*Chapter 24: Return to the Sewers*
Another day passed, and things are normal. Belle was walking down the sidewalk, passing by the theatre, and hear the arcade game noises from inside. She notices Richie playing Street Fighter. He is too occupied to notice her, so Belle continued walking. She touches her stomach to feel her unborn. Should she tell Pennywise about her pregnancy? Will he want her back if she returns? Before she could think some more, Bill called out her name ran up to her.
"Belle!"
"Bill, what is it?"
"It's G-G-G-Georgie!" Bill stuttered. "He's been taken by IT!" Belle was stunned when she hears this. "Not only that, B-B-Beverly was also gone. I went by to see her, but she vanished. S-s-s-something happened to her dad in the bathroom, but I don't know if IT killed him or not."
"But...why? Why would Pennywise take them?" Belle asked, getting worried. "He wouldn't-"
"We have to save them, Belle." Bill said. "We have to gather everyone." Belle knew he was right. But, gathering everyone will take too long. She must be at the house right away. She told Bill to get Richie from the arcade and contact everyone else. She ran down the sidewalk to find a place to teleport. Bill rushes in the theatre to tell Richie the news.
Belle's mind goes wild. Why did Pennywise take Georgie and Beverly? Why them? Belle had to save them and try to talk to the clown. Yet, she is afraid to go back. What if he doesn't want her back? It's been a month. But she had to save those kids. They don't deserve such fate. She stopped in the middle of the alley and use her power to teleport. She disappeared out of sight.
Belle arrived at the front of the Neibolt house. She walked up to the door and pull it open. She went inside and try to sense Pennywise around. He could be in his sewer lair. So she must head down to the well.
Belle went down to the basement and stare at the well. There are more ripped clothes, and dry bloodstains around the well. The poor children. Belle walked up to the well and look down. All she sees is darkness. She tries to hear anything. It's too quiet. Where is Pennywise? He had to be down there. So Belle grabbed the rope and carefully climb down. The Losers Club will arrive soon, they know a way down. She went further down to the well and found a tunnel in the wall.
"I'm coming, guys." Belle whispered as she climbed in the tunnel and went through. "Just hang on." After going through, she found herself in the maze of the sewers. She remembers which way to go. She walks to the left tunnel, and see disembodied heads floating on the gray water as always, but she ignored them and kept going.
XX
After minutes of going to the right direction, Belle made it to Pennywise's lair. On the floor, there are Georgie and Beverly. They are unharmed, but unconscious. She rushed towards them and kneel by them. She shook Georgie, trying to wake him up.
"Georgie. Georgie, wake up." She whispered. The boy groaned and see Belle. "Georgie, are you alright?"
"Belle, where am I?" Georgie asked, slowly sitting up. He took a glance at the place and made a gasp. "No... No, not here again."
"Shhh. It's okay." Belle said in a soft tone, bringing him close to a hug. "I'm here. I'm getting you and Bev out of here. Pennywise won't hurt you." They both heard a sound coming from the girl. Beverly opened her eyes and see them. "Bev? You alright?"
"What...happened?" Beverly asked, sitting up, holding her head. "Oh shit. He brought me here. He came to me."
"But why?" Belle asked. "Why did he take you both?"
"I don't know." Beverly replied. She then look up to see floating children rotate around the tower of junk. Belle help the kids up, telling them that she will get them out of here. But, a growling noise was heard. Georgie whimpered a bit, gripping on Beverly dress with one hand. Belle told the kids to leave now and she will stay behind. Beverly and Georgie waste no time and quickly head to the exit. Belle turned around to face the wagon. He's inside.
She approach the door and slightly open it. She took a peek inside to see Pennywise gripping on a white rose, making it die in his hand. Belle took a deep breath and walk in the wagon and call out to him.
