𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 ↱ 𝐈𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 (hiatus)

𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄𝐒 || 𝟖

"OH PATTY! IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"

Patricia couldn't help but roll her eyes as Taylor's mother hovered over her, grey eyes scrutinizing the young girl before she smiled a falsely dazzling smile. Patricia couldn't help but cringe as she saw through the older woman's facade, taking note of the faint stench of cigarette smoke and the wine stain that was clear as day on her teeth. She grit her teeth before nodding at the rich lady and showing her teeth in the hopes that it hid her inner grimace.

Taylor nervously looked between the two before gripping her friends hand and leading her up the stairs, cautiously looking over her shoulder to find her mom staring at them with glazed eyes. The blonde shuddered and pushed Patty up the stairs even quicker before reaching her room and slamming the door shut. Both blondes shared an understanding look before they plopped onto the carpet and let out a breath.

"Y'know," Patricia started "your parents are perhaps the scariest people I have ever met in my entire life." Taylor just laughed in response before nodding her head in agreement. Times like this made the two girls glad that they had such a closely knit friendship (along with Amelia of course).

They were each other's sanctuary away from the hell that was their family and for that they would always be grateful: grateful to the awful school that they met at, grateful for their similarities, and grateful for their differences. Each had their own fears and insecurities, but at the end of the day that's what held them together. They accepted one another no matter the flaws that hung over their heads like a bounty and that's what made them so unstoppable, that's what made them the three musketeers.

Taylor glanced to the side and studied Patricia's facial features, taking in the darkened circles under her eyes and the fine lines that had started appearing from the stress of the older girls family life. It was unbearably painful to see the girl in such a state and so with a laugh, Taylor threw a pillow at Patty's head.

Patricia just glared before cracking a smile with a slight glint of joy. Taylor felt accomplished.

"Don't think you're off the hook, blonde! I saw you checking out that Bill kid, you were practically drooling!" Taylor yelled, eyes lighting up in mischief. Patricia's face flushed as she slapped Taylor. "You idiot, I was not! I was simply..." Taylor smirked before finishing the sentence for her. "Yeah yeah you were simply 'assessing the situation'. Give it a rest, P! You think he's cute and there's no way you're going to change my mind."

Patricia threw her hands up in defeat as Taylor giggled, singing about them kissing under a tree. A tree? Really?

"Now now Taylor, you wouldn't like me telling everyone you have a huge crush on Amelia now would you?" "You wouldn't!" Taylor exclaimed, watching her friends face contort into a grin. "Oh but I would my fellow blonde."

Oh, if only amidst their banter had they realized something was wrong. Something was oh so very wrong.

———

"MOM, I'M HOME!"

Amelia slammed the door shut, the old hinges creaking in protest while the tall girl simply ignored it. She kicked off her shoes and threw her bag onto the floor nearby before wandering into the kitchen for a snack.

Both Taylor and Patricia had gone to Taylors' to hang out while Amelia instead opted for checking in on her mother and grandmother. Their family wasn't poor but they weren't rich either, living about as comfortable as every other resident in their small town of Derry. Her mother worked very hard for the things they had so she could not be one to complain.

Shaking her head to rid of her rampant thoughts, Amelia trudged throughly the halls before stopping in front of her grandmothers room, knocking on the door. "Grams, I'm home!" Silence filled the house and shivers ran up Amelias spine. Never was her grandmother asleep at this time, nor did she work or wander around town.

Amelia reluctantly pushed open the door and took in the empty bed before roaming her eyes around the vacant room. Something did not feel right. It felt like all of the air was being sucked out of her lungs and she was shaking uncontrollably. A large bang sounded from the bathroom down the hall causing Amelia to jump with a start, doe eyes wide as she made her way to the sound. Fear was always something Amelia thought she could handle well, thinking that if she was ever faced with danger that she would keep cool and collected.

Instead her hands shook and her body was layered with a film of cold sweat, eyes frantically searching the hallway before they settled on the door in front of her. She was scared. Unfortunately, that was the worst possible thing to be in that very moment.

Pale hands pushed the door open before a scream resonated from pink lips, Amelia screamed even louder as the thing that was in her bathroom locked upon her terrified figure. Never before had she seen something so grotesque.

Black oozed from its mouth and nose, eyes mutilated and hanging from their sockets yet still twitching and rolling around. Yellow paper-like skin hung of it's limbs as dark veins were spreading like wildfire, moving like snakes and curling around body parts. Blood soaked through a flower patterned dress and it stained the bathroom tiles crimson. Grey hair hung limply, mud and other vile substances matted together as if the creature had just risen from the ground Amelia walked on. These things were not what scared her, oh no. What scared her the most is she knew this thing.

It was her very own grandmother.

And as what once was family stumbled towards her she let out a blood-chilling scream before bolting up and shooting down the hallway. Her feet fumbled as she cried and screeched, knocking pictures off walls and leaving a trail of broken glass and tears behind her. She was so close, so very close to that front door. Her escape from whatever the hell this nightmare was. The way out of what once felt like home but was now a breeding ground for pure and absolute fear.

She would've made it, too.

If it wasn't for those damn shoes.

———

wow. an update? what a foreign concept. sorry it's short i've done this in a rush because i am DESPERATE to update.

also 500 reads?? i am confusion. but thank you all so much! lots of love <3