It Comes To Hawkins

ITs Here

Richie caught his breath after a half mile of running. Shit. He should really stop smoking- it's killing his lungs. Snorting at the thought that he would stop smoking, he picked up the pace. He knew he would have to be sneaky when he stole a couple packs of cigarettes. WaPerhaps he'd go to a different store, but he didn't know any others. Fuck it. He'll just be super quick about it. When he got there, he looked through the window to see the woman, Joyce, he remembered, go into the back. Quietly, he snuck up, opening the door quietly so the bells wouldn't jingle, and ran and snagged three boxes of Marlboro's. He ran out fast and kept running for a block or two until kneeling on the ground and putting them safely in his backpack. Taking one cigarette out, he lit one and started on his journey back home. He knew his coping mechanisms weren't great but they would do for now. Smoking got his mind off things. They saved him from falling into panic attacks when his thoughts delved back to his childhood, his parents, the lab, IT, anything really. Cigarettes were saving him just as they were killing him slowly. Fuck. He's getting too philosophical for his own good. As he walked home- to the Wheelers house, he reminded himself. They aren't family. They might be blood related but they aren't family. They left him to Maggie and Wentworth Tozier. They left him to the fucking lab. He should hate them. They got to live safely, away from experiments, torture, not knowing when their next fucking meal was. That was all he knew for his whole fucking life. The pavement cracked under his feet, making a large noise. Richie looked down and noticed a spiderweb of little cracks down the path he was walking. Cursing, he reminded himself he didn't have control of his powers. He never got to hone them because of the fucking pills he had to take, blocking a part of him he never realized he missed. Richie concentrated really hard and sprayed his hands forward, closing his eyes, he drew his power from his core (or at least, he thought he was). Nothing happened. Richie peeked and saw no damage and narrowed his eyes. Trying again, he closed his eyes and drew his power from inside himself, with no luck. Stomping his foot in frustration, he sighed, only to notice a crack had appeared there. He got down to his knees and examined it. It was a new crack. Made by his feet. His feet. Really? Is this some fucking prank? God. If you're out there, why the fuck did you put my power in my fucking feet?!?? Richie thought to himself. He hit the cement with his hand and a deafening noise sounded through his ears, he stumbled back at the massive crack in the road. Fuck. He should get out of there before someone comes. Looking behind him, he thought he saw a pair of yellow eyes looking at him through the bushes. Blinking and stumbling back in fear, he realized it was just a raccoon. Muttering to himself he picked out a new cigarette, lit it, and walked back to the Wheeler's house, though he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Turning around every couple of minutes only worsened his feeling. Once, when he looked back he thought he saw orange hair hiding behind a tree. He almost heard a faint whisper of Beep Beep Richie. Needless to say, he ran for a couple minutes after that. When he finally got to the Wheeler's house, he knew he had to tell Eddie that IT was in Hawkins. He could just feel it. Richie walked over to the phone and dialed Eddie's number.
"Come one, come on, come on, come o-"
"This is the Kaspbrak residence."
"Edward Spaghedward!"
"Richie!! It's about fucking time you called, asshole! And don't call me that."
"Awww eds! Ya missed me?"
"Yeah- What's so fucking funny about that dickwad?"
"Does your mom miss me as well? God I bet she was fucking weeping- she mourned the loss of my-"
"Richie I swear to god, if you fucking continue that sentence I will come to Hawkins and-"
"What could you possibly do, Ed's? You're too small! You couldn't even bruise me if you tried."
"I could fucking bruise you!"
"Kinky."
Richie could hear the facepalm on Eddie's side of the phone. He almost burst out laughing before remembering what he was calling Eddie for.
"Eddie. I have something to tell you."
"What? Now? On the phone? Oh uh sure I guess."
"Okaay- well. It's just.. that.. ithinkITisinHawkinsandisgoingtokilleveryonehereandmeandimreallyfreakingout."
"What?!? Say it slower."
"I think IT is here. In Hawkins."
"Richie that's impossible. We killed it."
"A girl already died. In the woods, near the fucking sewers! I've been seeing stuff. I've been seeing balloons and eyes and IT's hair and I have this feeling-"
"Richie! Calm down! It's not there! I don't think IT can even travel. I think we all have a bit of like PTSD from what happened. So it's normal that you're seeing things. It's okay. You're okay. I'll tell Bill and the rest of the losers but for now, there is no threat. Just your mind. It was probably an animal this time."

(this time)

"You're right. Fuck. Okay. I'm good. Bye Eds."
"Bye Trashmouth."
"Oh! Wait! Eddie don't hang up!!"
"Yeah Rich?"
"Do you remember me talking about a... a lab?"
"Rich, what lab?"
"When I just found you guys?"
"You found me in kindergarten. Rich, I don't understand-"
"Nevermind. It's stupid. Bye Eddie. For real this time."
"Bye Rich.. I miss you. Be careful."

Richie put the phone down slowly. The lab got to Eddie as well. Meaning they got to Bill and Stan as well. He never told Ben, Bev, or Mike about the lab because when he met them, he had already forgotten of his past abuse and focused on his present one, so they would be safe. Shit. With all the rest of Eddie's pills, it would be so easy to slip one more into his ever growing pile. And Bill-
Richie was thrown from his thoughts by the doorbell ringing. The jumped a foot in the air before relaxing. Walking over, Richie saw the chief of police. Shit. Maybe if he ignored...
"I saw the curtains move, I know someone's home." The chief said.
SHIT!! Fuck. Fine. Whatever. Richie opened the door with a smile on his face.
"What can I do for ya, chiefy?"
"Hopper."
"Is she pretty?"
"What?"
"Nothin'"
"My name is chief Jim Hopper and I am here to tell you that in addition to the sad news of the Sinclair kid, there has been another animal killing."
Richie blanked. His body and mind going numb with fear and the realization that It was in fact, in Hawkins. There was no doubt about it.
"...Another curfew... careful...warning you... walking in the woods...bear....buddy... don't..."
Richie could barely hear Hopper over the blood rushing in his ears. Hopper waved a hand in front of Richie. When he didn't recognize anything, Hopper snapped near his ear. That got him out of the trance.
"Hey Richie, when you have a second, do you mind coming over and meeting up with El and I? We have something we'd like to discuss with you."
Richie nodded, his eyes still in a fog.

(deadlights)

Shaking his head and looking at Richie's tattoo once more, Hopper retreated off the porch steps and into his car, starting up the loud engine. Richie almost flinched at the sound. Dazedly, Richie turned around and stumbled back into his room. Only to scream bloody murder and ruin the place, with him standing in the middle and mourning what was to come.