Splendor//Bill Denbrough

F i v e

A gentle shake is what wakes Carnation from her deep sleep. Still half asleep (seeing as it's 6:30 am), the only thing that pushes her to get up is the aroma of coffee.

"I h-have an ap-appointment soon, so we nuh-need to talk now," Bill's deep voice resonates throughout the room, louder than usual. He hands her the iced vanilla latte that he picked up, and she gulps it down gratefully.

"What do we need to talk about?" her voice is meek, very pre-hangover.

Bill raises his eyebrows. "F-first: w-why are you here? And sec-second: wh-where are our b-b-boys?"

"Well," Carn sighs, "I'm here because I couldn't bear to let you go at this alone. You were terrified and confused, and I promised I'd stand by you for better or for worse."

"B-b-but you weren't th-th-there the f-first time we b-battled IT, a-and I-I-I can't put you in that p-p-position."

His eyes aren't teary, just pleading and helpless.

"Bill, listen. I'm just as much a part of the Losers as you. You told me everything that happened that summer, and we're going to gradually remember it together. I know that I'm meant to help you guys; I know it."

"Listen Carn, I-I-I was r-r-responsible for Guh-Georgie, and I s-sure as hell don't w-want to b-be responsible f-for l-l-losing you."

"You are not, in any way, shape, or form, responsible for Georgie," Carn states firmly. "And even if you lose me- which you won't- then that's my fault because I came here out of my own free will."

"C-Carn..."

"We're going to do this. We're going to be fine. And the boys? They're with Claire."

Bill freezes. "No they're n-not, babe."

"Yes, they are. What are you talking about? I told them to wait for her until she picked them up."

"Th-then why do I h-have t-ten missed calls fr-from her? And texts d-d-demanding where th-they are?"

"Huh?" she rolls out of bed and turns her own phone off airplane mode. She also has countless calls and texts from their daughter. "Holyyyyy shit, oh no, no, no, no, no!"

"So w-w-we don't know where thuh-they are?"

Carn shakes her head frantically, freaking out.

"H-hey... let's ch-ch-check with all their f-friends and the n-n-neighbors. O-or m-maybe Claire f-found them..." Bill trails off.

Inhaling, she nods again, but calmly. "You're right."

Intertwining fingers, they begin to make phone calls to every single person they can think of, but not one can account for the twins.

"Where are they?" Carn whimpers helplessly.

Bill shakes his head, speechless.

"I guess we just... call the police."

He agrees, letting his wife call so he doesn't stutter too much. She hangs up with tears in her eyes.

"Anything?"

"They got a notification that two young twin boys were at the train station by themselves. Our boys could be anywhere in the country."

Rubbing her arms, Bill adds, "Well, w-w-we do kn-know somethuh-things: they're in the c-country, a-and pr-probably went on their own free w-will."

"Right," Carn agrees. "Which means they have a good reason to be where they are because they wouldn't just run away."

"And the po-police are i-i-i-i-" he groans at his worsening stutter, "investigating."

"There's nothing we can do this very moment but pray."

"Th-that's right."

All of the sudden, Bill's phone dings with a text notification. Whipping it out eagerly, he lets it slip from his hands onto the floor. However, his face falls when he sees that it's just Mike asking if he was coming.

"Shit! Br-breakfast started a-at s-six fifteen!"

"Breakfast?"

"Y-yeah, we're having a group muh-muh-meeting."

"Can I come?" Carn pleads.

Bill hesitates. "Are you s-s-sure-"

"Absolutely positive," she responds solemnly.

He nods and grips her hand. She kisses the back of his hand, and he returns the favor. As they get ready and walk the couple blocks to the diner, Bill keeps reassuring Carn (and himself) that the twins are fighters.

Standing in front of the door, Carn is hit with a rush of nostalgia and nervousness. She remembers sitting at a table with all her friends... And that pretty waitress that Mike adored. What was her name again? And what happened to her? Her anticipation, though, is just because she hasn't seen- nor remembered- her people in ages. They've undoubtedly changed immensely since they were meager teens.

Bill opens the door for his wife before walking to their usual booth. Carn does all she can to not cry out.... Oh, how she missed the Losers!!

"S-surprise," he gestures to her.

A hush falls over the table as they wonder if who they're seeing is real.

"Carnival?" The flame haired girl breathes softly.

"Bev," Carn beams so widely that it hurts her cheeks. And before she knows it, she's almost knocked over by everyone rushing to hug her at once. She chuckles, blinking back tears of reminiscence and joy- joy she had never felt before she met the Losers.

She gives everyone hugs and kisses and wedges between Mike and Bev. Unsurprisingly, she's the first to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Because she just now realizes that they're one short.

"Where's Stan?"

The table freezes. Bev rubs Carn's shoulder compassionately.

"Oh, honey-Bill didn't tell you?"

"I was drunk as a sailor last night, so no."

"Stan- Stan-"

"Stan died. By suicide," Ben interjects, looking at a small spill of salt. Eddie awkwardly draws shapes in the salt with his finger. Carn's hand flies to her mouth.

"That's- that's awful!" Is all she can think to say.

Stan, gone? Surely not their Stan! Not the boy who watched birds like it was his religion; not the boy with the sweet curls and reserved personality; not the boy who crushed on Carn before falling hard for Eddie. And poor Eddie... He fell too.

"So, uh, how are the kids?" Richie asks her lightly, trying to change the subject.

"Um... Good," she shrugs. "How's your girlfriend, uh, Clara maybe?"

Hot chocolate splatters onto the floor like throw up. Ceramic shards of Richie's mug soak in the cocoa, but he takes no notice.

"I can't believe I- how the fuck- she was- excuse me, I need to make a call."

He rushes out of the restaurant, pulling his phone and cigarettes out of his pocket. The table is silent until he comes back with moist eyes and flushed cheeks.

"So here's the game plan," Mike announces, "All day today I want you to walk around town to any place that means something to you. See what you can remember and find clues to help defeat it. We meet back up at my place at seven, and if you remember enough, then I'll explain some heavy stuff. Good luck."

They eat their food (which tastes like sand to their agitated selves) and separate to their own paths.

The first place Carn thinks about is somewhere she knows better than anyplace, somewhere she can safely be herself. Someplace quiet and reflective.

Carn goes directly to the Catholic Church.