[ Location: Hawkins Middle School - Science Lab ][ Date: April 2nd, 1985 - Tuesday Morning ]
"Mr. Wheeler," Mr. Clarke frowned, holding up a pop quiz. "This is... surprisingly vulgar. I didn't know you knew words like that."
Mike Wheeler blinked, staring at the paper. "What? I didn't write that! I wasn't even in this class period!"
"It has your name on it," Mr. Clarke sighed. "And a drawing of... well, let's call it anatomy."
I sat in the back, leaning back in my chair. I looked across the room.
Richie Tozier was snickering behind his textbook. He adjusted his thick glasses, looking the picture of innocence.
'Identity theft,' I thought, amused. 'Richie is using his face to his advantage. Poor Mike.'
"It wasn't me!" Mike protested, turning red. "It is the new kid! The one who looks like me but uglier!"
"Likely story," Mr. Clarke said. "Detention, Mr. Wheeler."
Richie gave Mike a thumbs up from across the room. Mike looked like he was going to strangle him.
'At least they're distracting each other from the events that are happening around them. Good for them.'
[ Location: Hallway - Between Classes ][ Time: 10:15 AM ]
I was walking to my locker when I felt a hand grab my arm.
"You."
I turned. It was the Losers Club. Bill, Beverly, and Richie. They looked pale, dark circles under their eyes.
They dragged me into an empty classroom.
"Whoa, easy," I said, pulling my arm free. "If you want an autograph, just ask."
"Cut the crap, Vivan," Richie hissed. He looked terrified. "Yesterday. The sewer. You saw it too."
"Saw what?" I asked calmly.
"The Clown!" Richie's voice cracked. "And then you... you pulled a gun! A literal handgun! And you shot a balloon!"
Bill stepped forward. "I-If wh-what Richie said and you P-pop the b-balloon... Y-You aren't scared."
Beverly looked at me, analyzing. "Why aren't you scared? Everyone is scared of It."
I looked at them.
They were traumatized kids carrying a curse.
'I can't tell them about the Mind Flayer, Vecna, and the Upside Down. Otherwise, they will shit their pants. I feel sad for them...'
'They thought they were out. Cute. But evil doesn't do 'goodbyes.' They marched straight into hell and, like idiots, brought the evil along for the ride.'
"I'm not scared because fear is what it eats," I said, my voice dropping. "It's a parasite. If you starve it, it gets weak. What I am saying is don't be scared of it."
"It knows you, right?" Richie whispered. "It said you tasted spicy."
"I have a unique flavor profile," I shrugged. "Listen. You guys are safe at school. It likes isolation. Stay in groups. And if you see a balloon... don't pop it. Just walk away. If possible, run to me."
Suddenly, the air pressure dropped.
Wooooooooooooo.
The siren.
The classroom lights flickered and died. The sunlight coming through the windows turned the color of old ash.
"What's that sound?" Beverly asked, looking around.
"You hear it?" I asked, surprised.
"The... air raid siren?" Bill asked.
'It is getting stronger. It's affecting them too.'
The lockers in the hallway began to rattle. Not from wind. From something slamming against them from the inside.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
A figure dragged itself out of the wall. It wasn't a Lying Figure this time. It was a Grey Child. Small, knife-wielding, faceless. It twitched, moving toward us with jerky, unnatural motions.
"What is that?!" Richie screamed.
"A hallucination," I lied. "Close your eyes."
"It has a knife!" Beverly yelled.
'They can see it. This is bad.'
I stepped in front of them.
'Telekinesis: Crush.'
[ Ability Active. ]
I raised my hand. I squeezed the air.
The Grey Child stopped. It shrieked—a sound like metal grinding on bone. Then, it imploded. Black dust sprayed across the lockers.
The siren cut off. The lights buzzed back on.
The hallway was empty. No dust. No monster.
The Losers Club stared at the spot where the monster had been. Then they stared at me.
"You..." Richie pointed a shaking finger. "You're a wizard. You're a freaking wizard!"
"It's Psionic, and yeah, you are not wrong," I corrected, walking past them. "And if you tell anyone, I'll turn you into a toad. Mike Wheeler would appreciate being the only face in town."
[ Location: Hawkins High - Library ][ Time: 3:30 PM ]
I found Robin Buckley stacking books. She looked bored out of her mind.
"Buckley," I said, sliding a cassette tape onto her cart.
"You again," she sighed. "The guy who zones out. What's this? Mixtape? I'm not into Polka."
"It's Russian," I said. "I recorded it off a ham radio. Someone is broadcasting a code in our backyard."
Robin picked up the tape. She looked intrigued despite herself. "Russian? In Hawkins? Is this a spy thing? Are you a child spy? Because that would explain the hair."
"Just a curious citizen," I winked. "If you crack it, I'll buy you... whatever you want."
"I want to get out of this town," she muttered.
"Crack the code," I said, "and you might just save it instead."
I left her staring at the tape.
'Well, I know what it means but just for sure... and she'll solve it in a day.'
[ Location: Community Pool - Parking Lot ][ Time: 4:30 PM ]
I needed to check on the vessel.
Billy Hargrove was sitting on the hood of his Camaro. He wasn't smoking today. He was shivering, despite the heat of the engine.
He looked... grey. The veins in his arms were black.
'The Mind Flayer has him.'
I walked closer.
'Observe.'
[ Target: Billy Hargrove ][ Status: Host (Active). ][ Influence: 20% Mind Flayer. ]
But then I saw something else.
In the side mirror of the Camaro, a reflection flickered. Not Billy's reflection.
A Clown.
'It's still not in his full power, right? He woke up early this time, his awakening should be around 1989 or something.'
Pennywise was standing right behind Billy in the mirror, drooling.
'The Clown wants him too and he's angry because the Mind Flayer stole his meal.'
Billy grabbed his head, groaning. "Get out... get out..."
I walked up to him.
"Rough night, Billy?"
Billy snapped his head up. His eyes were bloodshot. For a second, the pupils were vertical slits.
"You," Billy growled. But there was no heat in it. Just exhaustion. "Stay away from me, Frostwell. I'm... sick."
"I know," I said. "It's the heat. You need to cool down."
I reached into my pocket (Inventory). I pulled out a bottle of water. I had spiked it with a tiny drop of Phoenix Tears. Not enough to cure him, but enough to clear his mind for a few hours.
"Drink," I said, tossing it to him.
Billy caught it. He hesitated, then chugged it.
He gasped.
Color returned to his face.
The black veins receded slightly.
"What..." Billy blinked. "What was that?"
"Electrolytes," I lied. "Go home, Billy and lock your door and turn the heater up to max. "
" No freezing," Billy repeated, dazed. "Yeah."
He got in his car and drove off.
In the mirror, the Clown glared at me.
Then, it faded.
'I am just delaying the inevitable,' I thought, watching the car disappear. 'The Mind Flayer will take him eventually. But maybe... maybe I can make Billy fight back. I can remove the Possession if I can make 'Spirit Cleansing Potion' from the Harry Potter world and I do have ingredients haha... I will take more next time.'
I turned toward home.
'Two monsters fighting over a soul and I'm what? Monster tamer.'
'It is going to be so much fun.'
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