Here For You

A Night With Strangers (6)

1992
Your POV
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As darkness begins to bestow upon us, we all gather around in the clearing we all had fought the hoard in. We lit a small fire, but are sure to keep it low and huddle close to it. Before anyone goes to sleep, someone will be in charge of keeping watch and we'll have assigned shifts until morning.

For now, we're just conversating quietly. I'm mainly silent, just listening. I actually find myself enjoying their company.

I haven't had contact with actual humans, especially ones my age, since around a year ago. Sometime last year, when...never mind.

It's nice to be around people again. I think they're good folk, as well.

"So, YN, what's been going on with you since this whole thing started?" Beverly asks me, a smile adorning her face. It's as if we've all known each other for years, the way she said it.

Everyone's eyes turn to me, waiting for my detailed explanation.

I sigh and look away, shaking my head and whispering, "Oh, what the hell. Why not?"

I meet their gazes once more and tell them everything since the very beginning. The people I've lost along the way and experiences I've had ever since the outbreak. I even lead the incidents with It by telling them the story of when I had supposedly defeated It when I was around eleven, then proceeding to inform them on the rest.

Using vague details and descriptions.

From the looks on their faces, one can assume that they've had encounters with It before.

"You've dealt with It?" Richie proclaims, before being hushed by the group. What he said further proves my point.

I nod slowly, "Yeah. As I said, it started when I was eleven. It was weak when I finished It off, though. I reckon a group was attacked before me that day. Ever since, god I ain't sure how long ago—a year or so maybe?—It has been tormentin' me with hallucinations, nightmares, 'nd has even jumped me a few times. It feels like an eternity."

"YN, we were that group that dealt with It when we were kids," Ben tells me, and I raise a shocked eyebrow.

"Really?" They nod. "I mean, I kinda guessed it from the looks on yer all's faces when I talked 'bout It."

They chuckle at this.

"S-Seems like y-you've had th-th-the worst of It," Bill pitches in, looking at me in concern.

"I'd say so too," I nod. "I reckon It's makin' up for lost time when It was out buggin' ya'll when we were younger."

Everyone either nods or hums in agreement to my statement. It's silent for a moment before we all start sharing stories from previous experiences with It.

I suppose this is a bonding moment for all of us, a group of strangers who had both fought their own battles with this insane entity.

I have a feeling that this is only just the beginning, however.

When people start to get tired, I offer to take first watch. They reluctantly agreed, and Bill said to wake him up when I'm too sleepy to carry on.

Little does he know that I've had many sleepless nights of practice when it comes to staying wide awake.

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-CastrarWolf