*Chapter 2: Recovered*
Georgie woke up the next morning, feeling the strong pain on his right side. He reached to feel, but realized that he no longer has an arm. Memories came back to him from yesterday. The clown in the sewer drain. He has the paper boat. Georgie tried to take it, but the clown chomp on his arm and rip it off. Then he sees Belle coming towards him, and the clown's arm grabbed her by the ankle and pull her towards the drain. But she got away. Georgie blacked out when his favorite babysitter took him to the car. He could've died. But he didn't.
"Georgie?" A voice called softly. Georgie turned to see Belle come in with his family. The parents came towards their son and embrace him as Bill watched with a smile. Mrs. Denbrough kisses her young son's head, crying with joy while her husband pets his hair. Georgie looked over at his older brother and babysitter.
"How are you feeling?" Bill asked, coming over with Belle.
"I lost an arm, Bill." Georgie replied, touching his shoulder.
"I know. But you're o-o-okay. That's all that matters." Bill said. Belle came by to hug the little boy. "You're going home today. We b-b-brought you clothes to change into." Bill told his little brother. Georgie nodded a little. Mr. and Mrs. Denbrough left the room when the doctor called for them. Belle sat next to Georgie and pet his brown hair.
"So happy you're alright." She said. "I was so scared."
"It was the clown." Georgie said with a frown. Bill and Belle stare at him with puzzled looks. "The paper boat went down the drain, and there was the clown." Georgie exclaimed. "His name is Pennywise." Belle blinked at him. A clown in a sewer drain? Now that sounds creepy.
"G-G-Georgie, why would a clown be in the drain?" Bill asked. "And h-h-h-how would he take the arm? Did he have a weapon?" Georgie shook his head. He bit his lower lip when he remembered what the clown did. Belle touched his shoulder, look at him in the eyes.
"Georgie, tell me. How did he take your arm?" She asked.
"He...bit it off!" Georgie said. "I tried to get my boat back, but he bit my arm off! He has sharp teeth!" Belle is silent for a moment. She thought back of those yellow eyes. And the long arm stretched out for her and Georgie. It couldn't be a regular person. Not some creep dressing up as a clown. Bill wasn't sure what to believe, but Georgie was telling the truth. People won't believe to what Georgie had saw. They will believe it was some kind of animal attack. Belle will have to be on a lookout for anything. She faces the boy.
"What does the clown look like?"
"His face was white, red nose, and red lips. I don't see what his clown suit looks like." Georgie said. "He said that the storm blew him and the circus away." Of course, he couldn't see the rest of the clown since the sewer drain was dark. He only sees the face of a clown. Before Belle could speak, the parents and the doctor came in to help Georgie get out of bed. Belle told the Denbroughs that she must head off to work, but she will stop by to check up on Georgie later.
"How was the poor boy?" The head librarian asked when Belle walked in the library. She took off her blue jacket and look over at her boss.
"He's in pain, but he will be okay. He has to take some pain pills." Belle replied. "When I get off, I will go to their place and check up on Georgie." The head librarian smiled at her.
"That was very heroic of you, Belle. You saved the boy's life and take him straight to the hospital. You could be the guardian of all children since you are the babysitter." She said. Belle chuckled a little. She went around the counter to work behind it. As soon as she sat down, a young man walked in with a smile.
"Hey." He greeted. Belle looked up at him. The man was wearing a coat, jeans with sneakers, and a black shirt underneath the coat.
"Kyle, hi."
"I heard what happened. Is the kid okay?"
"Oh, he's okay. He...lost an arm." Belle replied. "He's in pain right now. His family took him home when I walk here."
"Well, that's good. Geez, that's some scary shit right there." Kyle said, chuckling a bit. But Belle isn't amused. Kyle cleared his throat, making a sorry look. "So, uh, how are you feeling?"
"I'm doing fine now."
"Really? You don't sound fine."
"Sorry, I'm still shaken up from yesterday." Belle said, crossing her arms. "Thanks for checking up. I have to get to work now." Kyle gave her a nod and head out the front door. Belle sighed a little. She didn't mean to send him off, but she isn't in the mood to talk about yesterday. Would Kyle believe Georgie's story about a clown chomping his arm off? No. He won't.
The phone began to ring, and Belle answered it right away. "Good morning. Derry Public-" She was cut off when she hears growling on the line. "Hello?" More growling. Sounds like an animal growling. "Hello?"
"Don't you ever take away my prey again, human." A growling voice spoke on the line. Belle immediately hung up the phone. Must've been a prank phone call. That voice gives her the chills.
XX
The day was slow for Belle despite the creepy phone call. She left the library to get to the Denbroughs to check up on Georgie. Now everyone knows that Belle is a life saver in Derry. It's something to be remembered for a long time. It felt good. Belle smiled when she thought back what her boss said. A guardian of all children. Maybe she is after all.
