A/N This is a oneshot on our young Todd's first night to the Crazy House. Any critique is welcome.
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Young Todd Casil squirmed, struggling to free himself from the straight-jacket's hold. How did all those magicians on television escape from these things? The little boy shut his eyes tightly, trying to keep calm. But frightening images laid in wait beneath his eyelids, terible things, twisted demons howling with blood spilling, dead children with hollow eyes choking, enormous dust mites filled with blood lust, and that neighbor, oh, that crazy neighbor of his...
"Shmee!" Todd gasped, opening his eyes. The battered and rather haunted teddy bear, sprawled out on the stone floor, stared up at him with curious rectangular eyes. Remain calm, said the icy voice in Todd's mind, They will release you from your bonds once they realize you are not violent. Remain calm. Someday, you will escape from this stink hole, and then...
Todd knew this was Shmee speaking, but he couldn't help but whimper. Shmee, although a comfort and a sponge to his fears, frightened him with his whisperings of evil doings. This world was a scary place! Especially with that neighbor of his.
Glancing around, he noticed slime on the walls and cracks in the floor. What a horrible place! Creaking and groaning could be heard throughout the prison, echoing and screaming with terror. If he angled his head just right, he could hear the young girl in the next cell, shrieking for her mother. He shuddered. An insane asylm! The loony bin! The crazy house... Todd remembered when his father told him, just yesterday, that this would be his new home. His mother pretended her glass of water was a space ship.
The crazy house! He squirmed again, then fell over, cheeck pressed against the damp floor. His dark hair was in his eyes, and his terror was building. Screams! Shadows! Demons! Satan! The young boy, with rapidly decreasing innocence, could hear dark things whispering his nickname, the name he answered to as if it were his true one. Squee, Squee... they whispered. "Squee!" Todd choked, dry sobs caught in his throat. He wanted home, however neglectful it was. Closing his eyes once more, he yelled, his throat raw and bleeding. "I'm not crazy!" The words were lost in the gloom. "Why won't anyone believe me?" he shouted, a tear rolling down his cheek, not expecting an answer.
And, of course, he never got one.