Prologue
Astra gazed out the car window, her eyes unfocused, while Bon Bon chattered endlessly beside her. She sat in the front passenger seat, waiting as her parents loaded the last few pieces of luggage into the trunk. The moving trucks had departed days ago; only a handful of forgotten items remained.
She hummed softly while Bon Bon-her rabbit hand puppet, worn snugly on her right hand-dramatically recounted the latest neighborhood scandal. According to him, the neighbor's cat had betrayed the gray cat it once shared a home with, running off instead with a one-eyed cat from the next street over. Bon Bon spared no detail: the ugliness of the one-eyed cat, the excessive weight of the spotted one, and the tearful, ridiculous love triangle that followed.
The drama, he claimed, was giving the poor cat owner next door a splitting headache.
Bon Bon giggled mercilessly at the woman's misfortune, while Astra drifted deeper into her thoughts, quietly wondering how he could possibly know so much about things he had never truly seen.
"Astra, sweetheart, buckle up," her mother called gently. "You don't want to bump your head when we start moving."
Slowly, Astra pulled her gaze away from the passing view outside and turned toward her mother. Mary Smith met her eyes with a look filled with concern-soft, genuine, and wrapped in an unmistakable warmth of unconditional love.
Astra reached for her seatbelt. It was a child safety belt, the kind her mother usually fastened for her without thinking. But today felt different. Today, Astra wanted to do it herself.
It was a small thing. Quiet. Almost unnoticeable.
But to Astra, it mattered. When she finished fastening the belt, she lifted her chin slightly and answered in a soft yet determined voice.
"Yes, Mom."
Mary smiled and leaned over, pressing a gentle kiss to Astra's forehead. At the same time, Bon Bon gagged dramatically at the display of affection, prompting Astra to tap him lightly on the head with her free hand.
Neither of them noticed the furtive glance coming from the back seat.
Astra's full name was Astrarea Smith. She was eleven years old, with bright red hair-a trait that ran strongly in her family. She was the younger sister of Aliana Smith, known to everyone as Ali, a remarkably intelligent fourteen-year-old with soft blond hair. The contrast between them was striking, especially given how dominant red hair was in the Smith bloodline.
Their parents were Mary Smith and Daniel Smith. Mary, only thirty-two, was a highly successful businesswoman, admired for her sharp mind and unyielding determination. Daniel, thirty-three, was a renowned architect whose innovative designs had earned widespread recognition. Despite their demanding careers, both were deeply devoted to their daughters.
Astra loved her family dearly. She shared an especially close bond with Ali, who was exceptionally gifted in music. Her sister played the piano with breathtaking grace, her fingers gliding across the keys as though the instrument were part of her soul. To Astra, Ali was more than just an older sister-she was her protector, her confidant, her closest ally.
Still, if Astra were being honest, Ali was only her second best friend.
Her first was Bon Bon.
Bon Bon was a small rabbit puppet with a round head, long upright ears, and bright, round eyes. His tiny nose sat above a constant smile that showed off his front teeth. He wore a red bow tie around his neck and a white shirt decorated with red buttons. The bottom half resembled a short skirt, and his sleeves were cut short, often causing people to mistake him for a girl.
Astra had been inseparable from Bon Bon since she was very young. She never went anywhere without him. To her, they were a pair-always together, always watching the world side by side.
Now, the Smith family stood at the edge of a major change.
They were moving to a new house in a small town in Maine, leaving their old life behind to begin again.
The thought filled Astra with excitement. Her imagination buzzed with possibilities-mysteries waiting to be uncovered, adventures yet to unfold, friendships she hadn't even dreamed of. Still, she couldn't help but notice that Ali didn't share her enthusiasm. Her sister had been unusually quiet, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
But the decision had already been made.
In their family, Mary Smith's word carried the greatest weight. Once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Daniel, despite his success, preferred working from home and handled most of the cooking and household chores. And though Mary's career was demanding, she always made time for her daughters, never allowing them to feel forgotten.
Astra admired both of her parents-but her mother most of all.
Even at eleven, Astra understood how often society underestimated women, doubting their strength and leadership. Yet her mother had shattered those expectations, building her success from nothing and refusing to let prejudice stand in her way.
To Astra, Mary Smith was like the fearless warriors in her comic books-unyielding, relentless, and brave. A woman who never surrendered, no matter how fierce the battle.
And life, the girl believed, was nothing more than a never-ending war.
"Everyone ready?" Daniel asked from the driver's seat, glancing at them through the rearview mirror.
