The first thing Alexander felt was a strange feeling of inconsistency. As if he put on a suit a few sizes smaller - everything seemed tight, uncomfortable, wrong. He opened his eyes and found that he was lying on an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room.
"Penalty zone," he immediately thought, remembering the last words of the Devil.
Alexander sat down and looked around. The room was typically teenage - horror movie posters on the walls, a mess on the table, clothes scattered on the floor. There were figures of various monsters on the shelves, and comics and magazines about horror movies were on the desktop.
"Interesting. I got into the body of a horror lover," Alexander said to himself.
He got up and went to the mirror. The reflection showed him an unfamiliar face - a boy of about sixteen with dark hair and serious eyes. Pretty ordinary appearance, nothing special.
"Okay, so I'm in the body of a teenager. Judging by the room, from a wealthy family. Now I need to understand which movie I found myself in."
Alexander tried to remember everything he knew about horror movies in which teenagers were the main characters. The list was quite long - from classic slashers to modern horrors.
"We need more information. First, I'll find out the name of this guy and who his family is."
He began to examine the room more carefully. There was a school notebook with the name "Jonathan Shaw" on the cover on the table.
"Jonathan Shaw. Okay, now I know the name."
Alexander opened the notebook and turned through a few pages. Ordinary school records, nothing special. But on one of the pages he saw drawings - rather gloomy images of monsters and demons, made with good skill.
"A talented boy. And he's obviously fond of dark topics."
Suddenly, a girl of about eighteen with long blond hair broke into the room. She was dressed in home clothes and looked irritated.
- Johnny! - she exclaimed. - Are you going to have breakfast or will you be lying in bed all day?
Alexander quickly realized that it was most likely Jonathan's sister. He nodded:
- I'm already getting up... uh...
- Sienna," the girl said, looking at him with surprise. - Johnny, did you hit your head? Why do you call me so strangely?
"That's the first problem. You need to be more careful," Alexander thought.
- I just haven't fully woken up yet," he replied, trying to speak more carelessly, like a teenager. - I'll come now.
Sienna stayed at the door, studying him with her eyes:
- Are you sure you're okay? You're kind of... different today.
- Everything is fine, - Alexander assured her. - I just didn't sleep well.
- Okay, - Sienna agreed uncertainly. - But hurry up, or mom will mumble again.
She left, but Alexander noticed that she still looked worried. He needed to be more careful - too striking changes in behavior could attract unwanted attention.
"So, Jonathan has a sister Sienna and a mother. So far, an ordinary family. But I'm in a horror movie, so calmness is a deceptive impression."
Alexander quickly put on the clothes he found in the closet - jeans and a black T-shirt with the logo of some rock band. Everything was a little big for him, but tolerable.
Going down to the first floor, he found himself in a cozy kitchen, where a middle-aged woman with a tired face was sitting at the table - obviously the mother of the family. Sienna was standing by the stove, cooking breakfast.
"Good morning, Mom," said Alexander, trying to sound natural.
The woman raised her head and smiled:
- Good morning, Johnny. How did you sleep?
"It's okay," he answered, sitting down at the table.
Sienna put a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of him, but continued to study him with her eyes. Alexander felt her suspicion.
"You need to behave more naturally. But how does an ordinary sixteen-year-old boy behave?"
He started eating, thinking about his situation. Physically, he felt much weaker than usual. No supernatural abilities, no enhanced vision or reaction. He really became an ordinary teenager.
"We need to find out which movie I'm in. And for this I need additional information."
- Mom, - he turned to the woman, - remind me, what city do we live in?
Mother looked at him in surprise:
- Jonathan, what are the strange questions? We live in Miles County, as we always lived.
"Miles County... The name doesn't mean anything to me."
- Ah... what date is it today? - he tried again.
Now both women looked at him with concern.
- Johnny, - Sienna said seriously, - are you sure you feel good? Maybe you should go to the doctor?
- No, no, - Alexander answered hastily. - I just... I went to bed late yesterday, read. The brains haven't turned on yet.
- Next time go to bed on time, - said the mother sternly. - You have school tomorrow.
"School. Another problem I didn't think about."
Alexander nodded and continued to have breakfast, thinking about his situation. He got stuck in the body of a teenager in an unfamiliar movie, had no idea what dangers awaited him, and at the same time he had to portray an ordinary schoolboy.
