The clown's grin stretched impossibly wide, exposing jagged, sharp teeth in the dim light. Beverly screamed, her voice filled with terror, as she struggled against its long, thin arms. The clown held her tightly, its mocking gaze fixed on Ash and James.
They sprinted toward the car, adrenaline pushing them forward, but before they could reach her, the clown tilted its head in cruel amusement.
A low, chilling laugh escaped its lips, freezing them in their tracks. Then, with an unnatural shimmer, the clown and Beverly vanished, leaving behind a heavy silence that pressed down on the empty street.
Ash stopped abruptly, panting, while James stood rigid, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
The silence was broken by a strange dripping noise. Their eyes darted to the car's windshield, where blood was forming in thin streams, trickling down slowly. The blood spelled out jagged words: "COME TO THE WELL HOUSE."
Ash's jaw tightened as he stared at the message. He reached out hesitantly to touch it. The blood was warm, its metallic scent sharp in the cold air.
James's voice was low but steady. "We need to move. Now."
Before Ash could respond, his phone buzzed, snapping him out of his daze. He fumbled to answer, seeing Ellen's name flashing on the screen.
"Ellen!" he shouted. "That thing took Beverly! It said to meet it at the Well House."
Ellen said urgently. "That's what It wants—to lure you in. Listen to me carefully. I've been researching what we're dealing with. It's not just a simple spirit. It's an ancient entity that feeds on fear. It's called It, and it's been hunting for centuries. It probably took Beverly to feed on her fear. Maybe it will feed off her and then rest for another 27 years."
"Then why did it ask us to come?," James muttered darkly.
"Maybe it wants to use us as an appetizer?" Ash wondered.
"Might be," Ellen answered vaguely as she too was not clear on why James and Ash were invited.
"How do we kill it?" James asked after a moment.
"There's only one way," Ellen said. "You have to perform the Ritual of Chüd. It's an ancient psychic battle of wills that forces It into submission. But it won't be easy. If you fail, you're done for."
"How does it work?" Ash asked, gripping the phone tightly.
"You start by biting your tongue and forcing It to accept the challenge," Ellen explained. "Once it does, you'll be drawn into a mental battle. You'll need to face your fears, mock It, and show you're not afraid. If you can overpower it mentally, you can destroy it."
James raised an eyebrow. "So, we just... insult a cosmic monster into giving up?"
Ellen's voice sharpened. "It's more than that, James. You have to believe it has no power over you. Fear is its weapon. If you falter, it'll destroy you with your own nightmares."
"What do we need to prepare?" Ash asked.
"Salt and iron to protect your bodies while you're performing the ritual," Ellen replied. "Candles, too, one for each of you. Once everything's ready, start the ritual by chanting: 'Turn bog nohgh, cahn nehwi.' It's ancient magic that forces It to reveal its true form."
Ellen's voice softened. "Be careful, boys. This thing thrives on your fear. Stay together, and don't lose focus."
Ash ended the call and turned to James. "We're getting Beverly back. No matter what."
Ash and James climbed into the car, the tension between them thick as they drove away from the blood-streaked windshield. The smell of blood mixed with their nerves. Ash gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles pale against the dark leather, while James stared out the window, his jaw clenched and fists still tightly balled.
The silence stretched on as the tires hummed against the road, but Ash finally spoke. "You good?"
James snorted quietly, not looking at him. "Define 'good,' Ash. Beverly's gone, we've got a creepy clown trying to eat our souls, and now we're supposed to face down some ancient evil. Not really my idea of a good time."
Ash glanced at him quickly, his expression softening. "We'll get her back. I promise, we'll figure this out."
James gave a bitter laugh. "You're real optimistic, huh? You didn't see its face, Ash. That thing... it looked at me like it knew every messed up thought I've ever had." He hesitated, voice low. "It's not just Beverly it's after. It's messing with us."
Ash tightened his grip on the wheel. "It feeds on fear, right? That's what Ellen said. We just have to stay calm. No fear, no power over us."
James turned to him, voice rough. "It's not that simple. Fear's not something you can just switch off, Ash. It's like... breathing." He exhaled deeply, looking away. "Especially when it comes to clowns. I hate clowns."
Ash smiled. "Oh, I almost forgot about that."
James nodded reluctantly, his lips pressed into a tight line. "Yeah, laugh it up. But I've hated them since I was a kid. Every time I see one, it's like I'm losing control. It's stupid, I know, but there it is."
Ash kept his voice calm, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I'm not laughing. Everyone's got their thing, man."
James shrugged, shoulders tense. "To you it's just a clown, right? A real monster wearing that face....To me it's like my worst fear come to life."
Ash nodded slowly trying to wipe off the smile on his face. "James, you're tougher than you think. You've faced worse than clowns. When that freak shows up, we just need to remind ourselves—it's not real. It's just a mask trying to scare us. And we won't let it win."
James nodded slowly, still on edge. "You're way too optimistic, you know that?"
"Someone's gotta be," Ash said with a faint grin.
The car pulled into the parking lot of a nearby hardware store. The neon lights flickered, casting eerie shadows over the entrance. Ash turned off the engine, and they both stepped out into the cold night air, their breath forming clouds in the chill.
James glanced at the store's dim interior. "Let's just grab what we need and get out of here."
Ash nodded, and together they walked in, gathered the supplies, and were back on the road in no time.
The road stretched ahead, eerie and quiet. The woods on either side seemed alive, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. Shadows danced in the car's headlights, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
When the Well House came into view, its decaying frame loomed like a nightmare. Broken windows and a sagging roof framed the open door, creaking faintly in the wind. The air around the house was heavy, thick with an unnatural chill.
Ash parked the car and turned to James. "Stick together. No splitting up. The second it shows up, you light that thing up."
"Got it," James said, checking his weapons.
They approached the house cautiously, the floorboards creaking under their weight. The air inside was damp and cold, carrying the faint stench of decay. A broken staircase leaned precariously, and shadows shifted unnaturally along the walls.
A rusty music box in the corner began playing on its own, the haunting tune echoing eerily through the room.
Ash rolled his eyes. "Of course. Creepy clown lair has creepy clown music."
James paused, then grinned wryly. "You know, is actually a beautiful song, but people started associating it with horror stuff, so now it's a nightmare trigger."
Ash raised an eyebrow as the delicate, eerie tune played on:
Tiptoe through the window,
By the window, that is where I'll be,
Come tiptoe through the tulips with me...
Ash shook his head. "Still creepy. But hey, it is a nice song."
James ignored the comment, his focus razor-sharp. "Stay alert. This thing isn't playing games anymore."
With weapons ready and Ellen's instructions clear, they moved deeper into the house, ready to face the monster head-on.
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