Dare Me (Henry Bowers x Reader)

Did it Work?

"Okay. Grab hands. Come on." We do as told, standing around the burning leather with our hands bound together.

"The Ritual of Chud. It's a battle of wills. The first step was our reunion. The second was the gathering of tokens. This is the final step." Suddenly the flame burns out completely.

"What the..." a breeze washes over us, then three separate lights start to descend from above, "Fuck is that?" Mike cries out, "Don't look at them! Are those the Deadlights? Don't look at it!"

Henry holds my hand tightly, "don't look, (y/n)." He begs.

"Turn light into dark. Turn light into dark. Say it!"

"Say what?" Mike cries out again, "Say it! Turn light into dark."

We all join together in chant, "Turn light into dark. Turn light into dark. Turn light into dark. Turn light into dark." The lights make their journey closer to us, closer to the artifact.

"Turn light into dark. Mike, what's happening, man?" Richie cries as he clings to my hand. "Keep chanting!"

"Turn light into dark. Turn light into dark! Turn light into dark! Turn light into dark! Turn light into dark! Keep chanting! Turn light into dark! Keep chanting! Turn light into dark! Turn light into dark! Turn light into dark!" The lights dive into the artifact, and Mike shuts the lid. Sealing it shut. Now we wait...

Eddie yells, "Is it working? Did we do it?" My smile dies as the lid is lifted off by... an inflating red balloon...

"What is this? Is this part of it?" Henry grabs my arm pulling me back as it grows bigger and bigger. "Mike, is this supposed to be happening?"

"What? No, no, no. Keep chanting!" And so we do, "Turn light into dark! Turn light into dark. Come on! Turn light into dark. Turn light into dark." Mike loses control and the balloon pushes us all out of the center.

Suddenly it pops, having the same effect as an explosion, sending us all different ways. I lay with Henry in the sand. I can't hear anything, just a ringing in my ears.

"Guys! Are you okay? Where is everyone?"
Are you all right? Yeah. No, no, no.

I rise to my knees, I tap Henry's shoulder, he looks up holding his head, as soon as he sees me he grapples me, tugging me in his arms. "Are you hurt?" I shake my head, still dazed. I look up to him, "Henry, if we don't make it-" "shut up. Don't start that." I grab his face, "I love you, Henry. I alway have." "I love you too."

"You two okay?" Bill yells waving the flashlight down upon up. Henry waves his arms, "we're good!" We climb up meeting them. "Did it work?" We all walk up to the crash site, but jolt back seeing Pennywise pounce to his appearance at 30 feet tall. "Shit! Shit!"

Pennywise cackles, whining, "Oh, did it work, Mikey? Did it work? Tell them why your silly little ritual didn't work. Tell them it's all just a... What's the word, Eds? Gazebo?" I look at Mike, "what is he talking about?" Mike looks away. "You're hiding something!" I tug his arm but he refuses to turn.

Pennywise continues, "Oh, Mikey, you never showed them the fourth side, did you? Didn't want them to know what actually happened to the poor Shokopiwah?" Pennywise deepens his smile, "Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum."

He ate them. Henry puts me behind him. Pennywise looks over with a smile, "I want her first. Sweet, sweet, sweets!"

Bill screams with anger, "Fuck, Mikey. You lied to us, again?" "No, but they didn't believe! They didn't believe they could kill It! That's why it didn't work back then!" I glare at Mike, stomping towards him, Henry holds me back as I yell, "Are you fucking kidding me, Mike?"

"I needed something, anything, for us to remember. Anything for us to believe!" Chaos. Pure chaos erupted. The deadlights were released from their hold, lighting up the cave and gusting wind all around.

"The Deadlights! Don't look at them!"

An echo of stomping is heard as Pennywise round the corner, large and seval legs forming a spider shaped body. "For 27 years, I dreamt of you. I craved you. Oh, I've missed you!" Pennywise crawls closer, we all back up except Mike.

"Mike! Move back!"

"Waiting for this very moment." He draws near...

"Mikey! You gotta move!" Pennywise raises his hand, morphing it into a large dagger, "Time to float!" He forces his movements down, aiming for Mike.

Henry races up, pulling Mike by his shirt, causing Pennywise to miss, "Mike, come on, get up! Get him up! Go, go! Run!" We all spirit as the demonic creature chases us.

"Oh, shit! Run! Go, go, go!"

Pennywise slams his large arm on the group making us go in separate directions. Henry and I run to the left diving in a tunnel. I cover my eyes placing my head in my hands, "this isn't happening." Henry cradles me rocking up back and forth. "I'll get you out of here, (y/n)."

Henry pulls me to my feet and takes one step, only for us to slide on loose sand and down a hole. We scream the entire way down. Bright blinding light stikes my eyes and a hard floor touches against my back. I grab the back of my head, bringing my fingers around to see the crimson blood on the pads of my fingertips. "Henry?" I scream, my voice echoing in the large hallway.

I stand to my feet, stumbling along the floor. "Henry? Where are you?" I scream, my heart rate picking up pace. "WHERE ARE YOU?"

My shoulders are grabs harshly, "what are you doing out of your room?" A harsh voice scolds me, dragging me backwards. I tug and fight against my captor, but no use, their strength overwhelms my own. They open a large white door, locks lining the outside, "get in there!" They toss me to the padded floor, shutting the door.

I stand pouring on the door, "Henry!" I pound on the door, a shadow nearing. "Help!" I pound louder in hopes of grasping their attention.

Henry's glowing face shows in the small window on the other side to freedom. "You found me!"

He stares blankly at me, "Henry?" His head is lifted higher, allowing me to see his skin carved off from his body. "AHHH!" I fall back on the pads. The door opens and the demented Clown strolls in, "BATTER UP!" He cheers as he tosses Henry's head and hits it with a bat, landing it in my lap.

Pennywise grabs my chin, drooling as I cry into his gloved hand. "Ahhh, poor little girl. So alone. So scared! Cry, cry, CRY!"

His mouth opens wide, the deadlights blinding me, I can see it... freedom. It feels so nice, so calm, I feel so light... like I'm floating...

"STOP!"

I drop down, the gritty sand under my hands again, "LEAVE HER! You want me, pussy!" I sat up, Pennywise draping over me, his head turned to watch Henry at the top of the opening we hid it. Pennywise growls before charging at Henry.