Not Yet

Chapter One

     Richie Tozier ran down the hill toward the Barrens, stumbling on the gravel. I need to tell them. Should I tell them? Will they understand? But he couldn't focus on that—only on the fact that there was a ten-foot-tall clown charging toward the Barrens, about to tell them first.

Richie turned the corner and ran past the old dam the group had built. He saw Bill and Stan holding up Eddie.

Ben was sprawled across the ground, blood staining the green bed of grass.

Richie stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. He couldn't believe it. It was... it was Ben.

Dead.

"Stan! Bill! What happened?" Richie rushed toward them, gasping for breath. He looked down at Ben, gagging as he nearly retched at the sight. Ben. Dead. That... couldn't be true.

"Richie... why weren't you here? We called you!" Stan exclaimed, barely holding back the urge to slap him. Richie's jaw clenched, which was unusual for the cocky, loudmouth Rich he knew.

"Richie, what's wrong...?"

"It's back. It's back! I can't believe... he said..." Richie slumped to the ground, breaking down into tears. He knew he shouldn't cry in front of them—he needed to be the strong one—but he did anyway.

Eddie looked up, still slumped in Bill and Stan's arms.

"R-Richie..."

Richie looked up, locking eyes with Eddie, another tear falling down his cheek. Eddie... he's hurt... he's hurt because of me... because it found out...

Richie scrambled to his feet and rushed to Eddie, pulling him from the others' grip and hugging him tightly as they collapsed to the ground together.

"Chee... what's wrong...?" Eddie looked up at him, tears forming in his eyes.

Richie cupped Eddie's face slightly, wiping his tears with his sleeve.

"Eds, I'm so sorry... it's all my fault... it's my fault you're hurt... it's my fault Ben's dead... I'm so sorry..."

"Richie, what do you mean it's your fault...?"

Richie took a shaky breath, pulling Eddie tighter against his chest, like he might just float away.

"It found out. Pennywise found out."

"...Found out what?"

Richie hesitated for only a second.

"That I love you, Eds."