Pennywise's Neverland

Chapter thirty two: Changes.

That night and the following night after, Georgie made his way back to Pennywise’s room, following the line of the wall until it opened up for him. A trick he learned after watching Pennywise do it a thousand times. Once it slid open to reveal the stairwell, Georgie took a breath and began his ascent.

He had quickly become familiar with the routine over the past couple nights, each one so far, he would play into the clown's whims. Whether it was talk, play a quick game of questions or read. But most of the time, they were surprisingly restful, and Pennywise had never asked Georgie to do something that sounded suspicious. But tonight, there was something different in the air—a thickness, a sense of something foreboding. He immediately felt it as he stepped into the room, how quickly the atmosphere changed, making it feel as though he had a thousand eyes on him. He didn't dare to look up just yet, too focused on the familiar corner by the desk, hoping to make his way there without incident.

Pennywise, however, stood near the bed, watching him with a gleam in his eyes that sent a chill down Georgie’s spine. The clown didn’t even give him a chance to move; didn't let him inch toward the small, safe space the boy had been carving out for himself.

“Oh no, Georgie,” Pennywise murmured, his voice deceptively soft as he tilted his head, his grin widening as he gestured to the bed. “Not tonight. I want you… closer.”

Georgie froze, his heart pounding as he looked at the spot Pennywise indicated, feeling a sick knot tighten in his stomach. “You mean… in the bed?” he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Pennywise nodded, the gleam in his eyes shifting, softening into something almost eager. “Show me,” he murmured, his tone low, coaxing, “that you trust me, Georgie. That you trust me enough to be close… to let me keep you safe.”

Georgie’s mind raced, every instinct urging him to back away, to escape, but he knew better than to show hesitation. This was the price, the cost of keeping his friends safe, he reminded himself. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to step forward, climbing onto the edge of the bed, his body tense, and heart hammering inside his chest.

Without warning, Pennywise’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him in tight and securing his arms around the boy in an embrace that was both possessive and oddly… protective. Georgie felt the air squeeze from his lungs, panic flaring as the clown’s face hovered close to his head. His expression was a strange blend of satisfaction and something else, something he couldn’t quite read.

“You’re still afraid of me, aren’t you, child?” Pennywise whispered, his voice soft but filled with a dark, unsettling amusement. “Even after everything I’ve shown you… all I’ve done to make you comfortable.”

Georgie swallowed, his heart pounding as he forced himself to meet Pennywise’s gaze. “Maybe… maybe a little,” he admitted, the words trembling on his lips. “But… I’m still here, aren’t I?”

Pennywise’s expression flickered, a strange look crossing his face, as if Georgie’s words had struck something deep, something he didn’t fully understand. His grip tightened slightly, his gaze turning thoughtful, almost contemplative as he watched Georgie’s face.

“Yes,” he murmured, his voice softening into something almost tender. “Yes, you are.”

The weight of Pennywise’s arms around him was oddly comforting, despite the fear that lingered just beneath Georgie’s skin. Slowly, the clown’s grip eased, his hand moving in slow, soothing patterns along Georgie’s arms, almost as if he were trying to calm him. The unexpected gentleness made Georgie’s breath catch, his mind struggling to reconcile the monster he knew Pennywise to be with the quiet, almost tender presence holding him now.