This is one of the most well-written toxic relationships I've ever witnessed in fictional form. Leave it to Stephen King to weave a tale about a clever, bright, young white boy and an ex-Nazi in hiding and make it incredibly engrossing. As a fellow student who bet everything with good grades, whose life depended on those rows of As and Bs, I understand very well the thought process of Todd Bowden, whose world can come crashing down just by being given Flunk Cards. That's real, folks.

Also, I very much agree with the other reviewer who wrote that Todd is "a monster in the making", and witnessing him going further down the hell's pit is a fascinating, yet super creepy experience. My favorite part is when Todd had to rely on Dussander's help to fix the mess he was in, the mess he created himself, and by doing so he couldn't break free from the old man's grip.

"Apt Pupil" maybe not the finest short story King ever crafted, but it sure one of the most interesting in terms of premises and the follow-through.