Daughter of Pennywise

Dad

Patrick rushed past me and I heard his footsteps recede, probably into the world of sunlight.

I still hadn't turned around. The hand on my shoulder was soft and warm. It squeezed me slightly before gently pulling me around to face its owner. He towered over me and I looked up to find his face. When I reached his neck I paused, preparing myself.

Finally raising my eyes, my breath caught. The lines of red that flowed down his cheeks reminded me of a cheetah cub. His bright red mouth smiled down at me and his blue eyes were bright.

I swallowed nervously. "Hi Dad."

His hand left my shoulder and he gripped my rib cage with both hands. He laughed as he lifted me and spun me around. I began to laugh and when I started I couldn't stop.

I was five again. I kicked my feet and shrieked as the world dipped, dived and swirled. Pennywise tossed over his shoulder and we were bounding down the tunnel.

He set me down at the mouth of a large pipe and I looked out to see a stage. It was surrounded by discarded items. Baseball bats, trikes, stuffed animals and numerous other kids' artifacts. I gasped as Pennywise took a single, excited leap and landed on the stage.

I started to clamor down when Pennywise spoke. "Ezra! Jump!" He leaned towards me grinning.

Despite the odds, I trusted him and I didn't hesitate. The wind rushed past me as I leapt from my perch. The sewer wall blurred past me, and the impact of my feet hitting the old wood jolted through me. Breathless with adrenaline I looked towards my father.

He grinned down at me before saying with pride. "My daughter has returned."

Carnival music seemed to burst from the very air and I was dancing. Pennywise spun me around and around. Then we broke apart and I moved in a way that felt... right.

I started laughing again, I could barely hear the boisterous music or my father's own laughter over myself. The music ended and we jumped off the stage, easily landing twenty feet away. I looked up at him as he reached down.

With one hand he wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck, and lifted my up. I felt weightless as my legs dangled down, relaxed. I couldn't imagine being afraid of him.

He cocked his large head at me, eyes on my face. He drew me closer before reaching up with his other hand. His white glove brushed against my marks lightly and I couldn't help the small smile that stretched my black lips.

"Your eyes are yellow." He grinned.

"I can't control it."

"Would you like to?" He tossed me up the air and I gasped as I dropped back towards the ground. Without thinking I twisted at the last minute and landed lightly on my feet.

Pennywise watched me curiously before he gestured for me to come back over. "Let me show you what you can be."

I watched in fascination as his mouth stretched and rows of teeth formed a sort of funnel. A blazing orange light held my entire attention beyond that. It felt as though I was falling through a void. The air seemed thick and warm as I toppled through the light.

Time seemed irrelevant. Hour could've passed, but it wouldn't have matter. Somehow I knew things. I couldn't have told what I knew, but I just... collected knowledge as I fell.

When I "woke" I was lying on the pavement with the stench of sewer in my nose. I heard rummaging to my left and I let my head fall to that side. Pennywise's back was to me and he was pulling things out of a chest.

Multiple colored fabrics were scattered around him. I pushed myself up and he turned to shoot me a grin. "I have to go." I said, sadly. Part of me didn't want to leave, but then I remembered Niki and Tessa, how worried they must be.

"You'll be back." Pennywise nodded, almost to himself.