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Chapter Text

Even four years later, four long years after moving in with her grandparents permanently, the former ten-year-old Ellie Creed still had very faint memories of the before....the before that involved the little town in Maine, whose name she couldn't quite remember anymore (that I don't want to remember), the before she moved in with her grandparents before they moved from Chicago to Russellville, Illinois in order to have a fresh start.

Whenever she tried to ask her grandparents about the.... the before, her grandfather would always gain a tight, almost pinched look on his face before quietly excusing himself to his study while her grandmother would distract her by having her help cook. But even the warm smells of the kitchen did little to hide the unbridled horror in her grandmother's usually loving eyes....

But unbeknownst to her grandparents, even when they argued softly downstairs, a very small, buried part of her soul still remembered the before, as much as she didn't want to admit it. Sometimes, small snippets of those memories of the before would come unloose in deep dreams, those that came in the small hours of the morning.

Church coming back with bits of green plastic in his whiskers....

Her little brother's (was his name Georgie?) baseball cap lying in the road, full of blood....

But most of all.... that thing in the mist, a high, gobbling laugh that became a manacial shriek that froze her blood and paralyzed her....its face leering and gibbering. Its eyes, a rich yellowish-gray, sunken, gleaming while the lower lip of its mouth was turned inside out, revealing
teeth stained blackish-brown and worn down almost to nubs. Curving horns rested on top of its head as it laughed, its yellow tongue rolling out...

Sometimes in her deep dreams.... the thing would reach out to touch her....and had then withdrawn its inhuman hand at the very last moment. These dreams would always result in her screaming her way through most nights, even the medications and therapy did little to get rid of the absolute fear and unknown feeling of betrayal she had (but she never knew why).

The only thing that would help her through nightmares would be Pascow, her guardian angel of sorts who understood in a way her grandparents couldn't. As much as she deeply loved her grandpa and grandma, they didn't really understand.... the thing from her nightmares like Pascow did.

She'd been able to see him shortly during the before, her first memory was seeing him at a window as she played on the tire swing.....before the strange, alien sounds from the woods caused her to run back inside, her mind screaming danger.

Though, it wasn't until later that she understood why to a degree...

"Don't you think she's a bit too old for imaginary friends, Dory?" She heard her grandpa ask one late night after another night terror caused Ellie to walk to the top of the stairs, listening quietly. His voice sounded worried and anxious, something her grandfather never was"I mean, I'm no doctor.....but she's had this.....Pascow friend for the past four years now....." She could see her grandpa anxiously rubbing his face as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Now, now, Irwin," Grandma had lightly chastised, her voice stern in a way similar to her own Mommy when Ellie snuck in a few cookies before dinner "The doctor said that this is a common coping mechanism as a result of what happened and to give things time...." Her voice turned soothing and soft, like it always had whenever Ellie woke them up after a nightmare.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Ellie clenched her fists to try to calm herself down. Pascow...he wasn't an imaginary friend, he was real. Yeah, the bruise on his head scared her at first but he was as real as anybody.

"I guess you're right.....any news about....well, her?" Her grandfather's voice had dropped to a near-low whisper but Ellie could still faintly hear it, lightly echoing through her mind. She could see her grandma shaking her head grimly before she set her cup down "No, from what I've heard, the police are still searching. She's still out there, Irwin...."

Her grandpa's next words confused Ellie even now and made her wonder "I know...." His voice had turned resigned and somewhat sad in a way "It's just....I don't know what happened back in that town, but the person that we raised--our lovely, spitfire daughter---she would've never done something like this, especially to Louis, she loved that man...."

Even though her grandfather didn't say the next words out loud.....Ellie could still hear them.....in her mind.

'What happened.....that wasn't the daughter we raised....'

Six months had passed since the day she first came to the children's clinic. Despite her fears of being treated differently, the clinic was surprisingly nice, Nurse Patsey was her favorite nurse who always came to comfort them if they had nightmares and Dr. Hart who always had candies and soda in the refrigerator. The two reminded her of her grandparents and even what she could remember of her parents.

With Pascow's gentle help and guidance, she even made friends for the first time in her life, real friends---Andy Norris (she felt that wasn't his true last name), Noah Snell, and Lucy Reynolds. In a way, she found herself slowly but surely drawn to them because of how much she could relate to them.

"Ellie! Ellie!" Andy's voice echoed throughout the library, causing some to shush the younger albeit abashed boy. He was the youngest yet wisest of their group of friends "Someone new is here!" He chirped excitedly, flapping his hands excitedly.

One of her eyebrows raised as she took in the wide smile and bright light in his eyes, so similar to another in the corners of her mind "New, huh?" She teased softly, amusement bubbling within her.

"Uh huh, and Lucy has a crush!" The younger boy teased in a sing-song voice as a familiar blonde-haired blur flew into the library, her round face alight with embarrassment "Do not!" She hissed softly, placing her hand on Andy's mouth.

"Ooh, a crush, do you?" Ellie proceeded to tease the girl who had become like a younger sister to her. Leaning back in her seat, she crossed both her arms and looked at Lucy "If you have a crush on him on the newcomer, why don't you go up and say hello?"

