Daughter of Pennywise

DAMNIT NIKI!!

Niki caught me in the hallway, grabbing my arm. "I'm gonna stay after school today."

"Why?" I asked.

"Erm... test. To take a test." Niki said uncertainly.

I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes in suspicion. "Isn't that why you went in early this morning?" Niki blanched. "Your terrible at lying Nik."

Niki placed her hands on my shoulders. "Trust me, okay. I've been planning this for days."

"Planning what?" I tried not to snap.

Niki smirked. "Don't be so impatient orange eyes."

Before I could respond Niki flounced away, leaving me to push my way out the school doors, and start off towards home.

🤡

Niki burst through the front door, panting and disheveled. I jumped up from the couch as she slammed the door shut, locked and chained it.

"What the hell Niki?!" I yelled.

She grabbed an end of the couch. "Help me press the couch against the door!"

Once we managed to wrestle the couch into place, I turned to Niki and planted my hands on my hips. "Explanation, now."

Niki burst out laughing. "I kicked Henry Bowers in the balls!" She snorted.

"You what?!!!" I must've looked like a bird as I waved my arms about.

"You should've seen his face." Niki shook her head in disbelief.

"Open up you fucking cunt!" A combat boot rammed the door hard.

"Fuck you mullet boy!" Niki screamed back before turning to me. Oh. My. God. I can't believe this is happening.

"Go push the desk in front of the hallway, then come back in here. Remember I have a plan." She pushed me lightly.

As I did Niki's plan started to take shape. I'd pushed the desk, so if someone rounded the corner quickly and sharply....

I went back into the living room. "Damnit Niki! Damnit to hell! What are you doing now?"

Niki had brought a stool from the kitchen and was seated on it with a bowl of cereal. "I'm hungry." She half-whined taking a bite. "Besides it's part of my plan."

I opened my mouth to yell at her and stopped. There wasn't a sound from outside. Acting on instinct I moved to stand behind my cousin.

A sudden splintering sound and a loud crash came from the kitchen. Four sets of feet pounded into the living room. The four boys stood across from us and Henry pulled out his switch blade. "You're dead. Both of you." He snarled, teeth clenched.

Niki smirked. "Come here Bowers. Let's talk this out." She waggled a finger at him.

"How about I cut out your tongue instead." Henry started forward cautiously, carefully making sure his crotch was inaccessible. I felt a small surge of satisfaction at the fact he was limping.

I saw a blur of movement out of the corner of my eye, as Niki splashed the remains of her snack into Henry's face and chucked the bowl at Patrick. Taking this as a signal, I ran for it. I heard Niki's stool clatter on the floor and a yelp of pain behind me. As I turned the corner and jumped over the anticipated desk, I heard Niki following.

As we charged into Tessa's room at the end of the hall, the intruders slammed into the desk loudly with howls of pain and rage. Niki slammed Tessa's door shut behind us, locked it and pressed her back to it. 

We both looked around wildly, searching for our next move. Spotting the window I wrenched it open and bumbled my way out of it, trampling the rose bush. Turning I helped Niki through, before we took off towards the patch of woods behind the house.

One set of running feet followed us and tackled me as I got a couple feet past the first tree. We rolled along the unforgiving ground, grunting, and I tasted blood in my mouth as he landed on top of me.

He jumped up and I scrambled to my feet. Niki was running back towards us as I turned to face my assailant. Patrick was doubled over laughing as Niki skidded to a stop beside me.

He straightened and clapped Niki on the shoulder. "That was priceless."

I glanced at my cousin, making sure she was just as confused. We all peered through the trees, just to find that Henry was just starting to climb out the window, cradling himself as he did.

Patrick turned back to us. "I'll say you got away." He offered.

"Wha-" I started, but the strange boy held up a finger.

"If you buy me an ice cream cone." He concluded.

Niki and I glanced at each other, then back to him. "Alright."