What Lies Beneath (Pennywise x Reader)

Chapter 10

Chapter Warnings: Manipulation, threats of violence, possessive behavior

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As tired as you were, you couldn't bring yourself to fall asleep. His haunting gaze plagued your mind as you tossed and turned in your bed, feeling somewhat empty after he had left you there alone. You really shouldn't have expected much from the encounter. He was, after all, a selfish creature, but still, you couldn't help but wish that he were there with you. You were in a vulnerable place after allowing him to experience the most intimate parts of you, and his presence would have helped put you at ease - or so you imagined.

Eventually, you were able to fall into a restless sleep until your phone went off the next morning. Aunt Alyssa had called and asked you to come into the restaurant early because one of the other staff members had called out sick. If you were being honest, you were grateful for the distraction and agreed to come and help.

After a quick shower and throwing on your uniform, you quickly made your way across town, anxious to get your mind off of what might have been the biggest mistake of your life last night.

Luckily, the restaurant was buzzing with people, and you were kept incredibly busy during your shift. You really didn't have time to think about the previous night or what would become of your relationship with Pennywise, which eased your stress significantly.

However, that all came to an abrupt halt when a familiar face caught your attention in the corner booth of the restaurant. You had to do a double-take to ensure that your eyes weren't playing tricks on you. Sure enough, much to your dismay, sitting in the booth was your ex-boyfriend, who stuck out like a sore thumb in his California attire among the modestly dressed citizens of Derry.

You sauntered over to the table, trying to keep your facial expression as neutral as possible, but probably failing. "David?" You asked as you approached the table.

He grinned awkwardly at you, lifting his hand to give a small wave as he called you over. "Uh... hi."

"How- um... so, what are you doing here?"

"Wow," he breathed, ignoring your question, eyeing you up and down. "You look incredible. I know that it's only been a few weeks, but fuck, you look good."

You crossed your arms impatiently, frowning at him. You knew you looked like shit. Your hair was frayed and unkempt, due to falling out of place during your shift. Your make-up probably running from being near the hot kitchen and your apron was stained with macaroni and cheese that a bratty kid had thrown at you earlier because you didn't have any chocolate milk available.

He clearly noticed your disapproving stare, causing him to clear his throat nervously before speaking once more. "I just really needed to see you."

"Why?" you asked bluntly, not bothering with pleasantries. "What was so important that you had to travel across the country without giving me any sort of notice?"

"I tried!" he replied with exasperation. "I mean, you left in such a hurry, and you wouldn't answer my calls or my texts-"

"David, we're not dating anymore. I thought that was clear. I don't owe you any form of explanation for why I left, and we didn't really leave things on the best of terms, so what makes you think that I would want to talk to you anyway?"

"I know, I know," he mumbled, looking up at you with pleading eyes. "I really needed to talk to you. It's important."

You scoffed at his attempt at reasoning, making you even more irritated. "So you chose to hunt me down at my place of work to have this talk? David, this really isn't the time or place for this-"

"Okay, yeah, I get it I just... I couldn't wait to see you." You fought the urge to roll your eyes, keeping your gaze as cold as possible, which didn't appear to phase him as much as you had hoped. "Can we meet later? There's a bar down the street called Roscoes. Meet me for a drink and hear me out?"

Pursing your lips with contemplation, you knew that it probably wasn't a good idea to be around him again, but since he had flown all the way here, your curiosity was too much for you to turn down.

"Please, babe?" he asked again, the desperation apparent in his fixed stare.

Sighing softly, you nodded your head in agreement, to which he beamed in response. "Thank you. I mean it, I know how uncomfortable this situation is, but it really is so good to see you. Meet me there around 8?"

"Yeah, okay," you agreed. "See you then."

He left a $20 on the table even though he hadn't ordered anything and slowly walked out the door, turning around once more to grin widely at you. You hated the way you missed his bow-legged walk and you were even more upset that a tiny smile graced your lips at the thought of meeting him later. Something about his presence made you remember a simpler time in your life. Even though it was only a few weeks ago, it felt like a lifetime away.

A shrill, demanding voice from a table nearby asking you for water pulled you from your daze, and you once again allowed your job to steal focus in your mind.

After your shift, you were eager to visit Sara in the hospital. According to Aunt Alyssa, she was doing really well, which was both comforting and shocking considering what she had been through.

She greeted you with a radiant smile when you entered her hospital room. You had always been somewhat envious of the way that she could light up a room with merely her presence. You would expect most journalists to be cold and insincere, but not her. Her kind and caring disposition never faltered.

"Hey, Sara," you smiled as you gave her a tender hug considering she was still pretty bruised and battered.

She hugged you tightly in return before eyeing the bag in your hand. "What's that?"

Setting the bag on her tray table, you answered giddily, "It's your favorite soup from the restaurant. I figured you could use a pick-me-up."

