*Chapter 18: Pennywise vs. Belle and the Losers Club*
Belle jumped out of the way as the spider arm lunge down. Mike was being dragged away by Bill and Ben. Mike was blaming himself for not telling them the truth. They all ran away from the clown-spider hybrid.
"Run!" Belle screamed. "Don't look back!" They all hear Pennywise laughing as he is chasing them, trying to hit them with his spider arms. Georgia hides from the giant monster, holding her head. She doesn't know what to do. She can't fight IT.
"What the fuck do we do now?!" Jacob yelled.
"Everyone, scatter!" Belle said. Everyone did as they were told. Each group went to different passage ways. Mike hid by the passageway where Georgia is. She is terrified of what she is seeing. She is scared to move.
Belle and Jacob ran away from Pennywise who is getting close to them. Belle grabbed her brother's hand over to one of the closest passageway. They squeezed in. Pennywise uses the spider arms to dig them out. He shapeshifts his arm into a tentacle to reach for them. Belle and Jacob reached the dead end.
"Shit! We're trapped!" Jacob said, looking for another way out. But a tentacle wraps around him and pull him away. "Ohh shit!"
"No!" Belle grabbed his hand, pulling him. "Let him go!"
"Belle...my pocket...!" Jacob said, feeling the tentacle squeezing him. "My knife!" Belle reached in his right pocket and took the knife out. She started to stab the tentacle. They both hear Pennywise let out a cry and release Jacob. He got on his hands and knees, breathing hard. "Thanks."
"Anytime." Belle said.
"Now how the hell do we get out of here?" Jacob asked, looking around for an exit. The ground started to shake. Before they could react, the ground collapsed and Belle fell down. She screams, crying for her brother. Jacob was about to jump in, but the tentacle grabbed him and pull him away. Pennywise laughed as he got Jacob out. He squeezes him. A sharp claw pokes out at the end of the tentacle, slightly touching Jacob's chin.
"You...bastard...!" Jacob choked.
"Nice knowing you, Jacob. Too bad that your family won't hear from you." Pennywise hissed. "Say hi to Maturin for me!" A claw went up to Jacob's chin, and pull the jaw off. Jacob made a groaning noise, but cut off when Pennywise chomps him. He started to eat him. Mike watched in horror as he told Georgia not to look.
XX
Belle found herself in the ballroom, wearing her gold dress from that one night. But, she is not alone. There are people around her. They dress in their best gowns and suits. Like a fairy tale. But, this is not a fairy tale. This is all an illusion. Coming up to Belle is Robert. He is wearing a black suit with gold trim. He looks like prince charming. But he clearly is not.
"Shall we, my queen?" Robert asked, having his hand out. Belle glared at him. Robert grabbed her hand and wrap his arm around her waist. They begin to waltz.
"How could you dance with me, you beast?" Belle asked coldly. "I thought you want to kill me right now." Robert spun her around, her back against his front.
"Consider this your last dance." Robert whispered in her ear. He made her turn around and they waltz around the ballroom. "You made a biggest mistake of your life, Belle. You denied me, and our bond is broken. I don't like that at all."
"You never loved me." Belle told him. The ballroom disappeared. There is only darkness. The floating candles appear around them. Belle let out a gasp as she sees Pennywise now dancing with her.
"You were fun to have around, my dear." Pennywise said. "You were never like any other female I have ever seen in this dreadful town. Just like that fairy tale you were named after. Beauty and the Beast." Belle wanted to pull away from him, but he held onto her. "You and your fairy tales, Belle. You were in one." Pennywise growled. "That story came to life. A beauty falling in love with a beast."
"But a beast would never lie to a beauty." Belle said. "You are nothing but a sick, child-eating, lying, psychotic monster!" Pennywise pushes her down. The room was turned into her bedroom. She is not in a ball gown. She is back in her regular clothing. Her back is on the mattress. Pennywise is on top of her, pinning her arms down.
"You gave yourself to me, Belle. You loved it. You were crazy about me making love to you." Pennywise whispered, drooling on her chest.
"Get off me!" Belle cried out, struggling underneath him. He grips on her wrists tighter.
"Give in, Belle. It'll be our last time." Pennywise went down to her neck to lick it. His long tongue went up to her face, tasting her. Belle groaned in disgust, her eyes are shut tight, she struggles underneath him. Then, Belle started to hear the voices of the Losers Club, calling out to her, wanting her help. She pushed the clown off of her with such force and ran away. She found a passageway and fell in the water.
XX
Belle is in the flooded basement where Bill and Georgie are. This used to be their basement. Why are they brought here?
"Are you two okay?" Belle asked, coming over to them.
"Yeah." Bill replied. "Why are we here?"
