The Bound Collision

Chapter 26

FOURTH'S POV:-

I rolled over the bed as I tried to flutter my eyes open, I did not want to wake up yet, but got forcefully woken up by a loud crash, followed by a series of hurried footsteps and muffled voices. I groggily rubbed my eyes and sat up, trying to make sense of the chaos. My mind was still half-asleep, but the noise was impossible to ignore.

"What the hell is going on?" I muttered to myself, swinging my legs off the bed and standing up. As I made my way to the door, I heard Ford's voice echoing through the hallway, sounding both frantic and bewildered.

"WHAT THE-WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Ford's voice was high-pitched and slightly panicked.

Why is he yelling this early in the morning, huh?

I scratched the back of my head in irritation but my curiosity piqued, I hurried out of my room as I walked towards the stairs, and near the stairs the scene that greeted me was nothing short of a comedic disaster.

Ford was standing in his pajamas, his hair sticking up in all directions, looking like he had just rolled out of bed. In front of him stood Atlas, holding a breakfast tray with a mess of scrambled eggs, toasts and orange juice splattered all over the floor. Atlas looked equally startled, his wide eyes darting between Ford and the mess on the floor.

"I... I was trying to make breakfast," Atlas stammered, his voice small.

"BREAKFAST?!" Ford repeated, incredulous. "FOR WHAT? WHO-HOW DID YOU EVEN GET HERE?!"

At that moment, Ford's frantic movements caused him to step on a piece of toast, sending him slipping and landing on his back with a loud thud. I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the sight.

"Oh my God, dude, are you okay?" I managed to say between fits of laughter.

Ford groaned and sat up, rubbing the back of his head. He frantically pointed a finger towards a confused Atlas, "Fourth?! Fourth...Can you-Can you see that kid-there's a ki-kid there, Oh my god!? Is our house haunted now or wh-"

"Ford!", I tried to control his blabber. I walked over and helped Ford to his feet.

Still chuckling, " Calm down, okay? Ford, this is Atlas. He... um... stayed over last night."

Ford's eyes widened in disbelief. "Stayed over? Without us knowing?!"

Atlas looked up at me with a mixture of guilt and embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I just wanted to make you breakfast."

"Me?", I pointed towards me,  a bit surprised

He nodded slightly, "Its a.....", Atlas looked around as if trying to think what to say next, " -thank you gift", he added giving me a small smile.

Thank you gift?

For me?

This 10-year-old prepared a full breakfast as a thank you gift for me?

I blankly looked at Atlas, as he smiled at me, but before I could say something, Ford cut in between with a "No", as he gasped-

I confusedly looked at Ford who was frantically looking at me and Atlas simultaneously,

Why the hell is there horror in his eyes?

"Fourth-", he somehow managed to stutter, "Is-Is he...b-but how is that possible?", Ford kept on looking at me.....with very widened eyes-

"What?", I said, clearly confused with this sudden odd reaction from him-

"...oh no-", Ford whispered