𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 - s.u

viii. fear;

"They say they found part of his hand all chewed up near the Standpipe." Stanley mutters, his voice shaking as the group stares at a missing poster, Y/N and Richie being the only exceptions.

"Edward Corcoran."

It reads. "He asked to borrow a pencil once." Ben mumbles as Beverly looks over to her right, smiling a little as Richie attempts to play the Tuba he stole from one of the band members. Bill lifts up the poster, revealing Betty Ripsom. "It's like she's been fo-f-forgotten because Corcoran's missing." He shudders, "Is it ever gonna end?" Stanley asks, a blush creeping onto his cheeks as Y/N slides her hand into his as comfort.

"What the fuck, dude?" Richie says from the side as the band member takes his Tuba back, marching on.

"What are you guys talking about?" Eddie asks, licking an ice-cream as he hands one to Richie.

"What they always talk about."

"I actually think it will end." Ben admits, looking up at Stanley, "For a little while, at least.." He mutters, "What do you mean?" Beverly asks, placing her hands on her hips.

"So I was going over all my Derry research and I charted out all the big events." Ben explained, "The Ironworks explosion in 1908, the Bradley Gang in '35 and The Black Spot in '62. And now kids being.." He pauses, glancing to Y/N, then back to Bill. "I realized, this stuff seems to happen.."
"Every 27 years." Bill and Ben say in usion, exchanging glances.

-

Okay, so, let me get this straight," Eddie pauses, "It comes out from wherever to eat kids for, like, a year? And then what? It just goes into hibernation?"

"Maybe it's like.. What do you call it? Cicadas. You know, the bugs that come out once every 17 years." Stanley says, placing his hands on his knees before looking at Mike. "My grandfather thinks this town is cursed. He says that all the bad things that happen in this town are because of one thing. An evil thing that feeds off the people of Derry." Mike mutters,

"But it can't be one thing." Stanley furrows his eyebrows, "We all saw something different."

"Maybe," Mike pauses, "Or maybe it knows what scares us most and that's what we see."

"I-I-I saw a leper.." Eddie admits, his voice shakey. "He was like a walking infection.."

"But you didn't," Stanley says,
"B-Because it isn't real. None of this is. Not Eddie's leper, o-or Bill seeing Georgie, o-or the woman I- I keep seeing."  He wept, "She hot?" Richie asks, a smirk on his face.

"No, Richie! She's not hot. Her face is all messed up. None of this makes any sense! They're all like bad dreams.." He mewls,
"I don't think so, I know the difference between a-a-a bad dream and real life, Okay?" Mike says, Eddie frowns. "What'd you see? You saw something, too?" He asks,

"Yes.. Do you guys know that burnt-down house on Harris Avenue? I was inside when it burnt down. Before I was rescued, my.. Mom and Dad were trapped in the next room over from me. They were pushing and pounding on the door, trying to get to me. But it was too hot. When the firemen finally found them, the skin on their hands had melted down to the bone," Stanley shudders, slipping his hand into Y/N's. "We're all afraid of something." Mike continues.

"Got that right." Richie says, turning to look behind him at the stage,

"Why, Rich? What are you afraid of?" Eddie asks,