While staying at the school, Angel and I help with decorating and setting up for the event on the 31st. Then, on the night of the 30th, I hear something deep into the school. I leave the room we're staying in and follow the noise. It leads me back to the janitor's room. I peek around the corner of the door and see the most hideous thing ever. It looks like a mix between a deformed dog and some robot thing or something. I quietly back away and go back to the room. I lock the door and just sit there in front of the door, holding on to a meter stick.
The next morning, I wakeup with the door open a crack. I shut the door and look around the room. I hear shuffling and go over to the noise. I lift up the meter stick and pull open the curtain. I'm surprised at what I see.
"Oh, it's you."
"Yeah, it's me." She walks out and goes over to the suitcase that we shoved clothes in. "But seriously, though, Penny. I don't know what's gotten into you. School starts in about an hour. We need to get ready."
"Okay." I drop the meter stick and grab out my clown outfit. I go to the bathroom and clean up. I do the makeup first, considering I have to paint my neck. I pull on the pants, the gloves, and then the top. I try fastening the back of it about three times and fail each time. Finally, I give up. "Angel!"
About five minutes pass by and the door creaks open. "What?"
"I need help. I can't fasten this stupid top."
She sigh and comes in. She fastens the top and I put on the boots. I tie them up and walk over to the long mirror on the wall.
I look up and down and smile. "It's beautiful. Lovely." I bend over and, mimicking Pennywise's voice, say, "Time to float."
"Okay, Penny. Stop. Please. You're creeping me out."
I turn towards her and still mimicking Pennywise's voice, say, "This isn't real enough for you? I'm not real enough for you? It was real enough for the Losers!"
"Okay. Stop."
Suddenly, the door starts creaking open. I grab the mop and jump in front of Angel. The door comes open the rest of the way and I see Pennywise.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Penny, calm down." Angel walks around me and steps toward him. "It's just Bill Skarsgård. It's not Pennywise. Calm down."
I cautiously walk towards him and poke his cheek. I examine his eyes. They aren't yellow. I drop the mop and smile innocently, which probably looks a little creepy. "Sorry, Skarsy. I've just been really spooked lately."
"It's fine." He smiles his creepy smile.
I laugh.
"Wait. Did you just call my Skarsy?"
"Uhh...maybe?"
"It's fine. Don't worry about it. I don't mind."
"Oh. Okay. I thought you'd get offended. I've always wanted to call you that, but I never got the chance to even meet you in person."
"Well, now you get to." He looks me up and down. "Nice outfit."
"Oh, um, thanks."
"No problem. Well, I gotta go."
"Okay. Nice meeting you." I smile.
"Same to you." He turns around and leaves.
"You'll float too!" I holler after him.
I hear him laugh and the door shuts.
************
Later, at 4:30 p.m., the school serves pizza and brownies for supper with an assortment of soft drinks. I don't touch anything. Angel notices and asks,
"You gonna eat?"
I shake my head and motion that I'm not hungry.
"Oh. Okay."
After eating, everyone heads to the gym. I stand outside the gym and watch as everyone goes in. And for some reason I have a feeling something bad is going to happen, but I don't say anything. After about forty-five minutes, the students stop coming. I still stand in the hallway, though. I'm nervous. Really nervous. Suddenly, as I'm trying to build up enough courage to go in the gym, I hear something. I look to my right and see that thing I saw last night. It starts to turn around and I burst into the gym, slamming the door behind me. Everyone goes quiet and stares at me.
"Um, hi. Sorry. I didn't mean to, um, uh, I, uh. Hm." I gulp and everyone turns away.
Suddenly, the microphone comes on. "May I have everyone's attention, please?"
Everyone goes silent and looks up at the stage.
"Thank all of you for coming and participating in some way. We have chose our winners today, but first I want to thank Bill Skarsgård and Andy Muschietti for helping us with all of this. Thank you so much!"
Everyone applauses as they step up on the stage and bow. They back up and the art teacher steps up. She takes the microphone and smiles at everyone.