"There must be a way back." Georgie spoke. They hear Pennywise chuckle by the stairs. He leans over with a grin. Georgie had lost his gun in the lair. Belle stood in front of the brothers.
"Time to tell your dear little brother the truth now, Billy!" Pennywise said with a grin. "You do remember that rainy day you were sick? But, there is more than that." Georgie turned to Bill who is silent. "You weren't really sick that day, were you?" Pennywise asked Bill. "Tell him, Billy! Little Georgie deserves to know the truth."
"Shut up! You're lying!" Belle yelled.
"No." Bill spoke. Belle turned back to him. "He was right. I...I never had a cold that day. I wasn't really sick."
"...What?" Belle asked with a look. Georgie came to Bill in disbelief.
"You...you were pretending so...you won't have to play with me on a rainy day?" He asked. Bill nodded a bit, trying to hold back his tears.
"Bill, no. Tell me it's not true." Belle said, shaking her head. She's as surprised as Georgie. Bill sniffed a bit.
"I'm so sorry. This is all my f-f-f-fault." Bill said. "If Georgie did die that day, I wouldn't forgive myself." Georgie started to have tears. Belle turned back to Pennywise who stood and watch. "You wouldn't be able to be his mate, Belle." Bill said to Belle. "This is my fault..."
"But Belle had to come in and save him, Billy." Pennywise spoke. "You almost got your brother killed."
"Shut up." Belle said to a taunting clown.
"Time to drown." Pennywise snapped his fingers as the flood comes through the windows of the basement. The clown disappeared. The water is rising. Bill didn't move.
"We have to dive back down." Georgie said.
"Let's get Bill to come with us." Belle said. She faces Bill. "We have to move. The others need us. Pennywise is gonna kill us all if we don't do something fast."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Bill repeated.
"Bill! Come on!" Georgie shouted. The water was rising. Bill stutters a bit as he keeps apologizing. Belle made a look and slapped Bill.
"Snap out of it! We'll talk about this later!" She told him. Bill blinked at her. They both dive back down to get back to the lair.
XX
"Where's dad?" Georgia asked, looking out for Pennywise, but he is nowhere to be seen at the moment. Mike told her to stay hidden as he came out to look for the others.
"Miss me?!" Pennywise jumped in front of him. Mike stood on his ground, glaring up at him.
"I know what you are. And I'm not afraid." Mike said. Pennywise grabbed him with a tentacle, a claw pointing up at him. The clown-spider chuckled at him. Georgia watched in terror. She looked down to see rocks by her feet. She picked one up. She must do something.
"I know what you are." Pennywise spoke to Mike. He leaned over, sneering. "A madman." He opened his mouth wide to eat Mike, but a rock hits his face. "Ugh!" Pennywise releases Mike and look over to see Georgia standing, holding rocks.
"Hey! Come and get me!" She throw another rock at him before running away. Pennywise growled and started to go after her.
"No!" Mike yelled. Georgia tried to get to one of the passageways, but she felt something wet wrap around her leg. She tripped. She turned back to see Pennywise uses his long tongue to grab her leg, pulling her in. Georgia tried to find something to grab on to, but there is nothing.
"Help!" She screamed. "Somebody! Help me!" Pennywise is chuckling as he reels in a child. He is gonna eat her up. But then, a gunshot was heard. A tongue releases her leg as the clown-spider recoiled in agony. Blood floats out of the wound. Georgia backed away and turn to see Valerie holding a rifle gun. "Mom!"
"Georgia, get out of here!" Valerie says as she is reloading her gun.
"What are you doing here?!" Mike asked.
"I came to help you all kill this fucker!" Valerie said.
"What about-"
"She's fine!" Valerie said, knowing Mike would ask about Nadia. "Someone is watching her!" That caught Pennywise's attention. He strikes Mike away from Valerie. "Mike!" A tentacle wraps around her, making her drop the rifle.
"So you have my little princess?" Pennywise asked, chuckling. "Where is she? A father must meet his own child."
"Go to hell..." Valerie said, gritting her teeth. Pennywise snarled at her. Before he is going to squeeze her more, another rock was thrown at him. He expect it was Georgia, but it was Richie.
"Hey fuckface!" Richie shouted. Pennywise turned around to see him. "You wanna play Truth or Dare? Here's the truth! You're a sloppy bitch!" Valerie got away from the grasp and pick up the rifle. She turned to see her husband coming out of the water with Bill and Belle. She hurried over to them.
"Thank god." She said, holding Georgie close.
"Val? What the hell are you doing here?" Georgie asked. "Where's Georgia?" Before Valeria could reply, Belle let out a cry when she watches Pennywise open his mouth wide to show Richie the Deadlights. Richie has been talking too much. Richie was lifted off the ground. Belle was about to get to him, but she spotted something on the ground. What was left of Jacob. Pennywise had ate his upper body.
