Chapter 22
Patrick walked down the river and looked around. It had only been a few minutes, but so far, he couldn't find Richie. All Patrick kept seeing was the river, rocks, tall grass, and trees. As he kept walking, Patrick came across a sewer tunnel and heard movement from there. He took out the hair spray and the lighter and went pass the hanging vines to get inside. The sewer tunnel was dark and barely had any light. Patrick was walking in dirty water with a few barley dry rocks and garbage for water to drip on. As he navigated in the tunnel, Patrick heard more movement, so he opened and ignited the lighter.
"I hear ya, tits." He called out.
Patrick sprayed the hair spray and fire blew out. He kept doing this at every sewer tunnel entrance he saw.
"Don't think you can stay all damn day now." Patrick called out again.
But what if he could? Deep down, something didn't feel right, even Patrick was suspicious. True, Richie had guts, he would definitely hide in here, and he would definitely do something this crazy enough like damaging Bower's car, but his eyes, they weren't…amber. Patrick prayed to God that the glowing eyes was a reflection from the sun. Patrick heard banging from a sewer tunnel and spray the hair spray again. As fire blew, he thought he saw the silhouette of a boy on the other side of bars. Patrick ran in there, spraying the hair spray with fire coming out, and he saw the boy run away. Patrick stopped at the bars and banged on them in frustration.
"Oh you found me alright." A voice spoke.
Patrick turned around and saw Richie in the light, in front of him. His smile was sinister and his eyes were glowing hellfire. Patrick realized that the glowing eyes he saw wasn't from the reflection of the sun, but rather, something sinister. Patrick backed into the bars and had the hair spray and lighter in front of him.
"Fuck. Stay back, I'll use this." He warned.
Pennywise laughed as he could sense fear in Patrick's voice. Patrick backed up in horror as Richie's laugh was demonic and distorted. Pennywise stopped laughing and looked at Patrick; smiling.
"Do you think that's wise? You've used that stuff a lot, you know. You'll run out of it eventually." He said.
Richie stepped forward, but Patrick sprayed the hair spray and fire blew out. Pennywise backed up a bit, surprised by how far fire blew when mixed with hair spray and fire. He waited a bit as Patrick backed up on the bars. Pennywise stepped forward again and Patrick sprayed the hair spray again. As the fire blew, Pennywise backed up again, hoping that if kept doing this, then Patrick would run out of hair spray. After a few moments, Pennywise stepped forward one last time, and Patrick sprayed the hair spray again. However, as the fire blew, it suddenly stopped because the last bits of hair spray came out and soon, the can was empty. Patrick desperately shook the can and tried to spray again.
"Damn it, DAMN IT!" he screamed.
Pennywise laughed in amusement as Patrick dropped the lighter and hair spray in the water. Pennywise stepped closer and Patrick could see a blade in his hand. Suddenly, Pennywise leaped at Patrick and stabbed him in the back. Patrick screamed in pain and slammed Richie into a wall. He punched him multiple times in the face, still holding that sadistic dominance he held to others. Patrick stopped punching Richie and he fell limp. He held Richie tightly to the wall.
"You're dead Tozier!" he yelled.
Suddenly, Patrick heard Richie chuckle, than raised his head, and looked at him with a crazy smile and glowing eyes. Patrick was taken aback, and Richie kicked him off, causing Patrick to fly into a wall and hit his head. Patrick fell into the sewer water and was in pain and stunned from the attack. As he rubbed his head, Richie leaped at Patrick again. Patrick regained his focus as Richie landed on top of him and tried to stab him again. Patrick grabbed Richie's arms and struggled to break free. Finally, Pennywise managed to get his right arm out of Patrick's grip and stabbed him in the lower shoulder. Patrick yelled in pain and Pennywise continued stabbing. Blood sprayed onto Richie's face and clothes as he stabbed Patrick all over the upper chest. When Pennywise stopped stabbing him, Patrick was bleeding profusely and he was choking on his own blood. The last thing he would see was Richie's sinister smile and the glowing eyes. Pennywise got off of Patrick and walked out of the sewer tunnel. He laid back on a wall and sat down. Pennywise left Richie's body and Richie went limp. Pennywise looked at him smiling.
"Good boy, Richie, you killed him." He said.
Pennywise stroke Richie's cheek, then he heard choking from the sewer tunnel.
"Now, if you excuse me, I have your mess to clean up." He taunted.
Pennywise turned around and walked back into the sewer tunnel. As he got closer, Patrick could see him clearly and his eyes were wide from horror. He realized that the Richie he fought and saw was actually this demon, an evil, shape-shifting clown that could take the form of anyone he chooses. It explains the glowing eyes, the sinister smile, and why Richie's laugh and voice was distorted and demonic. Pennywise got on top of Patrick and looked at him; just smiling. Patrick's eyes were wide with horror as this demon was big and there was no way he could fight him, not in this state. Pennywise raised his hand and revealed sharp claws. He placed over the area where the heart was and positioned his hand into an arcade-like claw.
"How disappointing. A 15 year-old boy, killing animals since he was a child, bullying your younger brother, bullying other children…you disgust me. I wonder what your parents might think?" Pennywise taunted.
