from that voice. Instead you straighten up and raise your voice.
"Why are you being so fucking stubborn?"
An ugly sneer forms on his face, "Maybe because I'm the only one who fucking cares about our child's safety!"
You slap him.
Silence falls in the room as you realize what you had done. And judging from the way his eyes widen, Penny realized it too.
"…Penny…I…" you start but as he turns his face towards you, you stop. All your time with him Pennywise had always been expressive but this time there is nothing on him – just blank. A chill runs up your spine as he shakes his head.
"…fine." The softness stabs you harder than any screams. "Stay with your mother then." And then he turns and storms past you. You rush after him, apologies babbling past your mouth but Penny is determined to ignore you. Both of you walk towards Eggy who is lying asleep on the couch.
"Wait –"
"I'm taking her with me." He states, tucking her into his arms.
You grab his shoulder, "NO! She's my daughter too! You can't just take her!"
He shrugs you off, eyes narrowed, "I'm not leaving her here, not with someone who doesn't give a shit about her safety."
You open your mouth to retort but then you see it: blood trickle out from the corner of his eyes and nose and your ears starts to ring. You shriek, out of fear and anger because Penny, couldn't, shouldn't use his powers, it's too dangerous but he does not seem to care. You try to grab him, to make him stop but within a blink, the two of them simply vanishes.
A second ticks by before you realize that he's gone, your child's gone, vanished against all odds.
"No, no, no, NO!" you stammer, you run throughout the house, shouting for them both because surely Penny couldn't have gone too far – he couldn't have gone too far – not in his state. You checked every room, your bedroom, Eggy's attic hideaway, the living room and the dining room, screaming their names.
When you come to the horrific conclusion that they weren't there, you grab your car keys and storm towards the guest room where your mother is waiting.
"Mom, I'm sorry but I…"
The room is empty.
…no, not just empty – not even used.
You stare at the tucked in bed, the utterly clean floors and the missing luggage bag your mother had brought with you.
"…Mom?" you call out, as you circle the room. You remember leaving her here a few minutes ago and there was no way she could have cleaned up and left without you noticing. But as hard as you look, your mother is nowhere to be found.
Your stomach churns, because something is wrong, very wrong and then you hear it, the bells, your baby's bells chiming in dread.
"Well, looks like the jig is up," a voice, raspy and familiar echo around you.
You hear the chimes of bells, the scent of cigars and the feel of silken gloves catching you as your eyes grew heavy and the world turns to dark.
"Penny."