*Chapter 13: Sabotage*
Georgia was sitting out the front lawn, holding the missing child poster. A picture of her friend, Laurie Anne, is on the poster. She's been missing for a day. Georgia was told to stay home at all times since her father told her it's too dangerous to be outside. Georgia was more curious of how her friend got missing right after Valerie picked her up.
"Georgia?" A boy voice called from the driveway. Georgia looked up to see a boy with a skateboard. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine, Dean. Just...worried about Laurie Anne." Georgia said as Dean came up to her. "One minute after I went home, she was gone. Someone was watching."
"I'm sure they will find her." Dean assured her. "Derry is a small town."
"I hope she's okay..." Georgia said, folding the poster to keep.
"Me too. Hey, I was wondering...if you like to go to the festival with me later? My friend invited me and...I was wondering if you like to go with us." Dean asked.
"I went days ago." Georgia said. "But, I do like to go again. I'll ask my mom." She was about to go to the front door, but Valerie walked out to water her plants. "Mom, can I go to the festival with Dean later today?" Valerie looked at her daughter.
"We already went to the festival, sweetie." She said. "I don't think it's a good idea to go back after what happened days ago."
"Mom, I'll be with them. We'll come back before it gets dark." Georgia pleaded. "Please?" Valerie remembered her husband's words. Georgia must not be alone after the murders and children have gone missing. She looked over at Dean who held the skateboard with one hand.
"Well...okay. Just stay with the group. I'll have your dad come get you before dark." Valerie said. Georgia smiled at her. "Don't talk to strangers while you're at the festival." Valerie informed her daughter.
"I know." Georgia grabbed her bike to follow Dean down the driveway. "I'll be back for my things, mom. Bye!" Valerie waved at her, watering her plants.
By the side of the house, Robert watches with a smirk. More children to play with. But first, he must deal with the Losers Club.
After splitting up, Stan went to the church of his. He remembered his Bar Mitzvah. And his speech about growing up is meaningful to him. But, his parents were embarrassed by the fact he uses foul language after the speech.
Stan walked inside the empty building. Everything still looks the same. No one was around. Of course, it's only a weekday. Stan walked upstairs to find the office that used to be his father's. He walked inside the office and saw something on the wall he wished he never see again. The lady in the painting. Stan looked away, feeling the sting on his hand. His scar on the hand.
"Not again..." Stan whispered. "Not again." He remembered that day when he was putting the book back in this office, and the painting fell on the floor. After Stan puts it back up, the lady in the painting was gone. The fear of his came to life. The face wasn't normal. She grinned at him. Stan was so scared, he ran away screaming.
"You should've died, Stanley..." A voice spoke in the office. Stan whipped around, breathing heavily. "You cut your wrists. But you just had to be saved."
"...I'm not afraid of you." Stan spoke. "I had to come back for my friends."
"People make mistakes, Stanley..." A voice said. Stan turned around there was Robert smirking at him. Stan backed up. His back is against the bookshelf as Robert approaches. "I heard that my little girl saved you. She believes it isn't your time." Robert said.
"...Your daughter." Stan said. "She has good in her. Not you."
"Maybe so. But, your time...is now." Robert growled. Before Stan could have a chance to run, Robert got a knife out and slit Stan's neck. A knife that once belonged to Henry Bowers. Blood pouring out like a waterfall. Stan couldn't speak, his hands shakenly went up, his eyes look at Robert whose eyes turn gold as he smells blood. Robert licked the blood off the knife. "Your fear was one of the best, Stanley." He chuckled. "The others will miss you." Stan sinks to the floor, bleeding to death. Robert turned away to leave. "But your friends will join you shortly." He said, shutting the door. Stan let out one last breath. He is gone. Nobody can save him now.
"Ah!" Belle gasped by the feeling. It stings. She touches her stomach. Nadia is active. "What's wrong, little one?" Belle asked her belly. She sat on the grass, soothing her stomach. "It's okay. It's okay." She whispers.
"Belle?" Beverly's voice called. Belle looked up to see her. Beverly came to her, kneeling beside her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just...the baby is...active." Belle replied. "What're you doing here?"
"I'm...here to find my artifact." Beverly slowly replied, looking at Belle's stomach. She reached out, but stopped. She looked at her. "Can I?" Belle nodded, smiling a little. Beverly placed her hand on Belle's stomach. "My god. You look like you're 3 or 4 months." Beverly said, chuckling a bit. Belle giggled along with her. "Is her name Nadia?" Beverly asked.
"Yes. I named her." Belle said. "It suits her."
"You saw her in your dreams? When...you hibernate?" Beverly asked. "Rowen said that Nadia was the one who saved Stan from his suicide." Belle stared at Beverly. Did she hear that right? Nadia saved Stan. Stan committed suicide, but didn't die. Nadia saved him. "Belle, don't you see?" Beverly spoke. "Nadia doesn't want any of us to die. She knows you care about us." Belle's stomach pain is gone. Beverly continued to speak. "You still love us, don't you? Before Pennywise lands in your life, you care so much. You saved Georgie, stay with Pennywise to protect us, and then...things change."
"It happened, Bev." Belle said, not looking at her. "Pennywise fell in love with me first. He protects me, takes care of me, and then...he started to feel love. After months passed, we just...fall in love." She remembered after she killed Henry, she and Pennywise had their first kiss. And then, they confessed their feelings and did a consummation. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you all after Pennywise lets me go. It's so hard for me to get over the fact that he lets me go. He never meant to hurt me."
"You let Kyle die." Beverly said. "He wanted to help us get you back home. He never meant to bring us as a trade or anything you think of. We wanted you back to our lives. Kyle cared about you. And he helped us. But...you let him die."
