After leaving the snack bar, the group went back to the wasteland. The summer sun broke through the clouds, but the air was still heavy and humid, as if before a thunderstorm.
- I want to show you that place, - said Bill Beverly, his blond hair shining in the sun. - Where we found sneakers.
- And you think all the missing children are down there? - Beverly asked, nodding towards the wasteland.
- Maybe, - Ben replied. - Although it's also worth hoping for the best.
Bill clenched his fists:
- Georgie is still alive. I feel it. He's my b-brother, I would know if he... - He couldn't finish the phrase.
Beverly looked at him sympathetically:
- Tell me about him. What is he like?
- The best m-younger brother in the world," Bill replied with a sad smile. - He always laughs, believes in the good in people. Loves b-paper boats...
Bill's voice trembled. Alexander walked silently next to him, listening to the conversation and remembering a scene from the movie where little Georgie chases the boat up the drain.
- What exactly did you see? - Ben asked Beverly. - You were talking about a clown.
Beverly shivered:
- It was in the bathroom. I was washing my hair, and when I opened my eyes... there was blood there. Everywhere. And then I heard a voice from the gutter. Children's voice, but... wrong.
- What did he say? - Bill asked.
- He called me by my name. He said he wanted to play, - Beverly trembled. - And then I saw him. A clown in a strange costume. He stood in the corridor and... smiled. He had such teeth...
Alexander knew what she was talking about. Pennywise has already started his game with her.
- Where are you from? - Beverly suddenly turned to Alexander. - I've never seen you at school before.
"I moved recently," he answered briefly.
- From where?
- From afar, - Alexander didn't want to go into details.
- You're kind of weird, - she remarked, studying his pale face. - Don't be offended, just... unusual. These eyes, skin... Did you get sick with something?
"Something like that," Alexander replied evasively.
- And where are the parents? - Beverly continued to ask questions.
- I don't have parents.
- I see, - she nodded. - Then I understand why you are so... detached.
"If you knew," Alexander thought.
- What kind of problems do you have at home? - Ben asked. - You were talking about your father.
Beverly's face darkened:
- It's better not to know. I'll just say - when he's not at home, it's much easier for me to breathe.
- Is he hitting you? - Bill asked cautiously.
Beverly touched a bruise on her cheek:
- Sometimes. When he drinks. And he drinks often.
- Didn't you complain to the police? - Ben suggested.
Beverly laughed bitterly:
- To Derry? Yes, they will say that these are family matters, and they will send me home. And it will be even worse at home.
- And how are things at school? - Bill asked.
- There's no sugar there either, - the girl sighed. - There are all kinds of rumors about me. They say that I... well, you understand. What am I with the boys... - She didn't finish.
- Is it because of Bowers and his gang? - Ben suggested.
- Not only that. It's just that girls at school like to gossip. And I'm not like them. I don't paint, I don't behave like a princess. They don't like it.
- So you prefer to spend time with us? - Bill asked.
- Of course, - Beverly smiled. - At least you don't pretend. And don't be afraid to tell the truth.
Alexander listened to the conversation, thinking about how quickly these children found each other. Perhaps that was their strength - they were all outcasts rejected by society.
They reached the wasteland and were about to show Beverly the found entrance to the sewer when they heard screams:
- Give me the money, black-faced!
- We know you have them!
At the other end of the wasteland, four teenagers surrounded a dark-skinned boy of about thirteen. Even from a distance it was clear that it was Bowers' gang again.
- This is Mike Henlon, - Ben said. - He lives on a farm outside the city.
"They get him all the time," Bill added.
Alexander watched the hooligans pushing the boy, trying to search his pockets. Bowers held a broken arm in a homemade bandage, but still commanded his gang.
- They're fucking. - Alexander said and went to the group.
- Where are you going? - Beverly called him scared.
- Finish what you started.
Alexander approached the hooligans from behind. They were too carried away by bullying to notice his approach.
The first blow hit the back of the stocky guy's back. He fell as if he had been mowed. The second one hit his jaw with his elbow and also collapsed. The third one tried to turn around, but Alexander was already there - a short uppercut, and another opponent turned off.
It took ten seconds.
Bowers let go of Mike and said:
- You! You again, you bastard!
- Hi, Henry, - Alexander greeted coldly. - How's your hand?
The rest of the gang members got up and, without waiting for the continuation, rushed to the run away. Bowers tried to follow their example, but Alexander grabbed his healthy hand:
- Where are you in a hurry? We didn't finish the conversation.
- Let me go! - Bowers shouted.
- But I won't let go, - Alexander pulled him closer. - You know, Henry, I've heard something about you.
- What can you know, freak?
- For example, the fact that your daddy beats you. Every day. Belt, fists - anything.
Bowers' face turned white:
- Where are you from...
