K I N G

t w e n t y - f i v e

dread
verb
anticipate with great apprehension or fear

Todd's POV
Todd wanted nothing more than to run after that car. Of course Neil had said he would be fine, but Todd knew him better than that. Neil hid his pain from others. What good did it do him to express it to a father who cared nothing about it? Todd started to step towards the road when Mr. Keating pulled him back wearing a grim expression.

"Let's not make it worse. We'll see Neil tomorrow."

The word hopefully went unsaid and thought by everyone. But Todd couldn't accept that. Neil needed him.

"But--"

"It's okay kiddo. Perry's dad will threaten him with military school and give him a good lecture before sending him back. This isn't the first time Neil's pissed off his father."

The words did nothing to calm the storm inside of Todd. Todd felt dizzy with worry for Neil. Is he okay? No he obviously wasn't, but the real question was will he be better tomorrow? Todd felt tears spill down his face as his first instinct was to answer no. This pain wouldn't wash away after one night. The kind of pain Neil felt was crippling. Neil carried his father's expectations like Atlas holding up the sky. Desperate not to be crushed under it's weight, he walked with shaky legs and trembling arms. When would it become too much? When would the weight finally crush him?

These questions haunted Todd late into the night. He was tortured by the dark thoughts of his mind telling him Neil wouldn't be here the next day. Sighing heavily, Todd rolled out of his bed and rubbed his eyes as he walked towards the window. He needed something to distract himself. Todd shivered as goosebumps rose over his flesh from the biting cold of winter. There was a small layer of snow caked over Welton. From the looks of the furiously falling flurries, Todd believed it wouldn't be stopping soon. Todd twitched as he thought he heard something in the distance. The snow was whispering to him.

Todd, it said sadly, the tone borderline guilty. Todd.

Todd's breath hitched as he realized it sounded exactly like Neil's.

I'm sorry Todd.

"No," Todd answered, shaking his head as tears splash over his cheeks.

Oh God, Todd's finally lost it! Talking to himself and hearing voices was only the first step towards insanity. But why did he feel so scared? Because of the voice or what it was saying?

Be strong. I wasn't, I never was. But you can be.

Todd's breath started to quicken. He opened his mouth to talk back, but quickly glued his lips together. He was afraid of what the voice would say next.

I love you Todd.

"I-I love you too," Todd whispered, choking over the lump in his throat.

Suddenly, Todd felt warmth spread throughout his body. As if he was being encompassed by an invisible force, a very familiar force. However he couldn't quite place where he knew this kind of loving warm from.

Neil, Todd thought. It felt like Neil.

Then it was gone as quickly as it came. Todd was left shivering in the cold, snowing breeze alone.

Todd gasped as his eyes flew open. He groaned and shivered as he rose from his bed to shut the window, his hands shaking.

"It was only a dream," Todd said in a desperate tone as he settled back into his bed.

Yet he couldn't shake the sinking feeling of what his dream meant. His eyes flickered towards Neil's empty bed and he couldn't hold back the flood. Gross sobs racked his body. It felt like a hole had been punched straight through his chest. Todd was hyperventilating, his vision turned fuzzy and strangely blue for a second before his body collapsed onto the bed exhausted. After a few moments, his breathing slowed. Todd stared at Neil's empty bed, not daring to bat a single eyelash. Todd stared until the sun began to rise, feeling both empty and hopeful.

Neil had to come back. Todd needed him to.