"Yeah," Billy nodded. "It was some time before I met you. A being known as the Nightmare King intensified our worst nightmares, willing our deepest fears to come to life. Mine was that I would lose control of myself and be forced to watch as I hurt my friends---and that's exactly what happened. I was far too close to killing them."

He took a breath, trying to keep that emotion under control. "I blamed myself for the longest time. Eventually, though, my friends forced the guilt out of me. They understood. And yours do too."

As for Alex's worries? He shifts closer again, cautiously resting a hand on Alex's back."If that happens, we'll search far and wide and find a way to beat the shadow. They didn't give up on me, so I'm not giving up on anyone else either."