"The worst thing is that I have no idea who the main villain is here and when he will appear. In "It" I at least knew what I was dealing with. And here..."
- Johnny, - Sienna interrupted his thoughts, - are you going to meet your friends today?
- With friends? - Alexander asked again, realizing that he had fallen into another trap.
- Yes, you negotiated with Allie yesterday, - Sienna reminded. - Or did you forget?
"Who is Allie? And what did they agree on?"
- Ah... remind me what we agreed on? - he asked cautiously.
Sienna was finally wary:
- Jonathan, what's going on with you? You suggested going to the mall yourself. He said he wanted to buy a new comic.
"Shopping center. In horror movies, shopping malls are rarely safe places."
- Yes, exactly, - Alexander nodded. - It's just... the head still doesn't work well. Of course, I remember.
But Sienna obviously suspected something. She sat down next to him and looked carefully into his eyes:
- Johnny, can you tell me what happened? You've been acting very strangely since the morning.
Alexander realized that he needed to come up with a plausible explanation:
- It's just... I had a very strange dream. Very realistic. It was as if I was someone else, in a different place. And now I feel like I don't quite understand where I am.
"At least it's partly true."
Sienna relaxed a little:
- I see. Yes, there are such dreams. I remember once I dreamed that I was a famous actress, and I couldn't figure out why I was at home and not on the set for half a day.
- It's about the same feeling, - Alexander agreed.
- Okay, - said Sienna, getting up from the table. - But if you feel bad, tell me. Maybe you should stay at home.
- No, everything is fine, - Alexander assured her. - I can handle it.
After breakfast, he went up to his room and began to study Jonathan's things more thoroughly. There were DVDs with horror movies on the shelves - classics like "Friday the 13th" and "Halloween", as well as more modern tapes.
"The boy is really fond of horror. It can be useful - maybe he knows how to survive in such situations."
Alexander examined Jonathan's drawings more carefully. Many of them depicted clowns - but not cheerful circus clowns, but gloomy, threatening creatures with scald teeth and burning eyes.
"Clowns... This can be a hint. But killer clowns are a fairly common theme in horror movies."
He sat down at his desk and tried to systematize what he knew:
1. He is in the body of Jonathan Shaw, a teenager from Miles County
2. He has an older sister Sienna and a mother
3. Jonathan is fond of horror movies and draws dark pictures
4. He has a friend named Alli
5. They planned to meet at the mall
"So far, everything looks quite ordinary. But it's a horror movie, so there's a monster or a murderer hiding somewhere here."
Alexander tried to remember everything he had heard about modern horror movies with clowns. Of course, there was "It", but it just came back from there. There was also an old movie "31" by Rob Zombie, several independent tapes...
"Stop. I think I remember something. There was a pretty famous movie about a killer clown... what was his name? "Terrifying"? Yes, exactly! But I didn't watch it, I just read the reviews."
Memories began to clear up. The film was about a clown named Art, who staged a bloody massacre. Alexander remembered that the movie was quite cruel, but he didn't know the details of the plot.
"If it's really "Terrifying", then I need to be extremely careful. As far as I remember, a lot of people died in that movie."
The question was when exactly the clown would appear and how he could be stopped. In "It" Pennywise had certain weaknesses - faith, children's friendship, iron. What about Art?
"We need more information. Maybe there is something in this house that will help me understand the situation."
Alexander left the room and walked around the house. The house was two-story, quite spacious. On the ground floor there is a kitchen, a living room, an office. There are bedrooms on the second floor. An ordinary family house in the suburbs.
He found family photos in the office. The whole family was on them - father, mother, Sienna and Jonathan. But the father was nowhere to be seen, and he was not in the more recent photos.
"The father died or left the family. Another typical detail for horror is that an incomplete family is more vulnerable."
There were local newspapers on the coffee table in the living room. Alexander quickly flipped through them, looking for any mentions of strange incidents or crimes. So far, nothing suspicious.
"Perhaps the events have not yet begun. Or I got to the very beginning of the movie."
He returned to his room and lay down on the bed, thinking about further actions. The main problem was that he didn't know exactly what he was dealing with. Unlike "It", where he understood the nature of the enemy, here he was practically blind.
