Todd could hear him moving around. He tried to pretend he couldn't but in the end he opened his eyes and sat up watching Neil.
Neil Perry. The only person who had ever understood Todd and Neil didn't understand himself. That was how he'd got into this mess. Carpe Diem wasn't advice, it was a warning. It was a warning that came too late.
He couldn't stop what was happening, but Todd knew he couldn't let Neil go through it alone. Going with him would be much easier than being left behind alone.
Todd stood up and took Neil's hand silently, heading for the door. The pair of them walked hand in hand, padding barefoot, dressed only in their pyjama's to the entrance of Welton Academy.
It was snowing as Todd opened the door and stepped out onto the frosty pavement. It was completely silent as they wandered across the grounds following the stream towards the 'Indian's Cave'.
Todd had known all along what Neil was planning to do, so he had taken some things from the school and set up something else so Neil wouldn't have to go through it alone.
By the time they reached the cave, they were soaked through from the snow fall. But it didn't matter. If they were cold then it would numb the pain.
Before they stepped inside Todd paused and Neil turned to look at him.
"Carpe Diem," Todd whispered, the tiniest hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Neil nodded and very gently kissed his best friend before they entered the cave.
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The two of them were reported missing early the next morning. It had snowed heavily so there were no tracks left outside. Mr. Perry believed that John Keating must have kidnapped the pair, or given them some place to hide.
Many of the boys were questioned, but none of them knew the whereabouts of either of them. However there were five boys who had a hunch.
The remaining members of the Dead Poets Society found their two friends later that day. They were seemingly frozen, their hands still entwined.
