AN- Remember to enjoy, review, follow, favorite, whatever.
Let me know what you think in a review.
Ben had a pretty nice place. It was kind of generic but it had a sense of security. From what the kids could see, it was a normal house; everything you'd expect to see of a family that is well off. But as they entered his bedroom, they could tell somebody this obsessed about something was definitely crazy.
All over his walls were articles of Derry and all the tragedies that occurred. It was chilling looking at the posters of missing kids who were frozen in time smiling back, unknown of exactly what would befall them.
"Woah, woah, woah, wow!"
"Cool, huh?", asked Ben as he began sorting his room out. There were models of the old lighthouse on his desk next to some cassette tapes.
"No, nothing cool. There's nothing cool", began Richie. He, Stan and Eddie gathered around the wall with the articles of more missing kids, an explosion involved at an Easter egg hunt, and signatures that were too disfigured to read clearly. "Well this is cool, wait, no it's not."
"What's that?", asked Stan, pointing to a black and white photograph.
Beverly and Nora, who were on the other side of the room reading the wrinkled yellow papers that lined the wall, looked to where Stan mentioned.
Ben turned around as well. "That? That's the charter for Derry Township."
"Nerd alert", pronounced Richie.
"Actually, it's really interesting", said Ben proudly. It seemed as though he had gotten used to this Tozier, big mouthed as he may be, he was a decent kid. "Derry started as a beaver trapping camp."
"Still is, am I right, boys?", stated Richie. He raised his arm above Eddie for a high five. But one glare from Stan was enough for him to shut up.
Without really thinking about it, Nora locked eyes with Beverly and the two snickered. If there was one thing they could agree on, it was that Richie was always good for a laugh. Bill on the other hand, rolled his eyes as he stared out the window.
Ben continued. "Ninety-one people signed the charter that made Derry. But later that Winter, they all disappeared without a trace."
"The entire camp?", asked Eddie, beginning to feel uneasy.
"Not one survivor?", asked Nora. Ben shook his head.
"There were rumors of Indians. But no sign of an attack. Everyone thought it was a plague or something. But it's like one day, everybody just up and left. The only clue was a trail of bloody clothes leading to the well house."
"That sounds like a myth. I don't remember learning about it in school", said Beverly. "It sounds like a Halloween special they'd put on that one show, um..."
"Unsolved Mysteries?", suggested Richie.
Beverly snapped her fingers. "That's the one!"
"W-where wa-was the w-well house?", asked Bill out of nowhere. Everyone stared at him.
"I don't know, somewhere in town, I guess", said Ben. "Why?"
"Nothing", said Bill. But they could tell there was something more to it for him.
Nora stepped forward. "I hate to admit it, but I think Marsh is right. Maybe it is just a story. I mean, if it was real, wouldn't it be one of the many historical landmarks in Derry?", she said, motioning to the newspapers. "Wouldn't people have turned it into a museum or something?"
"They could have burned it down. Not much is left, especially since they've rebuilt most of this town over the years", said Stan. "Like our houses."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
It was Eddie's watch.
"Oh shit! My mom's going to kill me! I should have been home by now", yelled Eddie.
"Not if her six course meal killed her first", said Richie. Eddie glared at him.
"L-lay off him, R-Rich. It is g-g-getting late. T-thanks for sh-sh-showing us t-this, B-Ben", stammered Bill. "W-we were going to the movies t-tomorrow if you wanted to come with."
"Uh, sure what movie?"
"The new Batman one. Not as good as Lethal Weapon, but just as badass!", declared Richie. He followed Eddie out to their bikes.
"Y-you're free to come t-too, B-Beverly", said Bill. He smiled at her.
So did she, subconsciously tugging some hair behind her ear. "I'd like that."
"Y-you too", said Bill, subtly to Nora.
"Gee, I'm flattered", she said flatly as she headed out the door. "See ya, Ben." Jumping down the front steps, she realized Richie and Eddie had left already. Night was coming, but nobody was really expecting her anywhere. Maybe she could go and visit Mike. Not only was she anticipating the day she'd see him again, but Nora wanted to introduce him to her friends. He'd be a great addition.
"Wait up!", came a voice from behind her. She paused, turning around. The boy speeding towards her halted to a stop and got off his bike, walking next to her.
"Hey", she said. They kept going up the sidewalk. The streetlights were coming on. They had to hurry home so they wouldn't miss the curfew.
"Hey. I figured we could walk home together. My house is only two blocks from yours", said Stan, swatting a fly out of his face.
"You're not afraid of the dark are you?", teased Nora.
He scoffed. "Yeah right. There are worse things in this town. Do you really believe all that stuff Ben said?"