- And he also tells you that you're worthless shit. That nothing will ever come out of you. That you're disgracing the Bowers surname.
- Shut up! - Henry shouted, but tears were heard in his voice.
- And you know what's the saddest thing? - Alexander continued. - He's right. You're really worthless shit. A cowardly, pathetic creature that can only mock those who are weaker.
- I'm not a coward! - Bowers roared, but tears were already rolling down his cheeks.
- Then why don't you give change to your father? - Alexander asked. - Why don't you tell him that you're tired of beatings?
- Because... because...
- Because you're shaking. As always. And that's why you're breaking down on children. Because it's the only thing that makes you feel strong.
Bowers was already sobbing in his voice. Alexander let him go and turned to the others:
- Come Over. Everyone he offended.
Bill, Ben, Beverly and Mike came hesitantly close.
- Each of you has accounts with this bastard, - Alexander said. - It's time to bring them down.
He grabbed Bowers' hand again and picked him up:
"Hit him," he told Bill.
- I don't know... - he doubted.
- He beat your friends. He mocked them. I called you a hare.
Bill clenched his fists:
"It's for E-Eddie," he said and hit Bowers in the stomach.
- Now you, - Alexander nodded to Ben.
"For all the humiliations," said the fat boy and also struck.
Beverly hit the abuser in the face without saying a word. Mike followed her example.
When it was Alexander's turn, Bowers was barely standing:
- And it's just like that. For the fact that you breathe.
The blow was short, but accurate. Bowers collapsed into the mud and never got up again.
- Remember, - Alexander said, leaning over him. - If I see you offend someone again, I'll break all your other bones.
Bowers just wheezed in response.
- Thank you, - Mike said when they moved away. - My name is Mike Henlon.
- Alexander. And these are Bill, Ben and Beverly.
- I know them, - Mike nodded. - We go to school together.
- Mike, haven't you seen anything strange lately? - Bill asked.
- I saw it, - the boy answered seriously. - Birds. Dead birds are everywhere on our farm. And also... - he sheded.
- What else? - Beverly pushed.
- I saw a clown. In the barn. He danced among the corpses of animals.
Everyone looked at each other. Another victim of Pennywise.
- Then p-join us, - Bill suggested. - We're trying to find out what's going on in the city.
- Okay, - Mike agreed.
They reached the entrance to the sewer and showed it to the newcomers. Mike and Beverly looked with horror at the ai-open hatch.
- And you want to go down there? - the girl asked.
- Not yet, - Bill replied. - We still need to prepare.
- Why don't we go to the river? - Ben suggested. - Let's swim. It's a hot day.
"Great idea," Beverly supported.
- And where is the river here? - Alexander asked.
- M-twenty minutes walk, - Bill replied. - Beautiful place.
They headed for the river. On the way, Mike talked about strange incidents on the farm, and the others shared their observations.
The river turned out to be really beautiful - clear water surrounded by tall pines. A small sandy beach and an old wooden pier completed the idyllic picture.
- The last one in the water is a rotten egg! - Ben shouted and began to pull down his T-shirt.
The other boys followed his example. Beverly moved behind the trees to change clothes.
Alexander stayed in his clothes.
- You're not going to swim? - Bill asked.
- No.
- Why?
- I don't want to.
In fact, there were several reasons. First of all, Alexander did not feel like a child, despite his appearance. Secondly, his body could give out some features that are better kept secret.
When Beverly came out from behind the trees in a swimsuit, the boys stared at her openly. Alexander noticed it, but remained indifferent. He didn't care about teenage hormones.
- Let's go! - Beverly shouted and ran to the water.
The others rushed after, raising splashes and laughter. Alexander sat on a log near the shore and watched what was happening.
"That's how it should have been," he thought, looking at the children playing. - "Ordinary childhood. Friends, swimming in the river, carefree..."
He's never had that. Even in his real childhood, he was a loner who preferred books from a company of peers.
"Or maybe it's for the best," Alexander thought. - "Loneliness tempers character."
The children continued to frolic in the water, forgetting about all their problems for a while. Bill and Ben had a water battle, Beverly tried to teach Mike to swim on his back.
And suddenly Alexander felt someone else's gaze on him.
He tensed up, slowly looked around the neighborhood. Nothing suspicious at first. Forest, lake, children playing...
And then he saw HIM.
On the opposite bank of the river stood a figure in bright clothes. White face with red lips. Orange hair. And this creepy, unnaturally wide smile.
Pennywise.
The clown waved at him, as if greeting an old acquaintance. Golden lights danced in his eyes, and his smile became wider and wider.
Alexander slowly got up, not taking his eyes off the monster. He continued to wave, then brought his finger to his lips, pretending a gesture of silence.
"Bitch," Alexander cursed mentally. "So you've already noticed me."
He blinked - and the clown was gone. The opposite bank of the river was empty.