We'll Always Be Losers, No Matter What (IT Rewrite)

Richie Is Stalked By A Werewolf

Warning: Homophobic Slurs & Shit

After consoling Eddie and providing some comfort, Richie and Will decided they needed a break from the somber atmosphere. They ended up going to the local arcade, where they spent some time engaging in a fierce battle in Street Fighter. Despite Will's best efforts, Richie emerged victorious, a result that didn't come as much of a surprise, given Richie's extensive experience playing the game during his free time. "I give up," groaned Will. "No surprise there, Willie," snickered Richie. "Wanna a Root Beer float from the Candy Shop next door? I called Stan before we headed over to Eddie's and we're both meeting there," said Will. "Nah, but I'll catch up with you guys later," said Richie. Will nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, swiped their backpack, and exited the bustling arcade, leaving Richie immersed in the game. Moments later, a boy of similar age strolled in and managed to captivate Richie's attention. 'He doesn't look all that bad,' shrugged Richie. "You good at Street Fighter?" asked the kid. "Duh," scoffed Richie, before realizing he responded rudely and covered his mouth in embarrassment. "It's alright," giggled the boy, seeing Richie's embarrassment. "Y-yeah, I'm usually not used to ... making new friends," said Richie. "'New friends'?" said the boy, smirking. "Not like that! I already have a best friend!" shouted Richie, trying not to sound as if he made a love confession. "It's fine," said the boy, pushing Richie out of the way and inserting a coin, playing the game. "So... what's your name?" asked Richie. The young boy gazed at Richie with wide-eyed disbelief, his frustration palpable as he mumbled "Connor," under his breath. Despite his exasperation, he refused to divert his attention from the game, deftly moving his fingers as fast as humanly possible. "I'm Richie," said Rich. "Nice to meet you, Rich," said Connor. "You're not bad, kid," said Richie, leaning against the game machine. "Oh yeah? Show me your moves then, asshole," snapped Connor, stepping away from the game. "Alright then," said Richie, moving in the front of the game and inserting a coin, imminently starting to play after the game began, moving with incredible speed and focus. "You're good," said Connor, smiling a bit while having his arms crossed. "Thanks," said Richie, beating the level. "You're right! You're fucking good at this shit!" exclaimed Connor. "I know," said Richie, pulling out a Cigarette and lighting it, puffing a huge amount of smoke. "Wanna try playing one on one?" asked Connor. "A challenge? Hell yeah!" shouted Richie. The two of them engaged in an intense one-on-one match for ten minutes, with Connor ultimately losing due to a momentary lapse in focus. "Damn it!" groaned Connor. "Sorry about that, I DID warn you that I'm the best," said Richie. "You never gave a warning!" Connor exclaimed. "Oh yeah," said Richie. Richie and Connor reconciled by enthusiastically high-fiving each other, causing Richie to blush and feel a slight nervousness. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Connor asked, now looking afraid. "What do you mean? There's nothing wrong," said Richie. "I'm not your fucking boyfriend!" Connor shouted. "What did I do wrong? Did I get you upset because of the game?" asked Richie. "What the hell is going on here?" asked none other than Henry Bowers. 'Shit,' thought Richie. "You never told me that your town was full of Homos!" Connor snapped. "Are you trying to hook up with my Cousin, Tozier?" demanded Henry. "No! It's not like that!" Richie said, scared. The entire arcade fell silent as the sound of a commotion caught everyone's attention. All eyes turned to Richie, who had become the center of attention. Laughter erupted from the crowd, and Richie could feel the weight of shame and fear settling in. "Get the fuck out of here, Faggot! And don't come back!" shouted Henry.

Richie didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted outside with determination and a sense of urgency, not slowing down until he finally arrived at the edge of the Penelope Forest, which stood adjacent to the Quarry. Finding a sturdy log to sit on, he removed his glasses in frustration, feeling the weight of his emotions. As he gazed at the picturesque natural surroundings, he let out a deep sigh and absentmindedly kicked a small pebble off the log, watching it make a gentle splash in the water below. "Dad, what the hell do I do?" sobbed Richie, as he let himself cry and the tears dripped down in the mud. After allowing himself to release a cathartic cry, Richie wiped away the tears that had streamed down his cheeks. He then carefully placed his glasses back on and gazed at the ground for a moment, deep in thought. As he stood up, he fixed his gaze on the now diminutive town of Derry. Overcome with emotion, he let out a primal scream, hurling the cigarette he had been smoking into the water below. His frustration mounting, he pounded his fists against the nearby trees in a display of raw emotion. "Fuck you, Derry," said Richie. Richie, feeling both frustrated and anxious, hesitantly started his search for an exit from the thick, ancient forest. Despite the countless hours he had spent exploring the woods during his carefree childhood, he now found himself completely disoriented and unsure of which direction to take. The landscape that was once familiar to him now seemed like an impenetrable labyrinth of towering trees and untamed, overgrown foliage. In years past, the forest had been a place of joy and adventure, a frequent destination for camping escapades with his closest friends: Bill, Stan, Eddie, and Will. However, in his current predicament, it felt as though the once-familiar paths had vanished, leaving Richie with the unsettling sensation of being trapped in an unfamiliar, shadowy world. "Oh fuck, fuck, fuck!" Richie shouted, running through the forest in desperation to escape. Richie abruptly halted in his tracks, a feeling of unease creeping over him as he thought he caught a glimpse of something darting through the dense foliage. As he focused, he realized it was a fox, its russet fur a blur as it raced through the underbrush. The creature glanced back at Richie with what almost seemed like a mischievous grin before continuing on its way. Richie couldn't shake the feeling that the fox was trying to communicate something to him, compelling him to consider following its lead. "Oh, fuck, now I'm crazy, following a fucking fox," mumbled Richie. Richie sprinted through the dense forest, hot on the heels of the sly fox. The creature led him deep into the heart of the woods, where it suddenly darted into a concealed underground hideout, leaving Richie astonished at the unexpected discovery. 'Damn,' Richie thought, also jumping into the pit. As he carefully touched down on his heels, Richie began to explore the hideout, taking in every detail. He realized that this was the same secret hideout his mom had often mentioned, a place that had once belonged to her and her group of friends when they were just kids. Though these details didn't hold much significance to Richie at the moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of connection to the past as he wandered through the dimly lit space. "This can be our hideout," mused Richie. As he saw the fox pounce around the hideout, its tail traced around two pendants that were hanging on the beam, Yin and Yang necklaces (although Richie didn't know what they were called). Richie felt like he was being hypnotized by the pendants, but he snapped out and immediately grabbed them, stuffing them in his pocket. Richie was going to leave the hideout, but then heard a crack of a branch. "Hello?" Richie asked. When nothing responded, Richie grabbed a rusted ladder and started climbing up it when he heard a howling noise, which caused Richie to fall backwards in shock. "What the fuck?" Richie asked, shivering. Richie, known for his fearlessness and resilience, felt an inexplicable wave of terror wash over him as he heard the spine-chilling howl echo through the darkness. The fear was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Clutching tightly onto the necklaces he found, he knew he had to escape the source of the howling. Unable to face the daunting task of ascending the stairs again, Richie frantically searched for an alternative route to safety. A glimmer of hope appeared when he spotted a gaping hole in the wall leading to the sewers. Fearing for his life and realizing he had no chance against the unknown threat lurking above, Richie made the harrowing decision to enter the foreboding depths of the sewers.