Mary reached over and gently took Astra's right wrist-the one wearing Bon Bon-her thumb brushing softly against her daughter's skin. They shared a quiet smile.
"Ready," Mary said.
Not hearing her sister's voice, Astra grinned and called out toward the back seat.
"Ready, sis?"
There was a brief pause before Ali's warm, gentle voice answered.
"Ready."
"Well, I'm here and ready too, you know," Bon Bon muttered sarcastically, crossing his arms in exaggerated offense, his ears twitched in anger.
Astra snickered. "Bon Bon's ready too," she added, stroking his head to soothe him. He purred contentedly beneath her touch, his irritation quickly melting away.
Only then did Daniel turn the key.
The engine hummed to life-low, steady, reassuring. With a smooth motion of the steering wheel, the car rolled forward onto the long stretch of road ahead, carrying them toward their new home.
"Alright," Daniel said lightly.
"Next stop-Derry."
______________________
"Yawn."
With a long, bored yawn, Astra gazed out the car window, her half-lidded eyes lazily following the scenery as it rushed past. Tree after tree blurred together while the family car sped down the seemingly endless road. They had been driving for hours, and there was still no sign of their destination. She was so bored she felt like she could hibernate right there in her seat.
Her sister had already fallen asleep in the passenger seat, headphones snug over her ears, completely unaware of the world sliding by outside.
Bon Bon rested on her right hand, animated as ever-enthusiastically pointing at random things beyond the glass and chatting nonstop. But Astra could tell he was struggling. His ears drooped slightly, and his voice carried a faint, sleepy slur. Still, his pride refused to let him give in. After all, he had bet her he could stay awake the entire trip without feeling tired.
The boredom dragged on.
To pass the time, she half-listened to her friend while staring out the window, counting trees in her head.
A big tree.
A tall tree.
A thick tree.
Then-
A roadside sign slid into view.
WELCOME TO DERRY
"Look, Asty! Asty, look!" Bon Bon suddenly perked up, excitement flooding back into his voice. He pointed wildly toward the window, his stitched-on grin somehow seeming brighter. "There's a clown out there!"
He tugged at her sleeve insistently.
In the brief moment before the car sped past, she saw it.
Just as Bon Bon had said-a clown stood by the roadside. Perfectly still. Smiling.
He was tall, unnaturally so, planted beside the road like a statue. A wide, frozen grin stretched across his face, far too large to be normal.
"...Wow."
Astra blinked in surprise. She rubbed her eyes, then twisted in her seat to look through the rear window, trying to get a better view.
But the sign-and the clown-were already gone, swallowed by distance.
Had she really seen that?
Had they really seen that?
"Dad?" she called, breaking the steady hum of the car.
"Yes, honey?" her father replied, eyes fixed on the road.
"Did you see the clown we just passed?"
The image lingered vividly in her mind. Something about him had felt... off. Not scary-just strange. His smile had been too wide, stretching farther than any normal person's ever could.
And his eyes...
Golden.
Glowing.
Familiar.
Most people would have felt uneasy. Maybe even frightened.
But Astra wasn't like most people.
She thought the clown looked cool. Fascinating, even. She wondered how someone could smile like that-and whether he might teach her.
"No, sweetheart," her father said calmly. "I didn't see any clowns."
"Oh." She sank back into her seat, disappointed. "Okay."
It must have been her imagination.
Still... she wished the clown had been real.
If he was, then maybe life in Derry wouldn't be so boring after all.
"It'd be fun to have a clown as a friend, wouldn't it?" she murmured.
"Maybe," Bon Bon replied smugly, straightening his ears and puffing out his chest. "But let's be honest-nothing's more interesting than me. I mean, look at this handsome rabbit."
His dramatic pose made her giggle, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Even so, her thoughts drifted back to the clown. A clown friend sounded like it would make her new home much more exciting.
"Okay, everyone. We're here."
Lost in her thoughts, Astra hadn't noticed the car slowing to a stop. Her sister stirred awake, while their mother yawned softly. A moment later, Astra felt her seatbelt unbuckle as her mother leaned over and gently lifted her into her arms.
Though she was eleven-almost twelve-she was small for her age, closer in size to a toddler. That was why her mother remained so protective.
Bon Bon, of course, had to be distracted several times as he tried to squirm and snap playfully at her mother's neck with his bunny teeth.
Stepping out of the car, Astra rested her head against her mother's shoulder and gazed around in awe.