"We need to prepare for any options. If it's really "Terrifying", then the clown will appear sooner or later. And then the main thing is not to panic and find a way to destroy it."
Alexander got up and began to examine the room from a practical point of view. What could be used as a weapon? The scissors on the table are too small. The metal ruler is also not very effective. Lamp - you can break and use sharp fragments.
"It's a pity that my sword has disappeared. It would be much easier with him."
He found a baseball bat in the closet - it's better. Alexander picked her up and made a few test swings. Jonathan's body was not as strong as his own, but the bat could still be a good weapon.
"Good. If something happens, I'll have at least some protection."
He hid the bat under the bed so that it would be at hand, but it didn't attract attention.
Footsteps were heard in the corridor, and in a moment Sienna looked into the room:
- Johnny, are you ready to go? Allie is already waiting for us downstairs.
Alexander looked out the window and saw a girl of about fifteen standing at the entrance to the house. Blond hair, bright clothes, a friendly smile - a typical American schoolgirl.
"So, the meeting in the shopping center will still take place. You need to be ready for any surprises."
"Yes, I'm ready," he replied to Sienna.
- Great. Mom gave money for comics and lunch, - said Sienna, handing him several banknotes. - Just don't buy anything too creepy, otherwise I'm afraid to sleep in the same room with you later.
Alexander grinned:
- I promise to choose something relatively harmless.
- Yeah, of course, - Sienna responded skeptically. - Your "harmless" is when a monster kills people not too bloody.
"If you knew what real monsters I had to face," Alexander thought.
They went down, and Alexander saw Allie up close for the first time. The girl really looked like a typical friend of the main character from a teenage horror - sweet, naive, doomed to become one of the first victims.
- Hi, Johnny! - Allie greeted him cheerfully. - Ready to go shopping for comics?
- Of course, - Alexander replied, trying to sound friendly.
- By the way, - Allie added, - I heard that a new suit store opened in the mall. Do you want to stop by? Halloween is coming soon!
"Halloween. In horror movies, this holiday rarely passes quietly."
- Why not, - Alexander agreed.
They said goodbye to Jonathan's mother and left the house. The day was sunny and warm - the complete opposite of the gloomy atmosphere that Alexander expected to see in a horror movie.
"But this does not mean that there is no danger. In many horror movies, horror comes exactly when you least expect it."
On the way to the bus stop, Allie chatted about school news, and Sienna sometimes inserted her comments. Alexander listened half-handly, focusing more on observing the surrounding environment.
The area looked typically American - neat houses with lawns, white fences, playgrounds. No signs of impending danger.
"But I know it's a deceptive calm. The only question is when and where the threat will appear."
The bus arrived on time, and they drove towards the shopping center. Alexander sat by the window and thought about his situation.
"So, what do I know for sure:
1. I'm in the penalty area, in Jonathan Shaw's body
2. Apparently, it's the movie "Terrifying", although I'm not one hundred percent sure
3. The main threat is a killer clown named Art
4. I need to survive until the end of the movie to get back to the Devil
The shopping center turned out to be quite large - three floors of shops, cafes and entertainment. There were a lot of people here on Saturday, especially teenagers and families with children.
"The perfect place for mass murder," Alexander said gloomily to himself.
The first thing they did was go to the comic book store. Jonathan, apparently, was a regular customer - the seller greeted him by name and immediately showed new arrivals.
Alexander looked through several comics, but his thoughts were busy with something completely different. He was constantly looking around, looking for any signs of danger.
"So far, everything is calm. But in horror movies, calmness is a lull before the storm."
- Johnny, will you choose something or will you stand and think all day? - Alli asked.
- Yes, I'm sorry, - Alexander replied, taking the first comic book he came across. - I'll take this one.
The seller looked at his choice and was surprised:
- "My little pony"? Johnny, are you serious?
Alexander looked at the cover and realized his mistake. He quickly put the comic back and took another one - this time about zombies.
"This one," he corrected himself.
Allie and Sienna looked at each other.
- Exactly, there's something wrong with you, - said Sienna. - You've never read comics about ponies, but also confused them with horror... It's already too much.
Alexander realized that he had attracted attention again:
- I was just thinking about something else. Everything is fine.
After buying a comic book, they went to see the costume store that Allie was talking about. The store was quite large, with many different outfits - from superheroes to classic monsters.