The foul stench of urine and excrement clung to the air in the sewers, assaulting Richie's senses as he ventured deeper into the darkness. Unfazed by the putrid odor, he mused that even the filth and stench of the sewers were no match for the noxious atmosphere of his own room. With a sense of resignation, Richie flicked on his pocket flashlight, revealing a grim scene of floating debris and refuse that only added to the revolting environment. Despite the repulsive sight, he chose to press on without complaint. 'Find the shortcut to the Barrens,' Richie reminded himself.Richie had always harbored a deep-seated fear of werewolves, and it all stemmed from a singular, traumatizing experience. He often chastised himself, attributing his fear to watching a particularly harrowing movie. But deep down, he knew that it wasn't just the movie - it was the lurking fear of losing control, of transforming into something beyond his own recognition. The memory of a mischievous prank at the school's Easter picnic haunted him, reminding him of the unpredictable nature of his own actions. As he ventured through the dimly lit sewers, his heart raced with a mix of trepidation and hope, until finally, a glimmer of bright light signaled his arrival at the Barrens. "Thank God," sighed Richie. But, Richie hesitated, his eyes fixed on the glowing light beckoning to him from the end of the hallway. As he took a step forward, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Turning to his right, he spotted the silhouette of a young girl, her wild ginger curls casting eerie shadows in the dimness. Her gaze bore into him, sending an unexpected chill down his spine. "Hello, little shit? What the hell are you doing here? It's not exactly a suitable place for little girls like you, kid," said Richie. As the little girl gazed at him with a vacant expression, her features contorted and she began to emit low, threatening growls. Her form elongated, and she appeared less and less human, eventually resembling a werewolf. 'Shit, Shit, Shit,' Richie panicked. "Who are you calling 'little shit', Trashmouth Faggot?" The beast shouted. "Holy fuckballs!" Richie shouted, running into the sewers as fast as he could. The echoing howl of the werewolf reverberated through the dark, damp sewers as the creature's heavy footsteps echoed off the walls. The splashing of water accompanied its hurried movement, sending ripples through the murky depths. The ground trembled with each step, creating an atmosphere of impending danger and primal fear, which scared the absolute shit out of Richie. 'Get out your walkie talkie and call for help, asshole!' Richie scolds himself. Richie desperately attempted to extricate the walkie talkie from his grasp but inadvertently lost his grip, causing it to plummet into the murky sewer water. The menacing growls of the approaching werewolf grew increasingly louder and more imminent. "I have to leave it behind," Richie reasoned with himself. Resolutely, he shifted his focus to finding an escape route, but in his haste, he stumbled backwards, crashing into a concealed wall and tumbling back into the safety of the hideout. Richie ascended the stairs with lightning speed, his heart pounding in his chest as he frantically sought refuge. Safety was the only thing on his mind as he fled from the ominous Penelope Forest, racing back to the familiar haven of the Heart of Derry. As he made his escape, a chilling sight met his eyes: a sinister red balloon hovered ominously behind him, accompanied by a haunting voice whispering, "You'll float too, Trashmouth." The bone-chilling words echoed through the air, sending shivers down Richie's spine as he continued to run for his life. 'Reminder: never go into those damned woods again alone,' reminded Richie, before he crashed into Stanley, Bill, Eddie, and Will. "Richie, where the hell have you been?" snapped Eddie. "Just .... At the Penelope Forest, it's no big deal," Richie scoffed. "Richie, you're shitting me right now," groaned Will. "Why? It's just abandoned and 'peaceful'" said Richie, making quotation marks with his fingers. "H-haven't yu-you heard? Th-those wuh-woods are hu-haunted," said Bill. "How? A mother sacrificed her baby there and now the baby's haunting the forest? Wow, how scary as fuck," snapped Richie. "Forget that, we have to investigate the Sewers," said Bill, without stuttering. "Bill, this is crazy! We can't! I doubt that there'll be anything useful to lead your 'investigation'!" snapped Richie. "Sh-shut up, Ri-Richie," said Bill, firmly as he led the four to the Barrens.