Chapter 12

Georgie and the loser's club rode their bikes to the park entrance, then rode down the bike trail that led to a dead end. The kids got off their bikes and walked up the hill, then walked deeper into the forest. The kids had different feelings about how this would turn out; Bill was worried, Stanley was concerned, Ben, Mike, and Beverly were certain, Georgie was confident and Richie just didn't care. Ale was full of surprises; the likely chance of her refusing was very high, especially after what happened between Bill and her.

Flashback

Bill pined Ale on to the lockers; both glaring daggers at each other. Kids stared horrified at the confrontation and Richie, Eddie, Ben, Beverly, and Stanley stared in disbelief. No one had dared to challenge Ale like that, especially since she was so good at intimidating and scaring people into silence, but no one had ever done this.

"I k-k-know y-you h-h-have G-Georgie, Ale. Wh-Wh-Where i-is h-h-he?!" Bill yelled enraged.

"For the last time Bill, I didn't take Georgie. Now put me down!" she demanded.

"L-L-Liar! Y-Y-You are th-th-the on-on-only p-p-person wh-who w-would h-have a r-r-reason f-f-for t-t-taking him. Now, f-for th-th-the l-l-last t-t-time, where's G-G-Georgie?!" he screamed.

"Do you really think I took him, Bill? What the hell would I want with pipsqueak?!" Ale asked skeptically.

"Oh c-c-come o-on A-A-Ale, d-do you e-e-expect m-me to b-b-believe th-that you w-w-wouldn't h-h-have a-a good r-r-reason f-for t-t-taking G-G-Georgie?" he asked rhetorically.

"When you think about it, there are others that want to get back at you too." she pointed out.

"Oh a-a-and th-this i-i-isn't a-about that ar-ar-argument w-w-we h-had last w-w-week? " Bill asked skeptically.

"Why would it not? If I really wanted to get back at you, I could've just told your parents that you weren't that sick and that you didn't want to play with Georgie." Ale smirked.

Bill was enraged. That was kept a secret from his parents and grandmother in fear of getting in trouble. It was bad enough that Georgie disappeared, but the thought of him being dead because of him was just too horrible to bear. How Ale knew about that was unknown, but it was known that she had ways of getting information; how she got it was unclear. The kids, Richie, Eddie, Stanley, Ben, and Beverly stared at Bill in disbelief; hoping that this wasn't true. Bill looked around and realized that people had heard everything. He glared at Ale; her smile was an evil smirk.

"Wh-Wh-Why y-y-you..." Bill spoke enraged.

"Hey! What's going on here?!" a voice yelled.

Everyone turned and saw the principal standing there; his arms crossed and was furious.

"Nothing, principal. Nothing at all." Ale smiled.

"Bill, put Ale down." the principal ordered.

He turned his head and saw her evil smirk. Bill knew he was in trouble and he's already made a fool of himself in front of everyone. Reluctantly, Bill was forced to let Ale go. He had no evidence that she did it and accusing her wasn't going to help or make things better.

"Yes sir." Bill obeyed.

He put Ale down and she started brushing the dust off of her clothes.

"Are you alright?" the principal asked.

"I'll be fine, it's Bill that won't." Ale threatened.

She finished brushing the dust off as Bill glared at her. Ale returned his glare with a devilish smirk and laughed maniacally amused. The kids, principal, and Bill stared at her like she had just killed someone and had enjoyed it. Ale patted Bill's shoulder as she stopped laughing.

"Bill Bill Bill, next time, come back to me when you have actual evidence, you're already making a fool out of yourself by just accusing me of taking your precious brother." Ale smiled.

She then smiled cruelly and got closer to his ear.

"Besides, your brother might not make it." Ale warned sinister.

Kids got out of her way as she walked away. Everyone stared at her; wondering if she really was capable of killing. Bill stared at her; horrified at what he had just heard. He had her in his arms and if he had kept pursuing her more, he would've gotten a confession. However, it wouldn't be enough.

Back to the present

Looking back on it now, Bill felt guilty that he had accused Ale of taking Georgie, but at the same time, he had disappeared and Bill was scared for the worst; plus, Ale had a motive and her behavior was questionable. Everyone knew she was capable of evil things, but was she capable of killing people? It's possible, but if she did, then she was very good at covering her tracks. As the kids kept walking, they started reminiscing past memories about the times Ale has saved their butts multiple times. Beverly in particular, remembered one incident that happened just a few days ago.

Flashback

Beverly was in the girl's restroom; on the toilet, and smoking a cigarette. Despite being young, it was the only thing that helped her cope with her problems at home. Beverly heard two girls giggling as they walked into the bathroom. One stood at the side of the bathroom stall and another grabbed a trash bag and turned on the sink. Beverly knew there was trouble; it was Greta's group and if they were here, then Greta wasn't far behind. Beverly continued smoking; hoping that the girls would go away. Unfortunately, Greta stormed in and kicked the bathroom stall door; Beverly jumped as she knew what was coming.

"Are you in there by yourself Beaver-ly or do you have half the guys in the school with you, huh slut? I know you're in there, you little shit, I can smell you. No wonder you don't have any friends." Greta taunted.

Beverly stubbed the cigarette on the stall wall. She was annoyed by Greta's bullying and was already going through a dark time. Fed up with Greta's taunting and unfazed by what would happen next, she did the most worth while thing she's ever done; she stood her ground.

"Which is it Greta? Am I a slut or a little shit? Make up your mind." Beverly retorted.

"Your trash you know, we just wanted to remind you, at least now you'll smell better." she mocked.

"Well Well Greta, what's going on here?" a voice asked sarcastically.

