*Chapter 15: Hall of Mirrors*
Georgie and Bill arrived at the festival. Georgie grabbed his gun and hid it underneath his shirt, which shocked his older brother. But in all fairness, Georgie wanted to defend himself in this town other than IT. Before they go inside the festival, Valerie and Jacob arrived.
"Wait! George!" Valerie called. "This is crazy! Tell me what's wrong! You've been hiding something from me!"
"Valerie, go back home. It's too dangerous!" Georgie pleaded. "I'll bring Georgia back safe and sound." Bill and Jacob listen to them argue bit, but they see two familiar kids by the ticket booth. Dean and Georgia.
"There they are!" Bill said. Georgie and Valerie turn to see the kids rush in the fun house. "We gotta go after them!" The adults ran pass the crowd through the festival. The kids are inside the fun house. Pennywise could be inside. Waiting to feast on them. Georgie, Bill, Valerie, and Jacob went inside the entrance that is a spinning.
As soon as they are inside the fun house, they turn to see swinging clowns. The sounds of laughter is heard from the swinging clowns. Georgie got his gun out as he is leading the others.
"Stay close." Georgie said. Bill was hit by one of the clowns.
"Ow! Shit!" Bill grunted. Georgie turn his head back to see his brother lean against the wall.
"You okay?" Jacob asked from the back.
"I'm fine." Bill said. "Damn, that hurt. Keep going, George." Georgie nodded and went through the doorway and see the hall of mirrors. They see reflections of themselves as they walk through. But they see Georgia and Dean turn to the left.
"Hey! Georgia!" Georgie called. But there is no reply. The kids didn't respond. "Shit." He follows the path to get to the kids. Valerie squeezed through to get to her husband as Bill lets her through.
"George, tell me what the hell is going on." She demanded. "You and Mike are hiding something from me." Georgie stopped and lower his gun. He turned to her. "Ever since the murder happened, you were acting so strange."
"Val, you remember how I told you that my arm is missing? That I've been bitten by an animal?" He asked her. Valerie nodded. Georgie let out a sigh. "Well...I was actually attacked by a clown. A clown bit my arm off."
"A clown?" Valerie asked with a raise brow.
"It's true." Bill spoke behind her. "Belle saved Georgie's life from Pennywise 27 years ago." Valerie turn back to her brother-in-law. Jacob also nodded at her. Valerie turn back to her husband.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Would you believe me?" Georgie asked. "I was traumatized by that day all my life. I almost died, but Belle saved me. She took me the hospital and always there to check up on me. And since IT came back, I wanted to kill IT. And it's your fault for letting our daughter come here alone!"
"Excuse me?! My fault?!" Valerie gasped. "You're the one who never told me the truth about your arm!" Jacob looked at the mirrors. He could've sworn he thought he saw a clown in the reflection.
"Uh, guys..." He spoke.
"I told you to stay with Georgia at all times! And what did you do? You let her go to the festival alone with another child! Now they are both in danger!" Georgie argued.
"I remember what you said! You can't blame me for letting our daughter come here! You never told me about a killer clown that's been lurking around our town for lord knows how long!" Valerie said. "I wish you told me before. So none of this wouldn't happen." Georgie stared at her. He gave her a hug. "I'm sorry, honey. We'll find our daughter."
"I'm sorry too. I wish I told you before." Georgie said.
"Guys, can we save hugs and kisses for later?" Jacob spoke. "The kids!"
"Right. Let's go." Georgie said, releasing his wife. He followed the path to catch up with Dean and Georgia.
XX
Belle made it to the festival. She had to run. She didn't enough energy to teleport since she gave birth to her daughter. She is catching her breath as she walks through the festival. Bill and the others must be around here somewhere. She turned to see the fun house.
"Of course. Pennywise must be there." Belle said with a look. She ran towards the fun house. "I hope I'm not too late."
She enters inside the fun house. She avoids the swinging clowns. Belle found herself in the hall of mirrors. She looks down to follow the path, not being fooled by the reflections.
'Pennywise, I'm gonna stop you. Whatever you're doing, I'm gonna stop you.' Belle thought. She then started to hear voices. One of them sounds like Georgie. Belle rush through the maze to look for him and the others who went with him. She turned to the left and see Dean and Georgia facing the adults who are on one side. Belle rushed over to the kids, but bumped into a glass. Georgie, Bill, Jacob, and Valerie are on the left side of the kids on the other side of the glass. Belle rubbed her face, groaning. The kids stared at Belle in confusion. Her emerald eyes look at them. They are trapped inside.
"Belle!" Jacob spoke from the other side. "What're you doing here?"
"I...came to help." Belle said, her hands on the glass. She turned to the children. "Are you two okay?"
