IT au (Self insert)

CHAPTER ONE, PART FOUR.

THE CLOWN

" Bye mum, I'm going exploring! " Athien called out at the door with Sebastian.

" Nuh, uh! Lily has to come with you when you go exploring! Lily! " Athiens mum called out.

" Please don't make me babysit them. " Lily said to her mother. She appeared from a corner and leaned on the door frame, she had short, very curly dark brown hair, her skin was pale, she wore tights, an average black skirt with chains on it, some shirt about something grungy and a coat. She honestly dressed pretty goth.

" You have to. " She responded.

" Come on, let's just go already. " Lily sighs and walks out, leading the way.

" Hey, we're here! " The three walked into a small, breaking-down kind of house.

" Finally! Okay, are we ready to head out? " Aspen had longer hair for a boy, frizzy and layered. It was dusty blonde, yet every hair strand was a different colour. Aspen was the third tallest, between Athien and Sebastian.

" Yeah, yeah, let's just go already! " Damon, though the group called him ' Damo ' had an out-grown buzz cut that seemed grey-brown, he was about the same height as Athien.

The group of six headed out of the house and started exploring the sides of town they hadn't been to yet. They found a spot, it was a river. They walked down the river to find a sewage pipe.

The group had been joking about diving in and just messing around, but Damo didn't look like he was having fun.

" You alright, man? " Athien asked Damo.

" Yeah, just... I don't know this just seems unsettling, like... I've got chills down my spine. " Damo answers, frowning.

" You want us to go? " Athien places his hand on Damos' shoulder.

" No, I should be fine. " Damo smiled. Athien smiled back, removed his hand and walked into the pipe.

" See? Nothing scary here, perfectly normal sewer! " Athien chuckled while messing around, the whole group didn't seem to be enjoying themselves, they weren't looking at Athien though, something behind him. They looked as pale as ghosts.

" Oh my god, there is nothing to be scared of guys! " Athien kicked an object that was in the water.

"Athien... t-turn around..." Aspen pointed behind Athien, his voice trembling. Athien looked confused but followed Aspen's gaze. There, looming in the dim, flickering light of the sewer tunnel, stood a terrifying, stubby clown holding a balloon. The clown's face was a grotesque mask of smeared white makeup, with a sinister grin painted in crimson red that stretched unnaturally wide, almost ear to ear. Its eyes were dark, hollow pits that seemed to bore into Athien's soul. Athien was frozen, his breath hitching in his throat as he stared, unable to look away. The rest of the kids were equally paralyzed by fear, their eyes wide with horror. The clown's body was unnervingly disproportionate, with stubby legs supporting a bloated torso. Its clothes, once brightly coloured, were now faded and stained, hanging off its frame like tattered rags.

"Why, hello, Athien!" The clown's voice was a high-pitched, mocking sing-song that echoed eerily through the tunnel. It giggled, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines, the kind of laugh that promised nothing but malice.

"What the fuck!" Athien screamed, his voice cracking with terror as he stumbled backward. He tripped over his own feet, falling hard onto the damp, grimy floor. Lily, her face pale with fear, rushed to his side and grabbed him, pulling him up with all her strength. She dragged him toward the sewer exit, her grip tight and desperate. All the kids were panicking now, their screams blending into a cacophony of terror. The sound reverberated off the cold, wet walls, amplifying the chaos. The clown's smile never wavered, its eyes following them as if savouring their fear. A single red balloon slipped from its grasp, floating gently through the air as if in slow motion. Just as suddenly as it appeared, the clown was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the tunnel. The balloon drifted down, popping with a sharp crack that made them all jump.

"What... What was that...?" Jordan's voice was barely above a whisper, her usual confidence shattered. She looked around at the others, her eyes wide with disbelief. They all glanced at each other, trembling, their faces reflecting the same terror and confusion.

"Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around for a while, you might miss it," Athien tried to smile, but it was a weak, broken attempt. His face crumpled, and he broke out into tears, the adrenaline finally giving way to the overwhelming fear and relief. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and stale water, mingled with the faint, acrid scent of old rust. The distant sound of dripping water punctuated the heavy silence that followed. Each of them felt the weight of the moment pressing down, a surreal nightmare that they couldn't shake off. The memory of the clown's malevolent grin lingered in their minds, a haunting reminder of the encounter that would mark them forever.