Beverly shivered when she heard that voice. It was Ale and judging by her tone, she had expected to see what she had expected. As Greta's friend turned off the sink, she and Greta turned and saw Ale walking in with their friend; visibly shaken and terrified. Greta's friend dropped the trash bag and got behind Greta; both girls shaking beyond their feet.

"Your friend here tells me that you're harassing Beverly, is this true?" Ale asked.

Greta looked over at her friend. She was the type of girl that was tough and wouldn't talk no matter what you did, but even she was terrified of Ale. Greta's expression wasn't anger, but for some reason, it seemed to see that she was furious.

"I'm sorry i'm sorry, she made me talk." Greta's friend apologized profusely.

"Get over there coward." Ale ordered.

She pushed Greta's friend towards the group; they managed to catch her and help her stand. Greta's friend got behind Greta and was shivering in fear.

"I thought I disbanded the rumor that Beverly was a slut, did I not?" Ale asked skeptically.

"O-Of course you did." Greta stammered.

"So why are you harassing Beverly?" Ale asked.

Greta was silent. How could she explain that she was bullying Beverly? If she lies to Ale, she'll know. Somehow, Ale has a way of telling a truth and a lie. If you lie, she'll find a way to get you tell her the truth, but if you tell her the truth, she'll go easy on you, but not if you're bullying others after she gave you orders to leave them alone. Judging by the silent response, Ale got the answer she wanted. She smirked and advanced towards the girls; her arms crossed behind your back.

"Here's what's going to happen: if I find out you're bullying Beverly again, i'll tell the whole town and your dad about that night with Bowers. I don't think your dad would want to know that Bowers picked you up one night and that you two had sex at the field. What would your dad think?" Ale threatened enthusiastically.

Greta stared at her like she had just told a dangerous secret. How could Ale know about that? How she found out was beyond their problem, it was her promise of telling the whole town that scared her. Ale got closer to Greta and her friends; her smile mischevious.

"After all, you wouldn't want to end up like Steven now, would you?" Ale asked smiling.

Beverly shivered when she heard that name. Steven was a student at Derry High School; he was smart, intelligent, and a douche bag. Steven would brag about how smart he was and how he would be attending Harvard when he graduated high school, but when Ale came along and started gaining popularity and getting better grades, Steven mocked her by saying "she's a lot dumber than she looks". As retaliation, Ale somehow found evidence that Steven wasn't that smart at all; in fact, he had paid off people that were smarter than him to do his homework and other assignments. When Ale told everyone about Steven's lies, he became a social outcast and lost his scholarship. The next week, Steven was not at school. The next month, Steven and his family had moved away from Derry. Where he was, no one knew and Beverly didn't think people cared. This incident made people realize that Ale was not the person to be messed with and soon, she started to earn more respect and power than ever before. Greta was unsure on how to react or answer to Ale's threats, but she didn't want to stay in here any longer. She'll get Beverly one day, but not Ale; anyone that tried to get back at her would fail miserably. Greta's scared expression was shown, but it was obvious she was trying to be brave.

"F-F-Fuck you Ale, fuck you!" she stammered.

Greta and her friends quickly left the bathroom; not wanting to hear their punishment after saying that. Ale just smirked as they left. She knocked on the bathroom stall.

"Hey Beverly, you alright?" Ale asked.

"Yeah...yeah i'm fine." she assured.

"Alright." Ale answered.

She walked over to the sink, turned it on, and washed her hands.

Back to the present

Believe it or not, this was one of those times where Beverly was happy that Ale came. Usually, she was mocking Beverly and her friends. However, she admired Ale's spirit; her courage, her bravery, her ability to run into danger...there were ways Beverly could match her spirit with Ale's, but not like this.

Meanwhile

Betty sat in the chamber; bored and...broken. She loved Henry for as long as she could remember, but now...seeing him like this; his cold, expressionless demeanor and white eyes, made her not know who he was anymore. Betty reached into her pocket and took out a rose. It was the same rose that Henry gave when he told her he loved her. Betty wanted nothing more than to tell him that she loved him too, but instead, she ran away. Feeling embarrassed and regret, Betty wanted to apologize and tell Henry how she felt, but when she finally worked up the courage, Henry was missing and Betty feared the worst. That's why Betty was at the Barrens. It was near the river where Henry told her he loved her and Betty thought that he was there to play a love-game where a person's crush disappears and the person goes out to find him/her. It sounded crazy, but it seemed like the only explanation Betty could think of. She got up and walked over to the bars. Henry was sitting on the old chair; just staring into the darkness with a bit of light revealing him. Betty kicked the bars over and over until Henry turned his head and got up. He walked over to the chambers; enraged and banged on the bars.

"Do not...bang on the bars." he said.

Betty showed him the rose; determined to see if he could remember anything about her or their love. For a moment, Betty thought she saw a flash of remembrance in his eyes, but wasn't sure if that was just a trick in her eyes.

"Do you remember this? This was the rose you gave me when you told me you loved me. But instead of telling you I loved you too, I ran away. I regret that move with every bit of my heart, so I thought I tell you here and now: I love you, Henry and I want you to come back...please." Betty pleaded tearfully.

Henry just stared at the rose. After a few moments, he took the rose and crumbled it up. Henry dropped the crumbled pieces and turned around.

"My job is to serve...my job is to obey...my job is to provide my master's needs. Henry is gone, Betty. The only person left within him...is me." he growled.

Henry went back to the chair and sat back down. Betty stared horrified at the remaining pieces of the rose. She cried and turned around and laid back against the bars. Betty had accepted her fate, she was going to die; either by the hands of Pennywise or...Henry.