"We're...kinda stuck." Dean spoke. "We came through that way." He pointed where Georgie and the others are at. This is Pennywise's doing. He trapped the kids. Belle has to get them out, but she is too weak to regain her powers.
"Belle, can you do something?" Georgie asked.
"I'll try." Belle closes her eyes to focus on the glass. Her nose bleeds a little. Nothing happened. "Shit." She wiped her nose with a sleeve. "I gotta break this glass somehow."
"Hang on, I'll go and get...help..." Valerie paused when she stares at something behind the kids on the other side. Belle and the rest look over to see Pennywise slowly licking the glass with his long fork tongue. The kids backed away in shock. "What...the...fuck?" Valerie whispered in fear.
"No." Bill said. Pennywise brought his tongue back in his mouth, staring at the kids hungrily.
"What a treat. Two children to feast on." Pennywise said, his gloved hands on the glass. Belle made a look.
"Penny, don't you dare!" She said. The clown's eyes are on her. "You can't do this! Let them go!" Pennywise ignored her. He hits his head on the glass, making the kids flinch.
"No! Please!" Bill pleaded. "Let my niece and her friend go!"
"We can make a deal!" Georgie said. But the clown isn't convinced. He hits his head on the glass again, but harder. "No! Please! It's me you want! Not them! Just take me instead!" Georgie pleaded. "It's me you want! From the beginning, it's me you've always wanted!" Pennywise stared at Georgie in silent. "Take me." Georgie told him.
"George, what're you doing?" Jacob whispered. "He'll kill you!"
"Georgie, no! Let me handle this!" Belle said. Pennywise chuckled and hit the glass with his head. The kids are getting frightened. Their fear is growing more intoxicating. It made the clown repeatedly hits his head against the glass.
"Daddy!" Georgia cried out, backing up some more. Dean whimpered a bit.
"You son of a bitch!" Bill yelled, hitting the glass with his fist. Pennywise keeps hitting his head on the glass, breaking it. The kids started to panic. Belle hits the glass on her side, trying desperately to save the kids from the clown. She uses her boots to kick the glass. It is not breaking. More cracks on Pennywise's side is extending.
"Pennywise, stop!" Belle yelled. "Please!"
"Somebody do something!" Valerie yelled. Georgie uses the back of the gun to hit the glass, but to no avail. Georgia started to cry as Dean is screaming.
"Georgia, look at me!" Georgie spoke, getting his daughter's attention. She turned to him. "Don't look at him! Eyes on me! You're gonna be okay!"
"Daddy, I'm scared! He's getting in!" Georgia said. The sounds stopped. Dean is breathing hard. Georgia slowly turns her head to see Pennywise slowly form a wide grin, his sharp teeth is shown. He is hungry. Belle hits the glass again.
"Pennywise!" She yelled. "Please stop!" The clown brought his head back, opening his mouth wide and lunge through the glass, breaking it. The kids let out a scream as did the adults. "Noo!" Belle screamed. Blood hits the glass. Belle covered her mouth in shock and disgust. "Oh no..." She whispered.
"Georgia!" Georgie cried out. "Georgia!" Bill looked down to see something move. Belle kneeled down to see Georgia had ducked down. Blood is on her. Pennywise didn't eat her. But Dean was. The lights flicker a bit. Georgia shakenly looks up to see her father and uncle stare at her.
"Thank god." Valerie whispered. Georgia looks around to see blood all over. Dean was nowhere to be found. The clown ate him.
"Dean...?" Georgia whispered. She turned to Belle. "Is he...?" Belle didn't answer when the lights flicker once more. Georgia remained still. No one said a word. It is quiet. Suddenly, a gloved hand covered Georgia's mouth to prevent her from screaming. Pennywise held her with blood all over his face. He is chuckling darkly. The girl struggles in his tight grasp.
"No!" Georgie screamed. "You bastard!" He aimed a gun at the clown. "I'll kill you!" Pennywise laughed at him.
"You think that little toy could kill me?" He asked. He then turned to Belle who watched in anger. "So, you decide to go against me, my love? After all the times we did. I made you happy. I gave you immortal life. And I gave you my child." Pennywise smirked.
"Pennywise, please! Don't do this to Georgie! This is his daughter!" Belle said. "You've done enough!"
"So, this is your choice then? You chose these brats over me?!" Pennywise asked as Georgia is struggling in his grasp. Belle stared at him. Pennywise had his answer. "So be it. But, you want the girl? Come and get her." The lights flicker and the clown disappeared with Georgia.
"No! Georgia!" Valerie cried out.
"Dammit!" Jacob cursed. Belle turned away to leave the hall of mirrors. Georgia is bait. Belle had to go to the Neibolt house. Tears fall from her eyes.
