"God, will you ever stop smoking?"
"You're very funny, Tozier."
Holly Taylor and Richie Tozier had never associated with one another, it just wasn't normal. But when summer starts, she befriended them in the oddest wa...
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Sunday, July 23rd, 1989
"Oh, Richie!" Holly sang-song, twirling around the banister of the staircase.
"I'm coming, woman! Calm your ti-!" Richie started, tumbling down the staircase.
"Finish that sentence and we're not going anywhere!"
Richie grinned. "Very eager to get me alone, I see." he whispered, snaking an arm around his girlfriend's waist. "Oh, yeah. Totally."she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Be back later, Cass!" Holly called over her shoulder. Cass smiled as the two kids marched out the door. Shutting the door behind her, Holly stepped out with Richie in front.
A thick blanket of humidity covered the town. The only thing keeping Holly from sweating her white tee-shirt thin was the cool breeze as she petaled her green-and-silver bicycle through town, Richie trailing behind her. They were going to the Barrens, just to poke around. The Kenduskeag river was rushing today, so the pair was going to build a small dam.
Richie and Holly reached the Barrens in record time, eleven minutes. Dropping their bikes in what Stan claimed was poison ivy a month ago, Holly opened her yellow book-bag and pulled out two flashlights. "Ready?" Richie asked. Holly nodded, hand grasped around the silver chain around her neck. They walked towards the big cement hole, already seeing the grey-water.
Richie stepped in first. "God, it smells like absolute shit in here." he said, a disgusted look covering his face. Holly held her nose. He was right. It smelled like rancid milk and two-weeks old egg salad and vomit all together. Holly stepped in as well. The dirty water pooled around the bottom of her old black Converse, she was beyond thankful that she hadn't wore her new red or yellow pairs.
"Hey, babe. Come back here." Richie said, motioning her back farther. Holly stepped away from the light. Richie was holding a metal rod and pointing towards the wall with it.
"WE ALL FLOAT DOWN HERE." "RUN." "GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN." "SUCK MY DICK." "HELP." "H.B. SUCKS." "WE CAN'T ALL BE WINNERS." "DAY THIRTY-FOUR." "I MISS YOU."
All these phrases were writing on the wall, some in blue and green Sharpie. Others looked like they were written in... blood? No, couldn't be. Richie grabbed her arm and pulled her towards another corner. holly started looking around. A cold breeze swept over them, even thought it was a hot summer's day.
A cough.
Holly and Richie whipped around. There was a body where they were just standing. How? It was coughing, sputtering. A dark red liquid flew out of it's mouth. The pair walked closer. It was certainly a boy with long hair. His jeans were ripped and he was lying face up, hand over his mouth. Holly stepped closer, standing over him.
