Bloody Noses & Crack'd Crowns

Chapter 19

I DO NOT OWN THIS STORY. All credit goes to TheWeaverofWorlds on ao3

On Saturday morning, Stan and Richie were walking to the library. Although the sky was overcast, the air was crisp and there were no signs of rain or humidity. It was the perfect fall day. An uneasy silence hung between the two boys, as Stan was sure Richie was hiding something from him. He didn't know how to ask Richie about it and get any sort of meaningful answer, so instead he worried his bottom lip with his teeth as he ran outcomes in his head.

Richie remained silent as guilt weighed heavily on his conscious. What good would telling Stan about Bill's possible paramour do, but sew more grief and hurt between them? Richie was doing what he had always done when it came to Stan. He was protecting him. Or at least that's what he thought.

With both their heads deep in thought, they didn't hear the rumbling of the Plymouth Fury until it was too late.

–

Georgie was in Eddie's room on Saturday morning. He was keeping Eddie company, and doing anything to avoid Robert's attentions. Georgie was afraid that Robert might try to send the others out on some pretense, trapping him here. So as Eddie sorted through his closet, putting clean laundry away, Georgie sat on the bed trying to read.

Only his attention kept being drawn away by Bill.

Bill was currently standing in the backyard, close to the fence. From anywhere else in the house, the view would have been impossible, but from Eddie's room Georgie could see that Bill was talking to someone. He didn't recognize the teen as any of the Losers he had met before, and his curiosity was piqued. The boy was stockier than Bill, he talked a lot with his hands, and the curious thing was Bill seemed interested. He was leaning over the fence getting in the other boy's space with little regard for what would happen if he got caught. It wasn't like Bill to be so careless.

Georgie dropped any interest in reading when Bill hopped the fence. In fact he moved to the window as Bill and the other boy started walking away. His view was momentarily blocked by some trees which had been planted along the edge of the property, but when they reappeared there was no mistaking their destination. The gravel pit.

"Hey, Eddie?"

"Hmm?" Eddie's voice echoed strangely from the inside of the closet.

"Do you guys have any new friends?"

Eddie jolted up. He turned to Georgie, dropping his laundry in the process.

"What do you mean?"

"Bill just left with someone. Stocky? Brown hair?"

Eddie hurried to the window. He scanned the back yard, hoping that Georgie was mistaken and Bill and Mike would be there playing catch. Of course he wasn't. Bill was nowhere to be seen. And Mike? Where was Mike? Eddie felt his breath catch. In the distance he could make out the forms of two boys walking away from Neibolt Street. His heart pounded. This must be the person Richie had told him about.

"You keep an eye out," Eddie said, pulling his radio out from beneath his bed. "Radio the Losers should anything come up. I'm going to find Mike."

Eddie rushed out of the room, leaving Georgie as the only witness of what was to come.

–

When the trunk of the Plymouth Fury opened, Stan found himself blinking against the sudden change of light. Henry stood before him, blocking any chance of escape, with Patrick to his left. They pulled Richie out first, shoving him off to Vic and Belch like he weighted nothing more than a doll. Next they reached for Stan.