With his one finger, he drew an imaginary circle around where the heart was, then used his hand and dug into Patrick's upper chest. Patrick choked even more as Pennywise dug into his body. Finally, he grabbed Patrick's heart and yanked it out of his body. Blood and other fragments sprayed onto Pennywise and Patrick was dead in a matter of minutes. Holding his heart, Pennywise was surprised it was still beating, even after he pulled it out of Patrick's body. He got out a tin can and squeezed Patrick's heart. All the blood in the heart poured into the can and it filled the can to the very top. After the last drop went into the can, Pennywise ate Patrick's heart. He put the can of blood down and ate the rest of Patrick's body. Pennywise pulled his hair and clothes off as he ate Patrick's body. After a while, he finished eating Patrick's body and placed his hair and clothes back on him. Patrick's body was nothing but bones; not a single piece of meat was on him. Pennywise wiped the drool that was on him and got up. He grabbed the blood can and walked out of the sewer tunnel. As he left, Richie's body was still there. Pennywise put the can down and went back into Richie's body. After a few minutes, Pennywise opened his eyes and got up. He looked at his hands and knew he was in Richie's body. Pennywise laughed with joy as this was the first time he had killed a sinner and it went well. He had to admit that human meat tasted good, but nothing would compare the taste of meat to the cake his father and him would eat. Pennywise picked up the can and went back to his lair; being careful to not let a drop of blood leave the cup.
Meanwhile
Bill, Ben, Beverly, Stanley, Mike, and Ale made it back to the hospital with Ben's bike a tow. They got off their bikes and Bill and Mike helped carry Ben while Stanley and Beverly hold the doors. As they entered, a doctor and nurse rushed over and the doctor took out his endoscope. He placed it on Ben's heart and could hear it beating normally. The doctor directed the kids and nurse to Eddie's room and had Ben on a bed on the other side of the room. Eddie and Georgie were surprised as the doctor left to go get something and the other kids gathered around the bed.
"So what happened to you?" the nurse asked.
"Bower's happened. He and his gang attacked me while I was on my back from the library. When they were done, they left me out there to bleed to death. I only managed to survive because I contacted my friends." Ben explained.
"I see. Not Bower's again." The nurse muttered.
"So that's why you kids ran out of the hospital." A voice spoke.
Everyone turned around and saw the doctor come in; carrying rubbing alcohol and bandages. He approached the nurse.
"So, what happened here?" The doctor asked.
"Bower's happened, Henry Bowers. Butch Bower's son." The nurse explained.
"Damnit, I hate that kid. I'm gonna have to call his father and tell him what happened. He's gonna want a statement from you. The good news is that you'll be fine. Nothing with rubbing alcohol and bandages can't do to fix the wound up." The doctor said.
He gave the rubbing alcohol and bandages to the nurse and left the room. She put rubbing alcohol on a white towel and applied it to Ben's wound. Pain stung him, but he was strong and Beverly was holding his hand for comfort. After the nurse placed the bandages on Ben, she left the room. With the room to themselves, Eddie and Georgie looked at Ben concerned.
"Are you okay, Ben? That wound looked bad." Eddie asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It doesn't hurt that bad now." He said assuring.
"Is it true? Did Bower's really attack you?" Georgie asked surprised.
"Yes, but what I didn't tell the nurse was that I saw Pennywise." Ben said.
"You did?!" both Eddie and Georgie said surprised.
"Yes, he came out of n-n-nowhere and damaged B-Bower's car. They chased after him in the f-f-forest and they didn't c-come out." Bill explained.
Eddie and Georgie stared at the group; surprised and in disbelief.
"What was Pennywise doing at the kissing bridge?" Mike asked wondering.
"He probably had just left his lair. The kissing bridge is only a few miles from Pennywise's lair." Beverly said.
"Beverly's r-r-right. Unless…this was a tr-trap." Bill spoke.
"It'd make sense. This does sound deliberate." Georgie spoke.
"Yeah. He damages Bower's car and gets him and his friends to chase him into the woods. Lord only what he's doing to them down there." Mike said.
"So…are we going to go help them?" Stanley asked.
"No, let Pennywise be B-B-Bower's problem. Who knows, m-maybe they'll learn how d-d-dangerous he is when they see how sc-scary he is." Bill said teasing.
The group chuckled in amusement, except Ale. After a few moments, they stopped chuckling and Bill's expression changed to serious.
"We're g-g-going to have to st-stay here for the n-n-night again." He said.
"Do we have to?" Georgie asked.
"What do you mean?" Bill asked.
"Well, while you guys were gone, Ms. K dropped by. She said she was going to check Eddie out tomorrow morning." Georgie explained.
"Really?" Bill asked surprised.
"Yeah and besides, I'll be fine here alone." Eddie said insisting.
"The last time I left G-G-Georgie alone, Pennywise c-came into the h-h-house and made you ch-choke…" Bill begin.
"I know what Pennywise made me do, but do you think he would come to a hospital where doctors and nurses come in and check on their patients periodically? And if Pennywise did come here and did something crazy to me, do you think a doctor or nurse would come in?" Eddie pointed out.
"Eddie's right, and besides, I can't stay here for another night, my dad's coming home tomorrow morning and he won't like that I've been out all night." Beverly agreed.
"Yeah, and my grandpa wants me back home tonight." Mike added.
"I need to get back to study my Bar Mitzvah." Stanley said.
"I need to get back home, I'm sorry Bill." Ben said.
Bill signed and looked over at Ale.
"Ale?" he asked.
"I don't care. I have places to be anyway." She said.
Ale turned around, opened the door, and left the room. Everyone saw her leave, than looked at Bill. He signed and felt defeat as he realized that he was being too protective over his friends and brother.
"We'll come by t-t-tomorrow morning, alright?" Bill said.
"Okay." Georgie spoke.
Bill sat down on a chair and everyone waited for Bower's father to come.