Chapter 9
"I can't believe you attacked Eddie!" Richie said enraged.
Everyone stared at him shocked, but Beverly was furious. Bill could sense a fight was about to occur and got worried. He stepped in and prepared himself for an expected fight. Bill looked at Richie concerned.
"Calm down Richie. If Eddie was possessed, then he didn't..." he reasoned.
"I had to Richie! Eddie was going to kill me!" Beverly snapped.
"So what?! You could've just oh I don't know pushed him off or find a way to knock him out without giving him brain damage!" Richie suggested.
"Even if I did, his accomplice would've knocked me out still." Beverly argued.
"Speaking of accomplice, did you ever get a good look at him?" Ben asked.
"I didn't see his face. In fact, I didn't even know he was behind me." Beverly answered regretfully.
"Okay, l-l-lets p-p-put the p-p-pieces together. Eddie's been p-p-possessed by some d-d-demonic entity named P-P-Pennywise and was l-l-last seen at the p-p-path to the river. Now, we find out that P-P-Pennywise has an accomplice. Georgie do you remember seeing anyone else with him?" Bill asked.
Georgie thought about that. Throughout the entire few weeks of his ordeal, he didn't know or see any partner Pennywise had. Suddenly, Georgie remembered a certain dream he had while he was unconscious. He was in the sewers and was talking to a little boy that was older than him; about 9 years old. Georgie couldn't make him out; only that he had white glowing demonic eyes.
"I do remember something. I remember I was talking to a young boy." Georgie spoke.
"Do you remember what he looked like?" Bill asked.
"No, but he did have white eyes." Georgie answered.
"Great just great. We got a "supposed" demonic clown on the loose and now we have a "supposed" demonic little boy that could be an accomplice to him. Great! How could this possibly get any worse?!" Richie said sarcastically.
"Richie sit down and c-c-cool off." Bill ordered.
Richie sat down annoyed and angerly muttered to himself. Bill looked down and thought about what to do. He didn't know what he was up against. Hell, Bill didn't even know what to do. From what he knew, a demon named Pennywise had possessed his brother and now it had Eddie, but why? What did Pennywise want? Of all the kids here and in the world, why did he chose Georgie and Eddie? Who was his next target? When was it going to happen and who's Bev and Benny? Bill had to know. He looked at Beverly.
"Beverly, who's Bev and Benny?" Bill asked.
"I'm sorry, how is that important?!" Richie exclaimed.
"Because Richie, it might help us understand what Pennywise wants." Mike explained.
"So Beverly?" Bill asked.
"Bev and Benny are my grandparents. They were killed in a car crash when my dad and aunt were 5." she signed.
"Beverly, i'm...i'm so sorry." Ben said truthfully.
"Me t-t-too." Bill said.
"Okay, what do they have to do with Pennywise?" Richie asked uncaring.
Ben, Bill, Mike, Stanley, and Georgie glared at him.
"I don't know, Bev was a fashion model in the 50's and Benny was an architect." Beverly continued.
She felt offended by Richie's uncaring demeanor, but didn't say anything. Ben, Mike, Georgie, Richie, and Stanley looked at Beverly. Bill looked away from Richie a bit; bewildered and confused. There seemed to be no connection and if there was, then Bill couldn't see it. Perhaps, the connection was within their childhood itself.
"What about w-w-when they were k-k-kids?" Bill asked.
"I don't know. They never told my dad or aunt Clara anything about their childhood." Beverly said.
"Unless they were hiding something." Stanley suggested.
"Perhaps, but I still don't see the connection." Mike argued.
"Okay, l-l-lets just f-f-figure out wh-wh-what kind of d-d-demon we're dealing with. Ben do you th-th-think that you c-c-could head to the li-li-library and figure out what kind of demon w-we're dealing with?" Bill asked.
"I would have to figure out what it took or wanted from Georgie and there are a lot of books about demons Bill. It could take weeks for me to figure out what the demon is and what it wants." Ben said.
"Well Eddie doesn't have weeks Ben!" Richie said infuriated.
"Richie c-c-calm down al-al-alright? Okay, Stanley do you th-th-think your d-d-dad can help?" Bill asked.
"No way Bill, my dad will be busy with my bar mitzvah coming up." he said.
"But surely your dad wouldn't mind helping us out with a exorcism when we find Eddie?!" Richie retorted.
"He's the rabbi Richie, he doesn't do exorcisms. There are other members that do, but I don't know any of them. " Stanley argued.
"Alright Mike, do you th-th-think your g-g-grandpa could help?" Bill asked.
