"I've realized that..." he started, then took a shaky breath. "Earlier today, when Stanley pulled you aside... seeing you two so close and secretive, I hated it." The words tumbled out in a rush. "I don't like how others make you smile..." He traile...
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°•°Vanessa's POV°•°
Mike led us on a somber tour through the ghost towns of our past. We visited every haunt, every corner of Derry that had once been ours, as the sun began to bleed light into the sky. Finally, he brought us to the field where we had made the blood oath, and then, to the Barrens.
"The Barrens," Beverly stated, her voice soft with memory.
"This is where we came after the rock fight," Ben said, a genuine smile touching his lips for the first time since we'd returned.
"The clubhouse," Richie said in realization.
"You built that for us," Beverly added, looking at Ben with fondness.
"Yeah, the hatch has got to be around here someplace," Richie said, peering at the overgrown ground.
"You did. I do remember that!" Eddie said, a spark of real happiness in his voice. Amidst all the bad memories, we had some good ones, too-ones I desperately wished I hadn't forgotten. Eddie took my hand, his grip firm and reassuring, instinctively guiding me so I wouldn't trip over a root or a fallen branch. I could only smile at my husband, his protective nature surfacing in these small, caring gestures.
"You know what? I actually think the door was more like around..." Ben said, stepping carefully and testing the ground with his foot. Suddenly, the earth gave way, and he disappeared with a crash into the darkness below.
"Found it!"
"Ben, are you okay?" I shouted down into the hole.
"I'm okay! Come down!" he yelled back.
One by one, we climbed down the rickety ladder. From the top, I could hear Richie ask, "What the dick is this? How'd you build it?" I rolled my eyes and finally took my turn descending.
"When did you build it?" Bill asked Ben once we were all gathered in the dim, earthy space.
"Here and there, I guess. It was already dug out from something, so I just had to reinforce the walls and get some wood for the roof door, and that's pretty much it. Pretty good for my first time, huh?" Ben explained, a note of pride in his voice. He should be proud. But as he put his hand on a pillar to emphasize his point, a section of the roof promptly collapsed onto the dirt floor.
"Now, that's a cool feature. What happens when you put your hand on the other pillar, professor?" Richie asked, his sarcasm thick.
Eddie immediately chimed in, his voice pitching with anxiety. "Okay, you see, this is exactly why there are safety codes, why we have permits. This place is a death trap. You understand that?"
"Well, it's a work in progress. Okay, Eddie?" Ben stated defensively.
"Just so you know, if I get hurt, you are liable. And also, what is this? The switch of an iron maiden?" Eddie asked, pointing at a rusty object hanging from a beam.
