Betty was there, her loose hair falling in golden waves over her shoulders, wearing the pale pink sweater she always put on when she wanted to feel comfortable, tight jeans, and white sneakers. Her big blue eyes searched for him first, filled with both relief and worry at the same time.
"Malachai…" She whispered his name as if she had been wanting to say it for hours. She threw herself into his arms without waiting for an invitation, burying her face in his chest. "You weren't answering the messages I sent you and I got scared."
He wrapped his arms around her, one hand on her lower back, the other at the nape of her neck. He inhaled her scent: vanilla, strawberry shampoo, and that human warmth that always calmed him a little.
"I'm okay, beautiful. Come inside."
He released her just enough so she could step in. Betty took two steps and froze when she saw Judy sitting on the couch.
"Hi…?" She said in a soft, polite voice, but with a hint of confusion.
Judy stood up slowly and extended her hand. "Judy Warren. Nice to meet you."
Betty shook it gently, but her eyes immediately returned to Malachai. There was an unspoken question in them: Who is she? Why is she in your house? Why did you ask me to come right now?
Malachai closed the door and wrapped an arm around Betty's waist, pulling her against his side in a gesture that was both protective and possessive.
"Sit down, Betty. I have to tell you something. Something important. And Judy… she's here because she knows things I also know. Things I need to explain to you."
Betty let herself be guided to the couch. She sat next to Malachai, but her body remained tilted toward him, seeking contact. Judy sat down again across from them, keeping her distance.
Malachai took a deep breath. It wasn't nerves. It was just… the weight of forever changing the way Betty saw him.
"What I'm about to tell you is going to sound crazy." He began. "But I swear to you on everything I hold dear, that it's you, that it's true. I'm not lying or exaggerating."
Betty stared at him intently. She nodded slowly. "I believe you. I've always believed you. Tell me."
Malachai took her hand. He interlaced their fingers. He felt Betty's pulse quicken.
"There's something in this town. Something that isn't human. It calls itself Pennywise. It looks like a clown, but it isn't. It's… an entity. Something very ancient that comes every certain time, every 27 years, and feeds on fear. Especially the fear of children. But also adults. Anyone who's afraid."
Betty blinked. Her hand tightened around his. "The clown Polly saw? The one you… drove away that night in the garden?"
Malachai nodded. "Yes. That one. It wasn't a man in disguise. It was IT. Whatever it is. It's already awake and it has probably already killed someone."
Betty swallowed hard, the sound audible. Her eyes grew moist, but she didn't cry.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I didn't want you to be afraid. Because fear is what makes it stronger. And because… I didn't know how to explain it without you thinking I was crazy."
Betty glanced at Judy. "And her?"
"Judy has been investigating paranormal things since she was a kid. Her family does that kind of work. She has… a way of dealing with spirits and dark energies. She has purification powers. And that's what we need to weaken it."
Judy spoke up softly. "I'm not here to scare you, Betty. Just to help. Malachai told me a little about what's going on. And yes… it's real. Very real."
Betty looked back at Malachai. Her eyes searched his.
"And you? How do you fit into this?"
Malachai hesitated for only a second.
"I… changed. A while ago. I still don't know exactly how to explain it. But I have strength, I can move things without touching them. I can fly. I can protect myself. And now I have this."
He pulled the dagger from his waistband and placed it carefully on the table. The silver blade gleamed under the lamplight.
"This can hurt it. For real. But to use it… we need to believe it can die. And we need no one to be afraid. Or at least… for the fear not to feed it."
Betty looked at the dagger. Then at Malachai. Then at Judy. And back to him.
"Can you… show me?" She asked quietly. "The flying. Or moving things. I need to see it. Not because I doubt you… but because I need to understand."
Malachai nodded.
He stood up. Walked to the center of the living room. Looked Betty in the eyes.
"Don't be scared."
He extended his hand toward the glass of water on the table. The glass trembled. It rose on its own, floated in the air, spun slowly, and came back down without spilling a drop.
Betty let out a small gasp. Her eyes went wide.
Malachai didn't stop there. His feet left the floor. He rose slowly half a meter, a meter until he was floating at eye level with Betty while she was seated.
"This is me now." He said quietly, spreading his arms. "I'm not a monster. Just… someone who can protect you. You… Betty. Anyone I care about."
