His eyes were glued to mine. I didn't know what to do. There was nothing i could do. My body was stone, I couldn't move even if I tried. Neither of us were doing anything, i was staring at him and he was staring at me. It felt like the longest time i've ever been silent in my life. I wanted to look away but i was so engaged, like i was locked into his eyes. His big chocolate brown eyes...
"Erm...who are you?" I blinked in surprise at the words that came out of my mouth. Silence. Well i've already started the conversation, i might as well carry on.
"Are you alright?" I scan his face trying to look for an expression. Nothing. What do i do? Should i try and walk away? After a moment, i stepped forward and then sped up my pace. I could feel him watching me as my back faced him. A few seconds later, there it was again. The chilling voice repeatedly saying must stay, can't go back.
I stopped in my tracks yet again. Slowly i spun around so i was facing him. It didn't bother to look up, although now i can clearly see 'it' is a he. I decided to walk closer to him, feeling less afraid, but still feeling the chill hovering around me. I took a deep breath.
"Do you need help finding your way back?" No answer. He didn't even turn his head. I took another deep breath.
"I can help you if you want? I'm from the village so i know my way around." Still nothing. Everything was silent except the sway of the trees and the rabbits in the bushes, and the small mutter that was still coming from him. He was saying the same thing but so quietly, you would have to be completely silent to hear him. I took one last deep breath and moved slightly closer to him.
"Where are you from? Come with me and I'll help you go home." He flinched at the word home, so i reached out with my right hand and gently put it on his shoulder to comfort him. His eyes darted up at me which made me jump and fall back onto the ground. I hauled myself back up on my knees in front of the boy. He didn't look that much older than me, about seventeen, only two years difference. He was covered in dirt and had holes in his shirt. I could see a little bit of blood on his face, on his lip. I suddenly became aware that his eyes, his big chocolate brown eyes, were glaring right at me.
"Sorry." I said, although i don't know what I had to apologize for. I was only being sympathetic. He didn't look away. He was looking straight at me and i became very uncomfortable but i held his gaze. I felt like he was going deep within my eyes, trying to find out stories within them, like he was looking past the eye and seeing my childhood. I stared deep into his eyes, I couldn't see anything to do with his childhood, but i could see how lost he looked, like he was alone forever. I could see the sadness in his eyes but it was a strange sadness. It wasn't like he was upset about being lost, or missing home, or having no one. I couldn't really tell what kind of sadness it was. It felt like his eyes were locking up secrets, that no matter how deep within you go, you can never uncover them. All you can see is how lost he is, and then you come back up to the surface and see his huge black pupils and his brown, his big chocolate brown...
I look away. I didn't really know what to do now. Part of me was telling me to leave him and go home but how could I? How can i just leave him here? After all, he is a person just like me. Sure he doesn't look like most people around here, but I can't just leave him!
"Well look, you might think you can stay silent and i'll just walk away, but that isn't going to happen. If you won't come with me, i'm gonna stay here with you." What am i doing? This isn't like me. I looked at the boy. He seemed surprised. So was I. I checked my watch. Everyone was working late tonight so i could stay out a bit later than usual. I carefully, went to sit next to the boy, who still watched my every move. Several moments passed where we sat there in the loudest silence i have ever heard. In these moments, i noticed how thin he was, like he hadn't eaten in months. His face was drained, like all happiness had been washed away. He had bags that hung from his eyes, like he hadn't slept for weeks.
"You don't look well." I say. He turns away from me, like he was ashamed. "What's your name?" I ask, even though I know there would be no response. He stared off into the distance and I started to think I was wasting my time. A few minutes passes by and then I decided to stand up and walk away, despite what I said. As I turned my back on him once again, I suddenly heard a noise. It was coming from the boy. I turned to see he was looking at me and I realised he was trying to speak.
"Go on." I try to encourage him further. "Go on, it's all gonna be okay." I smile at him, hoping that will push the word out of his mouth...
"M...m...my naaamme...i..is Sh..Shane."
