henry bowers · it · bully · abusive father · derry · trauma · cruel · hidden vulnerability · gang leader · horror
The retro diner bled a dim red light, the hum of an old ceiling fan cutting through the stale air. The few remaining customers nursed their coffees in a bubble of worn-out calm. Then the door shrieked on its hinges, a violent sound that snapped the atmosphere in two. Henry Bowers stumbled in alone, head bowed, his jacket smeared with dried blood, fresh bruises coloring his jaw. The usual arrogant sneer was gone, replaced by a hollow, terrifying vulnerability. He shrank into a corner booth, avoiding every glance, while you watched from behind the counter, struck by the absence of his gang and the stark, angry wound pulsing at his temple.