Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
Neil Perry was dead.
He shot himself in the head in his father's study with his father's gun on the best night of his life.
His dad found him. He heard the gunshot and smelled the gunpowder when he stepped into the room. He held Neil close for the first time, calling him his son instead of a disappointment.
His mother came in next, falling into hysterics the second she saw how her husband was crying for the first time in his life.
What about Welton? The students? Mr. Keating? The remaining dead poets?
The students had a variety of reactions. Underclassmen were unsure of how to feel. They didn't know Neil Perry. The juniors and seniors were more effected, having either known Neil or have seen him around, aware of what a bright person he was.
Keating was hurt. Heartbroken. Like he lost his own son. He knew Neil. He knew that Neil wouldn't make such a drastic decision like this for no reason.
Now the poets... Well...
Charlie was Neil's best friend from childhood. He was the first to hear about Neil dying. It was like a part of his personality got ripped out. He never smiled again.
Cameron was the first one to be woken up by Charlie since they were roommates. Cameron was shocked, unsure of what to think or feel, his mind running with questions. Who let this happen? Why did Neil do it? How did they never see?
Knox was the second one Charlie woke up. When he first heard, he thought it was some sick joke Charlie pulled. He didn't cry, but you could see it in his eyes that he wanted to.
They went to Meeks and Pitts's room next, waking them up at the same time. Even with tragedy, they always did things together.
Meeks cried. Oh, he cried. Pitts had gone right to his side, tears falling down his face that he didn't acknowledge as he kept an arm around Meeks. But if they thought Meeks's crying was bad, they weren't ready for who was next.
They woke up Todd last. It was Charlie's idea. He didn't give a reason, but he always thought that Neil and Todd had something more than just friendship going on. He knew Todd would take it hard. He was already a sensitive kid.
Charlie woke up Todd, who was reluctant to wake, but it was like his soul knew something was different. That something was wrong. He sat up and looked to Charlie, who still had tears falling down his face. Charlie told him.
"Neil's dead."
Todd had wasted no time to rush outside, ignoring the freezing cold snow and the air piercing his skin. He was so striking with grief that he threw up right there in the snow, shaking and sobbing to the point he couldn't breath.
You can ask any of the boys what the hardest part of hearing about Neil's death was, and they'd tell you the same thing.
The hardest part was watching Todd run through the snow to the dock on the frozen lake, screaming Neil's name like his vocal cords were going to give out.
Welton as a whole was in a shock. They never had an attending student kill himself. Nolan received a call from the Perry's, saying how Neil was dead and that Keating must be responsible considering the fact he encouraged Neil to pursue acting.
Now Keating and The Dead Poets Society were under investigation.
Cameron wasted no time siding with Welton, going straight to Nolan and telling all the tales of Keating and the society. Just like Charlie knew he would.
That's why Charlie punched Cameron in the face. He said it didn't matter. Said he would be expelled either way.
Meeks, Knox, and Pitts were all forced to confess as well, signing a paper to essentially confirm that it was Keating's fault Neil was dead.
Todd was the only one who put up a fight, but even he was forced to sign.
Now Neil was dead, Keating was fired, and Charlie was expelled.
Neil's funeral was heartbreaking. All the poets carried his coffin. Todd was crying the whole time. He couldn't say a word. Hell, all of the poets were struggling.
They saw the coffin get lowered underground and buried deep. Todd sat by the fresh grave for hours, snow falling over him and the boy who would never get to grow up.
Neil Perry was dead.
So why was there a frantic knocking at Todd's window, waking him up from a restless sleep, months after Neil's death?
Todd pulled himself out of bed, rubbing at his eyes as he flicked on his bedroom light, ignoring the empty bed on the other side of the room.
He looked outside, and...
Nothing.
Nothing was out there.
Todd sighed, almost about to sit down, when he heard that knocking again. And this time when he turned around, he swore he had officially gone insane.
Neil was out there, holding onto the windows edge like his life depended on it, eyes wide with fear and panting like he ran a mile.
Todd threw open the window, certain he was hallucinating, but no. Neil climbed through the window and hit the floor with a thud, wincing at the impact.
Todd stepped back, eyes wide. "Wh... This is... I must be going nuts..." He stammered, hand shaking as he pushed his hair back. He felt about ready to pass out.
Neil stood up, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile. He looked alive. Well, besides the pale skin. And were those fangs—
"Hey, so... Kind of a funny story." Neil started, but that seemed to freak out Todd more.
"H-How are you here?!" He shouted, and Neil panicked, waving his hands around like crazy.
"Todd. Listen—"
"You're dead! You're in the cemetery!" Todd yelped, forgetting to keep check of his volume.
"Anderson, calm down!" Neil still tried to quiet him, but it was no use.
Todd was pacing. "You shot yourself and—"
"Todd!" Neil grabbed a hold of Todd's wrists, making him stop his pacing. "You have to calm down. Please. Just... Let me explain."
Todd managed to at least stop panicking outwardly, but his mind was a mess. God, Neil's hands were so unnaturally cold.
He gulped, looking up at Neil with those wide eyes. It was like... Well...
It was like seeing a ghost.
Todd managed to give Neil a nod in response, too stunned to speak. Neil relaxed, keeping his hands around Todd's wrists. He seemed pretty thankful for his compliance.
"I kinda just... Woke up in the morgue." He started, wincing in preparation for Todd to shout again. Todd was still kind of frozen in shock, leaving him the opportunity to continue talking.
Neil sighed. "That's why my casket wasn't open." He said, offering Todd a careful smile. "I escaped the morgue to try and get back here to tell you that I was ok."
Todd inhaled, wanting to say something but not exactly sure how. "But you... You shot yourself, Neil." He said bluntly.
Neil looked away, a small frown on his face. "Yeah, uhm... I did." He looked back to Todd, almost cautious. "When I woke up, I realized..."
He trailed off, getting distracted by how Todd was looking at him. Wide eyes, brows furrowed, and almost like he was ready to pass out from either lack of sleep or shock.
"Now, don't pass out on me..." Neil warned carefully, his thumbs tracing circles on Todd's wrists. "I think..." He took a deep breath, finally getting the words out.
"I think I might be a vampire."