"Hey savior!" A voice called. Belle smiled when she turned to face Richie in his bike. "Heard about yesterday. That was messed up about Bill's brother. Losing an arm and...stuff."
"Yes, it was terrible, but he'll be okay." Belle told the boy. "I'm heading over there right now. Want to join?"
"Sure." Richie got off his bike and drag it by his side to be by Belle. "So, I hear people are on a search for whatever that ate Georgie's arm. Do you see what it was?"
"No. It was too dark to see." Belle said. She couldn't tell him about the clown was the one in the drain. Besides, Richie was afraid of clowns. "The...animal will be found. Once they catch it, they will kill it."
"I hope so. I don't want to lose an arm either. I need hands to play arcade games at the theatre." Richie said. Belle hoped neither of the kids will lose something or worse.
Richie and Bill are hanging out in Bill's room while Belle is in Georgie's room to comfort him for a while. The boy was laying in his bed, under the warm covers. Belle hands him over the turtle plush toy.
"You okay, buddy?" She asked. Georgie nodded. He kept the toy close. "The pain will go away in a few days. Just take it easy."
"Belle, no one believed me about the clown." Georgie told her. "They think I just saw an animal. But, I know it's the clown." Belle nodded at him, petting his hair.
"I believe you, Georgie."
"...You do?"
"When I was grabbed, I see those yellow eyes. But, I don't see his face. No one has yellow eyes. It's not normal." She said.
"His eyes aren't yellow." Georgie said with a confused expression. "They're blue."
"No, they're yellow. I know they are." Belle said. "Whatever it was, it's not a person. You said he bit off your arm, so it couldn't be a normal human being."
"Those teeth are sharp and long." Georgie told her. "What do you think Pennywise is?" Belle shrugged, shaking her head. If only she knew, but doesn't. She will find out, but she will have to be careful. Belle gave a boy a kiss on a head, telling him she had to go. She said good-bye to the boys and Mr. Denbrough. His wife went off to the store to get things for Georgie.
Belle left the house, putting on her blue coat. She started to hum as she walked down the sidewalk. She is very unware that she's being watched by those yellow eyes from one of the sewer drains. The shadowy figure growled as he watched her walk.
"So, she's been called the guardian of children." He rasped. "She will get in my way of feeding. Soon, she and I will meet. Very soon."
Belle walked in the pharmacy to get some things and see Eddie by the counter to pick up his medicine. She smiled a bit as she starts to shop. She picked out the items she needs for her house. Such as pain pills, and tampons. She knew she will be starting her time of the month soon after Halloween is over. How she dreads it. Belle came up to Eddie.
"Hey, Eddie." She greeted.
"Hi." Eddie spoke in a shy voice. "Just...waiting for my medicine my mom ordered for me." Belle nodded.
"I see." Mr. Keene arrived with a bag of bottles and hands it over to the boy. Eddie took it and said goodbye to Belle and left the pharmacy. Belle placed her items on the counter. "Hello, Mr. Keene."
"Well, hello Miss Whitehurst." Mr. Keene greeted, pushing his glasses up. "I heard about little Georgie."
"Yes. He's doing okay." Belle said. "Everyone started to think of me as a hero. It's just that someone had to jump in to save the kid."
"He's a lucky one." Mr. Keene said as he scans the stuff. Belle got her cash out to pay. "Tell the boy I said hello, would ya?" Mr. Keene asked with a smile. Belle smiled a bit and nodded back at him. "Have a nice day, Miss Whitehurst." Mr. Keene said giving her a bag. His eyes scan up and down her figure. Belle felt uncomfortable. "Stay safe." He told her and gave her a creepy smile after Belle took the bag from him. The woman nodded and turn away from him. Mr. Keene is a weird man.
After she walked out of the door, she bumped into Greta. The ice cream fell out of the girl's hand and land on the sidewalk.
"Ah shit!" Greta snapped. She looked up at Belle. "Watch it, Whitehurst!"
"I didn't see you, Greta." Belle said with a look in her eyes.
"Why don't you wear a bell or something? And are you hitting on my dad, you slut?" Greta challenged. Belle wanted to slap that girl in a face, but couldn't. Some people watch the scene in shock and silent. Belle isn't feeling embarrassed about it. It's Greta who should be embarrassed for opening her big filthy mouth to the adult. Before Greta could say anymore, Mr. Keene walked out after hearing the commotion.
"Greta!" He spoke with a look. "How could you say such a thing to her? That's very rude of you."
"Very." Belle spoke with a smirk. Greta didn't say anything but walked in the pharmacy. Mr. Keene turned to Belle with pity.
"I'm so sorry." He said. "She really shouldn't talk to people like that."
"You need to talk to her. Kids like her need a lesson or two." Belle said. "I gotta get home." She walked away from Mr. Keene. The man walked in the pharmacy to scold his daughter. Belle wouldn't let teens like Greta to treat her like she's garbage. Or to kids her age. Belle is the adult. She's been through worse in this town before. But things will become more worse the very next day.