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It was Halloween and Richie was spending it with his friends, the same way he always did. The Losers Club had decided they were going to do something crazy this year, much to Eddie and Stan’s dismay. He’d insisted to the others that trick or treating was for children and despite being sixteen, Richie Tozier was NOT a child.
Beverly had suggested that they go find an abandoned house to explore and Eddie had freaked out at her in classic Eddie fashion.
“Beverly, are you nuts!?” he yelled. “You know what happened the last time we went into an old crumbly house! I broke my arm and I spent two days in the emergency room!”
“Eddie, we were being hunted that time. Pennywise is dead, remember?” she reminded him.
“Yes but- Oh my god, just listen to me! It’s a really bad idea! Tell her Stan!” Eddie exclaimed, waving his arm wildly at Stanley.
“I agree with Eddie. Really bad idea,” Stan said supportively.
Well, their weak pleading obviously hadn’t worked because on Halloween night, The Losers stood in front of an old wooden house that Beverly had found on the outskirts of Derry. Somehow, Mike had been able to get out of going with them. He claimed his uncle needed him to hand out candy to kids although Richie was ninety-nine percent sure he’d lied so he wouldn’t have to go check out the house with them.
A part of Richie wasn’t too thrilled about going balls deep into a random empty house that was clearly being held together with chewing gum and a dream, but another part of him felt excited. The thrill of finding something cool invited him into the building.
“Ew! This place is really dirty,” Eddie whined, kicking away an old rusty nail that sat near his shoe. “I’m going to get tetanus from something in here.”
“Relax Eds!” Richie exclaimed, playfully clapping Eddie on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine!”
“Yeah Eddie! Don’t be suh-scared. We’re all huh-hear for you,” Bill assured him.
“What Billiam said,” Richie added, shining his flashlight around the room.
Ben and Stan walked further into the house and Beverly grabbed the railing of the stairs, swinging herself onto the first step.
“I’m going to check out the second floor!” she called down to the rest of them.
“Be careful, Bevvie!” Ben shouted back.
“I will! I promise!”
Eddie began to pant a little bit and fiddled with the zipper of his fanny pack. He pulled out his inhaler and took a puff from it, pressing down on the button. Richie moved closer to his friend and leaned down so they were face to face.
“Eds are you ok?” Richie asked worriedly.
“No, I’m not ok! I’m losing my shit! I really don’t like it here!” Eddie rambled. “Also don’t call me Eds!”
“Want me to take you outside for some air?” Richie offered, grabbing Eddie’s hand.
“Yes please.”
Richie and Eddie left the others inside of the house and took a seat in the crunchy yellow grass of the half dead lawn. Richie wrapped an arm comfortingly around Eddie’s shoulders and rubbed circles into his bicep. The other boy's breathing gradually slowed down and Richie rested his head on his shoulder.
“Are you feeling a bit better?” he asked after a few seconds, taking Eddie’s inhaler and putting it back in his fanny pack.
“Yeah, thanks Richie,” Eddie answered softly. “Sorry for freaking out at you.”
“Fuckin’ hell mate! It's alroight!” Richie said in his British accent, ruffling Eddie’s short brown hair. “You don’t needa apologize for havin’ a little jumble!”
Richie smiled when he saw Eddie hiding his face with his arm. He knew that Eddie was trying not to laugh at his accents but when they were alone, trying to hide his amusement was pointless. Richie knew Eddie was aware of this fact but he also knew that Eddie was extremely stubborn.
“Thanks for helping me calm down Rich,” Eddie said. “Don’t tell the others I said this but, you’re my favorite out of everyone in our friend group.”
“That's what your mother told me last night after we finished up,” Richie joked, laughing internally when Eddie’s face scrunched up. “She kissed me and was whispering sweet nothings into my ear. It was soooo hot.”
“And moment ruined,” Eddie sighed, lightly shoving Richie to the side.
“Oi!” Richie yelped, bringing back the British accent. “No need to get physical, mate!”
“Whatever Richie. We should probably get back to-”
A loud scream burst out of the shattered windows of the house.
“Oh shit!” Richie exclaimed, getting to his feet and sprinting towards the house.
He heard Eddie’s footsteps crunching against the grass as he ran.
