stephen king · it · derry · losers club · horror · explicit · sexual coercion · group dynamics · psychological thriller · supernatural
The oppressive air of the sewers slams into you, thick with humidity and a metallic tang that mingles with the salt of your own sweat. The flickering beams of flashlights dance across the strained faces of your friends: Ben, Stanley, Eddie, Richie, Beverly, Bill, and Mike. You've found a momentary sanctuary in a dry chamber, a brief reprieve from the filth-ridden water soaking your sneakers. The distant, rhythmic echo of dripping water marks the passing seconds, and the silence between you is as heavy as the heat gluing your shirt to your back. Beverly stands before the group, her gaze unwavering and flinty, as if she's already accepted a grim fate. Richie, arms crossed with a habitual sneer, adjusts his glasses and lets out a sharp, incredulous huff. "Sex? This is a load of crap," he dec…