He shook his head. Bill signed in frustration. Someone had to know how to deal with demons? How else were they going to free Eddie? Bill knew there was no way Pennywise would let Eddie go. Even if they negotiate or made him get out of Eddie, Bill knew that the demons could easily return to claim their victims again and again.
"There is one person." Richie spoke.
"Who?" Stanley asked.
"Take a hint." Richie answered.
Everyone wondered what Richie meant. Who else knew about demons? The Catholic priests?... the rabbi? Paranormal investigators? Suddenly, the group realized who Richie was mentioning.
"No... no way! We are not gonna go talk to her!" Stanley said enraged.
"Come on Stanley, you have to admit she's helped us before in the past." Beverly reasoned.
"Yeah, when Bowers, Greta, or anyone else is causing trouble, but when she's around us and no one is causing trouble, she treats us like objects!" he argued.
"Come on Stanley, Beverly's right. Ale has helped us in the past. Maybe she'll do it again." Georgie agreed.
"Easy for you to say that girl is a freaking demon!" Stanley screamed.
"You just say that because of the rumors you hear." Ben retorted.
"Yeah? What can read minds, find your deepest darkest fears, and brings death and destruction wherever it goes?" Stanley said sarcastically.
"Anyone that is evil and heartless and can look for darkest secrets in ways an actual human being can actually do." Ben said sarcastic.
"ENOUGH! Bill, what do you think?" Mike asked.
He signed for a moment; Stanley, Mike, Beverly, Georgie, Ben, and Richie were waiting for a response. Ale was known as the demon queen and she wasn't a nice person. Ale had a history of finding out the worst thing you had ever done and exploiting it in the most sadistic way. Most people feared her, some respected her, and some even worshiped her. If you wanted her help, she wanted something in return; kind of like a deal or something. Bill and his friends have had run-ins with her multiple times; sometimes good, but other times were bad. No one knew where Ale lived and no one has ever seen or met her parents. Ale was like a evil girl with a mysterious past and no one could figure it out. Bill looked at his friends and Georgie.
"Even if we did want to talk A-A-Ale, we don't know where she l-l-lives." Bill pointed out.
"I know where she lives." Georgie spoke.
"Where?" Mike asked.
"In the forest, behind the quarry." Georgie answered.
"How do you know where Ale lives?" Stanley asked skeptical.
"She saved my life once from Bowers and his goons. Ale took me back to her house and we started becoming good friends." Georgie admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" Bill asked.
"Ale said it was our little secret." Georgie answered.
"Okay, but even if we do know where she lives, there's no way she's gonna talk to us especially not Richie or Bill." Stanley pointed out.
"Why what did Bill do? I mean I know Richie can get Ale mad sometimes, but what did Bill do?" Georgie asked.
The group looked at Bill; all waiting for an answer.
"Do you want to tell him or should I?" Stanley asked annoyed.
"No no i'll do it." Bill said reluctantly.
He looked away; embarrassed and full of guilt. Bill had accused Ale of taking Georgie, despite no physical evidence suggesting it, but there was a motive. Bill and Ale had gotten into a big argument, a few days before Bill got sick. He was sick about how Ale treated him, his friends, and most of the kids at the school and demanded she start being a bit more nicer to everyone. Of course that didn't work. Going back on it now, Bill felt bad that he had accused Ale of taking Georgie, despite that she was a pain to him and his friends. Bill looked at Georgie.
"I...I may have a-a-accused Ale of t-t-taking you that day Georgie." he admitted.
"What?! Why would you do that?" Georgie asked shocked.
"Let me e-e-explain, a f-f-few days ago (before I got sick), Ale and I had gotten in-in-into an argument. I got mad at her for t-t-treating everyone so p-p-poorly and well... tempers fl-fl-flared. I f-f-figured that Ale was a-a-angry that I had ch-ch-challenged her and wanted p-p-payback, but there was no physical e-e-evidence. I was scared Georgie and I w-w-was worried about you. I wasn't th-th-thinking straight." Bill explained.
Georgie nodded understandably. He was aware of the feud between Bill and Ale and true she could be bad tempered, but she was also a nice and helpful person to talk to. Too bad no one else knew that side of her. The group remained silent for a few moments; all wondering about to do. They were in a dead end and going to Ale seemed like the only option. They needed to know what they were dealing with, what they were up against and what Pennywise wanted with Georgie and Eddie. Right now, it seemed that Ale was the only person that seem to know this. Rumors had speculated that Ale was a demon from hell, but there was no evidence to suggest it, despite mysterious deaths in the park. Mike signed defeated and looked at the others.
"I hate to say this, but we need to go talk to Ale. We're in a dead end, we don't know what kind of demon we're up against, and we need to figure out what Pennywise wanted with Georgie and Eddie." he suggested.
