*Chapter 4: Snatched*

"Thank you for coming to watch Georgie for us, Belle." Mrs. Denbrough said as she grab her coat and purse. She and her husband are going out for dinner and see a movie while Bill was at the theatre with Richie and Stan right before Belle left the house. But he will be home after the movie he was going to see with his friends.

"Sure. I have no plans, so I don't mind watching the kid. He is no trouble at all." Belle said, forming a smile.

"He is still taking those pills for pain, but he is getting a little better. Just keep those bandages on him." Mrs. Denbrough said. "We'll be away for 4 or 5 hours. Make sure to lock the doors and everything. We just got groceries, so you all got the food for tonight." Belle nodded at her.

"Okay, we gotta go." Mr. Denbrough spoke as he puts on his coat. "Bill will be back after seeing a movie. So, you guys have a good time. Georgie, be good."

"I'm always good." The boy spoke. He was sitting on the couch, watching tv. So, his parents left the house. Belle sat next to Georgie, setting down her bag that's filled with books.

"You doing okay, Georgie?" She asked.

"Yeah." The boy replied. He didn't even smile once today. He was disturbed by Pennywise. He was afraid to go outside once he gets better from the pain. Belle couldn't tell him that she bumped into Pennywise at the Neibolt House and he gave her a scare in her bathroom mirror. If she does, the clown might pop up. She won't put the boy in danger.
After an hour, Bill came home to see Belle and Georgie in the living room, reading a book together. The teen greeted them before he went to his room to change out of his clothes. Belle was reading Georgie Jack and the Beanstalk. She read him that story before, but it was Georgie's favorite story. He loved to see pictures of a teen named Jack climb up the beanstalk, steal golden eggs, and fight off the giant.
After story time is over, Georgie was put to bed and Belle sat by him to tuck him in. He wanted her to stay with him. Belle knew he is still afraid. She couldn't say no to him.

"It's alright, sweetie." Belle told him, petting his brown hair. "I'm here."

"Will you sing me a song, Belle? Please?" Georgie asked, bringing the covers up to his chin. Belle smiled and nodded. She began to sing him a lullaby to help him fall asleep. She does have a gentle, loving singing voice. Not only she loves reading, she loves musicals. She once took singing classes a few years back.

"Hello friend,
It's good to be with you.
Time is standing still.
Our love,
Shines true and bright.
It always will.
My wishing star,
Has guided all you do.
My empty heart you fill.
We still feel,
Forever young."

Georgie held onto his turtle toy with one arm as he is listening to Belle's voice. The woman strokes his hair with her hand.

"Looking back,
Is just the same.
As we were, when we began.
This love will keep protecting us.
Reach for me and I will take your hand."

Bill quietly stood by the doorway, watching and listening to Belle sing to Georgie. The teen was rubbing his arm, leaning against the doorway, looking down at the floor. Belle continues to sing softly to the boy.

"When we're apart,
Just close your eyes,
And you'll see me waiting there.
You can always count on me.
I will always care."

As she was singing, Georgie's eyelids drop and fell asleep. Belle smiled and kiss him on a forehead. She brought the covers up to his chin as he held the turtle close to him.

"Good night, Georgie." Belle whispered. She left his bedroom and shut the door halfway closed.

"He sure was q-q-quiet tonight." Bill said.

"Yes. He'll come around, Bill." Belle replied. "Things have been rough."

"H-h-h-he keeps bringing up about the clown. We kept telling him that he s-s-s-saw an animal." Bill told her.

'He did see a clown. I saw him too.' Belle thought. If only she can tell him that Georgie was telling the truth. After telling each other goodnight, Belle went to the living room and sit on a couch. She grabbed her book to keep herself entertained. It's only 8:35, so the parents will be home in an hour or so. Belle flipped through a page, bringing the book to the light to see better.

