*Chapter 16: Back to Neibolt*
Mike is feeding Nadia with a bottle. He had heard from Bill that Pennywise killed Dean and kidnapped Georgia to use her as bait. Before the Losers Club could leave the house, Belle came in.
"Belle?" Eddie wondered.
"What're you doing here? I thought you're going to meet us at the Neibolt house." Beverly said. Belle came over to Mike to see her daughter feeding off a bottle. She gave Nadia a kiss on a head.
"One of you has to stay with Nadia." She said. "I can't let Pennywise have her."
"I'll stay." Eddie said, raising his hand.
"No. We need you, Eds." Richie said.
"Belle, we need each other for the ritual." Mike said as he hands Nadia over to her. "Valerie could stay with Nadia." Jacob, Bill, Georgie, and Valerie walked in the house. Belle turned around to face Valerie. She asked her to stay with Nadia to keep her safe.
"But, I'm going with you. My daughter needs me-" Valerie was cut off when Georgie placed his hand on her shoulder.
"No. You have to stay. You have no idea how dangerous Pennywise is." He told her. "Stay with a baby. We'll get our kid back. I promise." Georgie said.
"George, no. You can't fight like this." Valerie said. "I'll come with you."
"No. Somebody has to stay with Nadia." Belle said with a stern look. "One of you will go, one of you will stay." Georgie and Valerie thought about it. They both want to go after their daughter, but it had to be one of them.
"I'm going." Georgie said. "Val, you stay. I want to kill the clown for ruining my childhood. He can't have my kid." Valerie gave him a hug, and a kiss on the lips. She touches his face.
"Be safe." Valerie said. "Bring her back." Georgie smiled a little and nodded. Belle went upstairs with her baby to put her to sleep before she leaves.
Under the Neibolt house, Georgia sat in the center of the crash meteor, shaking. Pennywise brought her down here instead of being in the Neibolt house. This is the underground cavern where IT arrived on Earth. Georgia couldn't escape anyhow. She prayed that her father will come and rescue her. The girl hugs her legs, crying to herself. Her hair is a mess. Blood all over her clothes.
"Aww. No need for tears, Georgia." A voice spoke. Georgia looked up to see Pennywise standing across from her with a smile. "That'll add too much salt."
"...Why?" Georgia asked shakenly. The clown tilts his head at her in wonder. "Why did you kill Dean?"
"To feed." Pennywise replied. "Oh, you know nothing about me. Your daddy never told you or your mommy. I'm Georgie's worst nightmare." Georgia backed away a bit as the clown approached. "I feed on children's fear. Even Laurie Anne's." Georgia choke a gasp.
"Y-you killed Laurie Anne?!"
"She was tasty. But I think you will taste even better!" Pennywise teased with a smirk. Georgia whimpered, closing her eyes, more tears fall from her eyes. Pennywise inhales on her scent. "Ahhh… Beautiful fear."
"Don't kill me..." Georgia begged. "Please."
"Silly girl. Your time will come. But, it won't be fun without my former mate. She will watch you die. Along with your daddy." Pennywise giggled. Georgia could hear the bells in his suit jingle as he moves. "Oh, I could imagine the look on Georgie's face when sees you die." The clown taunted. Georgia cried again, covering her face in her knees. She doesn't deserve this. The clown ate her friends, and she is next.
"Please, no." She choked. The clown opened his mouth and his tongue is on Georgia's face to taste her. The girl trembles in disgust, keeping her eyes shut. Pennywise brought his tongue back in his mouth and smirked.
"You taste sweet like cotton candy." He giggled. Georgia's tears continue to fall. Pennywise then looks up as if he sensed something. He form a smirk. The Losers Club and Belle. They are coming to the Neibolt house. To rescue the girl and do the ritual. The clown turns away from the girl to go up to the house, but he turns his head. His eyes glow. "I must not keep them waiting. I won't be long." He told her. "It's hopeless for you to escape." He let out a evil chuckle before leaving Georgia. The girl lowers her head with tears. The clown is not wrong. The only option is to wait. She is counting on her father and the others.
Everyone arrived at the Neibolt house at night. Belle stood in front, staring up at the house with a look in her eyes. She knows what she had to do. She stood on the old wooden steps, and turn to everyone.