"I can't do this." Belle got up to walk away. "But, do me a big favor, Bev. Leave this town. All of you, please leave. I wanted you all to be safe." She turned away before Beverly had a chance to protest. Beverly sighed after Belle left, and she turned to face her old apartment home. She must do her mission while the others are doing the same.
The people at the park are celebrating Derry. There are cheerleaders, a tiger mascot, and a band on stage. Belle sat on the bench, trying to clear her mind. But, someone stood in front of her.
"You look like crap." Belle looked up to see Richie.
"Thanks." Belle said sarcastically. "Girls love hearing that."
"Well, you look like you...been through a lot. Maybe because you're pregnant with a devil." Richie commented.
"Beep, beep, Richie." Belle growled. Her eyes glow gold.
"Sorry, I'll shut up." Richie said, frightened by her eyes change color. He was about to walk away, but Belle got up to stop him.
"Wait. Where are the others?" She asked. "Beverly told me about finding her artifact. For what?" Before Richie had a chance to reply, they both hear a familiar voice. They both look up at the Paul Bunyan statue, but sitting on the shoulder is Pennywise. He is holding red balloons. He is grinning down at them. Belle could hear Richie curse in fright.
"Did you miss me, Richie?" Pennywise called. The clown frowned at him. "Cuz I missed you. No one wants to play with a clown anymore." He then form a grin. "Play a game with me, would ya? How about Street Fighter? Ohh, yes. You like that one, don't you?" He chuckled. Belle crossed her arms, looking up at her clown mate with a serious look. What is he planning to do? "Or maybe... Truth or Dare." Pennywise suggested, giving Richie is sly grin.
"Jesus..." Richie spoke.
"Penny, whatever you're thinking..." Belle whispered. Then, Pennywise started to float up with his balloons.
"Oh, you wouldn't want anyone to pick 'truth' though, would you, Richie?" He asked. He is slowly floating down towards Richie and Belle who watched in silent. "You wouldn't want anyone to know what you're hiding." Pennywise let out a chuckle.
"What is he talking about?" Belle asked Richie in a whisper. Richie refused to speak to her. Pennywise started to sing as he floats down.
"I know your secret,
Your dirty little secret.
I know your secret,
Your dirty little secret!"
The clown's feet is on the grass, making Richie back away. Belle stood by Richie, her arm up front to protect him.
"Should I tell them, Richie?" Pennywise taunted with a grin.
"Pennywise, stop!" Belle said. Richie closes his eyes. He is telling himself that this isn't real. He opened his eyes, and Pennywise screamed at him. Richie let out a scream and ran away as Pennywise scowled at him. Belle watches the clown's face deform.
"Come back and play! Come back and play with a clown!" Pennywise yelled. Belle held her stomach, staring at her husband in silent. Pennywise shook his head to have his face back to normal. He turned to Belle who gave him a stern look.
"Was that really necessary?" She asked. "And what do you mean about a secret?"
"Oh, don't you know?" Pennywise asked. "Richie isn't what you think he is. He is hiding it from his friends. Especially from Eddie." Belle made a surprised look. How could she not know this? Richie likes Eddie. But more than a friend. Richie's real fear is his sexuality if anyone found out he is gay. Belle can't judge him. He should be proud of who he really is.
"I wonder if Eddie knows..." Belle says. "And Penny, don't you ever think about-" She turned to face him, but the clown was gone. "Shit. He's gonna make things worse." She left the park to find the other Losers.
Belle went to the library to find Mike, but he isn't anywhere to be found. But, she hears a sound. She cautiously walk through the aisles. Someone is here. But, it isn't Mike. One hand is over her stomach, protecting her baby, the other out in front. As soon as she went around, a pocket knife stabbed her in the back. Belle let out a cry of agony. She was kicked down to the floor. She rolls on her back to see who attacked her.
"Hello, Belle." Patrick spoke, swinging his knife around. Belle gasped. Patrick Hockstetter. "Been a long time since we last saw each other. Since that day you killed my friend. Henry brought me here to kill the Losers Club, I come here to kill Mike, but then you showed up. I thought I should start with you."
"Patrick..." Belle crawled back, her hand out. "Wait! Henry was dead! Remember?!"
"I remember! But he came to me!" Patrick snapped. Belle remembered the nightmare she had. She sees Henry's ghost. Was that also a warning? Patrick was about to lunge at her, but Belle rolled away. She must get away. "I'll fucking kill you, and then I will kill the others!" Patrick yelled.
"Patrick, listen!" Belle said, holding her hands up. "Think about what you're doing. Don't do anything stupid." Patrick let out a chuckle. He points at her with a knife.
"This is what you get for killing my best friend, you bitch." Patrick said.
"I know he is special to you. I know you want him to be your boyfriend." Belle told him with a look. Patrick glared at her. "I know how you really felt before. But Henry was fighting it. He was scared."
"How the fuck do you know about that?!" Patrick yelled. "It was supposed to be a secret! Nobody knows!" Belle didn't say a word to him. Patrick made a look of disgust as he figured it out. "You sick bitch! You...you saw us, didn't you?!"
"Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't." Belle said. Patrick let out a yell, charging at her with a knife. Now Belle didn't have any other choice. She must kill Patrick to protect herself and the Losers Club. Belle's claws extend and she slash his stomach. Guts were coming out and blood sprays at Belle's face. Patrick fell on his knees, dropping on the knife.
"I won't let you kill us." Belle said. Patrick let out a choke gasp before collapse on the floor. Blood pools around him. Belle walked away from the body. "Why is he even here? Something's not right." She is leaving the library to look for Bill and Georgie.