Mate of Pennywise

*Chapter 21: Threat?*

She's in the darkness again. She could be dreaming and about to encounter Maturin again. She had a bad feeling that the turtle isn't happy with her choices by now. But, the woman was prepared to speak up to the creature. She waited for him to appear. Speak around her. But, there is nothing. No sign of Maturin anywhere. Why is Belle here?

"Hello?" She called. "Anyone?" Then, a bright light appeared and shows a pale woman wearing a red robe with a hood on. Her lips were red as blood, and her eyes are red as well. Belle kept her guard up. She doesn't know this figure. "Who're you?"

"I am a member of the cult." The woman spoke. Her voice is soft and very mature.

"Cult? Of what?"

"Cult of Chud." The woman in red replied. "I have the power of Shine as well. I have heard you and the beast are bound to each other. Now the world has another threat."

"So, what if we did?" Belle asked with a look. "And...I'm not a threat! Sure, I kill and eat people, but do you think I have a choice? I become like Pennywise." The woman chuckled at her.

"You are a poor fool, Belle." She said. "You have no idea what that monster was like. Did you forget about the memory about him eating a helpless baby?"

"Wait, how do you know about-"

"I was the one who sent you the memories of the damn clown. And sent Maturin. He and I are very close friends since I joined the cult." The woman in red said. "He has been trying to warn you for quite some time, but you didn't listen. And now, he's been blocked out. Pennywise blocked him from entering your dreams." Belle didn't speak. Pennywise did say that the turtle won't be a bother to her. He kept Maturin away. No wonder Belle didn't see him. The woman in red spoke once more. "Do you still care about the children? Do you still care about Georgie?"

"Of course, I do!" Belle said. "That's why I'm here. To protect him."

"And why do you love a beast who eats children? Aren't you a guardian of all children in Derry?"

"I...I..."

"And why did you kill Henry Bowers?"

"He was trying-"

"Children will fear you now. They will never look at you the same way again." The woman said with a smirk. "You are a mate of the monster most children and the world fear-"

"ENOUGH!" Belle screamed. A sonic boom appeared out of her and knock back the woman in red. "I'm not...bad. I'm not." Belle said in a crack voice. Tears forming in her eyes. The woman got on her feet.

"You will turn out like him. You will follow the dark path." She said. Her feet are lifted. Belle watched the woman float above her. "You continue this dark path; we will come for you. You have been warned." The woman disappeared in a bright light. And the dark world around Belle started to fade.

She woke up, facing the ceiling. Next to her was Robert who is still asleep. Belle slowly got out of bed and grab her nightdress. As she put it on, she hears a groan from her bed.

"Morning." Robert greeted. Belle turned to him, giving him a smile. "Sleep well?"

"...Yeah." Belle replied. She couldn't tell him about she dreamt about a woman from the Cult of Chud. "I'm going to take a shower now. Then we can...do whatever." She left the bedroom. Robert started to wonder about his wife. She's hiding something and he knows it. He will have to find out.

XX

Locking the bathroom door, Belle held her stomach, feeling nauseous. The woman in red sounds serious, it makes Belle feel sick and nervous. She hurried over to the toilet and throw up. She flushes the toilet and catch her breath. She wipes the sweat off of her forehead and head towards the shower, but Robert appeared her.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"Really? You just throw up, so...something is wrong." Robert said. Belle wraps a towel around to cover herself. "Dreams again?"

"I didn't see Maturin." Belle replied. Robert waited for her to finished. She let out a sigh. "I saw...a woman in red. She said she's from a cult. The Cult of Chud." Then, Robert's eyes turn bloody red, letting out a growl. Belle backed away a bit in fright. "You know about this cult?"

"All too well." Robert growled in a demonic voice. He turned away from her, mumbling to himself. "Belle, whatever you do. Do not listen to them! And do not let them take you away!" Belle didn't speak but nodded. She trusts him. So, Robert lets her have her shower while he is out to feed. Belle turns on the shower and step inside to feel water hitting her face. Things couldn't get any worse, could it?

*Summer*

Kids are out of school for summer vacation. Best feeling for all. It has been a month since school is over, and the whole town is celebrating Independence Day. The plaza was where the celebration begins.
Belle and Robert walk around to see people having fun, children running around, and see the parade run down the street. Belle then notices new missing posters. Even the Losers Club flip through them on the walls to see old ones. They are across the street from her. She uses her Shine to listen to their conversation while Richie was messing around with a trumpet in the middle of the street. Belle frowns when she was mentioned by them as always. Georgie and Kyle came over to them with ice cream. Belle had to be out of sight.
She returns to the plaza where Robert stood. He gave her a piece of cotton candy he got for them.

"Were you spotted?"

"No. Wish I could say hello, but I don't want to us to get on the spot. Especially when people knew me around." Belle said.

"So, how are those kiddies?" Robert asked.

"The same as always. But they seem off." Belle said in a concern tone. "Usually, they get excited about being on vacation, but now they seem...spooked. Not because of you eating kids make people think they've gone missing, it's something else." Robert didn't say anything. "Oh well. At least Kyle was there with them." Belle said.

"Yeah."

"Thanks for letting us come here. It's nice."

"Sure." Robert replied. Belle noticed that he isn't looking at her. He was looking around the area like he's trying to spot someone.

"Hey, you alright?" Belle asked, touching his arm. Robert blinked and faced her. "You look tense."

"Sorry. I was just looking out for certain people out here." Robert said. "I'm worried about the cult coming for us. For you. You didn't dream about that woman, did you? It's been months."

"No. But I'll let you know. Always." Belle said. "Listen, everything will be okay, Robert. Let's just try to have fun. Fireworks will begin tonight. We'll watch them together." Robert gave her a smile and kiss her on a forehead.
Little did they know, Kyle and the kids watched from the table. Luckily Robert didn't notice them there. Kyle kept his eyes on Belle who is smiling at Robert and gave him a kiss on a cheek. The man turned away, not wanting to watch anymore. Starting tomorrow, he and the Losers Club will all head over to the Neibolt House.