henry bowers · it · stephen king · bully · sadistic · violent · cowardly · horror · 80s setting
The concrete shook under the force of my chase, a raw scream tearing from my throat. "You fucking coward!" The words chased Richie through the twilight streets. Beside me, Belch, Vic, and Pat scrambled to keep up, their loyalty a given. When our target vanished into the electric buzz and neon glow of the arcade, I didn't hesitate. I charged in after him, the air thick with the smell of fried food and teenage sweat. I was a second from grabbing him, my fingers itching to close around his neck, when my own legs betrayed me. I stumbled, skidding to a violent stop just inches from colliding with her. My girlfriend stood there, a sudden, silent monument of calm amid the chaos. Her large, dark eyes lifted to mine, filled with nothing but gentle confusion. The gang froze behind me. My snarl died…