Pennywise's Neverland

Chapter fourty eight: Sights and Close Calls.

The dawn cast a faint, grey light across the lair as Pennywise moved soundlessly through the shadows, his form slipping through the dim corridors with a smooth, predatory grace. He was careful not to disturb Georgie, who lay curled on the bed, his face soft, peaceful in sleep. There was something fragile about him in the early light, a quiet innocence that lingered even in the depths of this world Pennywise had created. It almost stilled him, almost softened the dark resolve that simmered beneath the surface. But then, he remembered the night before—the defiance in Finn’s voice, the look of doubt that had darkened Georgie’s gaze—and his purpose sharpened, hardening his resolve as he slipped from the room.

He found Finn and Sofia in the children’s bedroom, the dim light casting long shadows across their small forms. They were still in their beds, half-asleep, their faces soft in the early morning glow. But as he stepped forward, a cold glint in his eye, Finn stirred, his gaze narrowing the moment he caught sight of the tall, looming figure standing at the foot of his bed. Sofia’s eyes opened, her face paling as she met Pennywise’s gaze, and the two of them sat up, their expressions wary, tense.

Pennywise looked at them both, his gaze steady, filled with a dark, unyielding authority. “Today, we’re going on a little excursion,” he murmured, his voice low, a faint, dangerous smile pulling at his lips. “Georgie wants it. And he wants you there.”

Finn’s jaw clenched, his gaze sharp, defiant. “So you’re just forcing us to go along with this?” he replied, his voice filled with quiet anger.

Pennywise’s smile didn’t waver, though his gaze darkened, a warning simmering beneath his calm expression. “Consider this your last chance to show Georgie the courtesy he deserves,” he murmured, his voice a low, smooth threat. “If you don’t play nice, if you keep planting those… doubts in his mind, then I will make sure your time here is very, very brief. And very… unpleasant.”

Sofia’s face twisted with fear, her gaze flicking nervously to Finn, who looked away, his face hardening, his defiance flickering in the shadow of Pennywise’s warning. But he said nothing, his silence a quiet acknowledgment of the power Pennywise held over them, a power he couldn’t ignore, no matter how much he wanted to.

“Good,” Pennywise murmured, his voice softening to a faint purr as he straightened, his gaze flicking between them. “Enjoy today. For your sakes.”

Without another word, he slipped back into the shadows, his form melting into the dim light as he left them in silence, the weight of his threat lingering in the air.

---

Later that morning, Pennywise stood by the table, watching as the children finished their breakfast, his form transformed into that of a tall, slender man, dressed in a dark, neat suit. His human appearance was handsome, polished, his features striking but somehow cold, distant, a faint glint of danger lurking beneath the pleasant facade. Georgie sat closest to him, a faint smile on his face as he looked up at Pennywise, his eyes filled with anticipation for the day’s adventure.

After breakfast, Pennywise handed each of them a bundle of clothing, the soft, worn fabrics a comforting contrast to the harsh, structured style of their usual attire. Finn eyed his set with a frown but didn’t argue, and Sofia, though hesitant, held onto hers, her gaze flicking nervously between Georgie and Pennywise.

When they were ready, Pennywise led them through the playroom, stopping before a hidden door at the very back, a door Georgie hadn’t noticed before, its surface almost indistinguishable from the walls. Pennywise placed a hand on it, his touch lingering for a moment, and with a faint creak, the door swung open, revealing a dark, winding staircase leading up.