every 27 years ||

chapter 1

Its been just under 4 weeks since the disappearance of Jamie Hughes, and now, the people of Derry have deemed him dead. they no longer looked for him, mourned him, called his name when searching for him... and it was like that for all of the kids who 'died' with no explanation.

the Hughes still just get sympathy in little whispers or promised prayers- but Ashley didn't care for their sympathy. she didn't want it. she wanted to find her brother. she refused to believe he was dead- until she saw a body, she wasn't giving up that easily. She had to keep on looking, she wasn't giving up on her baby brother Jamie that easily.

but she cries for him, she spends almost every and all night crying for him. violent sons filled with whispers of apologies to him for letting him go out alone. she knows he can't hear it, but it was just something she just couldn't help. call it grief, perhaps. but Ashley wanted to believe so had that Jamie wasn't dead- that somehow, somewhere, he was still alive- and she'd find him, and she'd prove everyone wrong- and that she could have her little brother back home with her once again, so she didnt want to 'grieve' him, because to her 'grieving' him makes it seem like he really is gone.

---

"help me with something, please, Noah?" Ashley whispers to her friend in the middle of her class, picking at her fingers nervously.

"what- are you okay, ash?" Noah sighs, glancing over at her friend, placing a hand on hers for comfort. noah knew that these past few weeks have been extremely difficult for Ashley, and that she needed someone right now. noah also knew that in reality, Jamie probably was dead, but she didn't have the heart to tell her best friend that. she wasn't going to crush ashleys hope of her brother being alive. she couldn't do that to her. not right now, atleast.

"Help me find Jamie, please. I know he isn't dead- he...he can't be. He isn't- and I know it." Ashley says, eyes pleading. "you know, everyone else is going...Cody, lucas, Jackson, Miles, Reagan..."

"Ashley, I.." Noah sighs, but Ashley cut her off quickly.

"If he was dead, they would of found something by now. His blood, a weapon, anything.." Ashley trails off, not wanting to say the next words coming out of her mouth, she gulps. "or a body...but I know somewhere out there he's still alive, and I'm not giving up on him that easily, just because the rest of Derry will."

"Ashley, I know that you-"

"no! Just come with us this weekend please, its all I ask of you- I'm not asking you to agree with me, just come with us.."

Noah sighed heavily, before saying- "ill be outside the libary, meet me there after school. I'm only doing this becauseI love you."

"and because I said Reagan was going." Ashley jokes, but she sighs in relief, "but seriously, thank you." She smiles

Noah shakes her head, smiling back at her. she mumbled something telling Ashley to let her concentrate on her work.

Noah knew if they were to find something of Jamie's, like blood or god forbid his body- Ashley would want, and even need all her friends to be there to comfort her- so Noah wouldn't be the only one not to be there for her.

Ashley continued sketching in the corner of her notebook, not really listening to anything Mr. Smith was saying.

as soon as the bell rang, Ashley threw her bag over her shoulder, and headed for the door.

--

Cody Clarke was heading home from hanging with Lucas, he was making sure to keep his hood up and his head down, trying to avoid the same group of bullies that constantly attempted to bother him incase they was around these parts. He walks a little further, and turns the corner onto Neibolt Street.

Cody looks confused, having caught sight of a floating red object in the distance, right behind the tree. it couldn't of been a ball because that wouldn't make any sense. he squints, trying to get a better look at it.

as he got a little bit closer, he realised it was a balloon that was tied to it.

"the fuck?"

the balloon then blew a little harder,  the sound being loud and aggressive, and it caused him to jump a little, and Cody shakes his head at himself, slightly amused at how a balloon had caused him to jump so hard.

if only Lucas was here, he would cracked one of his classical jokes, calling him a pussy, or something along the lines of that.

He continues walking closer- and it wasn't until now he was right infront of the tree, he realised that the balloon wasn't ever tied. somebody or something was holding it.

That would make more sense why the balloon shook so hard, and Cody stopped in his tracks. from this angle, he couldn't see what was holding it- and Cody hoped whoever or whatever it was couldn't see him either.

but it leaned forward, just so he could see its pale, ill-looking face through the branches- its 2 bright, yellow eyes staring at him, glistening yet unmoving or emotionless. It was smiling, wickedly- then it began to laugh and giggle tauntingily. yet it sounded so child-like, and that only added to Codys fear.

it caused him to shudder, and he let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding, and darted on, forward going towards his house without looking back, he turned to corner onto the other street, and locked his door behind him, leankng his back against it amd sliding down while panting heavily.

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