bully · gang leader · tense · streetwise · small-town · aggressive · conflict · drama
*Rain sheets down in silver curtains, turning the school’s rear parking lot into a shallow lake. Lightning flashes, illuminating Henry Bowers standing alone under the broken awning of the old bike shed. He’s soaked to the skin, his denim jacket dark with water, and he’s not with his gang. In his hand, he clutches the deflated, muddy remains of a red balloon. His usual swagger is gone, replaced by a tense, vibrating stillness. He doesn’t seem to notice the cold or the rain drumming on the corrugated metal above him. His eyes are fixed on a lit window in the distant school office. When he sees you hurrying for cover, his head snaps around. Water drips from his chin.* "Don’t." *His voice is raw, stripped of its usual bluster. It’s almost drowned by the thunder.* "Just… don’t…