She gasped playfully to convey her excitement, beaming at you with a hopeful look. "Butternut squash?"

"Duh. Do you have another favorite soup?" you laughed with a wink.

"You're a saint," she praised as she opened the bag and inhaled deeply to bask in the aroma. "Oh my god, it smells amazing, thank you so much."

You took a seat next to her bed and watched as she unwrapped her soup and started to take small sips of it. "So, how are you feeling?"

She set down the soup for a moment to let it cool before answering. "I'm doing well. The doctor said that my ankle was broken and started to heal like that, so they had to reset it, but the surgery went just as planned and it will mend just fine. I'm only still here so that they can monitor my concussion. I'm also still recovering from malnourishment and whatnot, so they want to keep an eye on me for the next couple of days, but then I can go home."

"That's wonderful," you commented, trying to force a smile while guilt flooded through you. "I'm really glad that you're okay."

"For the most part..." she trailed off as she took a large mouthful of soup.

"What do you mean?"

She swallowed her soup, relishing in the taste before replying. "I've been having nightmares ever since the night you found me. I haven't been able to sleep much on my own, so they have to knock me out with drugs."

You started to wring your hands nervously before replying, afraid of prodding any further in fear of what might be revealed. "Um... what kind of nightmares?"

She seemed unphased by discussing them as she proceeded to tell you between each spoonful of soup. "A creepy clown is torturing me in the darkness."

"A creepy clown?" you reply, your body tensing up. You could swear that you almost felt your own blood thinning from the chill in the room.

"Yeah, he's really tall and lanky, with these piercing unnatural yellow eyes. In my dreams, he keeps hurting me; torturing me to the brink of insanity, and I'm afraid that when he's done, he's going to eat me." She laughed, throwing you off guard. "It's ridiculous, I don't know where that came from, but I can't stop dreaming about it. I know how absurd it sounds, but when it's happening, I'm so terrified that it gets really hard to distinguish my nightmare from reality. I wake up in a terror sweat and am convinced that he's here, watching me. It gets bad sometimes..."

"Sara," you choke out, holding back a remorseful sob. "I'm so sorry."

She waved her hand at you dismissively. "It's not your fault. I'm sure I'll get over it, it's probably just a reaction from the trauma of being stranded for such a prolonged length of time. I'm fine, really."

You knew better than that. You should have known that Pennywise couldn't completely undo the damage with a simple mind cleanse. She would forever be psychologically scarred, even if she didn't realize it. "Have you told anyone else about these dreams?"

"Other than the doctors, I've told Mom and Richie. Mom wasn't too concerned, she also thinks that it's just a side effect, but for some reason, it really had an impact on Richie. I forgot how terrified of clowns he is. I probably shouldn't have told him."

You inwardly cringed at the thought of Richie having to listen to all of that and have the decency to keep it to himself. You had to give him credit for keeping his mouth shut, which is something that he didn't ever seem to be capable of doing, but you guessed when it came to Sara, he somehow managed.

Before you could comment, Aunt Alyssa and Richie walked into the room. "Oh, hi! I didn't know that you would be here," your aunt commented happily. "I thought that you'd be getting ready for your big date."

Baffled by her statement, you asked, "First of all, it's not a date. Secondly, how do you know about that?"

She blushed. "Well, I couldn't help but overhear you and that man earlier. I was a bit shocked to hear that you agreed to go out with him. I thought that you were still seeing that other man, Penn."

"Penn?" Sara blurted out questioningly. "Who is that? You're dating someone here?"

"Um..." you trailed off, struggling to find an explanation.

"Oh, you should have seen them at dinner," Aunt Alyssa continued gleefully. "They really were cute together. He's a very charming young man, I was hoping to see him again. Granted, he's a bit odd and very intense, but he seemed to treat her well."

"Wait..." you heard Richie interject from the corner of the room, stepping forward to stare at you with disbelief. " Penn? Penn is who was with you outside of the restaurant the other night?"

The color started to drain from your face as he started to put the pieces together. "Was he the guy who was with you in the hospital last week? After you almost died?"

"Whoa, what?" Sara exclaimed, her voice hoarse with shock as she elicited a shriek. "You almost died?!"

"I..."

"Oh, so you've met him?" Aunt Alyssa asked Richie, causing you to panic even more. "I thought you knew, sweetie. He saved her from the accident."

"What?!" Richie shouted, his anger boiling over. You threw a pleading look at him to stop talking, but he either didn't notice or didn't care. "That son of a bitch saved you?! What was he doing there in the first place?"

"Richard, watch your mouth," your aunt scolded, giving him a disapproving look.

"Uh, hello? Is someone going to explain to me how you almost died? What, is this family cursed or something?" Sara questioned.

"Something like that," you mumbled under your breath.

"We're not cursed, but someone apparently cares more about getting her rocks off than protecting innocent people!" Richie shouted.

"Seriously, Richie?" you seethed, glaring at him from across the room.