Chapter 3: A Dance with Fear

A City Wrapped in Fear

Derry was wrong.

Levi could feel it in the air, in the streets, in the silence that settled over the town like a corpse's breath. It wasn't just a town with a dark history. It was a hunting ground.

And Pennywise was the apex predator.

Levi Morningstar had seen monsters before. Beasts of magic, of shadow, of nightmares made real. He had walked through realms where gods played with the lives of mortals like toys.

But Pennywise was something worse.

A creature that didn't just kill—it made you afraid. It made you weak. And then it fed.

Levi wasn't about to let that happen.

Breaking and Entering

It was past midnight when Levi stepped into the shadows of Derry's main street, his wand hidden beneath his coat. The town was dead silent. No one wandered this late, and if they did, they wouldn't remember in the morning.

Good.

He moved quickly, his eyes locking onto the glass storefront of Harrison's Gun Store. Rifles, shotguns, pistols—everything they would need.

Levi didn't care about laws.

He lifted his wand and whispered a curse under his breath.

"Imperio."

Inside the shop, the old owner—Harrison himself—froze mid-step, his eyes clouding over like misted glass. His body stiffened before turning slowly, awaiting orders.

"Unlock the door," Levi commanded, his voice smooth, unwavering.

The old man obeyed.

With a soft click, the door swung open. Levi stepped inside, the smell of gunpowder thick in the air. The shop was dimly lit, but he didn't need light.

"Gather pistols, shotguns, and ammo," Levi ordered. "Put them in bags."

Harrison nodded mechanically, moving with stiff, unnatural movements. Levi watched as the man loaded up a duffel bag, filling it with Glock 19s, Colt M1911s, Smith & Wesson revolvers, double-barrel shotguns, and a handful of AR-15s.

Enough to fight a war.

Enough to kill a monster.

Levi grabbed a black Desert Eagle, spinning it in his hand before tucking it into his coat.

"Good," he muttered.

He turned his gaze back to Harrison, his lips curling into a smirk.

"Avada Kedavra."

A bolt of sickly green light shot forward, hitting the man square in the chest. He didn't scream. Didn't even react. He just collapsed, his body hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Levi stepped over him.

"Can't have you remembering this, old man."

With a flick of his wand, he vanished into the night.

Guns Over Magic

The next day, the Losers' Club stood in the middle of the Barrens, staring at the open duffel bags in shock.

"You—you stole guns?!" Eddie squeaked, his asthma inhaler shaking in his grip.

"Correction," Levi said smoothly, pulling out a pistol and tossing it to Beverly. "I acquired guns."

Richie grabbed a shotgun, whistling. "Ohhh, I like this plan."

"You like every plan that can get us killed!" Stan snapped.

Levi rolled his eyes. "We're not fighting Pennywise with fists. That thing isn't human. It won't go down easily. But guess what?"

He lifted his own gun, cocking it with a sharp click.

"Everything dies when you shoot it enough times."

Bill hesitated, his hands tightening into fists. "We don't know if this will work…"

Levi smirked. "That's why we're going to find out."

The Hunt Begins

Levi led them back to Neibolt House, the place where Pennywise lurked.

The group stood at the entrance, guns in hand. Even Stan, who looked like he wanted to puke, had a pistol tucked into his waistband.

"You guys ready?" Levi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Beverly cracked her knuckles. "Hell yeah."

Richie grinned. "Let's kill a damn clown."

With that, they stepped inside.

And Pennywise was waiting.