*1989*
"Robert?" Belle spoke. She and Robert are sitting in the Barrens in the grass, looking up at the clear blue sky on a summer day. Belle's head rests on his chest, and she could feel his hand stroking her cheek.
"Yes, my dear?" Robert replied with a sleepy smile.
"Do you love me?" Belle asked, looking at his face. Robert stared at her. "Do you really love me?"
Love hurts,
Love scars,
Love wounds,
And mars.
Any heart.
Not tough or strong enough,
To take a lot of pain,
Take a lot of pain...
Love is like a cloud,
Holds a lot of rain.
Love hurts...
Oooh, love hurts...
"Of course I do." Robert said, sitting up to caress Belle's face. "I really do. You made my heart beat grow warm. I never ever felt that way around anyone. You are the one."
"And you still keep your promise about Georgie and the others?" Belle asked, touching his hand. "You never bother them?"
"No. I kept my word." Robert told her. "I promise you. We made a fair deal." He smiled at her. Belle sat close to him. "I thought you trust me."
"I do." Belle said, running her hand up to his chest. "I know you kept your word. It's just that...the kids were scared. I was scared." Robert kissed her head. "I'm worried about them. I'm worried about us."
I'm real, I know,
But even so,
I know a thing or two.
I've learned from you.
I really learned a lot,
Really learned a lot.
Love is like a flame,
Burns you when it's hot.
Love burns...
Oooh, love burns...
"We will come back in 27 years." Robert said. "People move on, Belle. For many years, I've seen new faces in this town. There are few familiar ones, but they've grown older. People you love will grow and move on." Belle nodded. "We have each other."
"My family, my friends, they will miss me terribly when I go to hibernation." Belle said, looking up at the sky. "Wish I could say good-bye to my mom, my stepdad, and my brother. I haven't talk to them since. Before Georgie was almost killed." Robert held her. He learned about her past before she moved to Derry. Belle was like Beverly. He isn't so sure which father is the worst. Beverly's or Belle's. Robert had to admit that Belle got guts to kill her father who tried to touch her. "Robert?" Belle spoke, breaking Robert's thoughts. "Did you hear me?"
"What?"
"I'm asking you if you want to go back home. You look tired." Belle said, noticing his tired eyes. "The sun must've made you feel sleepy."
"No. No, I'm fine." Robert said with a chuckle. "Just thinking. I guess we should hunt for another victim." They stood up, hand in hand, to leave to get to town to find themselves a person to feast on.
Some fools think of happiness,
Blissfulness,
Togetherness...
Some fools fool themselves, I guess.
But they're not fooling me.
I know it isn't true,
I know it isn't true...
Love is just a lie,
Meant to make you blue.
Love hurts...
Oooh, love hurts...
Oooh, love hurts...
Belle looks across the street from outside the library while her mate is feasting on a child inside. The Losers Club are on their bikes, riding down the street with smiles. Belle noticed Georgie sitting behind Bill on the bike, holding onto him with one arm, laughing along. The woman smiled at the sight. She noticed Mike is with them. They must've met him during the summer vacation and let him join the club. Belle nearly cried as she watches them disappear down the street.
"Hi-yo, Silver! Away!" Bill yelled. Belle giggled a bit. She hears the clown speaking to her in her mind, telling her to come back inside the library in the storage room for a feast. He had found her an adult. Belle teleports to be in the library without being seen.
I know it isn't true,
I know it isn't true...
Love is just a lie,
Meant to make you blue.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Belle screamed as she kicks the outside of the fun house in rage. Pennywise killed Dean right in front of her and the others. She tried to save him and Georgia. She is too weak to use her powers. She had failed to save the boy, but she will save Georgia. "Liar! That fucking liar!" Belle growled, pacing around.
"Belle, calm down!" Jacob said, his hands are up as he approach her. "There's still time to save the kid."
"I have to save her! I don't want her to end up like Georgie! She can't lose a limb or be eaten!" Belle says. Jacob grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Belle! Please!" He pleaded. "Calm down!" Bill, Georgie, and Valerie came around to see the two. Bill's phone rang. He answered it and walk the other way to give Belle and Jacob some space to work things out. "You're not gonna do this alone." Jacob said. "We have to stop IT together." Belle dried her eyes with a sleeve. She hugged her brother.
"I'm gonna fix this." She whispered. "It's my fault. I was kept in the dark. I should've known all along."
"No, it's not your fault." Jacob said. Belle looked up at him. "Let's go back to George's house. Everyone was waiting for us. Your daughter needs you there." Jacob said. Belle nodded. The two found Bill and the others waiting for them. Belle told them that they must go back to Georgie's house before they head over to the Neibolt house.
Love hurts...
Oooh, love hurts...
Oooh, love hurts...
Oooh, love hurts...
*Song: Love Hurts by Nan Vernon*