Chapter 16
Bill and Ale both shake hands. Bill was annoyed; Ale was a constant pain to him and his friends, but it was the only way to find Eddie and figure out what was going on here. If talking to her was the only way, then so be it. Ale smirked, then looked at Georgie.
"Georgie, where did you see Pennywise before you were possessed?" she asked.
"In the storm drain, why?" he asked.
"That's connected to the sewers." Beverly realized.
"Yes, the sewer's a good place to hide if you're a demon; it's underground." Ale agreed.
"But the sewers are off limits." Stanley protested.
"Well that hasn't stopped Pennywise from living there." Ale retorted.
"Plus, the sewers are public works, we're the public, aren't we?" Richie scoffed.
"Okay but, the sewers are like a m-m-maze. Pennywise obviously knows h-h-his way through them, but we'll be l-l-lost in there for s-s-sure." Bill said concerned.
"I have a map of the sewers, that could help." Ben spoke.
"Perfect! Let's go then." Beverly exclaimed.
"Hold on. We need to think about this. Pennywise will probably be expecting us, what do we do when we cross paths?" Georgie asked.
"Georgie's right, we have to be c-c-careful about th-th-this. I say we st-st-stick together, it won't give Pennywise a chance to p-p-pick us off one by one." Bill suggested.
"Okay, if you say so." Ale reluctantly agreed.
The group arrived at the barrens, parked their bikes, got off their bikes, and headed down the hill. As they did, Beverly shuddered. She was already haunted by the injuries left by Pennywise; going back to the barrens just didn't help. The group walked on the gravel shore by the river and approached the sewer entrance. Stanley looked around; scared and worried about getting in trouble and the plants in the area.
"That's poison ivy. And that's poison ivy. And that's poison ivy…" Stanley pointed out.
"Where?" Georgie asked.
"No where, not every fucking plant is poison ivy, Stanley." Richie retorted.
"Richie, seriously?!" Bill shushed.
"What? Georgie's growing up, he's going to hear this stuff eventually." He scoffed.
Bill rolled his eyes annoyed. Ale, Bill, Richie, Georgie, Beverly, Mike, and Ben entered the sewer pipe with Stanley being the last one outside. Bill got out a flashlight, turned it on, and shined it all over. The rest of the group looked at Stanley.
"Aren't you coming, Stanley?" Richie asked.
"Guys!" Bill yelled.
Everyone turned around. Bill turned around; his flashlight shined on a shoe he was holding.
"Shit. Don't tell me that's…" Stanley said scared.
Richie, Georgie, and Ale approached Bill and looked at the shoe. The shoe looked like a pale sneaker and it had Betty Ripsom's name on it. Richie turned to the others.
"It's Betty Ripsom's." he spoke.
"Oh god." Beverly gasped.
"What am I going to tell Mia?" Georgie asked.
"Nothing…We don't know if Betty is d-d-dead or a-a-alive, so until then, we say n-n-nothing, alright?" Bill said.
"Okay." Georgie said uncertain.
"How do you think Betty feels, going around these tunnels with one fucking shoe?" Richie teased.
Everyone gave him an annoyed glare. Ale looked at the shoe.
"Betty wasn't wondering in here. I'm not surprised if Pennywise took her." She said.
"What do you mean?" Bill asked.
"Well, fear demons are territorial. They're very protective of their territory and will not hesitate to make sure intruders stay out of it." Ale explained.
"Would Pennywise possess Betty then?" Georgie asked.
"No, if he did, we would've heard that Eddie had been found by now. Once the fear demon doesn't need their host anymore, they abandon them in places where people can see them; they don't want their hosts to die you know." Ale continued.
"So, what would Pennywise do with Betty then?" Mike asked.
"Maybe keep her with him until the hunt ends and erase her memories or control her." Ale answered.
"With what?" Ben asked.
"A spell; a mind control spell to be exact." Ale said.
Meanwhile
Deep in the sewer pipe, Henry was watching the group. He turned around and ran back to Pennywise's lair. Henry went into the steel door.
"Master, the kids you want are in the sewers." He spoke.
Pennywise and his father perked in alarm.
"NO NO NO, this wasn't supposed to happen!" Pennywise thought.
Then again, maybe it should. Pennywise realized that he had an opportunity right in front of him. He knew his way around the sewers, and he could see in the dark better then they could. Pennywise put the medicine bottle and spoon down and approached Henry. Henry bowed like a knight.
"I'm sorry master, I didn't realize they were there until I got there. I had finished guarding the girl and…" he apologized.
"Don't be, Henry. You have given me a great opportunity. Now, give a spoonful of this medicine to my father, then go and rest, alright?" Pennywise smiled.
"Your wish is my command, master." He said.
Henry got up and took the medicine bottle and spoon and approached Pennywise's father. Pennywise left the room and headed for the children. His eyes glowed hellish fire and he smiled like the devil himself.