*Chapter 6: Festival of Love and Hate*
Everyone is having a great time at the festival. Children laughing and screaming, adults play games with them, and win prizes. Robert and Belle stepped inside the festival, hand in hand. Belle smiled at the bright colors of the place. She notice people are taking pictures with their phones. Belle was intrigued by the new electronic devices. Yet, she felt hunger. She needs to eat, and her little one is starving.
"Let us find prey before we have our fun." Robert whispered to her. "Find a victim." Belle looked around her. Many people are too innocent to be eaten. She started to hear insults ahead of her. She followed them. Robert smirked as he watched her.
Belle turned to see a couple of bullies insulting two men who are a couple. One of the Derry Hate Crimes. People hate the gays.
"Go make out elsewhere, you faggots!" One of the bullies yelled.
"Hey!" Belle yelled. The bullies turn to her. "Why don't you pick on somebody your own sexuality?" The leader, Webby, stood up from the table. Belle glared at him, not backing up. She isn't afraid. The bullies are the ones who should be afraid.
"Or what?" Webby asked, looking at her.
"You defend the gays?" Chris asked.
"She's a pretty one. I'll give her that." Steven commented with a smirk. The bullies sneered at her. Belle's eyes flash yellow. The bullies back away a bit.
"What the fuck?" Webby gasped.
"Her eyes..." Chris spoke.
"Let's get out of here..." Steven said. The bullies left. Belle chuckled a bit. Her stomach growled. She could eat one of the bullies. The rest will be running away in fear, and Pennywise will catch another.
"Excuse me?" A voice asked. Belle's eyes turn back to emerald as she turned. She looks down to see a little girl with a toy. Adrian Mellon gave her his prize. "How did you scare away those guys? They were so mean."
"I...gave them a talk." Belle said, kneeling down. She noticed the mark on the girl's cheek. "Is that your birth mark, sweetie?" The girl shyly nodded, looking down. Belle smiled at her. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. You are who you are. You're special."
"People make fun of me because of it." The girl said, touching her cheek. "I want it gone."
"It's alright, sweetie. Don't listen to them. All that matters is that your parents love you and I'm sure you have friends who care for you." Belle told her. The girl smiled at her.
"Victoria!" A mother called. She came over to see her daughter talking to Belle. "There you are. I'm sorry. Is she bothering you?"
"No. Not at all." Belle said. "You have a special girl. You two have a good time. Nice meeting you." She waved at them before turning away. "Okay. Now, where are those-" She picked up a commotion outside of the festival. "What the...?"
She rushed out of the festival and on the bridge were the bullies beating up the gay couple. Can't those guys ever learn? They do remind Belle of Henry and his goons. And she remembered she fights them off and killed Henry Bowers. But, this time is different.
Adrian was thrown off the bridge along with his beaver hat as his partner, Don, was on the ground. Belle heard a loud splash when she rushed over to Don.
"Are you okay?" She asked him.
"...Ad...Adrian..." Don whispered. "Help him..."
"Hey, it's that bitch again." Chris spat. The bullies turn to her and Don.
"Let's throw her too." Steven said. "She could be a witch!" Belle stood up, glaring at them. Don got up to get away from the scene, getting below the bridge to find his boyfriend.
"You made a biggest mistake." Belle growled.
XX
"We have a winner!" A man behind the counter. He took the stuffed bear and hand it over to Georgia who smiles in glee. She took the bear and turn to her parents.
"I won!" She said. Georgie smiled at her and pat her shoulder. They were playing the game of shoot water in the clown mouths and the balloon pops.
"Great job, honey!" Valerie praised. They walked away from the game. "This is nice, isn't it?" She turned to Georgie. He looked around, not paying attention to his wife. He touches the socket of where his arm should be. It tingles. "George?" Valerie spoke. "George!"
"Huh?"
"Weren't you listening?" Valerie asked. "Are you alright?"
"Mommy, can we get something to eat? I'm hungry." Georgia asked.
"In a minute, honey." Valerie told her. She touches her husband's shoulder. "George, are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine. I said I'm fine." Georgie said. "Just...tired. Look, let's get food and go home. It's getting a little late." He took his daughter to the hot dog stand. Valerie watched in concern. Her husband has been acting odd since they step in the festival. It's like he is afraid that someone might attack or someone was watching him from afar. Valerie had no idea who or what has been in Derry for many years.
XX
Belle tore off Webby's flesh with her sharp teeth and swallow it down. Chris was slaughtered, except Steven. He got on his feet, despite his chest bleeding from a scratch. He got a pocket knife out, approaching Belle who is feasting off of Webby. He brought the knife down and stab her back, making her cry out.
