*Chapter 14: Birth of Nadia*
Georgie stood by the sewer drain with Bill who bought back his bike from the shop for $300 dollars. Of course he can afford it, he is a writer. Even the shop keeper hated his ending of one book Bill wrote. Bill faces the house across from them. Belle's house. Two people are already living there. They are going to be parents. Belle must've already knew her old home was taken care of by a lovely couple.
"I still remember that day she saved me." Georgie spoke, staring at the sewer drain where he lost his paper boat. Bill looks at the drain too. "I thought I was gonna die, but...she saved me. She took me to the hospital and call you guys. Mom and dad were delighted. Belle was a hero." Bill bit his lower lip as he remembered when he was with his parents at the hospital. Bill felt guilty then. Seeing his little brother in bed with no arm. Bill looks over at Georgie's socket.
"Georgie..." Bill spoke. "About that day, I was-" He didn't finish when they both hear voices in the drain. They backed up a bit. But, Georgie sees something he thought he never saw again. A hand holding a paper boat. There are yellow sleeves. "What the fuck?" Bill whispered.
"Help me..." A young boy's voice said.
"No..." Georgie backed away. "That's...not me."
"IT wants to s-s-s-scare you." Bill said. "But, your paper boat. It's our artifact."
"Help me, Billy." The young "Georgie" spoke in the drain. The arms stretch out. Georgie looked at his older brother, wanting him to get the paper boat. Bill nodded. He got close to the drain. He got on his knees and hand. Georgie watched in silent. Bill reached for the paper boat, but another hand grabbed his wrist. Bill got the paper boat, but the tiny hands start to grab his arm, trying to pull him in.
"Bill!" Georgie cried out. He grabs Bill's free hand to pull him with one hand. They both hear giggling of children, and a dark chuckle of a clown. A gloved hand reached for Bill's face, claws ripping through the glove.
"George, pull me out!" Bill yelled.
"I'm trying!" Georgie grunted, pulling his brother. Bill was finally free from the hands, making Georgie fall back. Bill got the paper boat. The giggling faded. Georgie checked on his brother, making sure he is okay from the sudden attack. "Are you okay?"
"Y-y-y-yeah." Bill stuttered. He gripped on the paper boat. They both stare at it. "Didn't age well, huh?" Bill asked. Georgie could laugh, but didn't. The boat is yellow with bloodstains.
"Bill! Georgie!" Belle's voice called. The men turned to see Belle run toward them. She got on her knees by Bill, catching her breath. "Thank god. You're okay. Did Pennywise hurt you?"
"Tried to." Bill said, brushing down his arm.
"What're you doing here?" Georgie asked. He noticed blood stains on her hands and face. "And what happened? Who did you kill?"
"Patrick...Hockstetter." Belle said. "He came to kill me and all of you, but...I killed him. But that is not the issue now." She wipes the blood down her jeans. "Seriously, you all have to leave Derry. It's not safe!"
"Belle, you have no idea what this thing has done to us that summer!" Bill cried out. "While you were with the clown, IT tormented us behind your back! IT broke the half of your deal!"
"It's true!" Georgie said. "Pennywise has been traumatizing us!" Belle stared at them in silent. Before she could speak, she grunted as she feels the pain in her stomach again. The men see her stomach grew a bit more. "Holy shit..." Georgie gasped.
"Belle...your baby." Bill whispered. Belle touches her stomach. It is growing big. 7 months stage. Nadia is growing fast. But, Belle hasn't eaten in a while. How is Nadia growing without being fed?
"Something's wrong." Belle spoke. She started to feel dizzy. "George...Bill...I need...to..." Belle's eyes roll back and collapse on the street.
"Oh shit." Bill said, picking up Belle's head. Georgie rushed over to see Belle's face. She fainted. "We gotta take her to your house, George." Bill said, picking up Belle in his arms. "She's not looking too good."
"Right. I'm gonna call my wife." Georgie picked up Bill's old bike, and started to call Valerie. Bill carried Belle, rushing down the street to get to his brother's house. Belle could be having a baby soon.
"What is going on here?" Valerie asked as Bill brought Belle inside the house. He placed her on the couch for her to lay on. Georgie started to call Mike to tell him what is happening. "Who is this?" Valerie asked. "Is she hurt?"
"She fainted. And she's pregnant." Bill said. "Get her a clean rag. Get her some water." Valerie didn't bother to ask and rush in the kitchen to grab a clean rag and a glass of water. She came back to the living room to give Bill a wet, cold rag. He placed it over Belle's forehead. "Please be okay, Belle." Bill whispered to her. "Please."
