monster ; it.

XIII

The rock stayed on the floor while Penny and I continued to stare in shock. It all happened so fast. We weren't sure whether Bill or Georgie had heard the noise, but from the small footsteps scrambling down the hallway, it didn't take us too long to figure out that we were about to get caught.

With the blink of an eye, Penny turned around and was soon in the shadows of the dark room. I couldn't see him, but feeling him watching me was something that I had gotten used to. He wasn't there, but he was there. He was standing right in front of me, but he was invisible.

"Ariana, are you okay?" Georgie called through the door, knocking quickly afterward as I struggled to get words out of my mouth. I wasn't sure if Henry or his goons had heard Georgie, but from the sound of it, it wasn't that hard to hear a yelling voice coming from a broken window.

"I'm fine, Georgie. Something just hit the window." I answered dumbfounded while blinking behind him. "Is Bill awake?"

Georgie nodded his head. "He's downstairs."

I squinted my eyes, looking towards the door, though I knew Bill wouldn't be standing there. I moved forward, exiting the room as I made my way down the stairs. If I wasn't wrong, Bill was supposed to be in his room.

Making it to the dull living room, I see a statue standing in front of the large window. Bill moved the curtains, to make a small line of light shine through. His tall figure stayed in place, but his breathing was heard across the room.

"Bill, what are you doing?" I asked, as his head turned around in a flash. Even through the darkness of the room, his expression filled with both fear and anger was clear to see. I stepped forward, as Bill continued with watching what was happening outside. I stood behind his shoulder, a small peck of light from the streetlamp shining in both of our faces.

Henry Bowers stood proudly outside, a pocket knife clutched to his side as he rambled on in a loud manner. Patrick and Victor stood by his side, watching at the upstairs window as they were waiting for a fight to happen. But with their luck, the fight would be ended before it would start.

"Why are t-they here?" Bill asked me, his eyes turning a shade of light red as water made its way to his cheeks. I frowned apologetically, putting my hand on his back as I shook my head.

"You should be asleep, you shouldn't be worrying about this." I motioned Bill towards the stairs.
"Go, get to bed with Georgie." Bill looked at me as if I had said the most stupid statement in the world. His eyes turned to a thin line, while his mouth had the shape of an unbarring cringe.

"A-Are you crazy?" He raised his voice. "There is no w-way I'm leaving you down here by yourself while Henry Bowers is outside with a f-freaking knife in his hand, those idiots don't k-know what they're in for-" Bill rambled on. I cut him off, shaking my head as I put both of my hands on his shoulders.

"There's nothing to be worried about." I looked towards the window. "And if they won't leave, I'll make them."

Stomping quickly to the front door, I grabbed the handle, swinging it open. The only thing that Bill had ever had a problem with was Henry Bowers. Bill was some sort of target for him, and this was getting old. All of the boys had gotten manipulated and beaten by him.

"Ariana—don't!"

The boys' heads snapped towards me as soon as the door opened. Henry had his famous smirk displayed on his somewhat pale face, and his friends were emotionless. I stomped up to Henry, my face turning red as I started to sweat.

"Well, if it isn't-" Henry spoke.

"Why are you here?" I cut him off, squinting my eyes as I leaned into him. Henry chuckled, shaking his head as his fake smile increased. "You never give up, do you?"

"Why would I give up when I have a perfect opportunity in front of me?" He frowned, walking closer as he kept his hands in his front pockets. "C'mon, doll. Where's your loser boyfriend when you need him?"

"Henry," I moved close to him, our faces getting closer as his smirk continued to grow wider. I clenched my tight jaw, balling my hands into fists as my eyes looked into his. "Get away from us or I will kill you." I threatened him. His smirk vanished.

"Excuse me?" He said, without emotion.

"Leave," I warned him once more.

"Or what?" He gripped a hold of my wrist, his tight grip being sure to leave a small bruise. "You'll kill me?" The corner of his mouth rose.

"She won't, but I will." A voice was heard from behind me.

In just a matter of seconds, a black colored figure ripped his hand off of my wrist and had him backing away from me. Henry's shock caused him to trip towards the ground. Penny had appeared out of nowhere. He was in his normal attire and persona, but the look on his face gave away his emotions.

And in one moment, I knew who that person was. It wasn't my best friend, it wasn't one of the many bullies from our school. It was the loftily-wedded monster who stood up for me.

"Wh—Who are you?" Henry quickly stood up off of the gravel, his hands shaking as he backed up onto his friends, who were just as terrified as Henry was.

"If any of you come anywhere near her again, you will regret it."

Penny stood in front of me, the three boys standing side-by-side.

"Well, aren't you a tough guy? What're you gonna do?"

"I could do a lot." Penny marched to him quickly, grabbing him by his throat. Henry gasped, the boys backing up, watching as their friend was being lifted off of the ground. "And if I ever see you come near her ever again, I will make sure no one will ever see you again, including me."

Henry looked at him with an emotionless face. But his eyes read something else—fear. Henry Bowers feared someone, and when he was scared, he would never go back to it again.

Penny looked towards his friends, his stone-cold eyes looking into their scared eyes. "Got it?"

The boys anxiously shook their heads, waiting for the time Henry would be let go. They wanted to run, far away from this man who seemed so powerful, but looked so normal at the same time.

"Good." Penny smiled, unclenching his hand as Henry dropped to the floor, gasping for air. "Now, run along."

"F-Freak!" Henry stuttered, crawling backward as the boys started to run. Henry picked up his pace, turning around and following after them. They were gone, and they weren't coming back.

"Why would you do that!" I turned to Penny, crossing my arms as I leaned towards him.

"It was intriguing." He chuckled, his hands in his long, black coat pockets as he started to walk away.

"I had it handled, and you ruined it!" I followed him.

"You obviously had that handled."

"I did!"

"Is that why he was running away and screaming from you?" Penny said cockily, turning around to face me as his face turned into a wide smile.

"They would have if you just—"

"Ariana?" Bill spoke behind us. Our heads snapped towards him, my face growing red as he asked,

"Who is this?"

➢➢➢

Oh shoot.

Quote of the Day: "Do I regret it? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably." -Nick Miller