*Chapter 11: Derry Town House*
Belle was sitting on the arm chair, stroking her stomach, feeling her daughter. She smiled a bit. Pennywise came over to her with blood on his face. He just ate a child from under the bleachers at the baseball game.
"How are you feeling, my dear?" Pennywise asked, touching her stomach.
"Never better." Belle said. She noticed Pennywise's frown. "Are you okay?"
"I have news, Belle." Pennywise said. "Rowen is in town." Belle made a look. But Pennywise continued. "She is planning to do the Ritual of Chud. The ritual can keep us from existing in this world."
"The ritual? Alone?" Belle asked. "Is that even possible?"
"She is the cult. She can perform alone if she wishes. Maturin can give her power." Pennywise said. "Remember what you told me. She tried to take you away and our child. You killed the cult. And you said you will kill her if she ever interferes. Don't you want to protect our daughter?" Belle thought about it. Rowen can't get in a way. She made a look, her eyes turn gold.
"I want to crush her heart. I will make her wish she was never born." Belle said. Pennywise let out an evil chuckle. "Where is she now?"
Rowen was waiting for Mike, Jacob, and Bill to show up at the clock tower. She is surrounded by the history, missing child posters, and there is a Chud vase. Rowen approached it and touch it. She hasn't seen one in years. How did Mike get it?
"Hello again." A voice spoke. Rowen turned to see Belle.
"...Belle."
"Expecting someone else?" Belle asked.
"What're you doing here? Did you finally see the light?" Rowen asked with a look. Belle rolled her eyes at her.
"I wanted to talk to you. But, not here. At the Derry Town House." Belle said. Rowen raise a brow at her in suspicion. Belle's eyes glow a bit. Rowen took the dagger out of her jacket.
"You're not Belle..." She whispered. The brunette woman chuckled as red lines appeared on her face. She is slowly walking around Rowen, sneering at her a little. "Where is she?" Rowen demanded.
"She's waiting at the Derry Town House." The imposter replied. "You refuse to come quietly, I'll finish the job myself." Rowen glared at the fake Belle. She puts away the dagger and walk pass the imposter. Maybe Belle does need to talk. Possibly another warning.
In Jacob's room, Belle was waiting for her mate to bring Rowen to her. The door opened and Rowen walked in with Robert who shuts the door behind him and lock it. Rowen stares at Belle in silent.
"You all never listen to my warning." Belle said. "I killed your people. And...you never learn when to quit. I do anything to protect my baby. From you and the turtle."
"You're an idiot, Belle." Rowen spoke. "You really have no idea what you're doing." She faces Robert. "This creature is using you. You're his puppet." Belle stood on her feet.
"He would never do that. He's been taking care of me ever since I first become his mate!" She exclaimed. "Now we have a child to worry about. Soon, she will be born." Rowen noticed Belle's stomach. It's not big, but it will be. Robert grabbed Rowen by the hair to hold her in place. "I want you gone." Belle said, her eyes turn gold.
"You don't have to do this." Rowen whispered.
"Do it, Belle." Robert told his mate. "For our daughter."
"You kill me, you will regret it. They will never forgive you for this." Rowen spoke. Belle froze.
"Who's 'they'?" She asked.
"The Losers Club." Rowen said. Belle blinked at her in silent. She looked up at Robert. His grip on the blonde hair is tight. "And they are not the only ones. Your brother, Jacob, is here." Belle didn't say a word. The Losers Club have returned, and her brother is here. "You don't have to do this." Rowen said to Belle. "We can fix this."
"Belle..." Robert spoke. Belle looked up at him. "You remember what happened the last time when those brats came to the Neibolt house. They broke the deal. And remember how Kyle was the one who brought them there. Rowen was doing the same thing. Think about it, my dear."
"No. That's not true!" Rowen said. "He's lying to you!"
"Think about our future with Nadia, Belle." Robert said, silencing the member of the cult. "Nobody will interfere with us. Nadia will be safe and happy. She will live just as long as us." Rowen pulled her face away from Robert's hand.
"Belle, don't listen to him! You have no idea what was to come!" Rowen said. "Remember what I told you 27 years ago! You die if he dies! Your daughter will die!" Belle's head is spinning as they both talk to her. Rowen was pleading for Belle to listen. But, Belle strikes her hand into Rowen's chest. The blonde woman let out a choke cry, watching Belle taking out her heart. Robert watched with a smirk.
"I said I will kill you. I promised." Belle said. "The cult is no more." She crushed the beating heart, blood drips all over the floor. Robert releases Rowen who fell on the ground. "Goodbye, Rowen." The eyes stare up at her, then to the ceiling. Rowen is no more. Robert smiled and kiss Belle on the lips. Belle brought her bloody hand up to his face. They pulled away.
"The cult is gone." Robert whispered. "Maturin will be weak. We are stronger."
"...What about the Losers Club?" Belle asked. "Are they really here? And my brother?" Robert is silent for a moment. Belle could tell that he knows. He nodded a bit.
"It's true. They are here. But...they must leave." Robert said. "Nadia doesn't want me to harm them in any way. Their only option is to leave our town."
"Nadia said that? She doesn't want you to hurt them?" Belle said, blinking. Robert shook his head. "You will promise her?" Belle asked. "I will try my best to convince them to leave. I want to see them. One last time."
"Anything...for my queen and princess." Robert said. Belle hugs him. Little did she know, behind Robert's back, he crossed his fingers.