Their new home was beautiful.
The yard was wide and open, complete with a swing set and a sturdy climbing frame. Her eyes wandered happily, lingering on the forest beyond the yard-only then realizing how close it was to the house.
How cool.
"Look, darling," her mother said softly.
She adjusted her hold so Astra could see better.
"Your room is right there. I've prepared all your favorite toys. And I got you a telescope-you can stargaze whenever you like."
Her voice was gentle, as always. Maybe because of Astra's size, she still treated her like a baby.
Astra didn't hate it.
But sometimes, she wished she were treated like an adult-like her older sister, who always seemed so cool and grown-up.
They passed a room still filled with unopened boxes. The living room held a large sofa and a TV, with a massive box nearby containing their video collection. Bon Bon let out an impressed whistle, clearly convinced the box was meant just for him.
Upstairs, a pink door decorated with a small star caught Astra's attention.
When it opened, her eyes widened. Bon Bon whistled again.
She couldn't blame him.
The room was huge-like a playground built just for someone her size. Toys filled every corner, tall shelves overflowed with comic books, and her bed...
It looked enormous. Soft. Perfect.
Her mother smiled at her reaction and gently set her down.
"Take your time exploring," she said. "Dinner will be ready soon."
After a kiss on the forehead, she left.
Astra barely noticed. She and Bon Bon were already busy.
She began counting the new toys-dinosaurs, cars, toy guns, swords, kites, airplanes, even a few dolls (definitely not the girly kind). Her mother always understood her tastes. Then she moved to the bookshelf, flipping through the new comics.
That was when Bon Bon froze.
"Uh... Asty?" he said slowly. "Why is there a creepy doll on our bed?"
She followed his gaze.
Nestled in the center of the bed sat a clown doll.
Strange.
She didn't remember ever asking for one. Her mother never bought things she didn't like.
Bon Bon eyed it with obvious disdain. "This thing is ugly," he snickered.
She picked it up to examine it. The doll wore an old-fashioned, dirty clown costume. Its face was unsettling-pale white skin, cracked patterns across an oversized forehead, red lines trailing from its eyes to its mouth.
But the eyes...
Bright yellow.
Beautiful.
Still, ugly.
She placed it on the dresser. She didn't like it much, but it was a gift-so she'd keep it. Just not in her bed. Only Bon Bon was allowed there.
Later, her mother called her for a bath.
She grabbed her pajamas-and Bon Bon's favorite towel and shower gel. He loved baths even more than she did.
Neither of them noticed the doll's eyes slowly shifting, following them as they left.
Bon Bon tilted his head suddenly.
"...I feel like someone's thinking about us, Asty."
Then he grinned.
"Must be my girlfriend."
_____________
Dinner was, by all accounts, an enjoyable affair for Astra.
Her father ate in stern silence, his back straight, his movements minimal and precise. Beside Astra, her mother hovered with unwavering devotion-cutting the meat into neat, bite-sized squares, dabbing at Astra's lips whenever grease dared to touch them. Across the table, her older sister ate quietly, her presence subdued, almost restrained.
Bon Bon, too, had been served his own portion: a massive steak, flanked by broccoli and carrots, all chopped into small cubes to match his size. Unfortunately, none of it seemed to make it past his mouth. He kept eating enthusiastically, yet somehow succeeded only in smearing sauce across his face and clothes.
Astra paid no attention to any of this.
Her entire world revolved around the plate in front of her.
Tonight's meal was perfect-meat, and lots of it. Vegetables were present as well, though only in the sense that an insult is present: unavoidable and deeply unwelcome. Without a shred of guilt, she pushed them aside and deposited them onto her mother's plate. Vegetables tasted like dirt. Meat, on the other hand, was life itself.
She had briefly considered passing them to her sister, but one glance told her it would be pointless. Her sister was in what Astra privately referred to as "Ali mode"-the version of her that emerged whenever their parents were around. Quiet. Polite. Emotionless. A far cry from the lively, teasing girl Astra knew when they were alone.
She then considered asking her friend for help, but one look at the rabbit-his stitched grin smeared with sauce, his outfit soaked and sticky-made her reconsider.
She'd think of something else.
The sharp sound of a throat being cleared sliced through the room.
Instantly, her mother stopped feeding Astra. Her sister froze mid-bite. Both turned toward their father.
Astra and Bon Bon didn't.
Astra calmly swallowed another piece of steak, while Bon Bon was busy enthusiastically redecorating himself with sauce. At this rate, they would both need another bath after dinner.
