Pennywise's Neverland

Chapter thirty four: Cracked Image.

After breakfast, Georgie felt the weight of Finn and Sofia’s suspicion settle over him like a heavy fog. Every look, every question had burrowed into his mind, making him question things he’d never wanted to. The boundary between acting and… whatever he was doing had grown uncomfortably thin, and he could see it in their eyes—they thought he was crossing a line he couldn’t come back from.

With a tight smile, he’d excused himself and retreated to the children’s bedroom, slipping away from the pink playroom and finding the familiar comfort of the small space. He could still feel Pennywise’s touch lingering, the unsettling warmth from the night before clinging to his memory, mixing with Finn’s worried words, Sofia’s wary gaze. It all sat heavy in his chest, a mess of feelings he couldn’t sort through.

In the quiet, he went to the small sink in the corner, filling it with water before dipping his hands in and splashing his face. The coolness helped, grounding him, clearing the tension that had built up, even if just for a moment.

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Meanwhile, back in the playroom, Finn watched as Georgie slipped out, his jaw set with determination. He couldn’t shake the worry that had gnawed at him since breakfast, since Pennywise had sat among them, acting as if he were just another friend. The way Georgie had sat beside him, his posture almost… comfortable—it felt like a betrayal of everything they’d talked about, everything they’d planned.

As the minutes ticked by, Finn glanced toward Sofia, a silent understanding passing between them. He’d give Georgie some time to himself, but he’d take on some of the risk, do some digging of his own. If he could take Pennywise’s attention away from Georgie, even a little, it might give his friend a chance to breathe, to remember who he was.

When Pennywise reappeared in the doorway, his unsettling grin stretching wide, Finn steeled himself, giving Sofia a quick nod before stepping forward.

“Hey, Pennywise,” he called, keeping his voice as casual as he could. “Where’d you go?”

Pennywise’s yellow eyes glinted, his smile sharpening as he looked down at Finn, an almost playful curiosity in his expression. “Oh, just wandering,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing. “Keeping an eye on my little guests. Speaking of which, where’s Georgie?” His gaze slid toward the bedroom, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Seems he’s hiding.”

Finn forced a small, defiant smile, shrugging as he met the clown’s gaze. “Maybe he just needed a break. You’ve been around a lot lately, and it’s… it’s a lot to get used to.”

Pennywise’s grin wavered, a flicker of irritation passing through his eyes. “Is that so?” he murmured, his voice dropping, a hint of menace slipping into his tone. He stepped closer to Finn, his towering form casting a shadow over the boy, his expression shifting to something darker, more calculating. “And you think Georgie needs a break from me?”

Finn swallowed, but he held his ground, forcing himself to look up at Pennywise, even as his heart hammered in his chest. “I think we all need a break sometimes,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “Even from… friends.”

Pennywise’s eyes narrowed, his smile fading into something colder, his gaze turning thoughtful. “Interesting,” he murmured, his voice soft, almost as if he were speaking to himself. “Seems Georgie’s little friends don’t quite trust him anymore.” He tilted his head, his gaze fixed on Finn with an intensity that made the boy shiver. “Do you trust him, Finn?”

The question took Finn off guard, and he hesitated, searching for the right answer. He could feel Sofia watching him, her face tense, her fingers twisting together as she waited for his response. But he forced himself to hold Pennywise’s gaze, his own expression hardening as he thought of everything he’d seen, the strange closeness between Georgie and the clown, the way Georgie had started to soften, to let his guard down.