Chapter Text
Epilogue
Hallowbrook Cemetery was as quiet as it was peaceful, basking in the morning sunlight.
Crunching through the grass- a group, dressed in black, made their way to the edge of a small pond.
The three children waited as Antony rummaged in his bag, taking out several candles, round and lightweight.
You assumed they were made of paraffin. Not that you could've asked them about it. That would have been impossible.
“They can’t see me, can they?” You asked aloud, leaning against an oak tree. “So what am I exactly? A ghost?”
“You are an echo ” Maturin said gently, his voice floating through the air like the wave of a breeze. “Tethered between this world and beyond- until the day you are reborn ”
“Figures…” you sighed, and approached the group as Ingrid and Erika lit the last candle, rubbing tears from their eyes.
Antony took their hands, and one by one lowered the candles into the water as ripples spread, and lily pads bobbed and knocked into each other.
You reached out for Adam as he buried his face in Antony’s sleeve.
“I want to be with them…” you said, stroking Adam’s hair- but there was no response.
He didn’t flinch. He couldn’t even feel your presence at all.
“It’s not fair…”
“I know ” Maturin replied “But they will be safe ”
“If they leave before IT wakes up again- then sure…” you added glumly, getting a closer view of the candles floating to the middle of the pond.
Each had names written on them as though they were makeshift graves; one for Kitty, one for Brandon...
And one for you.
If you could’ve cried, you would have broken a thousand times by then.
All things considered, you were still some sort of physical being; an iridescent glow, warm, basked around you like a field of sunflowers…
… But no longer having a pulse, no air going in or out of your lungs, and the odd sensation that you were hovering off the ground- well… That would take a bit of getting used to.
Plenty of time to figure it out, anyway. And at least you weren’t on your own.
“You said Pennywise comes back every 27 years…”
Kneeling by the edge of the pond, you traced your fingers across your non-existent reflection as light glimmered off the water’s surface.
“If he’s destroyed, will he... I mean, his Deadlights... Will they leave Earth for good?”
“It’s possible-” Maturin said, his voice raised as if he was puzzled. “Why do you ask? ”
“Nothing, it’s... It’s just... I guess I’m wondering what will happen to me, since, well, we’re both…”
You cleared your throat, trying to shake the thought from your mind.
“Sorry, it doesn’t matter…”
Hand in hand, the group walked away.
Best to let them leave. It would only hurt more if you followed them- their invisible friend.
“Just- when I come back… Could you, could you make sure I stay out of Derry? That is, if you’re able to…”
“As long as it is within my power, I will find a way- no matter what it takes ” Maturin said, with such deep, profound honesty, that you couldn't help but smile.
You turned your gaze to the blue sky overhead.
“That’s all I need”.
~ End ~