𝘜𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 • 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘯¹

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

The Losers all hopped on their bikes and rode through the warm summer air to Bill's house. Once there, they slipped into the garage where Bill was already setting up. He pulled down a large map of Derry and placed it on the wall.

Carla and Mike moved to the garage door and yanked it down with a loud clatter, shutting them all inside. When the projector was finally ready, everyone took their seats. Carla settled next to Stanley; beside him were Richie and Eddie, who sat in front of them. Silence lingered for a few seconds until Bill finally spoke.

"Look, that's where G-G-Georgie went missing," he said, pointing at the map "There's the Iron Works and the Black Spot," he continued. "Everywhere IT happens, i-it's all connected to the sewers. And they all meet up at the—"

"Well house," Ben interrupted "That's the house on Neibolt Street..." Stan murmured, realization dawning on his face.

"I knew it was that fucking creepy house," Carla muttered. "Something was always off about it, so I'm not that shocked."

"Where junkies and hobos like to sleep?" Richie added with a sarcastic twist.

Bev visibly shuddered. "I hate that place. I always feel like it's watching me." Eddie's breathing started to pick up as he pulled out his inhaler and took a puff. "That's where I saw it... That's where I saw the c-clown," he stuttered.

"That's where IT lives," Bill confirmed grimly.

"I can't imagine anything wanting to live in there," Stan said, shaking his head "It's a dirty fucking clown..what do you expect?" Carla said sarcastically.

"Can we stop talking about this?" Eddie suddenly snapped. "I-I can barely breathe! And this is summer we're kids! I c-can barely breathe, I'm having a fucking asthma attack!!"

"I'm not doing this!" Eddie ripped the map down from the wall "What the hell—put the map back!" Bill shouted, jumping to his feet.

"Nuh uh," Eddie replied, shaking his head. Just then, the projector flickered. Everyone's attention snapped toward it. The slides kept flashing images of Bill, his family, Georgie...

"What the fuck!" Carla yelled "What's happening!?" Bill shouted too "How am I supposed to know!?" Carla barked back.

"Guys..." Mike said, his voice low.

The slideshow froze on a photo of Bill, his dad, Georgie, and their mom her hair covering her face.

The room went still "Georgie..." Bill breathed.

The picture zoomed slowly into Georgie's face, inch by inch. Carla gripped Stan's arm, and he held her tightly in return "Bill!" Stan called out, voice rising in panic. Then suddenly, it sped forward, zooming into their mother. Her hair parted.

And beneath it was the clown. Everyone screamed.

"CARLA, OH MY GOD!" Stan shouted.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!" Eddie cried out.

"IT'S A CLOWN, WHAT ELSE WOULD IT BE?!" Carla shrieked back.

"SHUT UP, CARLA!" Eddie snapped.

"YOU SHUT UP!" she snapped back.

"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!" Stan yelled, louder than both of them.

"Turn it off! Turn it off!!" Bev screamed.

Mike ran forward and kicked the projector over. It crashed to the ground. The lights in the garage went out. Everyone scattered.

Carla and Stan scrambled deeper into the corner, their backs to the wall, while the others moved in different directions. The air felt like it had turned to ice.

Then IT burst out of the projector screen towering, monstrous, teeth bared in a grotesque grin.

The Losers screamed as it lunged forward. IT seemed to move in a blur, chasing them down like animals, but then it slowed... and turned toward Beverly, trapping her in a corner. After a moment, IT turned again, locking its gaze onto Carla.

"Oh fuck. Oh fuck!" Carla gasped. "Why the fuck did it have to chase after me?!"

"CARLA!" the others shouted.

"SHOUTING ISN'T GOING TO HELP!" she yelled back at them, eyes wide. IT grabbed her roughly and pulled her close. Their eyes met. Carla blinked, confused. The creature studied her, almost sniffing her. Then, disturbingly, IT started to laugh.

Suddenly, light burst through the garage window and Carla fell from IT's grip, landing hard on the floor "Oh my god, Carla! Are you alright?!" the others yelled, rushing to her side.

"I'm fine, seriously," she said, brushing herself off. Mike pulled her into a hug, and she hugged him back without hesitation.

"I-It saw us," Eddie stammered. "It knows where we are!"

"It always knew where we were," Bill said gravely.

"It always did," Carla added, her voice low.

"So let's go," Bill declared.

"Go? Go where?" Ben asked, eyebrows raised.

"Neibolt. That's where G-G-Georgie is," Bill said, determination hardening his voice.

"After that?" Stan asked, still shaken "Yeah, it's summer! We should be outside," Richie said.

"If you say it's summer one more f-f-fucking time I—" Bill started, then abruptly turned away, got on his bike, and sped off without another word.

"Bill, wait!" Bev called after him.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Carla groaned, tossing her head back.

"We're going," Bev said firmly as she climbed onto her bike "WHAT?!" Richie exclaimed.

Regardless, the rest of them got on their bikes and followed her because they knew, even without saying it, they were in this together.

-

The group was nearly at the old house on Neibolt Street. It loomed in the distance, dark and decrepit, casting a shadow over the overgrown lot. Just ahead of them stood a familiar figure Bill.

As soon as they spotted him, they rushed forward, tossing their bikes onto the cracked pavement and sprinting toward him "Bill, you can't go in there!" Bev shouted, breathless.

"It's fucking dangerous!" Carla added, her voice sharp with urgency.

Bill turned to face them, eyes burning with intensity. "Look, you don't need to come with me. W-What happens if another Georgie goes missing? Or another Betty, or Corcoran, or even one of us?"

He looked at each of them, his expression hardening with emotion "Are you just gonna pretend it isn't happening like everyone else in this town..? I c-c-can't. I go home and all I see is that Georgie isn't there. His clothes. His toys. His stupid stuffed animals..." Bill's voice cracked, but he didn't look away. "So walking into this house for me is easier than walking into my home."

He turned back toward the crumbling structure.

Carla looked around at the others, her voice quiet but full of awe. "Wow."

"What?" Bev asked softly "He didn't stutter once," Richie said, glancing at Bill with a mix of respect and fear. Without another word, they all started walking up the steps of the rotting porch until Stan's voice cut through the silence.

"Wait!" he called out. Everyone froze and turned back.m "Shouldn't someone wait out here? Just in case?" he asked, glancing around anxiously.

"I'm going!" Carla said quickly, stepping forward.

"But—" Stan started to protest.

"No. I'm going in," she repeated firmly, leaving no room for argument. Richie looked around the yard, then at Bill. With a resigned sigh.