*Chapter 10: Reunion*

Jacob was lead up to Mike's clocktower apartment. There are collections of Derry history. Mike has been living in this place after his grandfather passed away. And it's more safer. Jacob turned to see the table with books and missing posters. There is one that caught his eye. An old missing poster of his sister, Belle. He picked it up to see a black and white photo of her and see where she was last seen. Oct. 25th, 1988.

"That was the day when she agreed to become the mate." Mike spoke as he brought out glasses of water. Jacob puts down the poster and took a drink of water. They hear footsteps coming up. There is Georgie. "Hi, George. You're just in time. This is Jacob Whitehurst." Mike introduced. The two men shake hands. Jacob noticed the socket of Georgie's arm.

"Hello, George. I'm so sorry about what happened to you. Must be rough." Jacob said.

"Oh, yeah..." Georgie said, touching his socket. "But, it's not so bad once you get used to it. So, you're Belle's little brother? She told me and Bill about you." Jacob smiled and sat down with Georgie by the table. Mike gave Georgie a drink of water. "So, tell me about yourself. The turtle must've told you about us before you came here." Georgie said.

"Well, I'm married to a wonderful girl and we have a son." Jacob said. "My son is 10 years old and full of daring. My wife is a great cook." He frowned a bit. "If only my sister were around to meet them one day. But, she never did. Now I knew why..." Jacob took a big drink of water. "Our mother was very sick, and there was nothing we could do to help her. The doctors tried everything to help, but...my mom didn't have time. We were all there for her, to say our last goodbyes. But, she wanted to see her daughter. That was Belle. She wanted to see her first born daughter one last time. She was so sad that she never got a chance to see her. So, my mom passed away. I remember her last words."

"...What were they?" Georgie asked. Jacob took a deep breath, trying not to cry.

"She said, 'Why Belle?'. And...she was about to say something else, but...she was gone." Jacob said. "That was two years ago when she passed away. Belle wasn't there." Georgie frowned at this. He felt bad for him. Belle never had a chance to see her mother.

"I'm so sorry." Georgie said.

"Thanks." Jacob said. Mike joined them after he heard the story. "But, back to business. How do we kill this thing?" Mike showed them the Chud vase. Each side shows the story. Jacob stared at it. "What's this?"

"The natives had this. They showed me how IT came to Earth. And how to defeat IT for good." Mike said. Georgie and Jacob turned the vase to see a drawing of a meteor coming down. The day when IT first arrived. Mike told them that IT has been around for millions of years before humans exist. IT was older than anyone could ever imagine. In the 1600s, IT started to feast on humans for fear. 1700s when IT made a form of a Victorian clown and eats children for fear since they are easier to scare.

"So, let me get this right." Jacob spoke. "You're telling me that we have to do the ritual to seal this thing inside from existence. Did it ever work before with the natives?"

"Yeah. Isn't there a story behind that?" Georgie turned the vase around and see one side didn't show. Mike took the vase away.

"They did." Mike said.

"And?" Jacob asked, wanting more details. Mike was hesitant.

"It's going to work!" He said. "Since there's enough of us, we will perform the ritual. But, we need artifacts. Our friends need to remember the past. We're stronger together."

"Artifacts? Do I need one? I never encountered the clown." Jacob asked.

"When you first see him with an item that means much, yes." Mike said. "But, I understand you don't need one to perform."

"Great." Jacob said, rolling his eyes.

"We got till tonight when everyone arrives back in Derry." Mike said. "Both of you, be ready. Stay safe. Meet me at Jade of the Orient tonight at 7:00 sharp. And you said Rowen will be there and tell us how to perform the ritual. She's the member of the cult." Georgie and Jacob nodded. So, the three went downstairs to leave the clocktower apartment.
After they are gone, Robert appeared and look around the place with a frown. The Losers Club will be a thorn at his side. Belle will eventually find out about their return. She shouldn't. They will ruin everything like before. Robert thought back of his daughter's request. She doesn't want him to hurt the Losers Club, or kill them. His own daughter doesn't want them harmed. Her spirit is in Mid-World.

