More Than The Upside Down - An IT (2017) & Stranger Things Crossover

The Unknown

Richie

Even though Richie agreed to join Bill in going back into wherever his friend had been dragged into, he couldn't help but still feel uneasy. There was a deep tension in his stomach that was boiling with concern for his friend. Whatever had dragged Bill into the membrane had scared the shit out of the rest of the boys, and especially his sister Cassie.

"Hey, Cass," He had called out to her when the group was hiking back into the forest the next day.

She turned around. "Yeah?"

Richie pushed his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose, "Can I talk to you for a second?"

He glanced at Stan and Eddie who raised their eyebrows in a quick succession and winked at Richie. He stuck the finger out at them and walked back with Cassie.

She began to murmur in order to maintain privacy, "What's up?"

He looked at her with an expression that she had never seen on him before besides when he looked at Eddie. Deep care and consideration. "How are you feeling? I mean, after yesterday with Bill being dragged into whatever that shit was, it must have given you a fright."

She frowned, "Yeah it did, why?"

"I just wanted to see if you're okay, especially after losing one brother so recently. I can't imagine how you'd feel losing another."

A look of sadness flashed across Cassie's face. "You're right." She turned to the side and wiped away a tear that had fallen down her cheek. She looked at him again. "This is a new side I've seen to you, Tozier. You're never mature."

"Ah don't get used to it M'lady," Richie smiled with his horrible British accent.

"Fuck off Tozier." Cass stuck her tongue out at him.

"Rih-Rih-Richie!" Bill yelled. "Stop hitting on my sih-sih-sister!"

"I wasn't!" Richie cried with mock innocence. He punched Cass in the shoulder and ran off. "Now I was!"

"Stop being a fucking dickhead Richie," Eddie sighed.

He smirked at this and cried out in a childlike manner, "You stop Eds!"

*

The temperature engulfed the group as soon as they stepped through the membrane, leaving them shivering violently. Goosebumps began to rise on Richie's arms and he immediately regretted not bringing a spare jacket.

"This is so fucking nasty." Eddie gagged and spat out some membrane.

"You weren't complaining the other day when Bill was covered in it you pussy." Richie remarked.

Eddie ignored him.

"I'm with Eddie on this one." Stan grimaced. "This is pretty disgusting."

"Guys," Cassie's voice shook, "What's that noise?"

"What noise?" Eddie asked nervously.

A heavy growl resounded behind them. Another. Between the growling, the loud but short wheezing of Eddie Kaspbrak could be heard.

Richie turned in the direction of the sound. "Oh shi-"

Something burst out of the bushes, causing them to quake behind the creature's path.

The group raced off in a flurry of curse words and screams. They ran in the direction which seemed to be where they originally came from.

One after the other, they dived through the membrane before being shrouded in darkness once again.

*

A bright light slashed at Richie's eyelids but it was a groan beneath him that jolted him awake.

"Get off of me Richie," Eddie grumbled from beneath him.

Richie stood up in a flash and pulled his friend up. He turned around to see Bill and Stan helping Cassie up. She was as white as the clouds on a sunny day and a look of hurt flashed across her face.

He looked down to see blood circling and gushing out of a cut that ran down Cassie's left leg. "What happened?" A look of worry spread across his face.

"Something attacked me," Cassie winced.

"She-she needs h-h-h-h-" Bill began.

"Help?" Eddie finished.

Bill nodded. "W-W-We ha-ha-have to b-b-be careful though, i-i-i-it l-l-looks really deep. R-R-Richie and E-E-Eddie go ahead and get some help. S-S-Stan and I will stay here and t-t-try to c-c-clean it up."

Richie and Eddie sped off with short breaks in between so Eddie could use his inhaler.