*Chapter 9: The Promise*

Robert is in a place where he shouldn't be. He is in a throne room. The throne was made out of bones and skulls. Robert looked up to see the red cloak figure, the face is hidden in the hood. Robert felt his blood boil when he recognize who the figure is.

"You..." Robert growled, his eyes turn gold.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Gray. You have been busy, I see." The deep, demonic voice spoke. "I've heard about your mate. Maturin has been spreading the word. Everyone in Mid-World knows who she is now. She is a special one."

"What do you want with me? You brought me here. Not my daughter." Robert spoke with a look in his eyes. The red cloak figure chuckled darkly.

"You don't fool me, Mr. Gray. I know what you have been planning. So does the turtle." He said. "Sooner or later, your precious mate will find out the truth. She will deny you."

"She would never." Robert said. Red lines appeared on his face as his clown form is appearing. "She will never deny me. She is mine. She will be nothing without me." He let out a roar, more teeth coming out. Before the red cloak speaks, everything went black.

XX

Robert opened his eyes and see he is now in the field of wildflowers. This isn't Mid-World. Everything looks so peaceful. He knows he's still dreaming. What just happened? He turned to see a little girl with red hair and gold eyes. Robert's heart leaped when he saw her. It's her. Belle was right. Nadia is beautiful.

"...Nadia?" Robert spoke. The girl nodded. Robert smiled at her. Nadia went up to him and hug him. Robert wrapped his arms around her. One of his hands feeling her soft hair. He pulled away to look at her. "Look at you. You're so precious."

"I brought you here. The Crimson King tried to block my Shine." Nadia said. "I wanted to see you."

"Your mother told me about you. She loves you so much. Soon, you will be born." Robert told her. "Your mother won't have to wait any longer. The more she feeds, you will grow." Nadia smiled a little. "And don't worry about hibernation. You leave that to daddy."

"What about the Losers Club? I don't want you to hurt them if they come back to Derry." Nadia said. Robert frowned a bit. Why is she saying that? "Mommy loves them. I don't want her to be sad." Nadia said. Robert held her little hands.

"Nadia, if they try to stop me, I have to fight back. I only want to protect your mother." He said. "I'll make them get out of my town. They were terrified of Pennywise before."

"Daddy, please don't hurt them. Please." Nadia pleaded. Robert stared at her in silent. He isn't sure if he could promise that. He hated the Losers Club. 27 years ago, the deal was broken. He can hurt or kill them if he wants. But, would Belle care about the broken deal? She still didn't know about Georgie still living in town along with Mike.

"Alright, Nadia. Alright." Robert said. "I won't harm them." Nadia smiled at her father. She hugs him. After this, the dream had ended.

"Pennywise!" Belle's voice cried out. The clown woke up with a start. He sat up to see his mate sitting up in bed, touching her stomach. His gold eyes look down at her stomach. Barely swollen. Belle looks like she is 2 months pregnant. Nadia is growing. Pennywise smiled as he runs his hand over the stomach. "What's happening?" Belle asked.

"She is growing." Pennywise whispered.

"What? Fast growing?"

"Whenever you feed, Nadia will grow a little bit." The clown exclaimed. "I saw her, my Beauty. She's such a cutie..." Belle turned to face him.

"You did?" She asked. Pennywise nodded. "Oh, isn't she just beautiful? What did she say?"

"Oh, she just couldn't wait to be with us soon." Pennywise said. Belle smiled at him. They cuddle in bed. Pennywise held her naked body close. He form an evil smirk on his face. How he couldn't wait for the Losers to return.

*June, 1988*

Little Georgie was tucked in bed, holding his turtle plush close to him as Belle sat next to him. Georgie told his babysitter that he is afraid of the dark and the shadows from his lamp create scary images on the walls. Like monsters will come out to get him. Belle stroke his hair.

"There is nothing to be scared of, Georgie. I'm here." She told him.

"Sometimes I sleep in Billy's bed so I won't be scared." Georgie told her. Belle stared at him. She couldn't blame him for being a small child. Most children can be scared of the dark. Belle remembered when she was afraid of the dark when she was around Georgie's age. Afraid to get out of bed to see if monsters hide under the bed or in her closet. Then, an idea popped in her head.

"You know, I can sing you a song that will help you not to be afraid of the dark." She said. "Would you like that?" Georgie nodded and rest his head back on the pillow. Belle took a breath and begin singing with her lovely soothing voice.

"Never mind the darkness,
Never mind the storm,
Never mind the blood red moon,
The night will be over soon,
The night will be over soon."

Georgie listened to the song and smile at the sound of Belle's voice. Sounds like an angel. Belle continued to sing to him.
Bill hears Belle from his room. He got up from working on his desk and stood by the doorway to listen to Belle's song. He quietly walks down the hall to get to his little brother's room.

"Brush away the sorrow,
Brush away the tears,
Sing away your heavy heart.
The night will be over soon,
The night will be over soon.
For every night goes quiet,
And every moon grows blue,
Beyond the dark, comes something new."

Bill stood by Georgie's doorway and see Belle holding Georgie's hand as she sings. Belle noticed Bill and smiled at him. Georgie's eyelids are getting heavy. The song helped. Belle finishes the song.

"The sun will be rising soon.
The sun will be rising soon.
The sun will be rising soon."

Georgie closes his eyes and fell right to sleep. Belle smiled and stroke his hair once more. She whispered goodnight to him before leaving the bedroom. Bill and Belle quietly left the bedroom, shutting the door halfway shut.

"That was...p-p-pretty." Bill said. "Did you make it up? The song?" Belle turned to him with a smile.

"No. My grandmother used to sing it to me when I was little. She calls it, 'Don't be Afraid'." She told him. "When Georgie told me he is afraid, I just thought about the song. I guess I could sing it to him when I babysit him again." Bill nodded at her. The two walk downstairs while Georgie is sleeping peacefully.

Georgie's cell phone rang, breaking his thoughts. He picked it up to see Mike calling him.

"Hi, Mike." Georgie answered.

"Hey, Georgie. I've called everyone. They will arrive tomorrow." Mike said on the line. "And we have a new friend who will help us. His name is Jacob Whitehurst. He's a brother of Belle."

"Jacob? I...I remember Belle mentioned him once before." Georgie said. "How did he know about-"

"The turtle spoke to him. Look, we're all meeting at the Chinese restaurant tomorrow night. Be there. Your brother was expecting you." Mike said.

"Okay. Got it. And...you heard about Laurie Anne?" Georgie asked. He heard Mike sigh on the line. "IT got her. It happened yesterday after my daughter is home. IT could be after Georgia next. I'm so scared."

"Calm down. I don't want you to freak out like before. That's what IT wants." Mike said. "Just as long as your daughter isn't alone, IT won't come after her. Your wife kept her word for staying with her and watch her at all times. Look, just stay calm and we will talk tomorrow. Okay?"

"Okay. See you tomorrow." Georgie said, hanging up. When he heard that Laurie Anne had gone missing, that made him afraid for his daughter. Georgia won't be next in line. Pennywise can't have her as a snack. He touches the socket that tingles a bit. Georgie made a look in his eyes. "I'll kill you, clown. I'll kill you."

*Song: Don't Be Afraid - From the Walking Dead Game Series*