"Maturin..." Robert growled. "It was all you!" He smacks the Chud vase off the table. "You did this! You brought a new member here and you are so desperate to be rid of me!" He slams his hands on the table, looking at the history, breathing hard. He must distract the adults somehow. He heard that they will be having a reunion at a restaurant. He could scare them with illusions like before. The more they remember, they will leave his town. Rowen will be involved since Jacob met her and she's the one who showed him the past of Belle's deal with a clown. Rowen needs to go. "Belle did say that she will kill her if she ever bothers us." Robert said, forming a smirk. "With Rowen gone, the ritual won't work. And each Loser will be gone. One by one..." He let out a chuckle. "But, I can't do it alone." His eyes turn gold.

Patrick Hockstetter is mopping the floors at the Juniper Hill Asylum. He's been there for years after he murdered his baby brother by suffocating him with a pillow. His parents were heartbroken, and very angry with Patrick and sent him away. Patrick was never sorry for what he did. He was angry by the fact that his friend, Henry Bowers, was murdered by Belle Whitehurst 27 years ago. How he hated her for it. He remembered how she uses some witchcraft powers to fight him and the others off. She is not human.

"Hockstetter…" A dry voice spoke. Patrick stopped what he was doing. He turned around to see anyone who said his name. No one was around the halls. It was quiet. As soon as Patrick turn his head back, there is a face. A familiar face. Patrick dropped his mop, backing away.

"What the fuck?!"

"Hey, old friend." The voice spoke. Patrick recognized who the person was. The corpse is moldy. There are bugs on his face. There is one eye. It was Henry Bowers.

"...Henry?" Patrick asked. He blinked a few times, making sure he isn't dreaming.

"I came to get you out of here. You have a job. The Losers Club. They're in Derry. You hated them more than I do. You remember how I carve my letter on a fat boy? He's changed and rich! They are all rich!" Henry hissed. "And look at us! I may be dead, but...look where you are. You're going back to Derry."

"Those guys don't matter to me." Patrick said. "You remember how that bitch killed you? I'd rather kill her! Is she still in Derry?" The corpse didn't reply. Henry gave Patrick orders to escape this mental asylum and go to Derry to attack the Losers Club. Patrick didn't understand why his dead friend never wanted him to kill Belle instead. In a trance, Patrick walk down the halls with a corpse. Time to go back to Derry.

*Summer, 1989*

Patrick was stroking Henry's dick with one hand. They are in the junkyard of old cars. No one could see them. Except Belle. She hiding behind one of the cars in silent. She doesn't know why she was watching the two teens, but something tells her that Patrick had a thing for Henry. And Henry is fighting it. People she knew had secrets.

"Want me to put it in my mouth?" Patrick asked with a smirk. "I don't mind-" Henry pushed him away and put his dick in his pants. Belle listened to them in complete silent. She could just make them ignore her if she walks away, but she had to hear this. A bully in town is gay, but didn't want to admit it. He is in denial. It makes her want to laugh.

"You tell anybody about this, I'll kill you." Henry said in a threatening voice.

"You were hard. Don't deny it." Patrick said, not reacting to Henry's threat. "Just admit it, Henry. You were hard for me." Henry turned and punched Patrick in a jaw. "What the fuck?!"

"Shut the fuck up! I never had feelings for you, you faggot!" Henry yelled. "You tell anyone, I'll kill you! Or...I'll tell your old man about the fridge! Where you keep the dead animals!" Belle made a look of disgust. Patrick keeps dead animals in a fridge. Patrick is more psychotic than Henry. She no longer hears their voices as she leaves the junkyard.
Now she wished she never witnessed this. This is something she will never bring up to Pennywise or anybody.