"I'm calling Mike!" Georgie said. "Everyone else too!"
Belle gasped as she woke up in a field of red roses. She's back in Mid-World. Nadia brought her back here. That's why Belle fainted. But, dark clouds appear in the sky, and thunder is heard. Belle looked around for her daughter.
"Nadia! Where are you?" She called. "Nadia, what is happening? You're growing too fast! What's wrong?"
"Mommy!" Nadia's voice cried out. Belle turned around to see her daughter running towards her with tears in her eyes. Belle brought her in her arms, embracing her. Nadia is crying. "Mommy..."
"It's okay. It's gonna be okay." Belle whispered. She looked at her daughter's face. "What's wrong?"
"...He lied." Nadia whispered. "He lied to me."
"...Who?"
"Daddy. He was about to hurt them." Nadia replied, sobbing. "...He killed Stan." Belle stared at her daughter. Her heart is beating like a jackhammer. Stan is dead? Pennywise killed him? He's not supposed to.
"...He didn't." Belle spoke in disbelief. "How do you know?"
"I could sense his actions." Nadia said. "He's evil, mommy. He lied to us. He wants to kill them. He's the one who brought Patrick, pretending to be Henry. Patrick was sent to kill the Losers Club, but he wanted to kill you too. And daddy wants to eat me."
"...He wouldn't..." Belle whispered. "You're his daughter. Why would he eat you?"
"...Power." Nadia says. Appearing in the clouds is Maturin. Belle looked up at the turtle as Nadia hugs her, crying. Maturin stared down at Belle. "Maturin wanted to help us. But, you have to listen to him." Nadia said, looking up at Belle. The woman pets Nadia's red hair, looking at the turtle.
"We tried to warn you, child." Maturin spoke. "But you refuse to listen. Now, you are seeing the truth. Pennywise never cared for you nor your daughter. All he wants is power from Nadia. Nadia's power is so great, he wanted it. He wanted to be more powerful than I." Belle recalled the nightmare of Pennywise eating Nadia. Was that really going to happen? "It is true, Belle. Pennywise wants to eat his own child. That must not happen. Nadia is too special to die. You love her so much, you let her be born and stop Pennywise. The clown must be stopped." Maturin spoke. Belle's tears start to fall. Pennywise had been using her as a tool. He lied to her, he uses her, and didn't have care for her or Nadia at all. How could she be so blind? Nadia looks up at her mother.
"Don't let daddy kill them. Don't let daddy kill me." She whispered. Belle dried her daughter's tears. She made a loving smile at her.
"I won't." She whispered. "You are more important to me. You're my daughter. I love you too much." She kisses her daughter's forehead. She then looked up at Maturin. "How do I be free from the bond? Nadia can't die if Pennywise dies." She asked. "Tell me how."
"It is simple. But, it must be done before the Ritual of Chud." The turtle said. He then gave Belle a glare. "Rowen can't help them now because of you." Belle gave him a glare back, not wanting him to rub it in. Maturin continued to speak. "You must deny Pennywise any way possible. Tell him you no longer want to be owned by him. You no longer belong to him. Pennywise hates being denied." Belle nodded, understanding. She can do that. It'll be challenging to do, but she had to do it to save herself, her daughter, and the Losers Club. "Mike learns how to do the ritual. But be there for them during the ritual. You have power, Belle. And you will grow more powerful once you deny the clown. I will grant you one power. Use it wisely. And you and your daughter will be free from the bond. The connection between you three will be broken."
"It's all I want. Nadia will be safe from the clown." Belle said.
"Mommy..." Nadia spoke, holding her mother's hand. Belle looked down at her. Nadia looks worried and scared.
"Nadia?"
"Georgia...Dean..." Nadia said. "Daddy is coming after them." Belle gasped. Pennywise was after them. Belle had to get her daughter to be born now. She must stop Pennywise from killing those kids or anyone. He has done enough.
"You must go. Nadia will be born." Maturin spoke as Nadia started to glow. The girl touches Belle's stomach and fades away. Belle holds herself, feeling warm. Then, Belle disappeared from Mid-World.
"Her stomach is growing..." Richie's voice said.
"Holy shit, is this supposed to happen?" Eddie's voice said in panic.
"I'm not ready for this. I'm not." Jacob's voice said. Belle could hear their voices. They are here for her. Belle opened her eyes and feel her stomach has grown. She is at the final stage of her pregnancy. Her water broke.
"Oh shit!" Ben gasped.
"Belle, your water broke!" Beverly said. Belle smiled at them a bit.
"Nadia...must be born. Now." She whispered.