If possible, Lucy's cheeks went even more pink as she fiddled with her hair before squaring her jaw and looking up at the duo "Okay, I will."

The loud creak of a door and the loud sounds of crickets made Ellie jump ever so slightly, hiding behind one of the walls of a darkly lit house. Slow, gritting footfalls from the outside stepped inside the house as a man froze from dealing a fresh hand of cards in the kitchen.

"H-H-Hello?" Ellie just managed to stutter out, finding herself stepping closer to the man. Something about his thick, dark hair and face tugged at her long-forgotten memories "S-S-Sir?"

No response. The man merely placed his hand on a Queen of Spades, his eyes filled with nothing but....but madness within.

The footsteps ended behind him before silence filled the air. Clenching her fists, Ellie kept her eyes on the dark-haired man, her heart pounding if she even thought of looking at the....the thing behind the man.

A woman's hand, clotted with grave dirt, fell on his shoulder as the thing spoke, its voice grating and full of dirt but distinctly female and....and familiar at the same time.

"Darling."

Amidst the loud ringing of the crickets, the man's loud, insane scream pierced her ears, making her heart pound wildly as she tried to find another place to hide---

Before abruptly waking up in her bed with the moon shining softly through her window. The stars twinkled brightly as well, making the beautiful night sky almost look ethereal. All of outside was a sharp contrast to her sweat-covered face and the pain in her chest.

"Breathe in, breathe out," Ellie found herself repeating the mantra Nurse Patsey would use to bring them out of nightmares. Tears welled in her eyes as the mere thought of what could've happened to the mystery man floated in her mind but she couldn't explain the worry and fear for the man that always blossomed within her....

But why? Who is he?

Swinging her feet to the side of the bed, Ellie slowly pulled herself up and began her way to the water fountain, barely making any sound. She couldn't even go to the kitchen right now to get a drink, so the water fountain would do for now. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she made her way down the hallway, even though she loved her friends.... even though she didn't remember who he was, she missed the little boy from her dreams, the little boy who wore the blue and yellow overalls and little cap and little goofball grin. Her heart ached every time he appeared in her dreams and she always wailed whenever he started to fade away--

Please mystery boy, don't leave me!

A small, gentle hand suddenly rested on her shoulder, an unfamiliar hand that caused her to spin around out of fright. It was a rather somber looking boy of around nine, with thick, dark curls and rather sad-looking eyes. In his free hand, he held up a small piece of paper that held a question on it. 

Are you okay?

He must've been the new boy Andy was teasing Lucy about. Wiping her tears away, a rather watery smile spread across her face as Ellie tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall "Yeah....I'm fine, just had--a really bad dream..." Even with this excuse, the boy stared at her in a way that said he didn't believe her but at the same time, was understanding of her plight. The small hand squeezed her shoulder comfortingly, in a way that reminded her of Noah as the young boy wrote something else down I'm Johnathan

A small smile trailed across her face as her eyes shone brightly. Brushing her hair to the side, Ellie nodded in a silent greeting "I'm Ellie. Ellie Goldman..."

Somehow, someway, she felt drawn to the younger boy in the same way that she was drawn to Andy and Lucy. This boy was new and all alone in the children's clinic. She and Noah and their friends would look after this boy--Johnathan.  

Chapter Text

"Okay, Sue, now push as hard as you can!"

With all the fading strength she had, Sue Snell pushed as hard as she could, gripping both the bedsheets and her mother's hand tightly. Slumping down onto the hospital bed, tears streaked down her pale cheeks as she wept uncontrollably "M-Mom--" her voice cracked, betraying her as the scared little girl she was.

By her side, Eleanor gently brushed a strand of hair back "I'm right here, darling, I'm not going anywhere..." Her voice was calm and soothing, an anchor to the turmoil of emotions she was feeling. 

"I-It won't come out---it won't come out--" Sue broke into sobs, burying her face into her mother's shoulder. Her mother gently planted kisses on her head "It'll come out sweetie, I promise..."

"Push again, Sue!" The doctor urged once more, his gaze softening when he took in the desperation in Sue's eyes "Just one more push!"

"I ca…can't," she wheezed, giving it her all as she pushed once more. Overhead, above them, one of the lightbulbs in the delivery room flickered before shortening out, "I can't!"

As darkened blurs filtered her hazy vision, Sue could feel some kind of weird....shift within her stomach that allowed her some kind of weird release as the head passed through at last.

It was a boy. The last thing she saw before her eyes slid shut was her baby's beady blue eyes, blinking owlishly open for the first time and looking over at her...

'Momma'

Before the familiar, comforting darkness overtook her senses once more.

The smell of fire and sounds of screaming townsfolk was still there, deep within her mind, even whenever she took a nap. She'd often find herself in front of the White house, flames licking the roofs next door, as power-lines danced like snakes and fire hydrants sprayed on the streets, shocking the screaming townsfolk.