"Fucking die..." Steven whispered. He brought her over to the edge of the bridge, but Steven was off of her. Belle grunted and turn around to see Pennywise snapping Steven's neck. The body collapse on the ground. Belle panted as she tries to heal her wounds. Pennywise's mouth is covered in blood, same as his ruffle collar. Belle wiped her mouth with a sleeve.
"Where's...Adrian?" She asked, slowly getting up, balancing on the bridge.
"...Gone." Pennywise spoke. Belle looked up at him. "It must be done. He suffered enough, my dear. But his partner, Don, was spared." Belle sighed sadly. Adrian doesn't deserve death. Don will be alone. The red balloons float around the bridge. Each of them said, I Love Derry. "You put our daughter in danger when you fight." Pennywise said, eyes glowing.
"I'm fine, Penny. She's fine. They didn't touch my stomach." Belle said. "And I felt her when I feed. She is full." Pennywise approached her and touch her stomach. The balloons continue to float around them and the bridge. The clown felt his unborn. Nadia is safe. "You told me to find someone, and I did." Belle said. Pennywise looked at her. He brought her close.
"I don't want you to get hurt. Especially in your condition." He said. "I can't lose you or our little princess." Belle wraps her arms around him. Her mate was worried for her and Nadia. "Let us return home." Pennywise said. They disappeared from the crime scene.
"Did you have fun, Georgia?" Georgie asked his daughter who hugs her new prized bear. The girl smiled and nodded. Her eyes look tired. "Alright. Let's go home. We had a long day."
"I like to come back again." Georgia said. Her parents chuckled at her. "Laurie Anne hasn't been here yet."
"She will sometime." Valerie said. As they walk out of the festival, there are yellow tapes and ambulances. Georgie made a concern look and walk over to the crime scene. Bodies were covered in sheets and he could see blood stains on them. His heart leaped. "George?" Valerie called. "What're you doing?"
"Stay there." Georgie called to her and his daughter. "I'm gonna find out what happened."
"But, George!" Valerie protested, but her husband went under the yellow caution tapes. "Oh my god. What is he doing?"
"Mommy, did someone get hurt?" Georgia asked.
"I don't know. But, come on." Valerie dragged her daughter away from the crime scene, not wanting Georgia to see anything too graphic.
Georgie looked at the dead bodies in silent. The feeling on his arm socket is back. He went below the bridge to look for any signs. But, he found something red. He bent over to pick it up. A popped balloon with I Love Derry on it. Georgie started to shake.
"Shit."
"Georgie!" A voice called from above the bridge. Georgie looked up to see Mike coming down. "What happened?"
"Mike..." Georgie gave Mike the evidence. Mike took it and stare at it. "...IT's back." Georgie said. He is shaking, bring his hand up to his head. "Shit. Shit. Shit."
"George, calm down." Mike told him, holding his shoulders. "I'm here for you. Don't let it get to you."
"If IT's back, then...Belle must be back too." Georgie said. He started to feel light headed. Mike's voice sounds like an echo. Georgie's head starts to spin. He fainted. Georgie had a panic attack.
"George? George?" Valerie's voice said softly. Georgie woke up and see his wife looking down at him. Georgie felt a wet rag on his forehead. "You okay?"
"What...happened?" Georgie asked, slowly sitting up, taking off the rag.
"You fainted. Mike brought you home." Valerie said. Mike came in the living room with a glass of ice water. "You've gone hysterical and you passed out."
"Where's Georgia?" Georgie asked, taking a long gulp of water.
"In bed." Valerie replied. "But, what is going on with you? You're shaking like a leaf." Georgie looked up at Mike, then at his wife.
"I wish I could tell you...but I can't." He said. Valerie turned to Mike.
"You know something. Don't you?" She asked. Mike shook his head at her. He couldn't tell her. It'll put her and Georgia in danger. IT will come after them. "Mike, tell me. I see the look in your eyes. You know something." Valerie said with a stern expression.
"No. It's too dangerous." Mike told her. "Believe me, you don't want to know. I wish we could tell you, but we can't." Georgie hears them argue a bit. He stood up and have them stop talking. He turned to his wife.
"Val, listen. One thing you can know is that...every 27 years, bad things has happened. Kids go missing, and people have been ignoring every strange thing has been happening around them. This town is a curse." Georgie said. Valerie stared at him, worried about him. What is he talking about? "Valerie, I didn't want to scare you. But, listen. Whatever you do, keep Georgia close and never leave her alone."
"George, what-"
"Promise me, Val! Promise me you won't let anything happen to our daughter!"
"Okay, okay!" Valerie said. "You're scaring me!" Georgie gave her a forceful hug. Mike watched them in silent. He knew he had to call the Losers Club soon. They all made an oath. They will come back if IT comes back.