“Guys! What happened!” Eddie yelled, pushing open the old wooden door.
“It’s Buh-Bev,” Bill stammered shakily. “Shu-She’s muh-muh-muh-missing!”
“What do you mean she’s missing?!” Richie asked loudly, an edge of fear worming into his tone.
“We called for her but she didn’t answer, so we went upstairs. We couldn’t find her anywhere!” Ben explained, his fingers twitching nervously as he spoke.
“Oh shit,” Eddie whimpered. “I knew it! I fucking knew it! I knew something bad was going to happen! Oh my god! I fucking told you!”
“What are we going to do?” Ben exclaimed, whipping his head around to look at each of the Losers.
Bill’s flashlight trembled in his hand and Eddie began to hyperventilate. With shaky hands, Richie grabbed Eddie’s inhaler from his fanny pack and gave it to him. Eddie took a puff and a few deep breaths before putting it back into his bag. His breathing was less frantic but Richie could tell he was still panicking.
“Beverly!” Richie yelled. “Beverly, this isn’t funny! Stop with the pranks!”
Nobody answered.
“Bev!” Richie shouted again, his voice trembling a bit. “I have cigarettes! They’re Marlboros!”
Just then, there was a creaking noise coming from the top of the stairs. Richie looked up in the direction of the noise and his blood ran cold. There was a shadowy figure standing at the top of the rickety wooden steps.
“B-Beverly?” Bill asked hopefully.
“Beverly?” Ben called. “Is that you?”
“Of course when I mention cigarettes, she comes running,” Richie snorted, rolling his eyes.
The figure descended down the stairs slowly, each footstep earning a creak or a groan from the steps.
“Bev this isn’t funny!” Eddie exclaimed, grabbing Richie’s arm.
“Bev? You can stop being weird now!” Richie said.
The figure stretched out an arm as it moved closer to them.
“I lied about the cigarettes! I don’t have any, I'm sorry!” Richie yelped. “Please don’t hurt me! I’ll buy you some if you stop goofing off!”
“Yeah I’m out. Bye!” Stan announced, running out of the house.
The figure grew closer and closer to the bottom of the stairs. Richie could’ve sworn it started moving faster but then again, his eyesight was far from perfect so he wasn’t sure.
“Guh-guh-guys?” Bill whispered nervously. “I think it's moving quicker.”
Nevermind. It wasn’t just him. Bill took a step backward and suddenly Richie watched as a pair of hands reached around Bill’s face, cupping their fingers around his mouth.
“Holy shit! Oh my fucking god!” Richie screamed, stumbling backwards.
Bill let out a muffled yell and then the figure on the stairs started to run down the rest of the staircase. Eddie screeched and held on tighter to Richie’s arm, pulling him out of the house. Ben scrambled after them, screaming in fear. Stan was waiting for them by one of the half dead trees near the edge of the property.
“Is everything ok?” he asked worriedly.
“There's….. a fucking…..thing!” Eddie wheezed.
“It got Bill!” Richie choked out, slipping onto the ground.
Suddenly Richie heard loud laughter pouring out of the house and an angry shout from Bill.
Richie grabbed a branch off the ground and rushed back to the house. He was going to fight off whatever had its nasty crummy hands on Bill and get them both out of there. He burst into the house and standing on either side of Bill, were Mike and Beverly.
“Bev? Mike? But I thought?” Richie stammered, looking at his friends.
“It wuh-was a fuh-fuh-fucking prank!” Bill exclaimed.
Beverly snorted a laugh and linked arms with Mike.
“We’ve had this planned for weeks! You guys walked right into our trap,” Beverly gloated, flashing Richie a teasing smile.
“I was scared Eddie was going to find a way to talk you out of it,” Mike admitted. “Thank god he didn’t.”
“You guys are so mean,” Richie complained, flipping Beverly and Mike off. “Let's go tell the others, Bill.”
Beverly rolled her eyes and looked at Mike.
“He’s so dramatic.”
“I know right.”
Richie snapped his head around to glare at his friends. “I heard that. I’m going to get you back so good! Also as compensation I want candy. I skipped trick or treating for this!”
“I thought you said trick or treating was for children Richie,” Beverly taunted.
“I changed my mind. Now come on. I’m hungry.”