Red balloons (Pennywise love fanfiction)

Chapter 10: I knew this now

My eyes brim with tears, as the "old man" kept widening his smile, his left eye slowly drifting away. With my eyes still locked on his unsettling face I tried hard to hold back the tears from falling down my cheeks. I could still hear James and Emma talking in the distance.

I managed to look away from "it" and turned around to face my new friends, trying to hide my fear from them.

"I need to go. I'll catch up with you guys later. Your house tomorrow, James?" I said with a fake smile and a cracked voice.

"Umm yeah...are you ok? You seem a bit off." James replied with a worried look.

"Yeah, just a little tummy ache." I lied, trying my hardest not to look at the 'old man' behind the newspaper stand.

"Oh ok, well I hope you feel better. Get home safe girl." James said with a gleeful smile.

"Bye, don't forget the popcorn tomorrow!" Emma shouted, as I slowly began to walk away.

"Oh you wouldn't want to forget the popcorn!." The old man chuckled. Slowly waving goodbye.

The sound of his voice and just knowing he's not a real person made me uneasy, making me walk away faster. Heart thumping.

Once I managed to walk away far enough, I looked back to see if I could still see my friends at the stand. When I noticed that I could no longer see them I made a run for it, heading straight to my place. The more steps I took the faster the pace, I wanted to get home NOW.

I was able to reach my apartment complex without any distractions. Without hesitation I make my way inside, walking towards the all too familiar elevator. I press the old plastic button to catch my lift. I look around trying to see anything out the ordinary but saw nothing.
The elevator dings and I step in, meeting the 4 metal walls. Elevator music plays and I look up at the red LED lights counting up. I tap my foot on the metal floor, growing impatient.

I never really liked elevators, in fact it was a fear of mine to get stuck in one.
I look up at the red lights again, time seemed to be going by so slow, I just wanted to be in the safe zone of my own home, to smell my welcoming candles, to feel the soft silky white sheets of my bed. This thinking was calming me down a bit from the uneasiness and fear I had earlier.

As I waited impatiently the elevator finally dings for me to get off but weirdly enough the doors don't open. I give it a second or two but still no sign of them opening, I start to panic a little and start pushing the emergency button but that didn't seem to work either. The what was once simple elevator music suddenly became static, at this point I go on full panic mode and start hitting the elevator door, screaming.

"LET ME OUT!! LET ME OUT! PLEASE!!" I screamed, hitting the elevator doors as hard as I could so someone could hear me.

"PLEASE...PLE..." my screaming was cut off by a sudden grip on my shoulder.

I could feel my eyes brim with tears and my lips quivering with fear. I shakily turn around slowly and my face meets Penny's. His eyes fire amber and eyebrows furrowed, lips parted. His hair was disheveled, almost as if he just woke up from a long sleep.

"Hungry." Penny said simply.

I made a face of disgust. I mean, how could he say that? After those poor little children!?

"What?" I said through gritted teeth. Anger has now taken over my fear.

"I won't repeat myself, darling." He said through a wicked smile.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" I shouted with tears streaming down my face. I was now filled with fury.

I could see Penny become infuriated by this. His mouth could no longer stay closed due to his sharp teeth peeking through. I watched him as he slowly showed his true identity but I stood my ground. Hurt, afraid, and angry.