"Hello, everyone. Nice to see you all here today. I am here to announce our art contest winners. So, first of all, all of you students that participated in this contest, thank you for participating, but only three of you won. You all submitted amazing artwork. It was all lovely. So very lovely. Now, for the winners. Third place goes to... George Fillmore. Your drawing was absolutely beautiful, but it was not the Pennywise we were looking for. You did very good paying attention to detail. I love it. It was awesome. Second place goes to... Hannah Freemann. Absolutely lovely. I love how you combined the two Pennywises into one picture. Absolutely creative. Now, first place. This person did very good. She turned in more than one drawing, but all got her this place. I would like to congratulate... Penny Phillipson!"
I gasp.
"Thank you all so much. You will get your prizes on Monday."
She hands the microphone to the principal and walks off the stage.
"Okay, students. Time to announce the top three best and most realistic costumes. First of all, I would like to thank all of you for participating today. I appreciate everyone coming here. I would also like to greet a happy birthday to one special girl. Penny Phillipson! Happy eighteenth birthday!"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bo8NOUEu2
I see something pushing a door open and go over and slam it shut. Everyone stares at me. "Uh, ha ha. Funny. Um, thanks? For the birthday greeting. I appreciate it. Carry on! Don't mind me!"
"Well, that was a little awkward. Now, time for the winners. We can thank Bill Skarsgård for his help in picking the winners. So, third place goes to... Rosa Phillip! Thank you for your participating, but not the Pennywise we were looking for. Very creative, though. We love it. Second place goes to... Jacob Voorlock! Good job. Love your idea. Combining the two Pennywise's. Absolutely amazing. Now, for first place, ol' Skarsy can announce that."248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p63xSTnC4
Skarsgård walks over and takes the microphone. "Hello, people of Derry. Time to float!"
Everyone laughs.
"Oh, you thought I was a silly clown? Well, you're wrong!"
Everyone laughs again.
"Everyone used to laugh when I said I want to be a clown! Well, no one's laughing now!"
Everyone laughs yet again.
"Okay, okay. I'm reminding myself of Richie Tozier or Trashmouth. Time for the first place winner. I also want to thank everyone for participating. We are celebrating Pennywise this year! All of this was my idea. This first place person, I saw this morning. Very charming young woman. I love her costume. It's just so close to the original. Her makeup is absolutely awesome too. I would like to congragulate..."
He changes his voice to his Pennywise voice and says, "Penny Rose Phillipson!"
I run over to a door and slam it shut. I lean against it and smile. "Oh, yes. Of course. Um, thanks." I laugh nervously. "So nice to have won first place twice. Thanks so much. I appreciate it."
Everyone separates and Andy Muschietti and Bill Skarsy come over.
"Oh, um, hi." I laugh nervously. "How are you doing?"
"Oh, hey, look! One of the school dogs is trying to get in!"
I shriek and run over to the door. I slam it shut and smile. "Sorry! I, um, uh.." I laugh nervously again.
This continues to happen for about thirty minutes and then I just scream my head off in the middle of the gym. Everyone turns and looks at me.
"Don't let that damn thing in! It is not a dog! Not even close! I saw that thing while standing outside the gym! It is NOT a dog! Don't let it in! I am telling you! Please listen to me! I assure you I am not going insane!"
Suddenly, there's banging at the main gym doors. Everyone turns towards the doors. Then, the doors burst open and someone screams.
"That lady was right! That's not a dog! RUN!!"
Skarsy walks over to me. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I was afraid to. I thought you all might think me crazy or--" I look down at my hand. It's shaking really badly. "Oh my God. What is wrong with me?"
"Come on. We have to get everyone out of here. And now."
"No. Leave me here. Let everyone else go. This is my fault. I didn't let anyone know when I should have. Leave me behind."
"No. That's not happening."
"Just leave me here! I don't matter! Everyone in this damn city acts like I don't exist anyway! Get the others out! Leave me be! Please!"
"Oh my God, Penny. You--"
"Just go! Get them out of here!"
I watch as he walks away and leads everyone out. I look over at the metal thing standing in the doorway. It seems to be looking for someone. I look around and grab an empty bowl. I turn back and throw the bowl at it. It screeches and scans the room. They're almost gone. I follow after them and notice someone dropped something. I go back and grab it. I stand up and notice that the thing is staring at me. It screeches and charges. I throw the object out the door and turn back around. I go to grab something, but the thing leaps at me. I scream and everything goes black.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
