Alissa took a book about demons from an isle, walked all over the library, found a place, sat down, and opened the book. She flipped through the pages, then stopped on a page she randomly found interesting to read.
She read the title and noticed the chapter was about the possibility of converting oneself into a demon. She suddenly found it interesting and read the details, instead of only pretending to read. She sat at the middle of the library on purpose so Paul could spot her easily. Her plan was to trigger Paul and see if there was any sign of reaction when she talked about the clown. But instead of pretending, she kept reading the chapter and was surprised to know that there were so many things to learn about entities.
Suddenly, when she looked up, she saw Paul walking towards her. She flipped the pages again, waved at Paul, then kept reading. But this time, she pretended to be more focused.
"What are you..." She heard his words trail off as he stood beside her,
She looked up, "Just reading."
"Rituals of Ancient Entities?" He read the book title aloud,
"Hey, don't judge." She mumbled as she pretended to read again,
Paul sat beside her and crossed his arms, "I thought you were over that?"
"When did I say that?"
"It's been months, Alissa. That clown must have vanished like you said."
Alissa's eyes trailed off the page but she kept her position, pretending to read, "I know." She took a deep breath, "But when we were talking yesterday, the thought of the clown entered my mind and...here I am."
Paul touched her hand as he leaned forward making Alissa turn her head, "Give it a rest. Don't you have tests next week? The semester's about to end." He reminded her,
"I've finished studying." She said,
He shrugged, "Study again. Maybe you'll ace it."
"Paul, if you don't want to hang with your weird friend reading about demons, then you're welcome to leave." She said and pretended to read again,
This pissed Paul off. He sighed deeply, "I didn't say you were-"
"-Then why are you making me stop reading?" She shot him a look,
He stared at her, "Because I'm only worried about your classes." He said sincerely,
She started to think again. She paused, looking at him, "I'm sorry. It's just..." she thought of a lie, "It's still fresh, you know. Whenever I remember, I have the urge to find out. We never really had...closure." She felt stupid for saying it that way. But deep down, she knew it was true. She could not forget the clown.
Pennywise wish it could use its power to make her easily forget like how it could influence the rest of the adults to forget about the missing kids. But if it were to hurt her any longer or use its power on her, it would relieve her of the ancient power. It didn't like the thought of that. If anything, Pennywise wanted every power it could get from her when it finally performed the ritual.
It made sure she was a fresh, virgin flesh. It needed her badly that it was becoming impatient. Knowing that she was still blabbering about the clown knew that it would distract her from him. Or maybe...it would lead her closer to Paul?
Suddenly, Pennywise decided to lure her in with the thought of Pennywise.
"You know," Paul started to talk but Alissa was still pretending to read, "I understand how you feel."
"What do you mean?"
"Pennywise really harmed you in any way. I apologize for making you stop all this."
She looked at him, "It's okay."
"He really is interesting."
"It." She corrected him, "It, because it's an entity."
"Oh, of course. It's...really interesting. You know what I think about It?" Paul asked her and she seemed to listen carefully,
Pennywise thought if it told her what it genuinely knew about itself, it would make Alissa want to spend more time with her. Pennywise recently understood that human women had the possibility of attachment and love towards another person when the other person provides them something they find interesting. This was interesting to her, so it must tell her what she wanted to hear.
"What?" Alissa asked,
"I think It's not gone." Paul made sure he whispered it to her softly, "I think It's only hiding."
Alissa listened intently,
"Hiding from what?"
"Hiding until It needs to resurface." Paul smirked, thinking that his plan is working, "Hiding until hunger urges it to come out again."
"You mean, he completely gave up on asking me for help?"
Paul suddenly thought about that.
"Maybe." He leaned back on his chair,
She furrowed her eyebrows. Is it Paul talking to her? Or the clown? She needed a sign. She needed a simple proof just to know.
"I think the clown's stupid." She stated and looked away, hoping she'd get a reaction from him.
Paul snapped, "What? Why?"
"It makes all that effort to annoy me? And then what, just give up easily because I won't give it a name anymore?"
"Well maybe it gave up because it knew you weren't going to give it names any longer."
Alissa's voice started to grow louder, "Well maybe It should have waited until I was ready."
"And when would that be, Alissa? You and I both know you would never do such a horrific thing." Paul emphasized 'horrific' as if he was trying to pretend to be scared,
"Whatever. It doesn't matter." She gave up and shut the book,
"It really doesn't, because now, It's hunting for it's food on its own." Paul said with so much conviction, making Alissa look at him.
They both stay quiet until Alissa found the guts to speak up and pretend to agree. She had what she needed to hear. The Paul she knew would not know too much about Pennywise. And it would not talk as if mocking her when they argued even the slightest. Alissa had what she needed.
She knows.
She kept her composure and played the game, pretending she doesn't think this way.
"Well I hope it's having fun hunting for food on its own."
"Really?"
She shrugged, stood up and carried the book, "Because it doesn't have to wait for my stubborn ass." She walked away, and could have sworn she heard him mumble silently, "Isn't that corrrrrect."
Alissa kept walking and knew in her heart. But she had to trick her feelings to feel differently or else the demon clown would be able to feel it. But Alissa could not get rid of it in her head.
Paul could possibly be Pennywise.