"You all remember what I told you. I'll confront Pennywise, and then we begin the ritual." Belle told them. "I won't let him get any of you like he did to Stan."
"We're together on this." Mike said. "We will finish it together."
"Does anyone have anything to say before we go in?" Belle asked them. Richie step forward, looking up at her.
"I remember what I said before. When we were kids, I said something to the clown." He said. Belle waited for him to say something. Richie made a look. "Let's kill this fucking clown." Bill smiled at his trash mouth friend. Eddie gave Richie a pat on the back. Belle grinned at everyone.
Belle opened the front door and walk inside. The Losers Club have their flashlights to see the house. They look upstairs to see the black goo coming down, prevent them from going up. Belle went to the other room and found the staircase that lead down to the well. She had never saw Pennywise's lair in the sewers yet. She wondered if the wagon or the tower of junk is still standing.
"Is Georgia here or down the well?" Georgie asked in worry. Before Belle could answer, they hear a cry coming from Ben. The door closes on Bill, Richie, Jacob, and Eddie.
Belle, Georgie, Beverly, and Mike are with Ben in the same room. Ben's shirt had a blood stain. He lifts his shirt up and see letters carving on his stomach.
"What the fuck?!" Georgie cried out as he watched. "What's happening?!"
"Ben!" Belle cried out as she held him. Mike looked up at the mirror and let out a cry of shock. They look at the mirror to see Pennywise carving on Ben's stomach, grinning nastily at them. He isn't with them, but in the mirror, he is. "You bastard!" Belle yelled at him. Pennywise laughed as he finishes carving on Ben's stomach. It said, Home At Last. The knife went up to Ben's neck, slowly slicing it.
"No!" Mike shouted.
"Stop it!" Georgie cried out. Beverly picked up the poker and destroy the mirror to stop Pennywise from killing Ben. Belle looked down at Ben's stomach and see the writing is gone, but he letter H is still scarred by Henry 27 years ago. Ben is safe. But, they hear the others screaming and yelling in the other room. They couldn't get the door open. Georgie turned to get Belle to open it, but she was gone.
"Belle?" He called. "Belle!"
Belle went down to the sewers alone to deal with Pennywise. She had to speak with him. She didn't care that the water has risen since their awakening. She pushed through and see the lair. But, the wagon and tower are gone. There is Pennywise standing where the wagon was before. He grinned at her like a Cheshire Cat. Belle looked up at him with hate.
"You son of a bitch." She said, gritting her teeth. She is so angry, she felt her face getting hot.
"Did you enjoy a little party, my Beauty? I almost got Ben. But Beverly had to save the day." Pennywise said. "I'm surprised you made it this far."
"Pennywise, this is between you and me!" Belle said. "You have me to deal with!" She walked up to him, still in the water. "After all this time, you lied to me! You've been scaring them behind my back 27 years ago! You promised me! You lied to me! I trusted you! I loved you!" Pennywise let out a evil chuckle.
"Did you really think I could keep such a promise? Sure, we made a fair deal, but...I got bored." He said. "Funny how you never notice before. The poor brats were trying to tell you in order to save you. You never listen to them. Only to me."
"It may be my fault, but you broke your half of the deal first." Belle said. "You were trying to kill them, weren't you? You tried to kill Georgie, Bill, everyone in the Losers Club. You brought Patrick, but that plan backfired! He tried to kill me at the library earlier while I was pregnant!" Pennywise blinked at her.
"What?!" Pennywise growled. "I gave him an order as his dead friend!"
"Ha!" Belle pointed at him. "I knew it! You wanted them dead! But, that isn't all, isn't it?!" She steps out of the water, glaring up at the killer clown. "You were planning to eat my daughter." She said. Pennywise stared at her. Belle continued to speak. "It was true. The nightmare was all true. Maturin and Nadia told me what you have planned. Well, guess what Pennywise? You can't have Nadia. She is mine." Pennywise grabbed her by the throat and throw her down by the hatch. Belle grabs his wrist. Pennywise noticed her stomach. She is thin. How could he not notice that before in the mirror maze in the fun house?
