Reddie: Richie Returns

7: The Quarry

Once again, a tired looking Richie Tozier found himself back in Derry. The weather wasn't quite as nice as it had been the last time he was here, but at least it was lighter now. He felt this was ironically fitting for his current mood. The sky was a pale grey, and spots of rain began to fall onto the lenses of Richie's glasses. He stood in the road, sadly gazing down at the barrier of the Kissing Bridge. His carving was still there. 
He began to walk closer to it, so he could touch the carving of his and Eddie's initials one last time and was startled to find another carving with their initials nearby. It was a scruffy looking carving, but he instantly knew who had put it there. "Oh Eds" he whispered lovingly, he gently placed his hand over the carving, and closed his eyes as he ran his fingers over the marks. A tear rolled down his cheek "I'm sorry I left you" he whispered again, and he rose back to his feet and slowly but surely made his way back to the car.

After a short drive through Derry's main street, Richie arrived at his destination. He waited a moment or two as he tried to reassure himself that he was 100% sure this is what he wanted to do. He silently climbed out of the car, and walked towards the barrier.

Richie was looking out over the quarry as the trees gently swayed in the wind. It was chilly, but he didn't really notice it. He inhaled deeply as a gust of wind came rushing past him, and filled his lungs with fresh air as he closed his eyes. Yes, he was sure now.
He slowly walked back to Beverly's car, which he had stolen a second time because Beverly was terribly predictable with where she hid her car keys this time. He opened the boot, and took out Ben's navy gym bag. It was heavy, but that was okay. He slammed the boot shut, and began to walk back towards the "No Swimming" sign where he had previously stood. He took a moment to look out over the quarry again.

The quarry was a happy place, and The Losers all had a lot of fond memories there. How they had enjoyed spending their summer holidays swimming together and mucking around in the water trying to find the turtles. It wasn't a happy place any more, but Richie found comfort in being there again. 
Slowly, he knelt down and placed the gym bag on the floor beside him. He unzipped the bag and took out Ben's weights "fuck these are heavy" Richie muttered to himself. He wasn't one for working out, and always found it slightly amusing that Ben took it so seriously now. He smirked to himself as he remembered catching Ben working out one evening, he slowly tied the weights around his ankles. 

Richie's heart began to pound against his chest as he struggled to pick both the weights up, and shuffled to to the edge of the cliff. Slowly, with his hand shaking, he removed his glasses and plopped them onto the ground behind him. 
He felt the wind swirling around him, ruffling his messy hair once again. He looked out once more over the quarry, only to see nothing but a blur. But that seemed to make his next actions so much easier. Suddenly he couldn't bring himself to jump. His feet felt tingly as he stayed glued to his spot at the edge of the cliff, and he began to cry. "I'm sorry" he cried "I'm so sorry".
He moved one foot outwards towards the edge, and then shuffled the other foot too.

Richie took a deep breath as the wind swirled around him once again, and finally, he let gravity take hold of him... 

i: Beverly Finds The Note

Beverly hadn't slept all night. The sun began to spill through into the boat as the new day started. But she felt far too worried about Richie to even think about sleeping, and it made her stomach feel uneasy. She had spent all night staring up at the ceiling trying to think of ways she could help Richie move forwards, but all she could think of was how much he needed someone like Eddie. She sighed deeply as she lay next to Ben who was still fast asleep. He had his arm lovingly placed over her waist, and the weight of it brought her some comfort. Every now and again he would stir in his sleep and shuffle closer to her. Normally Beverly loved it when he did that, it made her feel safe and warm. But now she could only think of Richie. 

Beverly gently moved Ben's arm from around her, and placed it softly by his side again as she climbed out of bed. She wrapped herself in one of his oversized jumpers and silently left Ben to sleep. The boat was still silent when she reached Richie's door, and found that it had been left open slightly. For a moment she was relieved by this, as it meant Richie must be awake now and he might up on the deck like he usually was. But when she opened his door to peep through to see if he was still asleep, she saw that the room was empty, and that the bed sheets hadn't been disturbed. She frowned in confusion for a moment, but then thought he might have gotten up in the night and fallen asleep on the couch. 
She padded quietly bare footed into their living room, and found the couch was empty. She was greeted cheerfully by her dog, but she pushed her away gently to see if Richie was up on the top deck. She was worried now. 

As she quietly passed through the living room, she noticed something on the coffee table. A piece of crumpled up paper, and beside it was a blue inhaler. Her hands began to shake a little as she instantly recognised the inhaler, she hoped this wasn't what she thought it could be. Slowly she knelt down on the carpeted floor in silence and unfolded the note carefully. Her worst fears had immediately been confirmed as soon as she saw Richie's handwriting, and tears began to fall down her porcelain cheeks. She covered her mouth with one hand in horror.
"BEN!" she wailed "BEN WAKE UP" she called again.
She quickly rose to her feet and rushed back towards the bedroom, trying to keep herself together. "Ben wake up, come on" she patted at him until he woke up. 
"Huh?" he asked in a tired confusion.
"Richie's gone" she wailed as she shakily held the note out to him. Ben took a moment to process this, but when he saw she was holding a piece of paper and she was crying, he immediately woke up. "What do you mean Richie's gone?" he asked.
"He's fucking gone, Ben!" She cried again. She grabbed his arm and hastily pulled him out of bed "We have to go!" she cried as she rushed back through the living room to grab her keys.
Ben heard all sorts of drawers and cupboard doors being opened and slammed shut again in a hurry "Shit!" he heard from the other end of the boat. 

Beverly suddenly appeared in the bedroom doorway again as Ben was dressing himself quickly.
"He's taken my fucking car again" she announced, and promptly disappeared in a hurry again.
"Bev, where did he go?" Ben asked. But he already knew when she wouldn't answer him.
Ben suddenly found himself being pushed out of the boat and onto the docks "Come on we don't have time!" Beverly called as she raced ahead of him towards his car.
Ben knew that even if they set off now, they may not reach Derry in time to find Richie. But he climbed in anyway and sped off...