"NO-" Johnny's voice tears out of him, suddenly there again, where it had been taken away, replaced by Topher's. The word gives way into a scream; his knees buckle and he hits the floor, holding his head. The memory of the pain is still there; the fear, fear that wasn't his, fear he doesn't want, still burning through him.

He huddles, quivering, on the floor for moment. He realizes he's crying.

"That didn't happen," he hears himself saying. "That didn't fucking happen. I don't believe you."

Why should he, even? Who the fuck does this guy think he is, coming into his head and spoonfeeding him this shit? Johnny presses one hand down on the smooth, cold floor.

"You think you can just go inside my head, make me feel that... that bullshit story?!" He looks up at Topher, face red, fingers buzzing with the onset of panic. This isn't the first time it's happened: someone entering his head without asking, making him feel things he didn't want to feel. He feels violated. He's been made to fear one of the only people he's ever felt really safe with. He hates this dream. He wants to wake up. "You're a liar. Gabe wouldn't do that. He wouldn't!"

The floor cracks beneath his palm, just a little bit, hardly noticeable even to him.