The Losers Club are hanging out by the bar of the town house. They were wondering why Rowen never showed up. Before Jacob could go back up to his room upstairs, he froze at his place. Coming downstairs is Belle. The blood on her is gone. Jacob backed away as the Losers Club turn to see her.
"Holy shit..." Bill gasped.
"Belle..." Richie spoke. Georgie got up from his seat to see his favorite babysitter. She still looks the same. Never aged a bit. The woman gave the Losers Club a loving smile. Jacob backed away as Georgie went up to Belle with emotion. Georgie wrap his arm around her. Belle hugged him back lovingly. How much time passed.
"You're back." Georgie said, nearly crying. "You're really back. I've missed you so much." Belle started to cry as well. She pulled away to see his face.
"Georgie...you're grown so much." She said, cupping Georgie's face. "My god, look at you. From a cute little boy to a handsome young man." Georgie chuckled a bit, wiping his tears with his hand. Belle looked at the others. "All of you have. How time flies." Beverly came up to her and hugged her. As did Ben, Eddie, and Mike. Bill, Richie, and Stan remain in their spot. They are speechless to see Belle again after all these years. "I thought I'd never see you all again." Belle said after she hugged Eddie.
"We thought the same." Ben said. "But...here you are!" Belle smiled at him. She couldn't believe how different Ben looked. Before she could talk to any of her friends, she turned to see her brother. "Jacob..." She went up to him. "How are you here?"
"The turtle." Jacob replied. "Belle, I need to talk to you. Alone." He left the group as Belle follows him.
"If she's here, is...IT here?" Eddie asked nervously.
XX
Outside of the building, Jacob and Belle stood outside the doors. Belle couldn't believe how different her little brother looked. He's taller than her. And she noticed a ring. He is married. How she missed so much.
"Who's the lucky girl?" Belle asked with a small smile. Her brother didn't answer her. He crossed his arms. Belle could sense his anger. "Jacob?"
"What the fuck, Belle?" Jacob asked hotly.
"...What?"
"Rowen told me the story. She told me everything." Jacob said. "How could you fall in love with a monster? Especially that eats kids? And you're pregnant with that...thing!"
"You don't understand-"
"Oh, I understand!" Jacob scoffed. "I understand that you care so much about that clown more than your own family! You never called us! I know you've been with that clown, but...you have no idea what's been happening!" Belle frowned at him. "Two years ago, mom passed away. She was very sick."
"...What?" Belle gasped. "Mom was sick?"
"She was!" Jacob snapped. "All she wanted is to see you one last time, but...you weren't there! You were sleeping for 27 long years! Mom was so heartbroken that she didn't see her first born daughter. I was there for her. She loves me very much, but sad that you weren't there to see her!" Belle's tears started to fall. Jacob took a deep breath, running his hand through his hair. "And yes, I am married to a wonderful girl. I have a son. You would love them, but...you can't meet them. I wouldn't bring them here." He said. "You're a monster, Belle."
"Jacob, I...I didn't-" Belle choked as she sobs. "I think about you all the time! I love you! Our mother, our stepdad, the Losers Club, everybody! I love you all! I never meant to abandon you!"
"You made your choice, sis." Jacob said. "Like it or not, we will stop IT. We will save you."
"You can't! Just go back home to your family! You all can't be here!" Belle said. Jacob did the unthinkable. He slapped Belle in the face. Belle felt a sting on her cheek.
"You're so stupid!" Jacob yelled. "You're not the same Belle I knew and loved! Where is my sister? Where's the Belle who was there for us? What happened to her?" Belle place her hand on her cheek that is red from the slap. She doesn't know what else to say. Jacob's tears fall down his face.
"Jacob...I never meant to..." Belle paused as she felt tears form in her eyes. "I'm sorry. But, you weren't there when I saved Georgie 27 years ago. I paid the price." She said. Jacob didn't say anything as he stared at her. Belle looked up at him as tears fall from her eyes. "You must go home. Back home to your family. Your life depends on it. Same with the Losers. Please." Belle told him. Jacob turned away from her. He walked back inside the Derry Town House. Belle got on her knees, sobbing.
XX
"So, what now?" Richie asked, after Jacob explained what happened outside. "We're just gonna sit around like sitting ducks? I don't want to get killed by a clown! And I'm sorry to say this, but Belle's right. We all should leave this fucking town."
"No!" Georgie said with a look. "No, you can't! We need to stop Pennywise! He's done enough harm in this town! We made a promise! We made an oath!" Bill came over to his little brother to calm him.
"The ritual must be done!" Mike told everyone. "But, we need tokens. And we need to remember."
"Remember what?" Richie asked with a look.
"That year when IT took Belle away from us. And the times when IT tormented us as kids." Georgie said. Jacob looked at him. Stan shivered a little when he remembered how IT took a form of a lady in the painting. How that terrified him so much.
"Wait a minute." Jacob said. "You mean that the clown was scaring you guys behind Belle's back?" They didn't say anything, but nodded.
"Belle doesn't know about it. She thinks that Pennywise will leave us alone, but he didn't." Beverly said. "We were so scared, we can't do anything about it. We thought Belle would know. I guess she didn't."
"And that summer after Pennywise lets her go, the clown still scares us." Eddie said. "He was angry."
"So...you guys never broke the deal." Jacob said, figuring this out. "Pennywise did. He broke his own part of the deal he made with Belle." It all made sense. Pennywise had been lying to Belle. She is just a tool. Now the Losers Club are in danger for being here. Before they worry about Belle, they must find their tokens of their past.