"Penny." The clown froze. His eyes move to the side and see Belle standing there. "I'm here." Belle whispered. "I come back." Pennywise fully looks at her and slowly approach her. He reached for her face, but stopped. Belle brought his gloved hand over to her cheek. Pennywise then brought his head down to sniff her hair and purred. "It's okay. I'm here." Belle told him. Her free hand runs up to his chest, feeling the satin of the suit and his heartbeat. Pennywise brought her head up and look into her eyes.
"You came back for them. Not for me."
"I had to, but...I missed you. A month felt like forever and... Oh, I've missed you so much." Belle said, hugging him. "But why did you take them?"
"I had to feed, darling. My rest is near. It's...it's today." Pennywise replied in a whisper.
"Oh god. It's too soon." Belle said, shaking her head. She felt like crying. "Listen, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"A few days ago, I discovered I was..." Belle paused, feeling nervous. She's afraid of how he would react to the news. "Here." She brought his hand over to her stomach. Pennywise was puzzled at first, then that was when he sensed it. Something was growing inside her. Belle waited for him to speak and react. Pennywise slowly pulled away, staring at her stomach, then at her face. She's holding his child. His first child.
"My mate...is holding...my seed." Pennywise spoke.
"Yes. I am." Belle said with a nod. Pennywise form a smile, his eyes turn blue which Belle missed so much.
"Our own child." He said. Belle smiled back at him, tears form in her eyes. They both embrace each other. Pennywise brought her into a passionate kiss. Belle moans in his mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck. But they broke the kiss when voices are heard outside the wagon. The Losers Club. Pennywise growled and head out. Belle had to stop this.
XX
The Losers Club arm themselves with weapons. Spikes that are from outside, Bill held the bolt gun that Mike brought from his home, and Richie got the baseball bat from the pile of junk. Belle stood in between the two before things have gone out of control. She faces the kids, bringing her hands out.
"Guys, it's okay. You got Bev and Georgie back now." She said. "They're okay."
"He was going to kill them." Eddie said. "And we'll be next. Don't you care about us?"
"Of course I do!" Belle told him. "All of you have to go home. Pennywise won't hurt you-"
"Belle, quit defending this thing! He's been eating children, and he killed Kyle!" Richie exclaimed. Belle can hear Pennywise growl behind her. Anytime soon, he will strike at the kids.
"Listen to me. You all have to go now. I have to stay here." Belle said. "We have to hibernate soon."
"No..." Bill said, shaking his head. Georgie was about to cry, holding onto Beverly. "Y-y-you can't. We just got you back." Belle lowered her head, closing her eyes. She apologized to the kids. Pennywise made a small smirk at the Losers Club, his eyes glow a bit. The children didn't say word. They are heartbroken after Belle told she must hibernate with IT. For 27 years.
"You leave us be. I'll take her. Only her." Pennywise spoke by pulling Belle close to him, smirking evilly at the children. "We will have our long rest. And you will all live to grow and thrive and lead happy lives until old age takes you back to the weeds." He rasped. Belle stared at the Losers Club in silent, using her mind to tell them to leave. But, they are too stubborn. Beverly turned to the boys while holding Georgie close.
"Guys, we can't." She said. Richie stood in front of the group bravely. He faces Bill with a look.
"I told you, Bill." Richie spoke. Belle looked up to see him gripping on the bat, facing Bill. "I fucking told you. Belle is not the same person anymore. Since she's back in town, she never wants to do anything with us. She just let children die, and all she cared about is this fucking clown!" Pennywise stood tall, growling angrily at the boy with glasses. But Richie didn't back down. He stares at Belle with a look. "Belle, sorry that I have to do this. But we have to kill this fucking clown." Richie said.
"Richie, no!" Belle gasped. Richie readied his bat, facing Pennywise. Belle was pushed aside by her mate. "No!"
"WELCOME TO THE LOSERS CLUB, ASSHOLE!" Richie hollered. Pennywise let out a roar and ran towards him, but Richie swung the bat and hit him in the head, making the clown recoil. Belle watched the fight, feeling helpless now. Mike got the crowbar and ran towards Pennywise. But the clown opened his mouth and tons of burnt arms pop out and grab the weapon. The screams can be heard from inside the mouth, arms reaching for Mike who watches in fear, but didn't back down. Belle couldn't believe what she is seeing. Pennywise figured out what their fears are. Has he been watching them the whole time? Then she sees his head turn into a lady from a painting which looks terrifying, charging at Stan. But the Jewish boy strikes the head.