"Mike's right, we don't really have a choice. I say... I say we go talk to Ale." Beverly agreed.
"I agree." Georgie spoke.
"Me too." Ben said reluctant.
"Alright then." Richie agreed.
"Fine, but I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to gloat about how she was right this whole time." Stanley signed annoyed.
"Alright then it's settled. We'll talk to Ale tomorrow." Bill decided.
"TOMORROW?! ARE YOU INSANE BILL?!" Richie asked enraged.
"Richie, for t-t-two days, Eddie hasn't h-h-had his inhaler or his a-a-asthma kit. The only th-th-thing that is giving him air or k-k-keeping him alive is that demon in-in-inside of him. We just n-n-need Eddie to hold on a l-l-little more longer in there, we're g-g-going to save him Richie I p-p-promise, but now, we need to go g-g-give our statements to the cops." Bill explained.
"Weren't the cops here yesterday?" Mike asked.
"No they didn't come till this m-m-morning." Bill explained.
"So what are we going to tell them?" Beverly asked.
"We're going to t-t-tell them about how we f-f-found Georgie, but we're n-n-not telling them about the d-d-demon, and Georgie... I need you to t-t-tell them what you t-t-told the nurse alright?" Bill signed.
"You want me to lie to the cops?!" Georgie asked surprised.
"Georgie, the c-c-cops won't b-b-believe us if we t-t-told them that a d-d-demon clown had p-p-possessed you plus y-y-you're s-s-story will p-p-probably make more s-s-sense." Bill explained.
"Okay...Bill?" he asked.
"Yes Georgie." he spoke.
"Is Eddie going to be okay. I mean, Beverly pretty much described the horrible injuries Eddie endured... what if... what if he doesn't make it?" he asked upset.
"He will Georgie, I promise. Eddie is a fighter; if he can survive this, he can survive anything." Bill assured.
He looked away for a bit; worried and hoping he was right. If Eddie didn't survive from his injuries or without his inhaler, how could Bill ever forgive himself? Then again, how could Georgie forgive himself? He was the last one to remember attacking Eddie before he blacked out. If Eddie died because of Georgie, there was no way he could ever forgive himself, but now... now it wasn't the time to worry about that. Despite the circumstances, Bill had hope that Eddie would still be alive when Pennywise leaves his body. If Georgie could survive a few weeks without food or water, then Eddie could easily survive a few days without his inhaler. After giving their statements to the cops and getting the approval from the doctor to go home, the Denbrough family, Mike, Beverly, Ben, Richie, and Stanley were leaving the hospital. As Bill and Georgie's parents and grandmother were heading to the car, Bill stopped his brother and his friends for a moment.
"Hey guys, can you a-a-all meet up at o-o-our house tomorrow?" he asked.
"Of course, but why?" Beverly asked confused.
"To n-n-negotiate. Ale will cl-cl-clearly want s-s-something, so w-w-we need to fi-fi-figure what we can g-g-give her that we c-c-can actually get, Okay?" Bill explained.
"Got it!" the others spoke.
Bill nodded, then looked at Beverly. Her injuries were still visible on her body; the scraps, the bruises, and the black eye was still there. Bill was concerned that Beverly would develop some sort of PTSD. Then again, she was being sexually abused by her father, so... perhaps the attack was normal? Whatever the case was, Bill was concerned and this made him worry. The losers club started to part ways and Georgie and Bill headed for the car.
"Bye Bill. Bye Georgie." Beverly yelled.
"Bye Beverly!" both boys yelled.
They got into the car and drove off home. When they got there, Georgie was the first to run to the door with his parents, grandmother, and Bill right behind him. Their mother cautiously open the door and went inside. Georgie went into his room while his parents and his grandmother were in the kitchen. Bill followed Georgie and found him laying on his bed snuggling with his stuff turtle and soft blanket.
"It feels like I haven't slept on a comfy bed in weeks." Georgie said relaxed.
"Well you have been m-m-missing a f-f-few weeks." Bill chuckled in amusement.
Georgie laid on his back bored; realizing that he hadn't eaten anything for weeks. Georgie looked at his brother; finally feeling his stomach growl.
"Bill, when are we going to have dinner? I'm starving." he complained.
"About a few hours Georgie. Mom and dad haven't been home all day." Bill signed.
"Okay." he signed defeated.
After a few hours, the Denbrough family enjoyed a pleasant, but quiet dinner. No one spoke, mutter, or even whisper a word. After dinner, the Denbrough family went straight to bed. When it was midnight, Georgie suddenly woke up for some reason, until he felt a blade on his throat.
"Hello Georgie." a raspy voice spoke.