She was just expecting a normal summer with her friends .
Little did Caroline know that this summer would be different. This summer, they would face a horror that none of them could have imagined. As the Losers delved deeper into the darkness, they...
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The next morning, Beverly was sitting on the steps, smoking a cigarette as a usual means of keeping her dad at bay.
Caroline approached her, looking concerned.
She knew Beverly's father issues , she could relate to it in every way , that's how they bonded in the first place .
"Everything okay, Bev?" Caroline asked softly.
Beverly nodded, taking a drag from her cigarette. "Just trying to keep him away, you know " she murmured.
From a distance, Stanley, Eddie, and Richie approached, their voices carrying over to the girls.
"No, we gotta go through the alleyway," Stanley insisted.
"The alley takes way too long," Eddie argued.
"No, the alley is so much faster," Stanley countered.
Hearing them, Beverly got up and ran to the railing.
"The alley is more dangerous and it's disgusting," Eddie continued.
"How is it more dangerous?" Stanley asked.
"It smells like piss and it's gross. Just take the side streets for once," Eddie replied as Beverly gave her cigarette to Caroline to extinguish it and hurried down the stairs.
"Oh, my god. The side streets are the same. They smell like piss and shit," Stanley said, exasperated.
Beverly ran past Caroline, who was sitting on the steps, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Oh ya why did you call us ?" Caroline asked, her curiosity piqued.
Beverly reached the bottom of the stairs just as the boys arrived. "I need to show you guys something," she said, slightly out of breath.
"What is it?" Ben asked.
"More than we saw at the quarry?" Richie quipped.
"Shut up! Just shut up, Richie," Eddie snapped.
Beverly glanced around nervously. "My dad will kill me if he finds out I had boys in the apartment."
"Then we'll leave a lookout. Richie, stay here," Bill suggested.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What if her dad comes back?" Richie protested as Bill, Eddie, Ben, and Stanley left their bikes and prepared to follow Beverly.
Stanley glanced at Richie. "Do what you always do. Start talking," he said, then turned to follow the others up the stairs.
Richie grumbled, "It is a gift."
Beverly took Caroline by the hand and led Bill, Eddie, Ben, and Stanley into the hallway towards the bathroom.
"In there," Beverly said, pointing towards the closed bathroom door.
Stanley eyed the door. "What is it?"
"You'll see," Beverly replied.
"Are you taking us to your bathroom?" Eddie asked, slightly puzzled.
Caroline stepped closer, curiosity and concern mingling in her eyes. "Bev, what's going on?"
"You'll understand when you see it," Beverly assured her.
They all entered the bathroom, and the sight stopped them cold. The entire room was covered in blood. The walls, the floor, even the ceiling – everything was smeared and dripping with crimson.
Eddie's face turned pale as he babbled, "Great, bringing us to the bathroom. You know that 89% of the worst accidents occur in the bathroom and kitchen. And that's where all the bacteria and fungi are... and it is not a hygienic place..."
Stanley's eyes widened in shock. "I knew it! Do you see it?"
Caroline's voice was a whisper. "Yes. What happened in here?"
Beverly's eyes were wide with fear and desperation. "My dad couldn't see it. I thought that I might be crazy."
Caroline shook her head, stepping closer to Beverly. "Well, if you're crazy, then we're all crazy."
Bill stammered, "We c-c-c-can't leave it like this."
Caroline looked around, determination setting in. "We need to clean it up. All of us. Together."
Ben nodded, his voice steady. "Yeah, w-w we can't let Beverly d-deal with this alone."
The group exchanged resolute looks, ready to face the task ahead.
After hours of scrubbing and washing, the bathroom finally looked clean again. The group, exhausted but relieved, stood back to admire their hard work.
"Well, that was... something," Eddie said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Stan nodded, equally drained. "We did good, though. It looks normal again."
Beverly gave a small smile. "Thanks, you guys. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Caroline placed a comforting hand on Beverly's shoulder. "We're here for you, Bev. Always."
Eddie, Stan, and Beverly gathered the cleaning supplies and left to put everything away. Ben, for some reason, wandered into Beverly's room, leaving Caroline and Bill alone in the bathroom.
Caroline moved towards the window, letting the cool breeze wash over her. Bill joined her, both of them looking out at the quiet street below.
Caroline broke the silence first. "Remember when we went to the carnival last summer?" she asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Bill's eyes lit up. "Y-yeah! I tried to win that g-g-giant teddy bear for you, but I k-kept missing the target."
Caroline laughed. "And then I stepped up and hit the bullseye on my first try. I still have that teddy bear, you know."
Bill chuckled, his stutter momentarily forgotten. "I-I'm glad. It was a great day."
Caroline leaned against the windowsill, her expression thoughtful. "We've had a lot of good times, haven't we?"
Bill nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "Yeah, we have."
Caroline's cheeks turned pink, and she looked down shyly. "And our third-grade play... that was a good kiss."
Bill's face reddened slightly, but he smiled. "Y-yeah, it was."
As they stood there, reminiscing about their shared memories.
Ben watched from outside as he left Beverly's room, a look of sadness and longing in his eyes.
Ben knew how he felt about Beverly, but seeing Caroline and Bill together made him realize how deeply he cared for her as well.
Caroline leaned her head on Bill's shoulder, the two of them taking comfort in each other's presence. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together," she whispered.
Bill nodded, wrapping an arm around her. "together."
Ben sighed softly, torn between his feelings and the friendship he cherished with all of them. He turned away, knowing that their bond was something special.
