*Chapter 5: The Dilemma*
Everyone was on a search for Georgie, putting up missing posters of him all over town. Even Bill skipped school since he's too worried about his missing little brother. His parents have hope, and they pray for Georgie to be found soon.
Belle kept quiet about Pennywise around everyone. She knew he took him. He left a red balloon as a message. And she knows where Pennywise is hiding. The Neibolt House. She must bring Georgie home. She grabbed her blue jacket, a gun, and head out the door. Before she could get in the car, she was stopped by Bill.
"W-w-where are you going?" He asked.
"Going to look for Georgie." Belle said, opening the driver's side door. "It's my fault that he's missing last night."
"I'll go with you." Bill said, putting his bike down on the grass. "H-h-h-he's my brother. He lost his arm, and w-w-w-what if a creature is still on a loose?" Belle slammed the door shut and let out a sigh. Bill needs to know the truth. He'll have to believe her. She faced him with a serious look.
"Listen, Bill. I know how Georgie got missing." She said.
"What?"
"He was taken." Belle told him. "By a clown he told us about. He was telling the truth. Yesterday before I was called to babysit him, I went to the Neibolt House and he was there. Pennywise took him." Bill was staring at her in silent. Belle saw that coming. But she doesn't care. "Believe it or not, but it's true. I'm going to get your brother back." She got in her car. Bill backed up as the car drove off the driveway and went to the right.
The car pulls up by the house. Belle got out and look up at the house with a look in her eyes. As she walk up the porch, Bill's voice was heard. But he is not alone. There is Richie and Stan along with him on their bikes.
"Boys, it's dangerous. I'm going alone." Belle said not facing them. "Go home. I'll bring Georgie back in one piece."
"Okay, Bill told us everything and...seriously, a clown?" Richie asked with a look. "A clown that ate an arm!"
"Let us come with you, Belle." Bill pleaded. "I-I-I want Georgie back as much as everyone else."
"No. You have no idea what the clown was really like." Belle told him. "Please, go home." She turned to see the boys slowly bring their bikes back and walk away with them. Belle opened the front door and walk inside the house. She got her handgun out and look around the place, listening for the clown. "Where are you?" She whispered. She found a doorway that leads down the basement. Georgie could be there.
Belle quietly walked down the stairs and see the basement with beams of light coming from above the walls. There is a well in the center. A very old well. But that isn't the only thing she sees. Around the well, there are ripped clothes, toys, and dry blood. She covered her mouth from throwing up. Pennywise brings kids here to kill them. He won't be anymore.
"Pennywise, come out! I know you have him!" Belle shouted. Silence. Belle shouted again. "I know you can hear me! I won't leave till I have Georgie! Come out!" A sound was heard from the stairs. Belle quickly turned and pointed the gun up.
"Holy shit! It's us!" Richie said, having his hands up. Bill and Stan are with him. Belle lowered her gun, scowling at them.
"What the hell are you doing?! I thought you left!"
"We want to help!" Stan said. "Four against one will be easier."
"Boys, please I beg you, go home! It's not safe here!" Belle said. An arm came out from the well, reaching for Belle.
"Watch out!" Bill cried. But it was too late. The gloved hand grabbed the back of Belle's jacket and pull her down the well. The woman dropped her gun and screamed. She fell down the dark well. The boys rushed over, looking down and see nothing but darkness, but Belle's screams echo below.
"Holy shit!" Richie gasped. "Something grabbed her and pull her down there!"
"What do we do?!" Stan asked. "She could be dead!"
"We gotta get her back!" Bill said.
"From down the well?" Richie asked. As two boys started to panic, Bill sees a rope above the well.
Her head started to throb. She sat up and held her head, groaning. She opened her eyes and see that she is in a place she never recognized. A tower of toys and junk stood before her. When she looked up, she sees children floating. Those were the missing kids. Belle covered her mouth in horror, backing up. A giggle is heard from the wagon below the tower. Pennywise came out from the side, grinning away at the woman.
"Hello, Belle." He greeted in a high pitch voice. He noticed her fear, and follow her gaze. He smiled and face her. "Do you like my collection of lost toys and the floating children?"
"What...have you...done?" Belle asked, never taking her eyes off of the kids. But she found a boy floating along with them. It's Georgie. "Georgie!"
"Yes. I made him float. But don't worry. I didn't harm him." Pennywise said, approaching Belle. "In time I will."
"Bring him down and give him to me!" Belle said with a look.
