How to Train a Dragon 2~ Pain. Torture. Love

Chapter five~Smile Always

My heavy eye lids struggled to open as the sound of loud snoring filled my ears. The sun streaked through the large window that was hanging above my desk. My father's hand gripped my legs tighter, pulling me closer to his body.

Oh right...I had a break down last night...

I glanced up at my dad seeing dark circles under his eyes. My lips turned down.

He's been getting no sleep since I've been getting these night terrors. He worries way too much. Even if its a father's job, I still feel so guilty. I bet he's been neglecting the village as well. Another good excuse to get harassed.

After what felt like a life time, my father loosened his grip enough for me to slip away. My toes touch the freezing old wooden slabs as I tip-toe over to the door.

Please don't wake up please don't wake up

"Hiccup!" I froze.

"H-Hey dad!" I sheepishly turned to see my father's big smile and arms stretched wide. My hand scratched the back of my head, "Sorry to wake you, I was just going to go flying with Toothless."

He lifted me off the ground, gently hugging me, "I'm so happy your awake! You've been suffering from night terrors for a week now." His loving smile healed a portion of my hurting, bruised soul.

Oh how I missed my father's smile and compassion.

"A week? Well, I'm better now. Thank you for being there for me. I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for you." I flashed my best smile. It's not that I didn't mean what I said. I loved him with everything I had, but I couldn't show him that I was dead on the inside. That Viggo stole what it meant to be happy. Stripped me of every emotion that brought me joy.

My best smile must not of been that great cause his big smile turned to a frown within a second of seeing it, "Hiccup, I know your lying. No one can recover that quickly. Especially a young lad like yourself."

How could I forget that almost everyone I know can read me like an open book. There's no way to escape their worry gazes or the deep concern in their voices.

"Look," I tried to sound as brave as I could, "I promise that I'm okay. I mean, I'm not all there but I need to fly. I need to get away from everything."

My father's thumb gently rubbed my cheek, "Alright, but I don't want you to leave Berk-" 

"Oh I don't plan to," I shuttered thinking about Viggo getting his hands on me. I felt safer on Berk. Normally, I wouldn't want others to get involved but I was too scared of him. I didn't want to be brave when it came to him.

He smiled big gently gripping my shoulders before kissing my forehead, "Thank you son," His smile widened, "Now, go on and enjoy this day! Let your worries fly away in the wind."

 I nodded pushing the door open. How can I pretend to be happy when I'm not? No one is going to believe me. They'll be even more worried if I fake being happy, but I can't exactly just be slumped over wishing I was never born.

A powerful force slammed my back against the stairs as my body gets covered in Dragon slobber, "Yuck! Toothless!" A real smile formed on my lips even a soft laughter. Something that was music to my own ears. "Oh toothless," My arms wrapped around his scaly neck gripping him tight to me, "I love you so much bud. I missed you."

Toothless jumped up and down with the cutest gummy smile he could muster. His smile made me smile. I jumped on his black leather saddle as we raced out the door.

The crisp cool air blew through every strain of my hair, lifting my arms in the air, "Whoooo!" I laughed, "Nothing beats this, right bud?" My dragon grumbled happily flashing his gummy smile again. His eyes full of love and peacefulness. He's never been peaceful. 

My hands stroked his head, "We're safe at last and I promise I won't put you in any more danger."

I laid back on my dragon watching the white fluffy clouds whizz past us.

"Oh my gosh, Hiccup?!"

Sitting up, I look to my left to see Snoutlout smiling big, "Hey cousin!"

His dragon got closer to mine, "You have no idea how happy I am to see you! Everyone was so worried about you," He paused gazing past me for a brief moment before snapping his eyes back on mine, "C'mon! I gotta show you something."

Snoutlout zoomed past me to the left and I patted toothless neck, "Follow Hookfan." He grumbled in response changing direction.

"Where are we going?"

Snoutlout glanced over at me, "You'll see, its a surprise."

The skies quickly darkened. Flashes of lighting illuminated the the clouds, "Uh, why is it so dark and stormy all the sudden?"

The thunder grew louder the farther we went in, well into whatever this is.

"Snoutlout?" His figure slowly disappeared before my eyes, "Snoutlout!"

I glanced down at toothless who only flew faster. My grip tightens on the saddle as we continue into the pitch blackness. The storm only getting my severe. Winds began to rock us back and forth, "Oh this is so not good, Toothless!" My dragon roared fear filling the creature as he attempts to fly even faster.

Oh Thor, where did he even go?

A bright shined out of the darkness, I squinted my eyes as Toothless flew closer to it. As we got closer, a huge campfire came into my view.

What if this is a trap? Maybe I should-

The wind blew harder causing toothless to spiral out of control, "Whoa, whoa whoa! Toothless, c'mon bud try to straighten!" I shrieked as my world spun faster and faster.

My body flung off the saddle as a sudden stop forced my body to tumble across the rough dirt. A sharp pain penetrated my shoulder causing me to cry out before another sharp pain vibrated from my back. Black blurry figures started making their way toward me, one figure leading the rest.

Before unconsciousness took over completely, a twisted evil smile made my blood run cold.

Can't be...