After swimming, the group settled on the bank of the river. The sun slowly leaned towards the horizon, coloring the water in golden tones. The children sat on the sand, drying up after water procedures and enjoying a rare moment of carefreeness.
- What do you think, - said Beverly, squeezing her wet hair, - what if all these stories about missing children are just a coincidence?
- You said yourself that you saw a clown, - Bill reminded.
- Maybe it seemed to me? - she guessed uncertainly. - Sometimes stress makes you see something that doesn't exist.
- And the birds on my farm? - Mike objected. - Someone definitely killed them. And not an ordinary predator.
Ben threw a pebble into the water:
- Do you know what scares me the most? The fact that adults do nothing. As if they don't see what's happening.
- Or they don't want to see, - Bill added. - It's easier to pretend that everything is normal.
Alexander listened to the conversation, thinking about the nature of human denial. In the film, adults were really blind to what was happening - Pennywise somehow impressed their perception.
- Have you ever thought about leaving Derry? - Beverly asked.
- Constantly, - Ben answered honestly. - I want to go to college, move to a big city. Become an architect.
- And I x-want to be a writer, - said Bill. - Write stories about x-brave heroes who defeat evil.
- Like in comics? - Mike was interested.
- No, more serious. That good always defeats evil if people don't give up.
Alexander grinned to himself. If Bill knew what evil they would face...
- What are you planning? - Beverly turned to Alexander.
"Survive," he answered briefly.
- It's kind of gloomy, - she remarked. - Do you really have no one? At all?
- There is one... acquaintance. But our relationship is complicated.
"Very difficult," he added mentally, thinking about the Devil.
- What happened to your parents? - Ben asked cautiously.
- They died when I was little, - Alexander lied. - Since then, I've been on my own.
- I see, - Beverly nodded. - That's why you're so... an adult or something. Serious.
- Life grows up quickly.
Mike got up and shook off the sand from his clothes:
- I have to go home. Parents will be worried.
- Me too, - Bill added. - Mom is already nervous after... after Georgie.
The sun almost disappeared behind the horizon, and the air began to get cold. One by one, the children began to gather.
- Alexander, where do you live? - Ben asked. - We're seeing you off.
- No need. I... I don't have a permanent place.
- So? - Beverly didn't understand.
- I live on the street. I'm nomadic. Today in one place, tomorrow in another.
The children looked at each other with concern.
- It's terrible, - Bill said. - You can't do that.
- I can. I'm used to it.
Beverly suddenly stood up decisively:
- Stay with me. For the night. We have a sofa in the living room.
- It's not worth it. I don't want to create problems.
- No problem, - she insisted. - Father will probably get drunk and shut up. He won't even notice.
Alexander realized what was behind this proposal. Beverly was looking for protection. The presence of an outsider could keep her father from another attack of aggression.
- Okay, - he agreed. - But only for one night.
The other boys looked at each other. It was obvious that they were confused by the idea of Alexander, who spends the night in Beverly's house, but no one dared to object.
- See you tomorrow then, - Bill said. - Shall we meet at the library in the morning?
"Agreed," Beverly nodded.
The friends went home, and Alexander and Beverly went to her house. They walked along the quiet streets of Derry, illuminated by rare lanterns.
- Thank you for agreeing, - Beverly said. - I know, it's strange...
- Nothing strange. I understand why you need it.
She looked at him in surprise:
- Do you understand?
- You're afraid of your father. You think my presence will stop him.
Beverly stopped:
- How do you know?
- Experience. I have seen many families where violence flourishes.
- And what usually happens in such families?
Alexander was silent, picking up the words:
- In different ways. Sometimes the victims find the strength to leave. Sometimes someone interferes. And sometimes it all ends in tragedy.
- And justice? - Beverly asked. - Shouldn't offenders be punished?
- They should. But the world is arranged unfairly. The strong offend the weak, and often they get away with it.
- Then why fight? - The girl's voice sounded desperate.
- Because sometimes the weak become strong. And then they can stand up for themselves and others.
Beverly nodded thoughtfully:
- You speak like an adult. As if he lived for many years.
"More than you think," Alexander replied mentally.
"I just saw a lot," he said out loud.
- And you... have you ever killed? - she suddenly asked.
Alexander stopped and looked at her:
- Why do you need to know that?
- It's just... you look like that. Like people who saw death.
"Too shrewd," Alexander said to himself.
- Yes, - he answered honestly. - Killed.
- People?
- Among others.
Beverly wasn't as scared as he expected. On the contrary, something like a relief appeared in her eyes:
- So you can protect yourself. Me too, if necessary.
- I can.
They reached a small two-story house with peeling paint and a weed-overgrown front garden. There was a dim light in the windows.
- I live here, - Beverly said. - Let's walk quietly. He's probably asleep.
They carefully went up to the porch. Beverly took out the key and slowly unlocked the door. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes was coming from inside.
They walked through the hallway and climbed the squeaky stairs to the second floor. Beverly's room turned out to be small but cozy - a bed, a desk, a few posters on the walls.
- Make yourself rest, - she said. - I can bring something to eat.
- No need. Thank you.
Alexander sat on the edge of the bed and looked around. Teenager's room - textbooks, cosmetics, photos of friends. Ordinary life threatened by ancient evil.
- Are you really not afraid of what is happening in the city? - Beverly asked.
- I'm afraid. But fear is normal. The main thing is not to let him paralyze you.
- What if we can't do it? What if this... creature will kill us all?
- Then at least we tried. It's better than sitting and waiting for death.
Beverly nodded and sat next to her:
- You know, I'm glad you showed up. I feel safe with you.
Suddenly, a rude male voice came from below:
- Beverly! Where are you, you scum! Come here!
The girl shuddered and paled:
- He woke up.
- Beverly! - the voice became louder and angrier. - If you don't come down right now, you'll get it to the fullest!
- I'm embarrassed, - she whispered. - You shouldn't hear that.
Alexander put his hand on her shoulder:
- I've seen this more than once. If something happens, call me. I'll deal with him.
- Thank you, - Beverly smiled gratefully and went to the door. - I'll be back soon.
Alexander was left alone in the room. He listened to the sounds from below, thinking about the upcoming events.
"So, what's next in the plot?" he thought. - "Pennywise will start an active hunt. He will try to divide the children, play on their fears..."
He remembered the main points of the film, but many details were erased from his memory. But the lives of the guys could depend on these details.
"You have to be ready for..."
Suddenly, Beverly's cry was heard from below, interrupted by a deaf blow.
Alexander jumped up and rushed to the stairs. What he saw below made his blood boil with rage.
A middle-aged man with a red face from alcohol pressed Beverly against the wall. With one hand he held her by the throat, with the other he tried to tear her blouse.
- It's time for you to grow up, daughter, - he wheezed. - Daddy will show you how to do it...
Alexander jumped down the stairs and grabbed the man by the shoulder with one movement, turning to himself:
- Take your hands off her.
- And who are you, puppy? - Beverly's father snapped.
Instead of answering, Alexander hit him in the jaw. A short, accurate blow, putting all the raty into it.
The man collapsed on the floor unconscious.
Beverly slid down the wall, holding her throat and breathing heavily:
- Thank you, - she hissed. - Thank you...
Alexander bent down and checked the girl's father's pulse. He's alive, but he'll sleep until morning.