'Momma! I want my Momma!' The voice of Carrie cried out, ringing within Sue's mind, sounding more like a scared little girl than ever. Her dress was now torn and tattered, still drenched in blood that was very much her own. The hilt of a knife gleamed like a ruby where it protruded from her shoulder 'Momma!'  She howled in gutteral agony, sounding not too dissimilar from a wounded animal.

Collapsing before her, on her knees, Sue turned the girl on her side, hoping to allow her some level of peace by seeing the stars for the final time. But as soon as she touched the younger girl, a crippling pain suddenly crested through her entire body, starting inside her brain and rippling through her limbs.

'S-Sue? Is that you?' Carrie's voice called out, echoing within her mind like a bell as her eyes shakily re-opened, revealing dilated pupils. 

'It's me, Carrie,' Sue responded back, using her own inner voice 'W--What happened? Is Tommy--'

One of those bloodied hands gripped Sue's hand tightly, just like how she gripped her skirt in the locker room a week ago, as tears streaked down Carrie's face 'Tommy's dead....why couldn't have Chris left him alone?!' Her voice cried out, saddened at the injustice of it all.

'I'm so sorry, Carrie, I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you and Tommy and stop this,' Sue crossed the bridge that connected their minds, projecting her own film back to Carrie. She hoped that the girl could see that she wasn't guilty of the humiliation that fell upon her.

'Sue....I'm sorry, I'm sorry I couldn't save Tommy and stop this,' Carrie let out a weak, choked sob as Sue picked her up and placed her into her lap, hoping to offer the younger girl some level of comfort, anything, in her final moments 'Now....he will grow up without a father, just like me...'

Confusion washed over Sue as she met Carrie's eyes, those shadowed, dulling eyes that met her own 'Carrie....what do you mean?'

The younger girl's free hand reached over, placing it on Sue's stomach. In that moment, Sue could feel a soft twinge in her belly as she felt Carrie smile and say three words that nearly made her freeze from the shock of it all 'It's a boy....'

Her hand fell as Carrie blinked up at the stars, taking in the starry night sky 'So cold, I feel so cold, Sue....'

Sue stared down at the younger girl, feeling her heart break. Despite the shock of the revelation, she knew that the poor girl didn't have much longer and gently carded her hand through the tangled hair like how a mother would 'It's okay, Carrie, it's all going to be okay....you can rest now, you'll be at peace....'

'Sue, I.....'

And just like that, Carrie White dissolved into the blackness and the crushing abyss completely, finally at peace after so long....

When Sue finally did re-open her eyes after falling unconscious for an entire day, drowsy and her head pounding ever so lightly, the nurse quickly alerted her parents before bringing her baby to her upon her request. Her son was wrapped snugly in a soft, white blanket and sleeping soundly, a thin thatch of light, mousy blonde hair on top of his small head. 

"Hello, my baby," Sue found herself cooing, unable to take her eyes off her newborn son who slept soundly. His lips, his little button nose, and even his little, round cheeks reminded her of him (Tommy), she knew that if things had been different, he would be right by her side, watching their baby....

"He's absolutely precious, Susie," Eleanor entered herself, taking in her new grandchild. She could see her daughter and Tommy in the child's face, even at a few hours old, making her heart melt but break at the same time all over again. She only wished that the circumstances were different, that Tommy was here to see his child "What are you going to name him?"

Having already compiled a list of names with some help from her younger sister Tiffany, Sue thought long and hard over each of them before deciding on one that fit....

"Noah...."

                                                                                    ***

A few days after being released from the hospital, when the day was quaint and cool, Sue quietly ventured out of the house and down the streets. All the while, loud rumbling from the sky above her alerted her to a potential weather change but she kept going, kept walking, with one destination in mind. Pushing a stroller in front of her, baby Noah was wrapped up in a soft, white blanket, sleeping peacefully but remaining hidden just in case any nosy reporter happened to be around. The last thing she wanted was for her baby's picture to end up on the news and for the stigma lingering over his head for the rest of his life before he even had a chance to live his life to the fullest. 

That won't happen Sue thought as she gazed down at her son's peacefully sleeping face, clutching the stroller even tighter at the mere thought I'll make sure it won't 

Gazing out through her sunshades at what remained of the buildings, Sue couldn't help but feel her heart ache ever so slightly. The decay had been cleared away as much as it could, but that was about it. Only the blackened bones of what had once been a bustling downtown remained. Deep down, she knew that while the town had enough funding to rebuild, they were simply unwilling to do so. The town's spirit had died, along with the deaths of over four-hundred citizens (including seventy or so promising Ewen high school seniors who were on the verge of graduation). Now Chamberlain itself laid in ruins and ashes, becoming nothing short of a ghost town with only ghosts around every corner, including that of the Kelly Fruit company. 

Even from the corner of her eye, she could see men drinking beer without talking outside of Frank's Bar on the corner of Sullivan Street and could faintly hear women exchanging tales of grief and loss in what remained of backyards. Many of those houses had FOR SALE signs on their front lawns, with some even marked by black wreaths on front doors. Their faces, no matter how different they looked, all held the same looks of dull hopelessness. Due to fears of a delusional retaliation, Sue could only thank her lucky stars that no one recognized her. In their minds, she looked like a grieving widow, even her long, golden-blonde hair had been cut so that no one recognized her. 

