CHAPTER 3.2
oiii.ii
GHASTLY BLOODSPOT

TO THE MIND of Stan, everywhere was littered with poison ivy. Even I could point out the mistakes in his statements. Very few spots held the small plants, but to the eyes of Stan, a leaf was considered poisonous.

"Fun fact for you guys. It's right over there. And there. Also, right over there, too." He nearly pointed out each plant that lined and rimmed along the entrance of the sewers. Holding Frankie with one arm, I watched over as Bill and Richie headed into the tunnel first, both Stan and Eddie giving confused glances.

As I didn't even think about the consequences for what I didn't think through, I pushed the thin vine that stood in my path. Stepping in a few feet behind the boys, I parted my way into the dark space.

"Those leaves over there," I stated, mentioning to ones that Stan pointed out earlier, "aren't poison ivy. They mostly grow on trees, not the ground."

"S-So nothing here is p-poison ivy?" Eddie slowly emerged into the tunnel, his face scrunching up as he settled into a rather cleaner spot. I gave him a shake of my head with a reassuring smile, turning to face the two other boys as I emerged deeper into the tunnel.

Although the only light source had seeped through the only way out, and the two flashlights held by Bill and Richie, I was still able to find my footing. It wasn't until my feet abruptly stepped into the water of littered trash and other things I weren't able to make out. Not to mention, the water had no where been clear. With the water seeping through the creases of my Converse, I could feel the water inside the shoes and into my freshly picked white socks.

With a deep calming breath, I continued the walk into the dirty water with the slosh of my shoes. With a tightening comfort grip on Frankie, a foul smell was brought up into my nose as I felt the gaging urge to come up. Instead, I didn't try to bother with the smell as I let my senses linger somewhere else. Although the disgust ran through the tunnel, it didn't seem to stop both Richie and Eddie from their constant bickering.

"I-I'm starting to feel i-itchy. This place isn't sanitary, either! I-I'm pretty sure this isn't even healthy for my- "

"Do you use the same bathroom as your mother?" Richie questioned.

"Well.. sometimes, yeah."

"Then that's probably the cause of why you may have crabs."

"It's not even on a constant basis, dickhead! That's not even funny." Eddie's obnoxious steps were placed with loud splashes as he exited the sewer again, now to the front with Stan. Droplets of water from Eddie's sudden outburst now pinned onto my dress. I didn't even glare at the boy as I only checked for Frankie if he was wet.

Richie glanced back to the two as he held his flashlight up, shrugging his shoulder. "Come on guys, really? Aren't you going to come in? Even ghost girl is getting into the dirt."

I narrowed my eyes at the comment, sending a hard glare as I was ready to leave the tunnel in any second. "You know, is it ever hard to try not being an asshole?"

With a shrug of his shoulders, the beaming flashlight seemed to find my face as I held up a free hand.

"Kinda comes with the package. You have quite the attitude for such a pristine girl."

"I'm not that pristine. I'm in the fucking sewers for God's sake! By the way, if you don't mind me asking, why are we in this dump anyway?"

"A lot of reasons," Stan stated.

"Yes, many in which you pussies won't come in for. Now come on, you're supposed to be helping. Bill and I can't do this on our own."

"No way, that's grey water."

I looked down to my now soaked feet, mind churning with why I thought this was a good idea. No answers had satisfied the question as to why I was standing in this water right now. I knew the complaints I would get, or the scoldings my father would say as I only stood in shame. My father would never raise his voice towards me, but he did have a stern tone.

"What the fuck is even grey water?"

"It's basically.. piss and shit. I'm just informing you. You guys are literally splashing around in millions of gallons of Derry pee."

With a sudden jerk of realization, I shook my head, holding tightly to Frankie as I made my way out of the excretes of people. "No way am I doing this. I'm heading back out."

Richie then brought his hand down to a rather tall stick, debris from the water sticking and dripping as he brought it up. A disgust look was given from all Stan, Eddie, and I as he held it up to his nose. Sniffing the substance, I'd rather not look back as I continued my way out. "It doesn't smell like caca to me, señor!"

"A-Are you serious? I can smell that from all the way over here!"

"It's probably just your breath wafting back into your face."

"Have you ever heard of a staph infection?" Eddie remarked, the fresh air hitting against me as I was now no where in the stuffy sewers.

"Oh, I'll show you a staph infection. Want me to demonstrate?"

"This is so unsanitary. You guys are literally swimming in a toilet bowl right now."

Richie then brought the stick down, pushing it against the water as it now clung with something sticky and wet. Flinging the object at Eddie, the boy let out a horrid yelp as it splashed from his shirt back down to the ground.

I looked over to Stan, lowering my voice a bit as the two who bickered to each other, who didn't hear the sly comment I made. "Do they always do this?"

Nodding his with a shrug of his shoulders, he leaned a bit closer. "You get used to it."

"G-Guys, would you s-shut up? Look." Bill's command made everyone silent as all eyes were now focused to the object he held. With one hand, he held up a sneaker, examining the shoe with his flashlight. Richie splashed through the water, standing to his side as they now both stared into it.

"Is that a...?" My voice trailed off as my eyes squinted, trying to comprehend the words that wanted to come out, but didn't seem to spill.