"Is she in labor?!" Valerie asked in shock. "We gotta take her to the hospital!"
"No. There's no time." Belle whispered, taking deep breaths. "She's...she's gonna come out."
"Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit." Eddie repeated. Beverly and Valerie helped Belle to take off the jeans and boots. Everything is happening so fast. Belle is about to give birth to her daughter. In Georgie's home.
Belle is breathing hard, the pain is too much for her. Beverly is holding Belle's hand as Jacob held the other. Mike is between Belle's legs, telling her to push. Belle let out a cry as she is trying to push. Mike could see a little head.
"I see the head." Mike said. "Belle, keep pushing!"
"Oh god, I can't look." Eddie said, turning away from the scene. He took an inhaler. Mike got the pink blanket that Valerie gave him for the baby. Belle let out a scream of agony. Mike got the baby his hands. The baby opened her eyes, coughing for air, and let out a cry. Belle opened her eyes as she hears her daughter cry. Beverly couldn't help but to smile with joy. Mike wrapped Nadia in a blanket before taking her upstairs to clean her as Valerie is going to help him.
Jacob turned to his sister who is catching her breath after giving birth.
"Holy shit. You did it." He laughed. Belle looked up at him.
"I guess...I did." She said. She frowned a bit. "I'm...I'm so sorry. I see it now. You all are right."
"What do you mean?" Ben asked.
"When I fainted...Nadia brought me...into Mid-World. And...Maturin was there." Belle said. They both told me everything. Pennywise...wanted to eat Nadia for power. He...used me..."
"Oh my god." Beverly gasped.
"That's fucked up." Richie spoke.
"His own daughter?" Bill asked.
"Nadia told me...that...Stan...was killed by Pennywise. She tried to warn me." Belle said. Everyone was silent. No wonder they never got a hold of Stan some time ago. He was killed. Pennywise was serious. He wanted to kill them all and never want Belle to know.
"Fuck!" Richie cursed, hitting the wall.
"And he brought Patrick here to finish the job to kill you, but Patrick wanted me dead. Turns out Pennywise's plan failed. Patrick remembered what I did to Henry." She said.
"Hockstetter was here?" Eddie asked in shock. Belle sighed a bit. She made a look.
"...I'm gonna stop him." She said. "This is what he wants. He wants you all dead. Nadia never wanted that to happen. So...I will help you."
"But, Belle. You're too weak." Georgie said. "You just-"
"I'll be strong soon. I have a plan." Belle said. "Wait...where's your daughter?" Georgie stared at her, not saying a thing. He never heard from his daughter for a while now. He ran upstairs.
Georgie looks in his daughter's room. But she isn't here. Georgie walked in the bathroom where Mike and Valerie are to clean Nadia.
"Val, where's Georgia?"
"She's at the festival with Dean and his friend." Valerie replied. "I meant to tell you. You're going to pick her up soon-"
"She's where?!" Georgie cried out. The baby cried a little by the sound. "Dammit, Val! I told you to stay with her! She shouldn't be alone!" Georgie rush downstairs. Valerie was shocked by his tone. She gave the baby to Mike and follow her husband.
Georgie grabbed his car keys, telling his brother that they both must go the festival. Belle watched two brothers leave the house in a hurry to get Georgia and her friend. Pennywise must be there.
"...Stay here." Belle started to get up, gripping on the towel wrapping around her waist. She tried to keep her balance. Beverly helped her go upstairs. Valerie watched them go upstairs. She must know what was going on with her husband. She will follow them to the festival. She got her keys for her car.
"Wait, where are you going?" Jacob asked.
"To follow George and Bill. I need to know what the hell is going on!" Valerie said.
"Wait! No!" Jacob said, following her out. He turned back to the others. "Stay with Belle. I'm going with her." Jacob walked out the door to go with Valerie. Off to the festival they go.
XX
Beverly watched Belle change into different clothing since her jeans were soaked. She got dark blue jeans, and a fresh white shirt. The brown boots are back on. Belle held the red jacket Pennywise gave her. She threw it aside. She spotted a jean jacket in the closet. She took it and put it on. Back to blue. Like she wore before. Belle looks at herself in a mirror, she had dark circles under her eyes from giving birth, but her strength is coming back.
"You sure about this?" Beverly asked. Belle nodded as she straightens the jean jacket she will borrow from Valerie.
"I'm ready to kick some ass." Belle said in a serious tone. "You all stay here with Mike and my daughter. I'll come back with the others who went out. Pennywise has picked a wrong woman to mess with." She walked out of the bedroom to leave the house. The guardian is back in Derry.