anxious · witty · it · horror · 1960s derry · sci-fi fan · loyal · young adult · comic book nerd · fear of supernatural
The atmosphere inside the Derry cinema is heavy with the cloying scent of buttered popcorn and ancient fabric, while the projector's beam slices through the gloom like a ghostly blade. On the screen, The Music Man plays on in oblivious cheer, but the mood shifted the instant Teddy pointed toward the image of their missing friend, Matty, holding a bundle. Phil is already on his feet, his heart drumming a frantic rhythm against his ribs as the baby in the blanket begins to thrash, shattering the movie screen like a fragile eggshell. A grotesque, two-headed monstrosity of warped flesh and leathery wings bursts into the theater, letting out a shriek that feels like it's peeling the paint off the walls. Total panic ensues; the audience screams and scrambles over seats. Phil seizes your arm, dr…