While some thought otherwise, it was closer to the truth that Chamberlain would simply never again be. 

"Here we are, Noah," the cemetery of Chamberlain had become way too common, as the only main business for the past four months had been funerals. Pushing the stroller into the lot, she slowly eyed each white stone grave, her heart wincing at those she recognized and her thoughts darkening at those she knew had caused all of this. But it was two graves in particular that had her attention the most, graves that she would likely never visit again. 

THOMAS EVERETT ROSS

MARCH 14TH, 1958-MAY 25TH, 1976

CARRIETTA N. WHITE

SEPTEMBER 21ST, 1960-MAY 25TH, 1976

On the latter's grave, something stood out, written on the grave in bright red that made her blood boil like nothing she ever felt before. Written in bright red paint, as though to taunt the dead even further than she already had been taunted in life, it simply read;

"CARRIE WHITE IS BURNING FOR HER SINS

JESUS NEVER FAILS"

If it was even possible, her blood boiled at the sight of it all, only calming ever so slightly when she caught sight of flowers at Tommy's grave. All of this, the very girl they were calling a monster, was beyond unfair; Carrie White, the quiet, skinny, pimply-faced girl whose home was made into a torture cell of delusional worship. The girl who couldn't step outside without being barraged without mercy by her classmates and those who were supposed to protect her. The girl who was given two hours of joy and who would be satisfied with a hamburger and dime root beer after her only school dance so her momma wouldn't be worried before everything was taken from her all because one girl took her bullying too far. That was all Carrie White was; she wasn't some monster, she was just a girl, no worse than any of those who thought themselves better than her. Including Sue. 

Tommy was treated even worse, he had been called so many names by the public (a public who didn't understand) and whose character had been twisted to the point that people automatically assumed they knew everything about him. It was now up to her and those who knew Tommy to defend protect Tommy's good name. A resolve hardened within her as she gripped her manuscript in her coat pocket, kneeling down by his grave as tears threatened to brim in her eyes--

"Hey Tommy, it's me...." her voice cracked as she laid her own flowers on his grave, hoping that with all her heart that he forgave her for not being able to save him. Carefully taking out a swaddled Noah, Sue knelt down by his grave once more "I'd like you to meet our son, Noah, I know that you always liked that name...." at the sound of her voice, her son opened his eyes and made a soft, almost curious sound "Noah, my son, I want you to meet your Daddy, he was a wonderful man who was too good for this world...."

Looking back at his grave, she swallowed the lump within her throat and could've sworn she felt his warm, gentle arms wrap around her. The wind picked up ever so slightly, blowing through her short hair "We'll be okay, Tommy....I promise, I won't let anything happen to him..." 

It didn't take long before the Snell family relocated to the town of Haddonfield, Illinois for the new job that Sue's father managed to get. Eleanor herself also managed to get a new job in town to help their family, helping scrap by on office work for a law firm.

None of them would ever dare to return to the state of Maine, let alone to the small town that had now become deserted due to losing their spirit. Sue knew that they weren't alone.

"Sue, will we ever go back to Maine again?" Her sister's soft voice once asked in the car on the way out of Chamberlain. Now having just turned fifteen, Tiffany Snell had taken it upon herself to help out Sue with her pregnancy while her older sister got her GED and writing her book. But at the same time, she was also dealing with the mere thought of some of her friends being gone and her life being completely upended.  

The look on Sue's face hardened ever so slightly at the mere thought of going back to that town, the town that had branded her and Tommy as scapegoats "No....we won't ever return to the place that tried to make me a scapegoat, Tiff..." just the hardened tone her sister's voice had taken with her had Tiffany stiffening up ever so slightly.

"I....." Tears threatened to brim in her eyes but Tiffany refused to let them fall, instead brushing her hand through her infant nephew's light blonde hair, so much like hers and her sister's "Okay, Sue...."

Seeing her sister's face crumble at her words, Sue sighed softly, knowing that she went a bit too far with her words "I know you had friends there, Tiff, but after what happened between....the event and the White Commission trying to make me a scapegoat...." she trailed off, trying to find the best way to explain this properly to her younger sister without reducing her to further tears "Mom and Dad agreed that a new, fresh start away from Maine is the best for all of us, including Noah..."

"Okay, sis...."

The town of Haddonfield was quite quaint and picturesque, with a lively air surrounding it and the other surrounding small towns. Deep within the downtown area was quite a few locally-owned fun stores and speciality shops, boutiques, several restaurants, and two movie theaters. On the outskirts of town was a small roadhouse and Cafe.

All in all, the town was a far cry from the.... the town she grew up, the media and paparazzi. A perfect place for a fresh start away from...well, everything.

"Okay Sue, here we are, your new room," Tiffany chimed lightly as she turned on her older sister's new bedroom lights, letting a soft, airy light fill the room. Now with soft blue colors with flowers painted on the walls, the room had a white, hand-carved crib next to the bed "Me and mom helped paint it days before we arrived, just so you wouldn't have to worry...."

