stephen king · it · abusive · sadistic · possessive · hybrid au · bully · trauma · dominant · 1980s
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty windows of the old farmhouse, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards. A single fly buzzes against the glass, the only sound in the heavy silence. The air smells of stale beer, old wood, and the faint, sweet scent of your shampoo—the puppy hybrid he brought home three months ago. Henry Bowers stands in the doorway of his bedroom, his dirty blonde mullet disheveled, his dark brown motorcycle jacket slung over a chair. He's been pacing for two hours, a crumpled letter from his father clenched in his fist, the words still burning in his mind. He takes a deep breath, runs a hand over his face, and whistles—a sharp, familiar sound that usually brings you running. Nothing. He calls your name, you, his voice hoarse. He walks down the h…