The fight goes on while Belle stood. She doesn't know what to do. She could stop the kids from hurting her love one, but they will attack her. And she's pregnant. She couldn't put herself at risk. Pennywise was stabbed by one of the spikes, hit by a bat, strike by a chain, etc. He's slowing down. He's been trying to shapeshift into what they are afraid of, but the boys never back down. The clown was on the ground, coughing and gasping for air. Belle couldn't take it anymore. She ran in between, grabbing the crowbar that Beverly grip on.
"Enough!" She demanded. Beverly stared at her in shock. "I won't let you!" Belle said as her eyes turn yellow. Beverly backed up in terror. Belle threw the weapon aside, glaring at the children, her eyes back to normal. Pennywise started to crawl backwards, whimpering a little. He backed up against the large hole. Belle rush towards him, kneeling beside him. "Penny? Pennywise, are you okay?"
"It's...it's...it's...time for...me to...go." Pennywise wheezed. He's weak, and thin red lines are forming up from the lines on his face. Belle cupped his face. He is afraid. And he is starving. The long rest awaits.
"Belle, don't do this!" Beverly begged.
"I'll be fine." Belle told her. She faces the clown. "Just let me say good-bye to-"
"No..." Pennywise held her hand. "You...you don't need...to come with me." He said.
"What?"
"We have a child. We will be slumbering while you were holding it." Pennywise told her. "I don't know...what will happen to our child." Belle touched her stomach while Pennywise placed his gloved hand over it. He may have a point. What will happen to the baby while they hibernate? She couldn't give birth to the baby.
"Penny, I...I don't want to be alone." Belle said, forming tears. "And I don't want you to be alone either." She felt his hand on her cheek.
"We made...sacrifices, my Beauty. But, I will return. We will be together again. With our child." Pennywise said, giving her a half smile. More red lines are running up to his eyes. "I'll return...for you..." Belle knew he had to leave. Her tears fall from her eyes. She brought her lips over to his forehead and kiss it. The kids watched in silent. Then, the clown made a flip and held on the ledge of the hole. Belle watched him while backing up. She can hear him mumbling to himself.
"I love you..." She whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. Pennywise releases the ledge and fall into the darkness. He is gone. He will be asleep for 27 years. Belle was now left behind. The kids came over to her. She looked down at Georgie who held her hand. She kneeled down and embrace him, sobbing a little. So, the group huddle around her and the boy. The nightmare was over for them, but for Belle, she will be the only creature roaming around town. Pennywise will be lonely in the darkness of hibernation, but he wanted Belle to be awake for the sake of their child.
"Let's go home." Mike said. So, everyone left the lair and see the floating dead children come down. Belle held Georgie's hand while exiting out.
It's now September, and Belle sat alone in the grass fields. The town had been quiet since Pennywise had gone to sleep. Even the children were free from being taken or eaten now, but the parents still have them under watch by the police. Derry is free until the monster is back. Belle got up and ready to go back to her car, until there are a group of people wearing robes stood around her car.
Belle started to feel tense when she sees them. She couldn't see their faces.
'It's the cult.' She thought. As she turns away, there is a woman she sees in her dream stood in front of her, smiling at her.
"Hello, Belle." She spoke. Then, Belle felt a sharp pain in her neck. Her vision was going blurry and the voices started to echo. Belle collapse on the grass and close her eyes. A man in a red robe picked her up. "Bring her to our sanctuary. She will be sleeping for a long time." The woman said.
"What about her baby?" The man asked.
"Don't worry about that. It will be taken care of." So, the cult brought Belle to the car. They drove off and went to the place where no one could ever find her. Belle and her child will be held hostage...