"Tiff....thanks," a small, weak smile spread across her sister's worn face as she carefully rocked her infant son before placing him in his new crib and gently placed a soft, white blanket over him. His wide, beady-blue eyes blinked up at her quietly "We'll be safe here, Noah, I promise...."

"And I promise you, Sue....our childhood home, it's many hours away," her voice cracked when she thought of her childhood home, the memories she had when she was younger. But those memories were now gone, scattered like the wind due to the actions of others "I promise no one from the media will find us or Noah here..."

Nodding ever so slightly, something outside caught Sue's eyes. Two girls around her age were approaching their house, the light-haired one held what looked like a homemade meal and the darker-haired one looked like she was ready to help move furniture. Both of them stared up at the house with wide, curious eyes.

It wasn't long before a sharp knock drew the two Snell sisters downstairs, where their mother had let the duo in. The lighter-haired girl's face became curious when she took in the baby in Sue's arms before a warm smile spread across her face "Hello! My name is Laurie Strode and this is my friend Annie, we just thought we'd come by and say hello to the new neighbors." Her voice was soft and nice as Annie cooed at Sue's son, her eyes softening ever so slightly "How cute! What's his name?"

Feeling herself smile ever so slightly for the first time in months, Sue shifted her son in her arms so the duo could get a closer look at him as he blinked awake at the attention and noise around him "His name is Noah." Upon hearing his name, Noah blinked owlishly before staring out at the new individuals within their home. 

"Mr. Snell, you need some help with the U-Haul?" Annie asked politely as she followed Sue's father outside to the moving truck. Laurie stayed behind, her eyes softening ever so slightly "He's so adorable...."

"Yes, he really is," Sue agreed softly as she gazed back down at her son, noting how his innocent face seemed to gain more of Tommy's features the more he got older. Laurie gazed back at her with a soft look in her eyes, concern and worry rising within her as she took in the tears brimming in her eyes "Hey, Haddonfield is always around to help anyone out, I'll even help you out if you need me..." she offered kindly, refraining from stepping even closer out of fear of spooking the older girl. The grateful look in Sue's eyes spoke volumes of just how grateful the offer meant. 

Halloween, 1978 

The ear-piercing sound of six shots coming from somewhere (anywhere) in the neighborhood made both Sue and Tiffany jump ever so slightly, both their curses ringing throughout the living room. Immediately halting her writing, Sue jumped up from her seat when Noah began to cry from the other room, coming back with a worried look on her face as she tried to console a wailing Noah. Tiffany moved closer to her sister, feeling like a scared little girl in a thunderstorm more than ever "Sue...." Her voice came out in a crack, revealing just how scared she was. 

Her older sister turned back to her, her face hardening protectively as she quickly handed her son to her younger sister and grabbed the landline phone, her eyes filled with worry and fear "Tiff, go hide. Quickly. I'm calling 911." Quickly typing in the numbers, Tiffany hurried off into the laundry room and locked the door. After all, it was the one place in the house that didn't have windows. 

"Ma...." Noah whimpered ever so slightly, his chubby hand clutching onto her tightly. His round, tear-filled face and the way he buried his face into her chest tugged at her heartstrings. Tiffany gently cradled him in her arms, trying her best to shush him "It's okay, Noah, we're going to be okay...." But looking at the door, hoping and praying for her big sister to join them, she didn't have much hope herself. 

All the while, her mind was a race of thoughts. In the year they had lived in Haddonfield, the most that happened was teenage mischief. There had never been shots fired before in her life. A part of her wanted to go outside, to see what was going on. But with her little nephew in her arms and Sue sinking into a depression to the point that even the relationship between their parents had become strained, Tiffany knew that her older sister needed her, needed her to become an anchor during this time. 

Ten minutes slowly dragged on, only increasing Tiffany's worry and the other emotions she felt. Those minutes felt like nothing less than an eternity. Just as she was about to come out, a soft knock came at the door, a familiar knock "Tiff, it's me..." unlocking the laundry door, Sue immediately stepped in, her face grave as she re-locked the door. Tiffany gazed at her older sister curiously "Susie, what's going on?"

The look Sue gave her spoke volumes but at the same time, only heightened her fear even more "Something's happened. At the Doyle house. Police are already on their way." She carded her hands through her hair "I was talking to Mom--she told us to stay hidden."

Finally finding her voice, Tiffany blurted out the first thing that came to her mind, her voice coming out slow and conflicted "Sue....what's happening?"

"Something happened at Smith's Grove and Mom said she'd tell us when she and Dad got home..." Sue looked sickened and fairly grim as she looked back at the door, a weary and fearful look in her eyes. She felt nothing but fear for her little sister and her son but also her sister's friends--they lived close to where the gunshots had come from. 

1985 

Stumbling back into her study, her hand shaking ever so slightly as she mentally relaxed from a long day at work, through her haze, Sue could see Noah standing there in his pajamas, a mischievous bright grin on his young face with every drawer and door in her study seemed to be ransacked. Every desk drawer yanked out to the stop. Her manuscript was scattered all over the floor, with the contents from the can of beer all over the pages. Probably to see it foam. 

