𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐀 ☾ IT 2017 & IT 2019 [✓]

T W E N T Y - F O U R !

[ CHAPTER XXIV:
WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT ? ]

ASHLEY HAD her hands shoved in the pockets of her sweater. "Has Derry always been like this?" Ashley asked looking up at her uncle. "Like a ghost town?" She asked.

Richie seemed to think about it. "I don't believe so" Richie answered. "Hell, I remember when most of these were still in business" Richie said with a soft sigh.

Ashley bit the inside of her cheek. "What were you and my parents like when they were younger?" Ashley asked.

A smile grew on Richie's lips. "Alice and I were called the 'terror twins' because if anyone had injured or insulted me, Alice would give them hell. Alice had such in obvious crush on Stan when we were kids but Stan was so oblivious that he thought she was just being friendly, but Alice was also oblivious to the fact Stan liked her back. Like dude, who the fuck cradles someone's face in the hep of danger?" Richie asked.

Ashley nodded with a shrug as if saying 'good point'. "The others?" Ashley asked.

"Mike was homeschooled so we didn't see much of him, but when Mike was with us he would be the dad of the group. Mike once scolded Alice because she had gotten into a fight with a football player in highschool and she had a bruise on her cheek and rib and Alice went 'calm down, dad' jokingly" Richie said.

"Beverly had moved away after the death of her father back in '89, but back when she was with us for a short period of time, she was a great influence on Alice. Alice was the only girl in the group before Beverly came along, Beverly was sort of Alice's wingwoman and best friend" Richie continued.

As Richie listed off what the losers were like when they were younger, Ashley couldn't help but let a smile grow. Ashley wished she could've met these people earlier in her life and not now when her mother kept saying this place was dangerous.

It didn't look dangerous at all, everyone seemed to be so happy even though there were children going missing, the newest one was a little girl named Veronica. Ashley then looked over at a diner with big red flashing lights. "What's this place?" Ashley asked.

Richie stared at the building with a grin. "Alice and I used to come here a lot, I'm surprised it's not closed or run down like the most of the buildings are" Richie said before the two walked into the building.

Ashley was hit with the smell of burgers and fries. "Richard Tozier" a person said causing the duo to turn at the voice.

A man with piercing blue eyes and wavy brown hair stared at the two. "Petey?" Richie asked.

"It's just Peter now, I've grown out of the little part" Peter said with a shrug. "Whose the kid?" Peter asked looking down at Ashley.

"I'm Ashley Uris" She said with a grin.

"My niece" Richie said.

Peters eyes widened. "Damn, I always knew Stanley and Alice would have a kid together one day. So what'll it be?" Peter asked.

Ashley scrunched up her nose slightly at the coke slushee. "I knew I should've gone with cherry" Ashley muttered to herself as she stood outside of a run down arcade.

She had just watched her uncle break into said arcade, stating his token was inside the building. It was a few minutes before Ashley decided to check up on him as she looked through the small hole Richie had created. He was just standing there as his eyes teared up.

'It was probably a bad memory' Ashley thought to herself referring to Richie's token. "Richie" Ashley called for her uncle snapping him out of his thoughts. "Come on, lets head back now" Ashley said.

"Good or bad memory?" Ashley asked suddenly as the two made their way through a park.

Richie seemed to tense up. "Bad" Richie muttered. "Real bad" He said.

Ashley stuffed her hands back in her pockets before flyers were handed to both of them. The man walked off. "Hope to see you there handsome" The man said turning to look at Richie, half of his face was decomposed and his eyes were white as snow.

Richie furrowed his brows and Ashley raised a hand to her mouth to swallow down the coke that tasted even worse the second time around. The two looked down at the flyer to see

IN LOVING MEMORY OF RICHARD TOZIER 1976-2016

"Uncle Rich" Ashley whispered tugging on his sleeve as the colors around them seem to become darker.

"Did you miss me Richie!?"

"Oh fuck" Richie muttered as he took in a deep breath and grabbed Ashley's shoulder as the two looked up to see a clown sitting on top of the Paul Bunyan statue.

"Little Al said she didn't miss me" The clown said with a small frown before smiling, showing off its sharp teeth. "For twenty seven years, I've dreamt of you, I've craved you, I've missed you!" The clown said gleefully.

Ashley gripped onto Richie's arm tightly hiding behind him. "Nobody's wants to play with the clown anymore, play some with me would ya? You could even invite your little friend" The clown said.

"How about Street Fighter?" The clown said and Richie started slowly backing up along with Ashley. "Oh yes, you love that game or how maybe,,truth or dare?" The clown asked.

The clown then raised its arm and slowly began taking off like a doll being tied a balloon. "Oh but you wouldn't want anyone picking truth would you, Richie? You wouldn't want anyone to know what your hiding" The clown said.

Ashley dipped her brows. "Rich, what is he talking about?" Ashley whispered. Richie seemed to be too frozen in fear to reply.

Soon a tune started playing, music. "I know your secret" The clown began singing. "Your dirty little secret, oh I know your secret, your dirty little secret!" The clown shouted as it landed on the ground sending Richie stumbling back.

"Does your niece know your secret? How about little Al? Or,,,Eddie?" The clown said.

"Leave him alone!" Ashley shouted.

"Another one with a dirty secret! Derry isn't to fond of that" The clown said.

Richie then told Ashley to shut her eyes and she did along with Richie who was muttering: 'it isn't real' over and over until the two finally opened their eyes.

The clown ran towards them making them both scream, Richie then grabbed Ashley's hand and they ran off. "Come back and play! Come back and play with the clown!" It shouted.

AUTHORS NOTE
Richie, @ Stan and Alice: who cradles
someone's face in the hep of danger
Also Richie with Eddie 27 years ago: *cradles
his face in the hep of danger*