Sympathy For The Devil

Nobody But Me

The next morning Bill woke up in his bed with an aching pain in his hips and with a girl's pink hair ribbon on the pillow beside him. He already knew who had brought it to him and that if he turned on the news, he'd discover who it belonged to.

But Bill didn't care about that at the moment. He was going out with his friends again to the Quarry to go swimming. He tucked the ribbon into a box under his bed as he'd been doing since he'd fallen for the clown. They were like a weird sort of gift and it was the thought that counted.

"Billy!" His brother Georgie raced into his room a moment later and bounded onto his bed.

Bill welcomed the interruption and hugged his brother tight glad that he was alive for another day thanks to his big brother.

"What are the plans for today Georgie?" Bill asked setting him down on the floor.

"Mom's making me go to the store with her." Georgie crossed his arms and pouted.

Bill cringed as well. He remembered being Georgie's age and having to endure the incredibly boring ordeal of sitting in a shopping cart for hours while his mom browsed the aisles.

"Sorry G-Georgie but it's a tra-tra-tradition. Everyone's gotta d-d-do it." Bill rummaged around in his drawer for some swim trunks.

"Can't I go with you and your friends?" Georgie whined feebly as his brother made the clothes switch. Bill smiled.

"S-S-Sorry bro no can do, mom would k-k-kill m-me."

Georgie looked forlorn for only a second longer before Bill was ruffling his hair. "Hey look on the bright side. A store trip with mom means ice cream if you're good."

The boy's eyes lit up and he grinned. "Yeah I forgot about that!" And with new spirit ran down the stairs.

Bill rolled his eyes as he finished getting ready wishing he could remember when he was that young with that much wonder. He grabbed his duffel bag and slipped his sneakers on his feet before tramping down the stairs.

"Breakfast's ready Bill." His mother dropped bacon and eggs on a plate In front of him. Bill dropped his duffel bag and took a seat.

"Thanks mom." He shoveled the food into his mouth. He'd need all the energy he could get for the day ahead.

"So, you're headed down to the Quarry today?" She asked pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"That's the plan." Bill murmured through a mouthful of food. His mother shot him a look and he swallowed before continuing. "I'll be back by dinner."

''I trust you Bill." His mother planted a kiss on top of his head while she went in search of her keys. Bill finished the rest of his breakfast his eyes staring out the window waiting for his friends to appear.

The clown growled. Yesterday it had consumed the flesh of a little girl known as Ella Young. She'd been easy to catch it didn't even have to chase her. It wasn't hungry. That wasn't the problem. The problem was this boy that Pennywise had gotten itself wrapped around. It really hadn't meant to get attached. When it first began its little meetings with him it had been a scare tactic. It thought it would scare the boy over an extended period of time before eventually devouring him. While at the same time releasing Pennywise from some of its pent-up urges. But every time that it had, had a chance it didn't. It let the boy slip away out of its grasp without hesitation. Let him leave in one piece. And each time he did it would tell itself. Next time. Next time he wouldn't let the boy leave. Next time he would feed on his flesh and his fear. Next time he would end this. But Pennywise had made a dire mistake. It had gotten attached to the boy. It caught itself tenderly holding him for a few moments after they had finished. Running its claws through his hair.