Shrugging, Nora stepped over the remains of a dead mouse that looked as though it had been chewed up by a cat. "Who am I to judge, really. I barely know anything about this town. Do you?"
"All of it sounds too specific to be made up. Just too real. If that makes sense", said Stan, staring down at her.
"I guess it's cool to believe in something that much... strange... but cool", said Nora, remembering something, she waited until they reached a backstreet next to an old garage. Grabbing his sleeve, he stopped confused, kicking the rod on his bike down so it stood up.
Sliding her hand into her pocket, she pulled out the small hat that Stan recognized immediately. Placing it in his hand and seeing him smile made her mimic him. "Hockstetter threw it on the bus the other day. I thought you might want it back."
He stared straight into her eyes. "Thank you, Nora. It's my favorite one!", he said, placing the red and tan yarmulke on top of his head.
And just like lighting, the familiar blue Plymouth Fury came storming up the alley, stopping a few feet from the kids.
"Shit", said Stan, grasping the handle bars of his bike.
The engine shut off. The doors opened and out stepped the well known bullies of Derry. Belch slammed his door shut and walked to the front of his car, leaning on the hood. Bowers did the same, one hand in his pocket, the other, playing with another switchblade he had "borrowed" from his father and Vic strayed behind, smiling his gap toothed smile.
"Looks like the bitch likes hanging out with the nigger, the slut, Tits, and now a fucking Jew", mocked Henry, laughing. Belch and Vic joined in.
"Takes a slut to be friends with one."
By heavenly God... didn't these guys have jobs?
"I'd rather hang with them than a bunch of fucking stalkers", muttered Nora.
But Stan wasn't in the mood to hang around. He tugged on her sleeve. "Let's just go", he whispered, attempting to pass them, but it was useless. If Bowers was crazy enough to carve his name into Ben's stomach, who knew what else he'd do. He was taller than Stan or Nora combined. If they'd try to run, they'd be dead.
Holding the knife in front of him, Henry, followed by his friends, slowly made their way to Stan, who refused to try something stupid.
A few moments of silence went by before Henry grabbed the front of Stan's shirt, using his other hand to trail the switchblade from his chest to the top of his head, stabbing the yarmulke so it looked like a piece of steak ready to be burnt in a fire.
"Didn't Patrick trash this, you little shit?", asked Henry, flinging the hat behind him. It landed in a puddle of mud.
"Where's the pothead anyway?", asked Nora, not quite so innocently. Her eyes were locked on the blistered hand that was wrinkling Stan's shirt.
"Probably fucking Henry's girl", taunted Belch. "All the sluts hang out, it's how they know who's worth fucking."
"She's not my friend, just shut up", said Nora. Why was she defending Marsh? It's not like they were friends. But in this moment, having these jerks talk shit about her felt wrong. "Let him go."
Her demand was pointless. Henry refused to lighten his grip on Stan but that didn't stop him from pointing his knife at her. Nora did her best not to step back out of fear. She felt braver the minute Stan's hand grabbed hers.
She had to do something...
As fast as she could, she kneeled down, grabbed a rock bigger than her fist and flung it into the air, above everyone's heads. It flew and flew and flew until finally... CRASH! Belch's pride and joy, no longer had the front glass window. The shards now littered the inside of his car and the hood.
"FUCK!", yelled Belch.
With the dickheads distracted, Stan shoved Henry's hands off of him, grabbed one of Nora's, and the two bolted it down the dimly lit road.
Faster and faster they tried to run, doing their best to make it towards their homes. The sound of pounding feet behind them made them even more desperate.
"Keep going!", yelled Stan.
Henry's death threats weren't very encouraging. An occasional, "I'm going to bury you!"
And Belch's: "You're dead!", boomed in their ears.
Making it to the end of the road that led to the playground, Stan and Nora did their best to catch their breath, but the next few moments went by very fast.
The next thing she knew, Nora's scalp felt like it was being split in two as Bowers had run up behind her and grabbed a fistful of her hair. She saw Vic on his knees panting. Doing her best to attempt to kick Henry, she saw Stan run towards them, only to be held back by a sweaty Belch.
It was strange seeing all the fear in Stan's eyes disappear. What showed now was a newfound anger she never knew he had. He continued to struggle to no avail. "No! No! Don't touch her, you bastard!"
With one swift motion, Henry flung Nora by her hair onto the ground where she landed on her back. Ignoring the sharp pain that was sent through her body, she tried to get up, but being pinned down by someone twice her size was excruciating.
Henry lifted her shirt just below her breast and took out the switchblade. She wasn't fat like Tits, but he was going to carve his name no matter what.