"A-A sneaker."

"But who's is it, though?"

"N-Not Georgie's. Georgie wore Glosh's."

I could feel a slight chill run through my body as I knew that this wasn't something that was meant to be good. Besides, my question from earlier was still left unanswered.

"I-It's Betty Ripsom's," Richie stated, my eyes widening at the familiar name.

Betty. Betty Ripsom. The girl who went missing. One of the kids who went missing. One of the many that strangely disappeared. As the years had passed by within the location of Derry, Maine, kids had been disappearing within the number of weeks, and months. With the number of kids that had been gone, my father as started to become closer and closer to me.

Although the amount of freedom I was given was enough for me, he still managed to make a time for myself to be back home. But with no one to hangout with, besides him, I was never mentioned to follow that rule. But now with my presence with these boys, I knew my father would soon grow very protective. Not only was I now hanging out with people my age, they were unexpectedly boys. Something I wouldn't think my father would take great kindness to.

But as my mind wonders back to the disappearing children, one name seemed to stand out from the most. Georgie Denbrough. I could only remember the dreadful news about the small poor boy who'd gone missing. Bill's younger brother. I could feel my heart ache as eventing seemed to tie together. He was reported missing one day by a drain. We were in the sewers. We found Betty Ripsom's shoe. Bill wanted to find Georgie. That was it.

"I don't like this," Eddie stated, looking around frantically as his mind churned.

"Well, how do you think Betty feels? Running around these tunnels with one freaking shoe." Richie started to bounce on one leg, intimidating what he thought was funny at the time. Everyone stared with 'serious' glances at the boy as he finally knew that this wasn't the time for his jokes.

"What if she's still her?" Stan questioned.

I push a small strand of hair behind my ear, slightly taking a step back as my eyes were glued to the shoe in Bill's hand. No, I won't do this. This would be too much. I don't know if I can do this. "G-Guys, when you said to stay for longer... I-Ididn't think we would be looking for a something like this." I didn't even think we would looking for anything or anyone at all.

Both Bill and Richie ventured into the tunnel farther, Stan starting to walk into the sewers. As their calls mentioned for Eddie and I to venture with him, I took one more step back.

"My mom will have an aneurysm if she finds out that I've been playing down here, okay? I'm serious. What about you, Monet?"

My mouth was slightly agape as I looked between the boys in the sewers and Eddie. "M-My dad wouldn't be the proudest. I don't think that your parents would be either, you guys. Maybe, another day?"

Eddie flailed his arm around, motion from myself to Bill. "Bill?"

With a step towards, he looked directly at each person with him. "I-If I were Betty Ripsom, I would w-w-want us to find me. Georige, too."

My heart ached at the sound of the poor boy's name, the pain Bill and his family had to go through when they realized their precious brother or son wasn't coming home anytime soon. As I realized the motivation Bill had to finds brother was what sent me back into the barrens. Noticing that both Stan and Eddie weren't going to move from the gravel path, I handed Stan Frankie with a swift move, the boy confused with why he held the cat.

"Exactly why am I holding your cat?" I stepped into the sewers once more, turning to the boy who held the cat in a arms distance way.

"If you're not going to help your friend, then I am. Don't worry, he doesn't bite."

As I walkthrough the 'grey water', Richie held his hand up with a small smile on his lips, my hand meeting his as our high five echoed throughout the tunnel.

"Monet's here, you guys. Don't be such a pussy."

Eddie seemed aggravated, adjusting the fanny pack he held. "I-I'm not stepping into that fucking grey water! I-If you'd-"

A sudden splash was heard behind the two boys outside as everyone jumped to the sudden sound. I peered over the boys as I saw someone a few feet away. But, as his body hovered over the rocks against the water, he heavily panted as he made eye contact with us. What caught my eye was the tattered and dirty shirt he wore, patches of stained and fresh blood covering a part of his lower stomach.

With wide eyes, I hurriedly rushed out, no one alongside me as I made way to the bloodied boy. With small slips into the water, a sting was felt on my ankle as I remembered the ghastly cut I made from before. But, as I looked to the exhausted boy, I could tell he was in a lot more pain than I was. Reaching my way to him, my hand pressed to his back while I bent to his level. His eyes squinted as he looked up to me, a slight tint of red hinting his cheeks.

"Take my hand."

MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

HELLO!

SO, how was the chapter? Please do not hate me for the this chapter. For some reason, I'm not the happiest with it, but it'll have to do.

This chapter was just kinda of the beginning for Monet's relationship to grow with the Loser's, but I hoped you enjoyed anyway.

BUT;

I DID SAY THAT I'LL PLAY A LITTLE GAME!!

If anyone can find a line from this chapter that I was 'inspired' by another movie, I'll shout you guys out on the next chapter and my board.

HINT:

THE MOVIE IS A CLASSIC AND MADE IN 1985!!!

The line is somewhere near the beginning.

Anyways, hoped you guys liked the chapter, and trust me, the next one will be better. May or may not have more Bill and Monet moments ;).

Don't forget to comment on what you thought about the chapter and vote! Thank you guys for 500 reads, y'all amazing to me!