"No..." Belle ran towards the lower half of Jacob's body. "No! No! No!"
"Somebody do something!" Georgie cried out as he watched Richie being catatonic of the Deadlights. "Belle!" But Belle didn't move. Jacob is dead. She couldn't save him.
"I'm sorry, little brother." Belle whispered. "I tried."
"Belle!" Georgie called desperately. "Belle, help Richie!" Belle looked up to see Pennywise still showing Richie the Deadlights. Before she had the chance to go over there, she hears Eddie.
"Beep beep, motherfucker!" He throws the poker and went right into Pennywise's mouth. Everyone watched in awe. Pennywise choked on the poker and fell back against the splashed meteor. His face is back to normal. He stopped moving. Richie fell on the ground, snapping out of the trance. Georgia ran over to her parents who embrace her. Belle went over to Eddie who is checking on Richie. She turned back to see Pennywise, bleeding from the meteor parts.
"Richie! Richie, can you hear me?" Eddie asked, shaking his friend awake. Richie opened his eyes and see Eddie laugh with joy. "Hahaha! There he is! Hey, I think I did it, man! I think I killed IT."
"Richie, are you okay?" Belle asked as she kneels down.
"Fine. Fine. But, Eddie, did you really-?"
"I killed IT, Rich! I killed the fucking clo-" He was suddenly cut off when a tentacle stabs through his chest. Blood hits Richie's face. Beverly's scream was heard. Belle watched in horror. Eddie sputtered a bit. "Richie..." He choked out. "Richie..." He was pulled away from Richie and Belle. Pennywise laughed as he had Eddie.
"Uh-ohhhh!" He taunted, swinging injured Eddie around.
"Noooo!" Bill screamed as he watched.
"Eddie!" Valerie screamed. Pennywise threw Eddie down to a passageway across from him. Eddie rolled down. Pennywise tries to get himself up as the Losers Club run by him to get Eddie. Belle stood up to watch the clown-spider.
"You son of a bitch!" She screamed at him. "You really cross the line! You killed Stan, you killed my brother, and now Eddie!" Pennywise got himself free and look down at Belle. "What more do you want to make me more miserable?!"
"To make you feel the same way I feel when I release you 27 years ago!" Pennywise told her. "I never meant to hurt you that day when those brats came into our house!"
"...What?"
"I was lost without you. I really do love you, Belle! I love you!" Pennywise said, making a frown. "You're the only human I ever loved. I never want to hurt you. But you know how I feel with children. Nadia will never see me as a father. But, as a monster." Belle stared up at him. Could he be telling the truth? Or is he lying again? "I never meant for Patrick Hockstetter to kill you. That was never part of my plan. He was supposed to kill those children!" Pennywise said. Belle didn't say anything. That part may be true, but she felt so betrayed. "We could make it better." Pennywise said, as he read her mind. "I won't eat Nadia. I promise I won't. And I won't break a promise this time. I swear it." Pennywise said. "All I want is to see you smile."
"Pennywise..." Belle spoke. She reached to touch his face, but stopped. "I want to believe you. But I can't." She whispered as she backed away from him. "You hurt me so you can be strong. But I'm not going to let you get to me. That's not love." Pennywise stared at her. Belle could've sworn she saw a tear float away from his left eye.
"So be it then." Pennywise growled. He strikes her across from the lair. Belle rolled on the ground, grunting. Pennywise went to where the Losers Club have went in to get Eddie, he is trying to dig them out. "Come out and play, losers!"
Belle rolled on her back, hurt by the attack. Her side hurts. She had to do something to get Pennywise off guard. He's too big for her to fight. Maturin's powers are too weak for Pennywise's size.
"Maturin...show me a way..." Belle whispered, shutting her eyes. "Show me a way."
6 year old Belle is crying in the bedroom. Her grandmother walked in, turning on the lamp. She sat on her bedside to calm her granddaughter. Belle is hugging her grandmother, crying about seeing monsters in her dreams. They never go away.
"The monsters won't go away! They want to hurt me!" Belle cried.
"Now, now. Dreams can't hurt you, sweetheart." Her grandmother spoke. "Whenever I have a nightmare of monsters, I sing." Belle looked up at her grandmother, tears falling. "Monsters have a heart to listen. Songs have light. Light is our strength."
"But, what if they don't listen?" Belle asked.
"They will. Never be afraid. Just sing your heart out." Her grandmother says. "Remember, Belle. The night will be over soon."
A memory. Belle remembered that. After she healed her wounds, she hears the Losers Club running away from the clown-spider. Pennywise traps them. Valerie held her daughter close, backing away along with the others.
"You filthy little children." Pennywise snarled.