XX

Georgie was sleeping soundly in his bed on his side, bringing one of his stuffed animals close. He heard a slight sound coming from his door. He turned to see if it was either Bill or Belle, but no one was there. Maybe he was just hearing things. Before he could go back to sleep, the door slowly closed. Georgie was left alone in the darkness. Before he could get up, he sees yellow eyes glow across from him. Georgie gasped at the sight of them. Those eyes. He recognized them. IT's here. Georgie shuts his eyes and put a blanket over him to hide. He's afraid to speak. There is no sound coming from IT. Could it be Georgie's imagination? He slowly pulls the covers off and see the yellow eyes are gone. The boy let out a silent sigh of relief. Maybe he is seeing things. Georgie relaxed in bed to sleep again.

"Hiya, Georgie." A voice spoke. Georgie recognized it. The lamp on the bedside was turned on, and there is Pennywise right beside Georgie with a smile. He is drooling from his bottom lip. Georgie screamed as the clown grabbed him by the throat, laughing manically.

XX

Belle heard Georgie scream from his bedroom. She puts down her book and hurried up the stairs to see Bill come out of his room, wondering why Georgie was screaming. Belle reached Georgie's door. The door is locked.

"Georgie! Georgie!" Belle called, trying to push the door open. Bill is right behind her.

"What's going on?!" He asked. Belle hits the door in panic. She has to get in there.

"Georgie! Open the door!" She cried out. Belle finally got the door open and see the bed empty. And Georgie was nowhere to be found. But, there is something. A red balloon tied to a turtle plush. Belle covered her mouth with one hand in shock. Georgie has been taken. "Oh my god!" Belle gasped. She is shaking her head in disbelief. "Oh no... No...no..." Belle repeated in panic. "Please, no!"

"Georgie?" Bill called as he walked in the room, looking around. Belle was horrified. Pennywise got Georgie. And left one of his balloons here. Bill turned to Belle with worry after he checked under the bed. "Where's G-G-G-Georgie?!"

"Oh god..." Belle backed away from the bedroom. Bill was following her, asking her so many questions. Timing got worse when Mr. and Mrs. Denbrough walked in. Belle will be blamed for this. Bill was panicking, stuttering so much, looking around the house for his little brother.
After explaining what Georgie's disappearance, Mr. and Mrs. Denbrough were shocked and scared. But they don't think it's Belle's fault for his disappearance. They believe someone must've snuck in by picking the locks. But Belle knew it wasn't true. And it is her fault that Georgie was taken by the clown. She should've watched him more carefully. The poor boy is in serious danger.

Georgie sat by the tower of junk of toys, crying his eyes out. His clothes were wet from the gray water around the lair. He is in the sewers. What scares him was that above him were floating children around the tower, and they are not alive. Drops of blood land on Georgie's face, making him wipe them away with his sleeve.

"Here you go, Georgie." Pennywise spoke, handing over the paper boat. Georgie stared at him with tears falling down. "You left your boat. You still want it back?"

"I wanna go home." Georgie said.

"Oh, but you are home." Pennywise told him with a grin. "You will float along with the others above you. Many children come down here to float." He pointed upwards where the floating children are. Georgie sobbed a bit more, hugging his legs with one arm. Pennywise watched him in silent, hearing him murmuring about his family and Belle. The clown growled a little when the name was brought up. That woman was a thorn on his side. He had a feeling that she will come to his Neibolt house to get Georgie back. Belle will be in the way since she is aware of the clown's existence. The clown must think of something very clever this time. The first option was to kill her, but he decided not to do that. He had fun scaring her to make her fear grow more, and it made him grow wild. IT will keep her alive.
Pennywise's eyes flashed when an idea popped in his head. He form a smile. It was a crazy deal, but it might work. It was a wonderful, awful idea...

"Corruption, truly a genius you are." The clown told himself, drooling a bit as he thought about the plan he will make for Belle once she arrives.

"Take me home." Georgie sobbed. "I won't tell anyone about you anymore. Please, take me home!"

"No, Georgie. Right now, you will float. Trust me, it won't hurt a bit. Look into my eyes." Pennywise told the boy. Once Georgie's head was up, he could see orange lights in the eyes of the clown. Georgie couldn't look away from the lights. His body was lifted off the ground, and he started to float above, eyes were white and glossed over. "If things don't go well, I will have you as my meal. You won't escape." Pennywise said. He retreated inside his wagon, thinking over the plans for the next day.

*Song: Forever Young by Carol Parks*