Pennywise's Neverland

Chapter six: Dealer's Gambit.

The morning began with another cacophony of metal on metal, a brutal, ringing clang that tore Georgie from his uneasy sleep. He jolted awake, the familiar ache of hunger gnawing at his stomach. Finn was already up, his face hardened with the same tense, guarded expression Georgie had begun to recognize as his "morning mask." They exchanged a glance, the silent acknowledgment of another day to endure.

The guards arrived with trays again, setting down the rough scraps of bread. This time, Georgie was quicker; he darted forward, his hands reaching through the crowd, managing to snatch a small, dry hunk before retreating, holding his prize close. He saw Finn flash him an approving nod before they ate in silence, each of them preparing for what lay ahead.

---

Soon after, the guards returned, barking orders as they separated the children into groups, lining them up and herding them down the narrow, dim corridors. Finn was pulled into a different line, his expression stoic as he looked back at Georgie, a quick nod the only goodbye he could offer. Georgie bit his lip and nodded back as he watched Finn vanish around a corner, leaving him alone with his own line, which hurled through the maze-like passages, leading deeper into the building's hidden depths.

They were brought to a large, open stage, the air thick with the smell of mildew and faint traces of stale perfume. Dim lights cast long shadows over the stage, revealing a set of worn, faded curtains and rows of old, mismatched chairs. It was a strange kind of theatre, with darkness swallowing up the edges of the room and the flickering bulbs casting everything in a sickly yellow glow.

The guards directed the children onto the stage, lining them up in rows, their faces painted with fear and confusion as they faced the dark, yawning expanse of the room. Georgie was placed in the very front row, his small frame and wide eyes exactly the kind of fragile innocence that the Dealer loved to display. He felt the weight of eyes upon him, unseen figures hidden in the shadows, their gazes sharp and calculating, like animals studying prey.

As the room fell silent, the Dealer appeared, striding onto the stage with his usual flair, a twisted smirk stretched across his painted face. He wore his most extravagant coat today, a gaudy piece covered in embroidered patterns and fake fur that glowed in the light as he moved. Each step deliberately exaggerated, his gait wide and thoughtful as his gaze swept over the rows of children with a gleam of satisfaction.

"Welcome, welcome!" he crooned, his voice ringing out across the room, his tone sickly sweet as he finally addressed the audience. "Today, we have a particularly fine selection for your consideration. Each of these young souls, pure and unblemished, ready to become whatever you desire."

Georgie felt a shiver run down his spine, his pulse quickening as he stared out into the audience, straining to make out faces in the dark. The figures were little more than silhouettes, their outlines barely distinguishable from the surrounding shadows. Occasionally, he caught glimpses of gloved hands, the glint of jewels, or the faint glow of a cigarette, but the darkness clung to them, masking them in an eerie anonymity.
The patrons stirred, a faint murmur rising from the shadows, a sound that sent a shiver down Georgie's spine. The Dealer glanced back at the children, his grin widening as he let his gaze linger on Georgie, his eyes gleaming with a sick anticipation.

"Now," he said, his voice softening into a conspiratorial whisper, "let the bidding begin."

---

In the crowd, seated just beyond the reach of the flickering lights, was a man unlike the others. He wore a suit, immaculate but outdated, with a faintly old-fashioned cut that made him stand out against the murky, faceless patrons around him. His skin was pale, almost unnaturally so, his features sharp and angled, giving him an aura that was somehow both elegant and unsettling. His eyes glinted with a dark, predatory hunger, though he kept his gaze carefully trained on the stage, watching each child with an intensity that made the air feel colder.