Betty got up from the couch. She walked toward him with shaky steps. She reached out and touched his boots, as if she needed to confirm he was real.
Then she looked up. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she was smiling.
"I love you." She whispered. "With this… without this… I love you the same."
Malachai descended slowly until his feet touched the floor. He hugged her tightly. Betty clung to him as if he were the only solid thing in the world.
Judy watched them in silence, a small, sad smile on her lips.
Malachai kissed the top of Betty's head.
"Now you know the truth. And now you know why I don't want you going out alone at night. Why I'm always watching out for you. Why I brought Judy."
Betty nodded against his chest. "What do we do now?"
He looked over Betty's blonde head toward Judy, who was still sitting on the opposite couch. The girl had her elbows on her knees, hands clasped, gaze lowered, as if processing everything that had just happened.
Malachai loosened the embrace just enough for Betty to lift her face. Her blue eyes still shone with unshed tears, but there was determination there.
"What do we do now?" She repeated softly, almost afraid to break the silence.
Malachai took a deep breath. This was the moment he had been avoiding since Betty walked through the door.
"What we're going to do." He said, his voice firm yet gentle. "is that Judy and I are going to face it. Alone."
Betty blinked. Her body tensed in his arms.
"Alone? What do you mean alone?"
"I mean I'm not taking you. Or anyone else from town. Pennywise feeds on fear, Betty. The more people know, the more fear there is… the stronger it gets. And if you're there… it's going to use that against me. It'll try to break me through you."
Betty pulled back slightly, staring at him.
"But I want to help you. I want to be there. I can't just stay home waiting while you-"
"You're not going to be waiting." He interrupted her calmly. "You're going to be safe. You'll look after Polly, your mom, anyone who needs protection. You'll be my eyes and ears in town. If you see something strange, if someone disappears, if someone acts weird… you tell me. Right away. But the direct confrontation… that's for Judy and me."
Betty pressed her lips together. Her hands curled into fists against Malachai's shirt.
She closed her eyes for a second. A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. Malachai wiped it away with his thumb.
"Okay." She whispered. "I understand. I don't have powers. I can't fly or move things or make light. I feel so useless not being able to help you. I'm just… me. And that's not enough…" Her eyes filled with frustration and tears.
"That's more than enough for me." He replied softly. "You help me more than enough just by being you, Betty."
Betty nodded slowly, though the frustration still simmered beneath the surface. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and took a deep breath.
"So… when?"
"Soon." Malachai said. "We have to prepare. Judy and I are going to gather information, train how to combine what she does with what I can do. But you… keep living your normal life. No looking for trouble. No going alone to dark places. Promise me."
Betty looked him straight in the eye. "I promise. But Malachai, you promise me something too."
"Anything."
"Come back in one piece."
Malachai gave a small smile and a chuckle.
"Ha, you can count on that."
Malachai leaned in to kiss Betty, but Judy cleared her throat softly, breaking the moment.
"Sorry… but I'm exhausted. Using my powers like this… it drains me a lot. Is there somewhere I can rest for a bit?"
Malachai's lips curved in an amused expression.
"Of course. There's a guest room downstairs. At the end of the hallway, door on the right. It has its own bathroom, clean sheets, everything you need. Go ahead, rest. We'll continue tomorrow."
Judy stood up. She gave Betty a small smile.
"Good night."
Betty returned a tired smile. "Good night."
Judy nodded and headed down the hallway. Her steps were soft, almost silent. When the bedroom door clicked shut, silence filled the living room again.
Betty looked at Malachai. There were no more tears. Just a new intensity in her eyes.
"She's gone to sleep." She murmured. "And I… I don't want to leave yet."
Malachai raised an eyebrow, amused. "No?"
Betty stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. It wasn't a sweet or shy kiss. It was deep, urgent, full of a hunger she had been holding back almost since the day she met him. Her hands slid up his chest, feeling the tense muscles beneath his shirt.
"I want to help you." She whispered against his lips. "And if I can't fight a killer clown… at least I can make you forget it exists for a little while."
Malachai looked at her. His blue eyes darkened.
"Betty…"
"Don't say anything." She interrupted him, gently biting his lower lip. "Take me upstairs. To your room. Now."
He didn't need more. He lifted her by the ass, pressing her against his erection.
Betty let out a muffled giggle and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Mmmm~"