A slow, deep red cloud of rage slowly eclipsed her reason, seeming slow subjectively inside her head, but seeming to happen in a minute. Stepping deliberately towards her son, who stared up at her with that pleased, mischievous grin that reminded her so much of Tommy, her mind blurred even more as the rage bubbled up inside of her even more. His pleasure at the job of work so successfully and completed in his Mommy's study, Noah began to say something "Mommy--" That was when Sue grabbed his hand and bent it to make him drop the typewriter, eraser, and mechanical pen he was clenching in it. 

Noah had cried out a little.... no....no..... he had screamed. Screamed through the fog of Sue's anger, the sick single thump of that one Spike Jones chord. Somewhere in the house, she could hear her mother somewhere, asking what was wrong, her voice faint and damped by the inner mist. She had whirled her son around to spank him, her big adult fingers digging into the scant meat of the boy's forearm--

The snap of the breaking bone had not been loud, not loud but it had been very loud, HUGE, but not loud. Just enough of a sound to slit through the red fog like an arrow--but instead of letting in that sunlight, that sound had let in dark clouds of shame and remorse, the terror, the agonizing convulsion of the spirit. 

"N....Noah...." Sue just managed to choke out in a weak, slurry voice, seeing her son's face completely drain of color until it was like cheese and his eyes grow larger and glassy with tears welling up inside them. Before she could say anything else, Noah shrieked once more, his wail loud and piercing through even the sound of the bone cracking and the sounds of the past. Her mother's shocked, horrified gasp as she immediately ran to Noah's side, her eyes tracing the peculiar angle of Noah's arm as she screamed herself and swept him up into her arms, a nonsense babble filling the air "Oh God, Noah, oh dear good, your poor sweet arm..."

Sue stood there, stunned and stupfied, trying to understand how she had gotten to this point. When her eyes met her mother's eyes, she saw the horror and hatred within them as she fled for the phone, a screaming Noah wedged in the crook of her arm as she dialed the hospital. Sue didn't go after her, only stood in the ruins of her office, smelling beer as one thought repeated itself in her mind--

You lost your temper

Chapter Text

April, 1986

Eleven months after leaving the little town in Derry, Maine for.... something, something that involved a promise (and something that made his head ache the longer he thought about it) Bill Denbrough found himself by his wife's hospital bed, watching her with soft, blue eyes. But something else also held his attention, the reason they had come to the hospital to start with. 

Right beside his wife's bed was a hospital crib, a crib that held their swaddled newborn baby, wrapped in a soft, blue blanket. After all this time, he and Audra were finally able to have a child of their own. The sight of their son's sleeping, peaceful face filled him with a sense of.....something he couldn't quite understand. An unfamiliar emotion from a time long past, a past that he only had faint dreams about and that made his heart ache and shatter at the same time.  

"I promise," Bill whispered softly, brushing his hand through his son's thin thatch of deep red hair, so similar to his and Audra's own hair (and tugged at his memory for some reason). In the back of his mind, he could remember his mother slowly withdrawing into herself and his father's cold, hardened words towards him ("Buzz off, Bill") and how all of it made him feel, all at the age of twelve "You will never feel the way I felt while growing up, you will be raised in a house of love, compassion, and support. You will be so loved, so loved..." 

Closing his eyes, he thought back on the names he and Audra discussed during her pregnancy. Of all the names they had discussed, two names in particular stuck out to him, rattling inside his mind like a drum for some reason. 

"I promise, me and your Momma won't let anything happen to you.... George Edward Denbrough...." In that very moment, their son's eyes fluttered open, revealing deep, twinkling eyes that tugged on a chord within his memory. 

In his mind's eye, as he gently cradled his son, though he wouldn't know the exact reason, memories of a small boy in a yellow raincoat and galoshes flashed before his eyes. It made his heart tighten and made him hold onto his son in a way he couldn't quite understand. It brought back memories of a small boy and yellow galoshes as well as two young boys whom he only saw in his dreams; one had a small, pinched worried face and carrying a medical aspirator of some kind and another small, slim and preternaturally neat boy with his white shirt tucked into his fresh jeans, his black hair combed, and a wry, knowing smile. 

Pushing the thoughts of the two boys out of his mind, Bill shushed his newborn son, carding his hand through the thin thatch of light red hair, taking in his every features "Me and your Mom--we love you.... we love you so much, I hope you never forget that..."
                                                                                         ***
As the years slowly passed on, George grew to be just as beautiful and bright as both his parents. Even at a young age, he would soak up knowledge like a sponge and even preferred reading and watching Loony Tunes over playing. He specifically loved reading plays, such as Hamlet and reciting them in front of his parents. 

Despite the media presence, both Bill and Audra managed to keep George's existence a secret, even pulling a few strings to have him attend school under the name of George Phillips. They even allowed Beverly's friend Kay to be a part-time tutor for their son, fostering his almost ancient even more. 