"So I will starve to death?" Pennywise asked with a giggle. "If you really want the boy back, you have to do something in return." Belle glared at him. "If you refuse to accept, Georgie will be no more. And poor Bill will be the only seed in the family."
"I don't know what you mean by starve to death, but how could I trust you? You tried to kill me yesterday." Belle said.
"Because I was grumpy when you take away my meal." Pennywise told her. "No one dared tries to take away my prey."
"You're sick!" Belle said in disgust. Pennywise growled at her. The woman sighed. "What is it you want if I take Georgie?" Pennywise made a wide grin. Belle had a bad feeling about this, but she will do anything to get Georgie out of the clown's hands.
"Something I never ask for, but it's time for a change." The clown said. "Listen, Belle. If you want Georgie back alive, you will take his place."
"I'll die for him." Belle said. But Pennywise wiggles a finger at her.
"Oh no, no, no. I didn't say you have to die." He said. "Yet, it will be so tempting to smell your fear around."
"Then, why do you want me alive for?"
"You will become...my mate." Pennywise said. Belle stared at him in shock. Did she hear that right? Pennywise snarled at her. "You heard me, human. You'll become my mate if you want the boy alive." He growled, as if he read her thoughts.
"A...mate?! Why would you want me as your mate?!" Belle asked.
"You're the only adult who could see me and what was happening. I don't know how, but you must have a gift." Pennywise told her. "It could be the Shine."
"What...?"
"Now, do we have a deal?" Pennywise asked. Belle didn't say anything at first. This is so much to take in. She looks up at Georgie floating around the tower. She must save him, but she had to sacrifice herself to do so. By becoming mate to a monster. The clown spoke again, breaking her thoughts. "Perhaps you need time to think about it. You have until dusk."
"Isn't there anything else you want instead?" Belle asked.
"Just you as my mate. Nothing more, nothing less." Pennywise growled. The woman is desperate, Pennywise can see that. So, Belle told the clown she will have an answer tonight. Pennywise pointed the exit towards the tunnel for Belle to leave. The woman left the lair, troubled by the situation. What will she tell Bill? What about Derry? People will find out she's been gone if she agreed to the deal. The kids in town need her. Belle has to think it over until then.
"Wait for me, Georgie." Belle said. "I'll get you out before you know it." She walked through the tunnel to get out of the sewers.
"Belle?" Bill's voice called from the tunnels. Belle looked ahead and see Bill and his friends there. "What happened?"
"You find Georgie?" Stan asked.
"Where's the clown?" Richie asked, looking behind Belle. "You see him?" Belle had to tell them what's going on. Bill has to know.
In the Barrens, Belle told the three boys what was going on and what Pennywise told her. Bill was shocked by this. The only way to get Georgie back is have Belle become the mate. Because she's the one who interfered in the first place.
"So, you have to marry the fucking clown?" Richie asked with a look.
"You're not really going to do that, are you?" Stan asked.
"Georgie will die if I don't accept the deal." Belle told the boys. "I would die for him, but...Pennywise doesn't want me to die. He said something that he never ask for a mate in return. I'm the only adult around who could see him and what he did. I must pay the price."
"Th-th-th-there must be another way." Bill said.
"There is no another way." Belle replied. "I tried to offer him something else, but...he doesn't want anything else." She sighed, holding her head.
"What about the town?" Stan asked her. "People will notice you were gone. What do we have to say?"
"Let me worry about that part." Belle said. "I have a lot to think about. Until tonight, I will go to the clown." She stands up and face the boys. "Whatever you do, do not confront him." She left the boys to leave the Barrens. Bill turned to his friends.
"Sh-sh-she doesn't deserve this." He said.
"We can't do anything about it, Bill." Stan said. "It's hard to believe this, but I wouldn't be part of it. Kids went missing recently. I don't want to be missing either."
"Same here." Richie agreed. "Eddie will be scared shitless when we tell him this." Bill turned to face one of the sewer entrances with a look in his eyes. He doesn't want Belle to agree with the clown. He'll find another way to get his little brother back. Little did the boys know, a red balloon floats up in the sky, watching over them. As if someone was watching them.
Belle was at home, sitting at a table in silent. So much to think, so much things will change. She was scared for Georgie and for herself. Pennywise kidnaps children and make them float somehow. Belle doesn't want any other children she's seen to go through the same fate. Maybe she could reason with the clown if she agrees the deal. But will he accept her deal as well? But he said will starve if he doesn't eat. He eats children. Belle wanted to know more about Pennywise. What is he really? And what did he mean that she has the Shine? So many questions it makes Belle's head spin.
"I know what I have to do."