it chapter two | reader insert [?]

five | the clubhouse

There was a pause in the room, before Richie let out a laugh of disbelief. "A tribal ritual? Are you fucking kidding me? Alright, there's gotta be a better way."

"I'm not f-fucking with any dark magic, v-voodoo shit." You stuttered, rubbing your eyes with your palms again.

"It's not-" Mike tried to correct you, but Richie interrupted him. 

"Okay, listen to me. This thing comes back every, like, 27 years? Let's just leave now, and deal with it then."

Eddie stopped pacing, looking at him incredulously. "We'll be 70, you asshole!"

The two began bickering, but went quiet when Beverly spoke up again. "That's not how it works." She let out a little sob, and you began rubbing her back comfortingly. "None of us make it another 27 years. And the way it happens..."

She couldn't finish. She didn't have to. You felt your throat closing up as the anxiety in the bottom of your stomach seemed to shoot up into your whole body, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. You felt frozen to the couch, and only Bill's reassuring hands on your shoulders kept you down-to-earth.

You heard Richie take a deep breath, before downing a shot glass of an unidentifiable alcohol. He turned back to the group. "So if we don't beat it this cycle, we're toast?"

Bev simply nodded.

"Ok guys, just... I've seen what h-he's talking a-about. And i-it's all true." Bill's stuttering voice surprised you, and you turned to look at him, behind you. His gaze rested on you. "It's the only way. And if we want this... r-ritual to work-"

"We have to remember." Mike finished. You took a deep breath, before covering your face with your hands and leaning forward. 

Why did something tell you this was going to be a long day? 

---

You were in a familiar forest that you remembered the moment you entered it in the first place.

Mike had led you here after explaining a few main things- Pennywise's cycle was ending soon. And the moment it did, you were fucked. But you tried not to think about it as you looked around the familiar trees, shards of morning light flooding onto the forest floor. 

"Wait. The clubhouse." Richie suddenly exclaimed, smiling widely. Bev chuckled, and you smiled at the way she seemed to be in a happier state.

"You built that for us, didn't you, Ben?" She asked, and he nodded bashfully.

"Yes, that hatch must be around here somewhere." Richie began running to the front of the group. 

You found yourself attempting to jog, excitement bubbling up in your stomach at the thought of your childhood hangout- big mistake. 

Next thing you knew, your foot had caught underneath a root, and you were sent hurtling towards the leafy floor. If it wasn't for the pair of strong arms that wrapped around your waist, steadying you, you would've hurt yourself, probably badly.

"Hey, you okay?" Bill asked, concern lining his expression as he examined your face. The two of you were extremely close due to the circumstances, and your face began feeling hot.

"Um, yes, yes." You murmured, examining the way his eyebrows pulled together and he smiled slightly. You felt a warm feeling bubble up inside your stomach at the thought that he hadn't changed- he was still your Bill from when you were 12 years old. You didn't even notice you were giggling until he called you out with a smile.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing- it's just..." You shook your head. "You haven't changed."

Bill's eyes flickered down to your lips for a few seconds, before they met your eyes again. He smiled at you before letting go. "I'm glad."

The two of you were interrupted when a yell echoed out from behind you, and you turned in surprise and moved out of Bill's grasp. You quickly made your way over to the group (watching for any exposed roots), only to take notice of the hole in the ground and the way the rest of your childhood friends were staring at it with uncertainty.

"I found the door." A voice echoed out, and you found yourself chuckling softly, before making your way over. 

---

"Stanley would've loved being here again." Mike murmured as you all sat on various surfaces in the old clubhouse. You had made your way down the surprisingly sturdy ladder, with not as much trouble as you'd previously expected, and after the rush of memories you experienced, you found yourself sitting on a log next to Bill.

"I don't know. He was a bit old for his time." Ben agreed from where he sat on a chair.

"Yeah." Eddie agreed. "Is it bad to want to know what he was like all grown up?"

"Probably like he was as a kid." Richie said, a sorrowful voice. "The best."

He seemed to catch himself for a moment, because he sniffed, and began fumbling with the familiar shower cap that he'd picked up after you'd entered the clubhouse in the first place. "Come on, Mike, what are we doing here?"

Mike cleared his throat. "The ritual- it requires a sacrifice."

"A s-sacrifice?" You murmured, feeling horror seep into your veins. The room went quiet.

"I nominate Eddie." Richie spoke after a moment.

"Wait, what?" Eddie seemed surprised at his words, a horrified look coming over his once distracted expression. 

"You're kind of small. You'll fit on a barbecue."

"I'm literally 5'9. It's, like, the most average height in the world." 

"Guys, shut up. It's not that kind of sacrifice." Bill scolded the two men, before motioning for Mike to continue.

"The past is buried." He began again. "But you're going to dig it up. Piece after piece. And those pieces, those artefacts, they're why we're here. They are what you'll sacrifice. And since Stan isn't here to find his, I figured we should all be here together for him."

The room went quiet, before a rustling sound distracted you. Eddie had put a hair cap on his head, a sad expression on his face. "I think Bill just did."

---