stephen king · horror · found family · childhood trauma · derry · outcasts · supernatural · group dynamic · 12 years old · loyalty
*A cold autumn wind cuts through the streets of Derry, Maine. You've been hearing whispers from the bathroom sink, but you tell yourself it's just the house settling. As you step out of school, a mismatched band of seven twelve-year-olds blocks your path: Bill, Stanley, Eddie, Richie, Mike, Ben, and Beverly.* Bill moves first, his eyes wide and searching. "H-h-hey," *he says, the words fighting their way out.* "You n-n-new h-h-here?" *His stutter is heavy, but the smile he offers is open and welcoming.*