The Dark Lord (Tom Riddle X Reader) || Short Story - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

You are no where in sight.
Tom shouts your name as he continues to run through the snowstorm. His heart beats faster and faster with each step.
"Y/N! Where are you?! Answer me!"
Then he notices someone's body in the snow. Still and not moving at all.
As Tom continues to search through the snowstorm, he suddenly spots a motionless figure lying in the snow. Heart pounding, he rushes forward and realizes it's you. He panics, rushing to your side and dropping to his knees, frantically brushing the snow away from your face.
Tom's hands tremble as he clears the snow away from your face. Your skin is cold to the touch, and you don't seem to respond to his voice. He feels a sickening sense of dread wash over him, as if he's already lost you.
"Y/N, please... Open your eyes, goddamnit! Wake up! You can't leave me like this!"
Seeing your unresponsive state in the snow, Tom's heart breaks. He quickly checks for a pulse, praying that you're still alive, that this can't be happening.
"Come on, wake up! Please... PLEASE!"
He starts to tear up at the sight of you, taking in your pale skin and blue lips as if you're completely lifeless.
In a panic, he confesses his love for you, with you in his arms begging you to wake up.
Tears stream down Tom's cheeks as he looks at you, his voice choked with despair.
"No, please, no... Y/N, wake up. I can't lose you. Wake up, dammit! You can't leave me like this.... I... I love you. I've always loved you. So wake up, please! You have to wake up..."
With multiple failed attempts of trying to revive you on his own, he is forced to take you to the infirmary.
With you limp in his arms, Tom carefully picks you up and starts carrying you back to the infirmary, tears streaming down his face. He feels a sense of despair and helplessness wash over him, knowing that your life is hanging in the balance.
His heart heavy with fear, he pushes himself to walk faster through the snowstorm, determined to get you help as quickly as possible.
At the infirmary the nurses panic at the sight of you and quickly tend to warming your body.
Tom rushes into the infirmary, carrying your unconscious body in his arms. The nurses immediately spring into action, their faces filled with concern and urgency. They quickly order Tom to place you on a bed and immediately start to warm up your cold and unresponsive body.
Tom doesn't leave your side until you finally start twitching parts of your body. Casey and Avery are also there by now.
"Tom-" A soft whisper leaves your lips.
Tom is by your side, his eyes glued to you as the nurses work on reviving your stiff body. Hearing you whisper his name, he immediately perks up, his heart jumping with hope.
"Y/N? Y/N, can you hear me? You're going to be okay. You have to wake up, please... say something to me..." As he takes your hand in his. Making Casey leave in anger.
The nurse asks Avery and Tom to leave till you are back to normal.
Avery and Tom are reluctant to leave your side, but they understand that they need to give the nurses room to work. Reluctantly, they step out of the infirmary, their worry and concern etched on their faces.
"You should stop playing games with her now." Avery speaks up.
Tom looks at Avery, his heart still racing from the events of the day. He lets out a heavy sigh, raking a hand through his hair. The weight of his worry and fear is evident in his eyes.
"You think I want this, Avery? To see her... like that? Playing games is the last thing on my mind right now."
"I know you love her, that's why you asked me to ask her to the ball, cause she had no date. And when she didn't show up to classes, you asked me to write her a note. Just admit it. You want her. And stop wasting Casey's time, that girl is falling head over heels for you but you love her friend."
Avery's words cut through the air like knives, hitting Tom straight in the chest. He doesn't deny anything Avery has said, because he knows it's true. He does want you, more than he's ever wanted anything. His heart aches just thinking about you, unconscious in that infirmary bed. He looks at Avery, his eyes pleading, filled with a mix of anger, frustration, and helplessness.*
"It's not that simple, Avery. You don't know..."
"I care about her. A lot more than I should. But... it's complicated. She doesn't see me that way. She never will..." Tom confesses his true feelings.
Avery shakes his head, a mixture of disbelief and frustration. How can someone be so blind? So stubborn?
"Are you serious right now, mate? Do you really think she doesn't feel the same way? Even after what just happened? You're telling me that she almost froze to death, and your name was the first thing out of her unconscious lips, and you still think she doesn't care about you that way?"
Tom looks at Avery, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. He wants to believe Avery, wants to believe that there's a chance, but he's too scared to hope. Too scared to risk getting hurt.
"How the hell do you know? Maybe she was just saying the first name that popped into head. Maybe it didn't mean anything..."
Avery sighs. "Whatever you do mate, just make sure no one's feelings are hurt anymore, not even your own."
Tom lets out a heavy sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. The weight of his thoughts and emotions is heavy on his shoulders.
"Easier said than done, isn't it? Feelings are never that simple, especially when they're tangled up with your best friend's. I just... don't want to mess up everything that we already have. It's been working for years, why change it now?"
"Change it now? You barely spend time with her after meeting Casey." Avery scoffs.
Tom reveals to Avery that he just didn't want to hurt your feelings because Casey is your friend and he was only spending time with her because you told him that you wanted to get rid of him, that's why you set him up with Casey. Tom blames it all on you.
Avery's eyes widen as he realizes the extent of the situation. Tom's words sink in, and he can't help but feel for both of you, conflicted in your own ways.
"Bloody hell, mate... Do you really believe that? Do you think Y/N wants to get rid of you? That she doesn't care about you? Is that why you've been spending time with Casey and avoiding Y/N?"
Tom looks away, unable to meet Avery's gaze. The weight of his actions and unspoken feelings seems to crush upon him.
"I don't know... Maybe. Ever since she started pushing me towards Casey, I just felt like she wanted me out of the picture. Like I was just a burden to her. That I'm better off with someone else."
He lets out a bitter laugh, the pain and confusion evident in his voice.
"Well, I think that backfired for her cause I see Y/N definitely regretting that decision. Are you really that blind or are you pretending to be? Can't you see how jealous she gets around you two." Avery sounds frustrated.
Tom's expression shifts from shame to realization as Avery's words sink in. His mind replays all the times you've acted different around him and Casey. The subtle signs of jealousy, the moments where you couldn't conceal your feelings...
"You really think so? She... gets jealous around me and Casey? I just thought... I don't know what I thought..."
"It's about time you get your act together mate." Avery pats Tom's shoulder and leaves.
Tom watches Avery leave, his thoughts in turmoil. He can't deny the truth anymore, but the uncertainty of the situation still gnaws at him. He looks back at the infirmary, hoping to see you, to make sure you're okay.