A Mate's Rebirth

*Chapter 10: Reunion*

Jacob was led up to Mike's clocktower apartment. There are collections of Derry history. Mike has been living in this place after his grandfather passed away. And it's safer. Jacob turned to see the table with books and missing posters. There is one that caught his eye. An old missing poster of his sister, Belle. He picked it up to see a black and white photo of her and see where she was last seen. Oct. 25th, 1988.

"That was the day when she agreed to become the mate." Mike spoke as he brought out glasses of water. Jacob puts down the poster and took a drink of water. They hear footsteps coming up. There is Georgie. "Hi, George. You're just in time. This is Jacob Whitehurst." Mike introduced. The two men shake hands. Jacob noticed the socket of Georgie's arm.

"Hello, George. I'm so sorry about what happened to you. Must be rough." Jacob said.

"Oh, yeah..." Georgie said, touching his socket. "But it's not so bad once you get used to it. So, you're Belle's little brother? She told me and Bill about you." Jacob smiled and sat down with Georgie by the table. Mike gave Georgie a drink of water. "So, tell me about yourself. The turtle must've told you about us before you came here." Georgie said.

"Well, I'm married to a wonderful girl, and we have a son." Jacob said. "My son is 10 years old and full of daring. My wife is a great cook." He frowned a bit. "If only my sister were around to meet them one day. But she never did. Now I knew why..." Jacob took a big drink of water. "Our mother was very sick, and there was nothing we could do to help her. The doctors tried everything to help, but...my mom didn't have time. We were all there for her, to say our last goodbyes. But she wanted to see her daughter. That was Belle. She wanted to see her first born daughter one last time. She was so sad that she never got a chance to see her. So, my mom passed away. I remember her last words."

"...What were they?" Georgie asked. Jacob took a deep breath, trying not to cry.

"She said, 'Why Belle?'. And...she was about to say something else, but...she was gone." Jacob said. "That was two years ago when she passed away. Belle wasn't there." Georgie frowned at this. He felt bad for him. Belle never had a chance to see her mother.

"I'm so sorry." Georgie said.

"Thanks." Jacob said. Mike joined them after he heard the story. "But, back to business. How do we kill this thing?" Mike showed them the Chud vase. Each side shows the story. Jacob stared at it. "What's this?"

"The natives had this. They showed me how IT came to Earth. And how to defeat IT for good." Mike said. Georgie and Jacob turned the vase to see a drawing of a meteor coming down. The day when IT first arrived. Mike told them that IT has been around for millions of years before humans exist. IT was older than anyone could ever imagine. In the 1600s, IT started to feast on humans for fear. 1700s when IT made a form of a Victorian clown and eats children for fear since they are easier to scare.

"So, let me get this right." Jacob spoke. "You're telling me that we have to do the ritual to seal this thing inside from existence. Did it ever work before with the natives?"

"Yeah. Isn't there a story behind that?" Georgie turned the vase around and see one side didn't show. Mike took the vase away.

"They did." Mike said.

"And?" Jacob asked, wanting more details. Mike was hesitant.

"It's going to work!" He said. "Since there's enough of us, we will perform the ritual. But we need artifacts. Our friends need to remember the past. We're stronger together."

"Artifacts? Do I need one? I never encountered the clown." Jacob asked.

"When you first see him with an item that means much, yes." Mike said. "But I understand you don't need one to perform."