Run For Your Life

Isolation

Song: Isolation by Cherry Glazerr

April 25

So isolated. That's how Richie feels constantly. He's always kept to himself, but at least he has a friend now. The great thing is, at least Richie thinks, is that the guy is just as nuts as him.

Richie's always been an attention seeker. He feeds off of laughter and he will get it at any cost. The thing is, Richie Tozier isn't all that funny. He's actually quite sick and twisted, often leaving his family and the people at school confused and set back. They all used to laugh when he was younger, but his sense of humor has morphed into something more. Something dark. Something cynical.

Richie had been in quite some rut for awhile when everything went down. He'd gained no laughter or applause from his peers, leaving him down more than ever. He'd tell anyone and everyone he didn't care, but truth was he did. Laughter was the one thing keeping him lively. Now that's he's grown that's faded away. The only laughter he receives is in mocking tones and always directed towards him.

He'd found out something interesting about himself, though. At home he'd curl up in his bed, eating chips by the handful. The boy would turn on scary movie after scary movie. He was surprised to find comfort and warmth in each and every one of them. Then that same laughter came back. Richie would begin cheering on the villain and laughing at the gore. It ignited something deep within him.

So then one day all the kids had been giving him looks and calling him clown. But then he'd recall his favorite scary movie scenes and all would be okay. That is until Annabelle Jones sat by him at lunch and smiled. "Keep your chin up," she said, "or that red nose will fall right off."

Well something in Richie seemed to go off, that's for sure. He took the first thing he saw, which just so happened to be his metal fork, and rammed it right in her left arm. The boy was surprised at the absolute glee he felt when he heard her scream. Oh the screams. And it wasn't just her! Oh how he loves to recall the screams.

Things began to take a turn from there. Life became much more interesting. He often found himself inflicting any sort of pain he could on his peers, only then to crack up hysterically. He stopped caring. It didn't last long until he was admitted here.

Derry's one and only mental institution.

Luckily he got roomed with the one and only Stanley Uris. His best friend. A guy who appreciates a good joke when he hears one. A guy who might be a little off too.

Stanley Uris often talks to the voice in his head. Everything feels disconnected. Long ago he was loved by everyone. He was smart as could be, perhaps even genius. The boy was one of the most popular kids in school. He always put a smile on, despite what was going on at home.

Home. A place he doesn't like to think of very often. Though he supposes this place is his home now. He's been here for years. He's been alone for years, trapped in his own mind. That was until Richie came along all those months ago. Immediately they hit it off. Richie thought the boy was slightly normal until Stanley poured out all his deep dark secrets.

Home was very different than school. Bruises often scattered his ribs. Fists met jaws and words burned deep. Things only went down from there. Or up, at least for a little while.

Stanley Uris was a sophmore when he met what he thought was the love of his life, Derek. Of course they had to keep it hush hush. Stanley didn't want to lose his cool spot at school, for it was the only thing keeping him sane. It was the only thing keeping the voices hushed. Besides, his parents already had their suspicions. If his father took it out on him this much without being sure, he couldn't bear to think what would happen if he did find out.