Blood Rose (Completed)

Chapter 18

Katherine's POV

Apparently, she fainted and bumped her head against the long table. Now, Katherine stared up in a daze to a worried Mike and Bill. Both looked down at her and she winced uncomfortable when she felt the sharp pain at the back of her head.

"Does it bleed," she asked hazily, her hand travelled up and her fingers caressed the painful spot. Katherine was sure by now that she couldn't see another drop of blood.

"No, but you did scare the hell out of us both," Mike said while he helped her sit up. "Calm and easy. Don't want you to faint again."

"Sorry," she apologized and felt the heavy hand of Bill on her shoulder.

"Don't say s-s-sorry," he stuttered and was clearly annoyed that he did. "W-w-we know w-w-what it's l-like."

Katherine glanced at him and used the table to pull her up to her feet.

"I'm fine," she said more harshly than she meant when both men moved towards her.

Although Katherine was still feeling dizzy, she made it towards the other side of the table where the books were.

"Show me," she said.

"Katherine, you should rest first," Mike started, but she snapped her head into his direction.

"No, I don't. I need to see it. Show me."

It was Bill who moved and stood next to her.

"I-I w-wwill s-s-s-show you. If y-you s-ss-sit down," he stammered and Katherine frowned.

It seemed like his stuttering only got worse but she didn't dare to say anything of it.

"S-s-s-orrry, I n-n-n-ormal-lly don't stutter anym-m-more," Bill said frustrated and she shook her head.

"Don't think about it," she said and lifted her shoulders. "We hardly notice."

Bill smiled at her and she answered with one of her own.

"Now, please," she pleaded. "Show me."

Bill glanced between Mike and her before nodding. He pulled a chair back for her to sit on and started with the books.

Katherine was mesmerized and shocked at the same time. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the many pictures that were shown to her. One in particular stood out ; a black and white picture of a young man in a black suit. Even in the black and white coloured picture, his blue eyes stood out and that grin of him while Robert stared into the lens made her throat dry.

She suddenly pushed the books away from her. She had seen enough and was silent for a while. Both men left her alone so she could process it all. Mike went to call some other people that were arriving in Derry while Bill sat opposite of her in complete silence.

After some time, Bill finally spoke.

"W-w-what did IT d-d-o to y-y-ou?"

Katherine didn't dare to look at him, her fingers playing with her the hem of her dirty shirt. Robert Gray never did her wrong. Nor hurt her. It was the opposite ; she was slowly falling in love with an entity that truly was horrifying.

"I didn't know," she said, still avoiding Bill's gaze. "I didn't know Robert was this...thing."

Bill kept silent, but Katherine could feel the heaviness in the air. She shook her head slowly and bit back tears.

"And then suddenly, he was different. He was...not him anymore. He grabbed me. Wanted to hurt me," she sobbed uncontrollably even if she tried to hold it in.

"IT's a m-m-monster," Bill's voice told her, it was filled with gravel and compassion. "Don't b-b-blame yourself."

"I should've seen it. I mean, he has this dark sense of humour. He disappeared sometimes. He gave me this red balloon that kept floating around," she took a deep breath of air and stood up to pace around.

She felt like she was losing her mind. Until Bill put his hand on her shoulder again and Katherine looked at him through her tears.

"Katherine," he said without stuttering, "you're not the one to blame. We're h-h-here to kill IT."

"He killed your brother, didn't he?"

She remembered that Mike Hanlon had told her the story of the Loser's Club and seeing Bill in real life, Katherine knew why Mike had told about him as if he was the leader of the group of children. He seemed so calm, so together. While she broke down.

Bill just nodded and let her go.

"Maybe he killed my sister too," she thought out loud.

"It isn't a he," Mike spoke up, appearing in the living room again. "IT."

Katherine nodded , but didn't really listen.

"They're all here, Bill. Except for Stanley. Maybe he won't come."

"Where do we meet them," Bill asked.

"Chinese restaurant. I want you to come with us, Katherine. You aren't safe alone. IT might come after you."

Katherine nodded slowly and then looked at her clothes.

"I will need to chance before I meet your friends," she said slowly.

Her clothes were dried up by now, but Katherine could smell the vague hint of sweat and the sweet popcorn scent still lingered in her hair.

"I'll meet you at the restaurant," she spoke up and gathered her things. "I'll pass my home first."

"You can't be a-a-alone," Bill said and moved towards her.

Katherine huffed and wiped her hair out of her face.

"Pennywise can come for all of us any moment he wants. Doesn't matter if we're together or not, right?"

She looked at Mike while posing the question and the librarian couldn't do else but nod.

"Then, if he...IT, wants to kill me, it can do it now when I'm with you or when I'm alone under the shower."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Besides, I need my pills," she muttered while walking out of the apartment.

Cleaning up didn't take too long and Pennywise didn't show himself while Katherine washed herself up. The only weird thing that happened was the loud pop of the red balloon that finally gave up floating. The red, flat plastic now on the floor of her living room. And she refused to touch it.

A million things ran through her mind, but thanks to her pills, anxiety lingered far away. When she was dressed in a jeans, black shirt and sneakers, Katherine grabbed her keys to leave towards the restaurant. Yet, she held back by her front door. Haunted by the blue eyes of Robert Gray.

"Why?" She asked out loud, fingers clenching around the door handle.

That was one thing her head couldn't get around ; why did IT do what IT did to her. With her. A sudden outburst of anger rose from her chest and Katherine screamed.

"Why did you do it?!"

Katherine wanted to break something, get rid of the anger and how helpless she felt. An angry sob escaped her throat because she knew no answer would come. Relieved that no reply came because maybe IT would show up and that would be the death of her.

Right before she opened the door to leave, she glanced over her shoulder to a soft ruffling sound. The red balloon rose again, slowly floated up towards the ceiling and hung there.

'I don't know,' the voice of Robert, not Pennywise, echoed through the house.

It was enough of a sign she needed to get out of her house, forgot to lock the door and hurried towards the Loser's Club. Who all gathered in the Chinese restaurant around the corner by now.
Author's note : I realise this is filling and quite boring to read. But I promise you, I need these chapters to knit the story together. The mayhem will soon begin. (Also, I tag this as a short story but it got out of hand lol) If you enjoy, please let me know. You can vote or comment or send me a message. I love hearing feedback :) XoXo Aysline