Alexander stopped near the shop window with clown costumes. There were quite a lot of them - funny circus clowns, evil clowns from horror movies, classic images.
"I wonder if there is a costume of the same Art here?"
- Oh, look! - Allie exclaimed, pointing to one of the costumes. - What a creepy clown!
Alexander looked in that direction and felt his heart pounding. A black and white clown costume with a small hat and a collar hung on the hanger. This is exactly the outfit that Art wore in the movie.
"Here it is. Now I know exactly what movie I'm in."
- Yes, creepy, - he agreed, trying to speak calmly. - I wonder who buys such a suit?
- Probably some psychopath, - Allie laughed. - A normal person in such a person will not go even for Halloween.
"If you knew how to be right..."
Suddenly, Alexander noticed a movement in the mirror that was hanging next to the showcase. Behind their backs stood a tall thin man in the same black and white clown costume. White face, black lips, a small hat on his head.
Art.
Alexander turned around abruptly, but saw no one. Only ordinary buyers considering costumes.
"Did it really seem to me?"
- What happened? - Sienna asked, noticing his sharp movement.
- Nothing, - Alexander replied. - It just seemed that someone was watching.
He once again carefully examined the store, but did not see anyone suspicious. Maybe it was really his imagination.
"Or Art is already here, but so far he is only watching. Anyway, I need to be ready."
- Let's get out of here," he suggested. - I don't like something here.
- Come on, - Allie objected. - We just came! I want to see the princess costumes.
- Please, - Alexander insisted. - It's just... a bad feeling.
Sienna looked at him carefully:
- Johnny, you're really acting weird. Usually you love all kinds of horror, but today you are afraid of clown costumes.
"The problem is what I know: these costumes can become a reality."
- Okay, - Allie agreed. - Let's go to a cafe, and then we'll be back.
They left the costume store and headed to the food court. Alexander was constantly looking around, checking if anyone suspicious was following them.
"So far, everything is calm. But I know it's temporary. Art will appear sooner or later, and then the massacre will begin."
They ordered hamburgers and soda in the cafe. Allie and Sienna chatted about school news and plans for the weekend, and Alexander silently ate and thought about the survival strategy.
"The main thing is not to let Art isolate us. We have more chances in the group. And you need to stay away from dark places - basements, parking lots, empty corridors."
- Johnny, - Allie called him, - are you even listening to us?
- What? - Alexander woke up. - Sorry, I was thinking.
- We are asking if you want to go to the movies with us tomorrow? They show a new horror.
"Horror. How ironic."
- We'll see, - he answered evasively. - Maybe.
- "Maybe"? - Sienna was surprised. - You love horror! Usually you're the first to suggest going to horror movies.
Alexander realized that he was not acting like Jonathan again:
- It's just... I've been wanting something different lately. Maybe we'll watch a comedy?
Both girls stared at him like a madman.
- Jonathan Shaw suggests watching a comedy instead of a horror movie? - Sienna said slowly. - Exactly, you're sick. We'll take you to the doctor tomorrow.
- No, I'm fine, - Alexander assured them. - It's just... that's the mood.
"You need to be more careful. Too drastic changes in behavior can attract unwanted attention not only from Art, but also from the family."
After lunch, they walked around the mall a little more. Alexander noticed that there were fewer people - many had already gone home. And in horror movies, empty places have always meant danger.
- Maybe it's time for us to go home too? - he suggested.
- It's too early, - Allie objected. - Let's go to slot machines again.
The play area was located on the third floor, in the far corner of the shopping center. The place was quite secluded, with dim lighting.
"The perfect place to attack," Alexander thought.
But there was no choice - Allie had already headed for the stairs, and Sienna followed her. Alexander reluctantly followed, constantly looking around.
There were only a few people in the play area - a couple of teenagers were playing a fighting game, a little boy and his father were shooting virtual ducks. Quite a harmless picture.
Allie and Sienna got carried away with the game "Dance Revolution", and Alexander stood nearby and watched the surrounding environment. Something bothered him, but he couldn't figure out what exactly.
And then he saw it.
In the far corner of the hall, in the shade between two machines, there was a familiar figure. Black and white suit, white face, little hat. Art looked straight at them and slowly raised his hand in a welcoming gesture.
This time it was definitely not imagination.
- Girls, - Alexander said quietly, - we need to leave. Right now.