"--his fists against the post and still insists he sees the ghosts," three-year-old George babbled out, a bright, toothy grin on his face as he continued reciting the plays he spoke loudly and proudly "As stars with fire trains and most air of upon Nep....tune's empire stands...." He managed to stammer out, looking out at both his parents as Audra gently encouraged him on, a warm smile on her face. Even with her days off and Bill taking breaks here and there, they both spent all their free-time with their son. However, due to their fears of their son's safety when it came to fans, they had a gate installed around their spacious home and the best security cameras that they could find. 

Neither he or Audra was stupid, the mere thought of an obsessed fan coming after their son haunted his mind...

February, 1986

Meanwhile, for the newlywed Hanscomes, a few weeks after moving in with Ben at his fancy house and marrying (with only a few eyebrows being raised at her ex's disappearance), Beverly also found out she was expecting and her confliction emotions only increased as her pregnancy went on. Memories of the complicated relationship she had with her parents haunted her dreams whenever Ben was working out working late or at a meeting with his company. Despite her complex relationship with her mother, in a way, Beverly felt really bad for her and a part of her wished that they had a better relationship that wasn't so emotionally strained. As a mother working a waitress job in a small yet bustling diner in the late 1950s, using inflation from today, she'd barely have enough to get by today. 

Plus, with the stigma of single mothers at the time, it was very unlikely that her mother would've even gained custody of Beverly...

But her father on the other hand, reminded her more of Freddy Krueger than she cared to admit. The very thought of how he'd react to her having a daughter haunted his mind, especially when he went crazy during that hot summer day back in 1958....

I know that this is bad to say but thankfully my Dad didn't get the chance to meet her....

Holding her newborn daughter in her arms, who was wrapped up in a soft blanket, Beverly couldn't help but marvel at her and the fact that she was finally able to bring a child into the world after so long. She was even more happy that she had her child with Ben, rather than her ex-Tom Rogan. The hospital door slowly opened and Ben stepped in, smiling with bright love in his eyes as he took in their daughter "She's beautiful, Bev..." Kneeling down, he gently ran a hand through their daughter's small head, his smile growing even more "She has your hair..."

"But she also has your spiky hair and eyes, Ben," Beverly murmured softly, kneeling into her husband's warm presence as she examined her daughter's hair. Indeed, what little that their daughter did have was a deep, reddish-auburn that was spiky and untidy like her father's hair when he was younger and a spray of freckles on her peaceful face "What should her name be?"

Staring down at their tiny, newborn daughter and watching her wiggle about ever so slightly, a mental list of names they had compiled filled Ben's head, names that he had discussed with Beverly. But there was one name that stood out like a beacon "Melody....Melody Hope Hanscome...." 

Chapter Text

January 3, 1981


Several weeks after finding out about what had happened at the Overlook, as a snowstorm greeted the new year, brutal screams filled a small, backwater hospital in the countryside of Colorado. Outside of this hospital, a snowstorm raged on in the nearby neighborhood, with icy sheets of rain pouring down.

"M-Mom...." the low whimper from her daughter tore at Concetta's heart as she raked a hand through her daughter's messy hair. Her daughter wore a hospital gown, gripping her hand tightly like she never had before "I...."

"Don't worry, baby, it's almost over," her mother's gentle, soothing voice did little to soothe Alessandra 'Sandy' as the nurse on her other side gently instructed her to push. Tears welled in her eyes as she pushed as hard as she can, her voice straining from the weight of it all and she could've sworn that she saw stars behind her eyelids---

Something seemed to tingle within her belly, something....inhuman as a weak, mewling cry filled the cold, hospital air. Her head slumped back as a small, watery smile spread across her face at the sound.

...By God's, It's the most beautiful sound in the world...

"Congratulations, Ms. Reynolds, it's a girl!"

A girl. She had a baby girl (her baby girl).

Blinking over at the nurse who held her other hand, Sandy blinked at her owlishly as she tried to move her crusted lips "I....I see her? Please?" Her voice was raw and raspy after the hours of labor she had been in, but the desperation behind her voice couldn't be faked.

The nurse said something but Sandy's ears were ringing slightly. But she didn't want to wait. She wanted to see her baby now. Trying to swing her legs to get up from the bed, it was only her mother's gentle encouragement that coaxed her back onto the bed. It was her mother's soft grip on her that gave her courage as the nurses helped clean her up.

After what seemed and felt like an eternity, she felt as though a weight were lifted off of her when another nurse came back, holding a sleeping pink bundle in her arms.

...Her daughter...

"Hello sweetie...." Her voice cracked as her daughter was placed into her arms for the first time. Sandy couldn't stop looking at her even if she tried, taking in her tiny, sleeping face, her cute button nose, and the light strands of hair on her head "You're so beautiful...." And her baby truly was, she was beautiful in ways Sandy couldn't even dream of, in spite of her parentage.

Her mother's hand rested on her shoulder, bringing her back to reality as Sandy took a brief look at her own mother "Lucia...." the name fell from her lips, a name that both she and Concetta had grown to like over the past few months "Lucia Reynolds...." She repeated the name to the nurse, who nodded simply as she wrote the name down.