At the Jade of the Orient, everyone was there. Jacob was drinking with the Losers Club. Georgie was thrilled to see his big brother again and couldn't wait for him to see his family. What shocked Richie and Eddie is Ben who lost weight growing up. He looks so different. Beverly was married to a horrible man, Tom Rogen, but she left him after the phone call. She has some bruises on her arms. But, she got away. The rest of the group had great lives of their own away from their hometown. Though, they are still spooked about IT.

"Hey, any room for one more?" A voice asked from the entrance of a private dinner room. Everyone turned to see Stan.

"...Stan?" Eddie gasped.

"Holy shit, he's here." Richie said. Mike got up and embrace Stan who is chuckling. Everyone thought that Stan wouldn't show up at all. Stan was brought over to the table. He sat in the empty chair, next to Richie and Jacob.

"We thought you didn't want to show up." Ben spoke with a smile.

"Well...I knew I should." Stan said. Beverly looked down to see his wrists. They are wrapped in bandages. "But, I can't have you guys fight the clown alone."

"The Losers Club is now reunited." Bill said, taking a sip of his drink. Beverly brought her beer up.

"I propose a toast. To the Losers." She said. They all grab their drinks and clink their glasses or bottles. Jacob smiled at everyone. They are together at last. But, he was wondering where Rowen is. She is late. He checked the time on his watch. It's been almost an hour since they came for a reunion.
The waitress arrived with a bowl of fortune cookies. Stan is catching up on the dinner. He stopped eating when Beverly stares at his wrists.

"Did...something happen?" She asked. Stan puts down his fork. He touches the bandages. "Stan, you know you can tell us."

"What's wrong?" Ben asked, noticing the two. Stan let out a shaky sigh. They must know the truth at some point. He looked at everyone with his eyes.

"I got a confession." He started. "After Mike called me, I was...so afraid. I was too scared to come back. So, I took a bath and..." He unwraps his bandages to show them his scars on the wrists. Beverly covered her mouth in shock. "I was supposed to die! But...I was brought back."

"Brought back?" Richie asked.

"You had a near death experience?" Eddie asked. "It may be possible if you did." Stan shook his head.

"No. I found myself in...a field of roses. And there was a little girl." He said. "She has long red hair, gold eyes, and pale skin. She told me I need to go back to Derry. It's not time for me to die. She touches my wrists and...I woke up in a tub and my wrists were healed, but the scars were there."

"A little girl?" Bill wondered.

"She saved you from death?" Mike asked.

"Who is she?" Georgie wondered.

"Nadia Gray saved Stan's life." Rowen's voice spoke. She walked in the private dinner room. Jacob stood up. "The girl must have a heart for all of you. I suppose Maturin spoke to her."

"Uh, who are you?" Richie asked with a strange look in his eyes.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I'm Rowen. A member of the cult. The Cult of Chud." Rowen introduced herself with a small smile. "I know more of Pennywise and I'm going to help you."

"What took you so long? You're late." Jacob asked.

"I had to lay low because of IT. He can't know I am around. He can smell a cult." Rowen said. "Sorry for the delay, but, I gotta stay alive." Before anyone could ask, the table shook. Then, the fortune cookies shake. They break and reveal different creepy things. A baby bird. A bat wing. A crying baby with a deform body. An eyeball. Everyone started to scream. In the fish tank, there are floating heads, singing to the Losers Club.

"What is happening?!" Jacob screamed, backing away.

"Pennywise..." Rowen growled.

"It's not real!" Mike yelled. He grabbed a chair to hit the table. "It's not real!"
After a minute, the waitress rushed in after hearing the commotion. But she didn't see what they are freaking out about. Mike stopped hitting the table with a chair as he noticed the waitress. Everything was back to normal. It's all the illusion.

"Is everything okay?" The waitress asked.

"...Yeah." Jacob replied.

"Can we get a check?" Richie asked. Georgie placed his hand over his chest, feeling his heart. Bill checked on him, making sure he is okay. Pennywise was messing with them.