"We gotta make him grow small somehow." Mike said. "There's gotta be a way." Pennywise keeps approaching towards them. He is ready to strike, but he froze when he hears a beautiful voice echo in the lair.
"Never mind the darkness,
Never mind the storm,
Never mind the blood red moon."
Everyone turned around to see Belle approach, singing to Pennywise. Her green eyes never left the clown's gold ones.
"The night will be over soon.
The night will be over soon."
"What is happening?" Valerie asked Mike in a whisper. Belle came up to Pennywise, reaching her hand up to touch his face. Pennywise lowers his head down and felt her hand on his giant face. He purred a bit. Her hand is on his cheek. Bill noticed Belle's other hand behind her back. It was glowing with aura. She is plans to attack as she sings to him. She shoots a blue beam at Pennywise who roared in agony.
"Holy shit!" Richie shouted who is with injured Eddie.
"Belle, keep going!" Georgie yelled. Belle felt stronger. She started to sing a different song to Pennywise who recovered the sudden attack.
"Once I lived in darkness, out there on my own.
Left to brave the world alone.
Everything seemed hopeless. No chance to break free.
Couldn't hear the song inside of me."
Pennywise opened his mouth wide enough to show her and the others the Deadlights, but Belle uses her barrier to prevent them from seeing the lights. Pennywise did a doubletake. He let out a roar at Belle. Georgie told Valerie to leave with their daughter now. Valerie grabbed Georgia to leave the lair as Belle is fighting and singing to a monster.
"Once upon a time a song inspired them – be brave.
Maturin gave me strength because he knew I would save,
The world from your Deadlights and the wicked things you do.
My loved ones placed a song inside my heart more powerful than you."
"Enough of this!" Pennywise roared. He tried to lunge his spider arm at Belle, but she protected herself with a barrier. She shoots a beam at him once again. Her eyes turn bright blue as she felt more stronger with Maturin's power.
"It's working!" Beverly said as Pennywise twitched a little.
"Keep going!" Georgie said.
"You can do it, Belle!" Bill praised as he watches.
"All the years of hibernating– no, not anymore.
I know what I'm living for.
I'm no longer searching.
Turns out all along, the answer was inside me – with a song."
A sonic boom bursts out of Belle, causing Pennywise to jerk back. Blue butterflies are around Belle. Everyone backed away from her. Belle shoots blue bright beams through Pennywise's chest. The clown-spider hybrid is roaring. Blood flows out of his chest.
"It's over, Pennywise!" Belle yelled. Pennywise backed away and twitch a little. He retreated to the center of the meteor, knocking the chud vase over. Belle could see him shrink down to his normal size. A 6 feet clown. "You're done!" Belle kicked him down. Pennywise backed up, looking up at her.
"Belle..." Pennywise shakenly spoke. Belle brought her hand back, it is glowing. Pennywise had his hand up. "Don't! Let me go! Let me go, and I will spare the losers! I will let them go! I'll make them forget everything that ever happened!" He pleaded. "I give up! I give up, Belle!"
"Kill IT, Belle!" Georgie yelled.
"I swear to you!" Pennywise said, reaching up. Belle stared at him. "I won't bother any of you ever again! Just leave my town! You won't see me ever again!"
"Don't listen to him, Belle!" Ben said. "He's trying to trick you!"
"Kill IT!" Richie and Georgie said at the same time. Belle watched Pennywise suffer. He is begging. He wanted to live. Belle leaned over to look into his eyes.
"If I turn my back, you will kill us all. How could I trust you?" She asked in a low voice.
"You can." Pennywise said with a weak smile. "I'm too weak because of you. And you don't have to see me again. You and Nadia can live happily. Just leave Derry. It's all I want for you to do." Belle took a step back. She did make him weak with her powers. He can't fight back. Belle turned back to see the Losers Club. She is telling them to leave so she could finish the job herself.
Georgie looked behind her to see Pennywise on his feet, smirking behind Belle. His arm shapeshifts into a spider arm.
"Belle, behind you!" He cried out. Belle turned around and Pennywise stabbed her through the chest. Blood spurts out of her mouth. She slowly looks up at the clown. Pennywise smirked at her, drooling. "Belle! Noooo!" Georgie cried out. He wanted to come to her, but Bill and Ben held him back. "Noooo!" Pennywise slowly pulls his spider arm out of Belle's chest. He pushed her down. Belle coughed, holding her wound with shaking hands. She is bleeding.
"You lose!" Pennywise taunted. Belle reached up, trying to regain her power, but Pennywise smacked her hand away. "You think your little song worked? It didn't. Now you won't live to see the sun." He laughed. "The sun will be rising soon!" He mocked the lyric from Belle's song she sang before. Pennywise turned back to the Losers Club who stood in horror. "Who's next?"