Looking down at her baby's sleeping, innocent face, Sandy felt something within her harden: in no way would she allow what happened at the Overlook hang over her daughter's head. She wouldn't let the press try to mold her baby into who they wanted her to be, for her baby to be seen as Jack Torrance's daughter.

...No...

Lucia Reynolds would never feel the weight of what her father did at the Overlook loom over her, rather, she would grow up so loved and cherished and in a healthy, stable household, filled with so much support and warmth.

Late, 1985

Soft piano music filled the warm summer air of the Reynolds family home as Concetta bustled about inside the small, yet cozy kitchen, making some dinner and allowing the warm smells to drift in the air. Much like the rest of the house, the kitchen was painted in soft, yet lovely colors—white with blue butterflies, a warm and welcoming place.

Now in her late twenties, Sandy made her way into the living room, where her little girl was practicing. Her little girl had grown up so much, her golden-blonde hair tied into a braid by a ribbon and wearing an adorable, little pink dress. Carding her hands through her little one’s hair, Sandy whispered softy “Okay, Lucy, bedtime…”

“Jus a little more, please?” Lucy begged sweetly, pouting adorably and widening her eyes pleadingly. Sandy chuckled softly, ruffling her daughter’s hair “No sweetie, big day tomorrow….”

That little round, adorable face brightened ever so slightly as a wide, toothy grin spread across her face “Birthday!” Lucy cheered excitedly.

This time, Sandy couldn’t hold back her amused laugh, her eyes sparkling with joy “That’s right. But for now, bedtime…” she smiled as Lucy pouted ever so slightly “Okay….”

                                                                                    ***

After eating dinner and now dressed in a snug nightgown, Lucia cuddled up underneath her bed, her face beaming ever so slightly as her grandmother came in, her weathered face smiling ever so slightly before handing her a stuffed bear “Lucy’s five! Yay!” She cheered happily.

“Not yet, sweetie,” Sandy reminded, lightly kissing her daughter’s forehead before she moved to turn off the lights “Goodnight, sweetie…”

As both closed the door softly, the sound of piano music echoed throughout the house as the lights flickered. Sharing a worried look with her mother, Sandy quickly grabbed the nearest weapon she had—her sowing needle—and carefully made her way into the living room with her grandmother picking up her own weapon. Turning the corner to the living room, both of them ended up stopping cold at the sight they saw.

There is no one in the room. But the piano was softly playing, the same tune Lucy was struggling with earlier.

Three days after New Years Eve, dozens of kids and parents pack the Reynolds family backyard, decorated for Lucy’s birthday party. Both Concetta and Sandy calmly watched little Lucy, dressed in a birthday tiara and carrying her stuffed bunny, run toward them holding out a handmade card and a big smile on her face “Look, Mommy! It’s for you!”

Lucy skipped away, toward the magician who was gathering the kids at the end of the yard. Sandy looked down at the card. Just a simple word: hello☺

The magician slowly held out a red top-hat to the kids with a big, goofy grin on his face “Nothing up my sleeves, nothing up my sleeves...” He suddenly reached in, pulling out a white rabbit. The kids clapped and giggle, and he handed it to Lucy “Abracadabra!”

“I know magic too!” Lucy chirped happily, wishing she could show off her own magic to her friends. The magician lightly pats her head in amusement “Well you get to hold him, birthday girl….”

She pet the bunny, watching with wide, curious eyes as the magician turned over the hat, and silver spoons fell out. The kids laughed, delighted, as he picked them up and started hanging them on his face, the last one balanced on the tip of his nose. Lucy grinned in amusement, holding the bunny in her arms “I can do that.”

The magician nodded, playing along “That’s nice, sweetie.”

                                                      ***

The party was over, the last of the kids trickling out. Concetta and Sandy cleaned up as Lucy played with the last of her friends. The older Reynolds frowned lightly at the birthday cake “We can forget nap time.”

Sandy herself laughed in amusement, watching her daughter run around with her friends “Just a few more hours. Say it with me, just a few more hours –” She smiled in amusement at her mother, heading through the open sliding glass door into the house. As Concetta carefully scooped up the cake, the alarmed voice of Sandy suddenly came from within the house “Mom...”

Entering the house, Concetta found her daughter in the kitchen, as white as a sheet. With a trembling hand, Sandy silently pointed—

The silverware drawers were all opened and out, as though they had been shot out. Forks and knives littered the floor. The very sight—when it was impossible—caused Concetta to let lose a stream of curses that would’ve put her own mother to shame “What the hell?”

“That’s not all, Mom,” Sandy whispered fearfully, pointing at the ceiling. Concetta followed her gaze silently—

All of the spoons were hanging from the ceiling. Dangling, as though magnetized. Their tips barely touched the plaster. They stared at it as Lucy entered, stuffed bunny in her hand. She looked really proud of herself “Abra... cadabra!” She chirped, repeating what the magician said. Sandy turned to her daughter with wide eyes “Honey, did... did you do this?”

Her question and the look on her face caused Lucy’s smile to fade. Her lip started to quiver “Am I in trouble?”

The two older women stared at her, not sure what to say -- as she started to cry, to really let loose—

All of the spoons came crashing to the floor at once.