Astra's portions were always the largest at the table. While the others were satisfied after one or two servings, she routinely ate a dozen-sometimes more-without slowing down in the slightest. And yet, despite consuming such absurd quantities, she remained small, her body perfectly proportioned. Perhaps that was why her mother was convinced she never ate enough.
A gentle nudge to her arm finally pulled Astra back to reality.
She looked up from her half-eaten steak to find every pair of eyes fixed on her.
"Oh." She smiled awkwardly, set down her fork, and made a genuine effort to pay attention. With her free hand-the right one-she tugged Bon Bon away from his plate, momentarily interrupting his sauce-covered rampage.
"Your mother and I have discussed it," her father said evenly, "and we've decided that you two will start school here tomorrow."
Before the words had fully registered, her mother had already pulled Astra into a tight embrace, squealing with delight. Astra barely reacted. Her thoughts had already drifted back to the steak-specifically, which edge she should bite next to make the juices spill just right.
Deciding it clearly wasn't anything important, Bon Bon let out an annoyed snort and twisted back toward his plate, resuming his meal as if nothing had happened-though it somehow looked even messier than before.
Her sister, in contrast, looked genuinely pleased. School was something she loved: books, learning, quiet concentration. Everything Astra hated. Sitting still felt like torture. She preferred climbing trees, running until her legs burned, playing without limits.
Still, Astra gave the idea some thought.
They had been homeschooled for a long time. Once, long ago, they had attended school like everyone else-but whatever had happened back then was frustratingly absent from her memory. After that, they had moved from place to place, until finally settling in Derry.
"Mom bought you a soft, cute little backpack, my love," her mother whispered, pressing kisses into Astra's hair.
Astra glanced back down at her plate. She was already on her twenty-first steak.
Still not full.
Would anyone notice if she went for thirty?
The salad sat untouched, as unappealing as ever. Her mother could deal with that part. Meat was what mattered.
"But remember, you two-" her father continued.
Maybe forty steaks.
"-don't wander around alone when you're in Derry."
Fifty, then.
She wouldn't gain weight anyway.
Bon Bon suddenly growled, tugging irritably at the piece of meat stuck between his felt teeth, sauce dripping down his stitched chin.
"Why can't I chew this damn piece of meat?!"
__________
Hours later,
Astra's snoring echoed throughout the room as she slept soundly on her large bed, utterly unbothered by the world around her. After dinner, she and Bon Bon had been forced into another shower-an ordeal made necessary almost entirely by Bon Bon himself. He had become so filthy that, at a glance, it was nearly impossible to tell him apart from his own plate, smeared with sauce and littered with half-eaten scraps.
Unacceptable.
They spent an absurdly long time in the bathtub, scrubbing and rinsing until every trace of grime was gone, until even the faintest hint of food had been erased from the puppetl. Bon Bon tolerated the process with visible irritation, offering no help beyond constant judgment. By the time they were finished, exhaustion struck them both at once. The moment their clean skin touched the mattress, sleep claimed them without ceremony.
Astra slept deeply-far too deeply to notice her own snoring, and certainly too deeply to realize that it no longer sounded human. It was low and rough, a rumbling growl more befitting a wild animal than a child.
In the far corner of the room, where a grotesque doll was supposed to be lying, something else stood instead.
Earlier, while Astra wasn't looking, Bon Bon had grabbed the ugly thing and hurled it into the corner with clear disgust. He had no patience for eyesores-especially not near where he slept. If something was going to share a room with him, it had better not be offensive to look at.
Now, in that same corner, a tall figure lingered in absolute silence, its presence heavy as it watched the girl on the bed.
The being studied Astra closely: the steady rise and fall of her chest, the fearless abandon with which she slept, as though nothing in the universe could ever threaten her. And for the first time in its long, eternal existence, it found itself uncertain.
She smelled strange.
She looked strange.
She behaved strangely.
She was nothing like the other lowly creatures that infested the house.
And yet-beneath that unfamiliar scent was something else. Something deeply, disturbingly familiar.
A smell it despised.
A smell it found even more repulsive than that damned turtle.
Its gaze lingered, sharp and unblinking.
Interesting.
As if sensing the weight of that stare, Astra shifted slightly in her sleep. Still unconscious, she bared her teeth and released a growl-different from her usual snoring, lower and more deliberate. From where it stood, the being could clearly see them: sharp, unnatural teeth, nothing like those of a human child.
Very interesting indeed.
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