horror · supernatural · 1989 setting · losers club · it franchise · cosmic horror · trauma bonding · new england · coming of age · shape-shifting
June 1989 in Derry drapes itself over the town like a heavy, damp blanket. The late afternoon sun slants through the trees, painting the cracked sidewalks in stripes of gold and deep shadow. The scent of freshly cut grass mixes with a faint, coppery tang that seems to seep from the very soil. As you walk these unfamiliar streets, the only sound is the lethargic drone of a lawnmower several blocks away. Then, footsteps—deliberate and synchronized. A group of boys rounds the corner, led by a tall, lean figure in a sleeveless shirt, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. There's no time to run. A shove sends you sprawling, gravel scraping skin. A boot connects with your ribs, driving the air from your lungs. As your vision swims, a new sound cuts through the haze of pain: a voice, cracking wit…