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THE PANICKED LOSERS CLUB PEDALED FRANTICALLY DOWN THE STREET, the afternoon sun warming their heaving backs.
The obscurations of the overhead branches cast over her battered face as Amelia leaned lightly against Bill's back, her throbbing shin angled awkwardly near the spinning tire. There was a weight of discomfort in her chest that settled with a thickness the farther they went. She cast a sidelong glance towards the rest of them for the sake of her questioned sanity. Did they feel it? The overwhelming forebode?
But, all their expressions were drawn solemn and unreadable, honestly - all their eyes stagnant, and she looked away uneasily.
However, the constricted feeling rose fast as the vibration of a car engine sung down the slanted road and whistled obnoxiously in their ears. Bill braked his bicycle harshly as a dull, tan vehicle cruised down the road towards them.
Amelia gazed over the ruffle of Bill's flannel, scanning over the car as it screeched deafeningly against the asphalt in front of them, deliberately intersecting their path. The driver door was propelled open, almost harsh enough to hurl it from its hinges and halfway across the street. The girl went rigid in an uneasy manner on the seat as an exasperated Mrs. Kaspbrak arose from the car with a huff from her mouth. She was donned in a dismal jumpsuit that defiled the air while she marched towards the still kids in front of her.
Eddie hastily slipped off the rear of Richie's bicycle, well aware his mother would force them both to the pavement if he had remained on there. His complexion settled pale for he had never been great at posing any stance against his mother in his life. And yes, the pinkness to his cheeks would indicate to his mother that her son had neglected her warnings once more.
"Eddie! Eddie!" his mother drawled out in a habit all too common to the young boy's ears.
He flinched at the shrillness of her voice, fingers squeezing around his beaten arm instinctively while she blathered further, "You are fortunate that the entire Derry Police force isn't scouring this town in search of you!"
"Ma-"
"And your arm! What did they do to you, Eddie?!" Her hand appeared on Eddie's wrist, white-knuckled and strong, the wind catching her repugnant odor for all of them to inhale. His dark eyes slowly came around to Amelia's gaze that throbbed with a pity across the way, and he started to writhe around underneath his mother's grasp.
"It wasn't u-us," Bill breathed out as his jittery fingers came to a stop after restlessly squirming with the corner of his flannel, "Something g-got to us, pl-please-"
