Castaway || mgc

25

animal

          the cafeteria seems crowded and i don't know why. they don't make a noise because none of the patients are talking but i can see that there are more people in here today.

          i don't see calum at all but to my surprise, my sight lands on the blond boy sitting alone with a few nurses standing not far from him.

          luke doesn't speak, but i decide to approach him anyway. the nurses all give me a knowing look when i stand in front of the table, attempting to take a seat.

          for the first time ever, i have his blue eyes staring into my green ones. but they look so...sad.

          he looks so tired and empty, his eyes dull and soulless. i feel sorry for him, having to deal with whatever demon that's haunting him the way it does to me.

          "hi, luke." i force a smile and he doesn't blink as he stares at me, "i'm michael."

          he looks down and plays with the food on his plate by pushing them around with his spoon before setting it down.

          luke seems hesitant as he fiddles with his fingers, mouth quivering like he wants to say something.

          "m-michael?" he looks up at me, making the dark eyebags underneath his eyes more visible.

          the nurses behind him stare at me with a startled look on their faces. it's like they're surprised that he's talking to me.

          "c-can we go somewhere else? i d-don't really like, uh, staying in this room." his eyes focus on something past my shoulder and i crook my eyebrows as i slowly turn around.

          my eyes scan the area before they land on the boy with sandy blond hair—ashton.

          and that's when i see the girl that always haunts me standing behind him, another unknown one right next to her.

          i bet she's luke's demon.

          "m-michael, please. take m-me out of this cafeteria." his voice comes out in barely a whisper.

          ashton is emotionless, his head hung low as he stares at the food on his plate without making a sound.

          the two creatures behind him creep me out as the smile on their faces stretch from ear to ear.

          i get up and grab luke's hand, ignoring the nurses that are supposed to guard him. "c'mon, luke." i pull him as we walk towards the door, "let's go somewhere else."

          luke's grasp on my hand tightens with every step we take, and i understand how scared he is.

          he's not an animal that has to be caged, he's a human being that needs to be saved.