"So you did give birth." Pennywise growled. "I figured as much. Now, where is my little princess?" Belle spits in his face. She kicks him off. She backed away. Pennywise wipes his face with a sneer. "There's the Belle I used to know and love. A fighter. She will do anything to save the children of Derry."
"Fuck you! I won't let you touch my daughter!" Belle hissed. She stood across from him. "I've got some news for you. I deny you, Pennywise. You don't own me. Not my heart, not my soul, not my life!" Pennywise snarled at her. "I am done with this. I am done with you!" Belle then started to glow. Pennywise felt his heart sting. Belle's eyes flash aqua blue, then back to emerald. She is free from Pennywise. Maturin gave her power. Nadia is free. They are both free from the bond.
"Nooooo!" Pennywise roared and lunge at her. Belle tried to push him off her. Pennywise is showing off his sharp teeth. He is not happy. Belle punched him in the jaw as hard as she could. The clown recoiled with a growl. Belle rolls away from him, getting on her feet. But the clown isn't done yet. Pennywise snarls at her and claws rip through his gloves. Belle grabbed a fence spike and swung it to hit him in the head, but Pennywise grabbed it. Belle grunted as she tries to push back against him with a weapon, but Pennywise threw her aside. Belle hit her back against the remains of the junk. She looked up to see Pennywise bring his hand back. She moved away as the claws lunge at the floor. Belle picked up the spike and stab Pennywise on the side, making him roar in agony. Blood floats out of his wound. "Clever." He growled.
"Thanks to you." Belle whispered, keeping the spike on the side. Pennywise growls as he slowly pulls it out. As he tried to heal, Belle kicks his knees from behind to make him fall. She placed her boot on the back of his head to keep him down. She made a look. "You're through, Pennywise. Soon you will face fate." Belle told him.
"Stupid human." Pennywise growled. He twists his body around and grabs her legs. Belle let out a cry as Pennywise pushes her off him. The clown twists his head around to be in a right place. Belle remains on her feet, watching the evil entity glare at her, eyes glow in anger. "You think you could stop me? I am the destruction! The Eater of Worlds!" He said. "And you, you are just a gullible human! You have no power over me! You will die without it! You may have broke the bond, but you are still a weak little human!"
"I am more than you think!" Belle said. "I swear on Maturin's grave, I will be sure you are gone from this world! Never be heard or seen ever again! Me and my daughter will live on! So will the Losers Club!" Pennywise gave her a side smile. But Belle didn't back down. "Where's Georgia?" She demanded. "I know you have her alive."
"Down below. And you're going down there. With me!" Pennywise said before he pounces on her. He headbutts her to knock her out. Belle is out cold. The clown growled as he drags her to the hatch. The Losers Club are coming. He opened the hatch and carries Belle down to his hidden lair. "After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me?" Pennywise grunted. "We made mistakes, my dear. But, you are the one who made a biggest mistake." He climbs down, carrying Belle. "It's been fun, my Beauty. But, we both know this won't end well for you and the brats."
Belle saw Kyle standing by the Quarry. She came up beside him, looking at him. He isn't a zombie like in that nightmare she had. He looked at her with a normal face.
"Hey, Belle." He greeted.
"...Am I dreaming again?" Belle asked. "Pennywise knocked me out, and-"
"It's okay. There's still time." Kyle said. "I want to see you." Belle gave him a hug. Kyle smiled a bit as he return the embrace. "I forgive you, Belle. I knew you would see the light." He said. Belle pulled away to look at him.
"I'm so sorry, Kyle. You died because of me. You tried to-"
"Maturin forgives you." Kyle told her. "We all do. We all love you, Belle. You're the guardian. A protector. You can beat the clown. With the Losers Club by your side, nothing could stop you. Not even Pennywise." Belle held his hands.
"I will do what I can. Maturin gave me his power." Belle said. "Derry will be free from the control of Pennywise." Coming up to them is Rowen. She gave Belle a smile. The ghosts of children are behind her. Even Dean. Belle looked at the spirits. Rowen walked up to Belle.
"We all believe in you, Belle Whitehurst." She said. She held one of Belle's hands. "We believe in you." Belle smiled a bit. She backed away from them. She gave Kyle one last smile before she jumps off the cliff and fell to the water. And everything went black.