Pennywise's Neverland

Chapter fourty nine: Everything's Under Control.

Billy's mind spun as he tore through the alleyway, his heart pounding in his chest, the sight of Georgie-alive-seared into his mind. It was like a nightmare and a miracle tangled together, his brother there and gone in a flash, spirited away by that stranger with the unnervingly calm eyes. He ran, calling out, his voice raw, desperate, his eyes searching the dark corners of the alley as if Georgie might somehow reappear, like a mirage he could will back to life.

"Georgie!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the brick walls as he darted around the corner, breathless, frantic. But there was nothing. Only shadows and silence.

Beverly watched him, her own face pale, her hands shaking as she tried to steady herself. She felt helpless, watching Billy run up and down the narrow lane, his desperation cutting through her like a knife. She knew they needed help, something beyond what they could manage alone, and without a second thought, she ran to the edge of the alley, cupping her hands around her mouth and shouting with everything she had.

"Police! Somebody, help! Please!"

The call hung in the air, sharp, insistent, drawing the attention of nearby passersby. Slowly, a few curious faces turned, and a couple of men began to approach, their expressions a mixture of confusion and concern. Beverly clenched her fists, her voice trembling with urgency as she repeated her call, the plea rippling through the growing crowd.

"Please, help us!" she shouted again, her gaze darting back to Billy, whose face was twisted in a raw, desperate determination as he paced the alley, as if willing Georgie to return, as if refusing to accept that he'd slipped away yet again.

---

Meanwhile, deep in the lair, Pennywise was settling back into his usual form, his appearance shifting and twisting as he returned from the guise of the well-dressed man he'd worn into the clown. His grip was firm as he guided each Finn and Sofia back to their room, his expression calm, measured, as he assured them, in his smooth, disjointed voice, that all was well, that nothing had gone wrong.

But Georgie was quiet, uncharacteristically so, his eyes wide, his face pale as he clutched his hands together, his breaths coming in short, ragged bursts. The boy had barely spoken a word since they'd returned, but Pennywise could feel the tension building within him, the storm that simmered just beneath the surface, ready to break.

When they reached the familiar confines of Pennywise's room, Pennywise knelt down, his eyes soft, concerned, as he reached out to touch the boy's shoulder. "Georgie," he murmured, his voice gentle, coaxing. "It's all right now. You're safe here. There's nothing to fear."

But Georgie's gaze flicked up, his eyes wide, filled with a mixture of confusion and betrayal that cut through Pennywise like a blade. His breaths were shallow, his face twisted with a raw, quiet agony as he tried to make sense of the thoughts and emotions that had flooded him in the square.

"I saw him," he whispered, his voice barely audible, a tremble running through him. "I saw... Bill. He was there. He was... he was calling for me." His hands clenched into fists, his voice breaking, thick with hurt. "Why didn't... why didn't I go to him-why didn't you let me go to him?"

Pennywise's gaze softened, his expression filled with a quiet, patient understanding as he leaned closer, his voice a soothing murmur. "Georgie," he murmured, his hand reaching up to gently touch the boy's cheek, his tone filled with a gentle insistence. "He isn't where you belong anymore. Your brother... he's part of the life you left behind. This is your world now."

But Georgie pulled back, his face twisting with anger, his fists clenched tightly at his sides as he looked up at Pennywise, his gaze filled with a fierce, burning defiance. "But... but he looked so scared," he whispered, his voice choking, thick with unshed tears. "He... he was calling for me. Why are you keeping me from him?"