CHAPTER TWO

Chapter Two

Adam led me down the darkened hall, my heart pounding with every step. 

The air in this mansion was colder, thicker, as if the walls were holding secrets too painful to be spoken out loud.

His warning echoed in my mind."Don't say I didn't warn you."

We stood in front of a sleek, black door that blended into the modern design of the home. I observed as Samir's hand hovered over the knob for a moment prior to he ultimately opened it.

Breathless, I braced myself.

Inside the room was oddly quiet. Sun streamed in through the enormous windows, illuminating a space that is spotless but empty.

A pale grey carpet covered the ground, toys and books sat neatly on their shelves, unopened. And in the center of the room, in an oversized armchair, all curled up, was a little boy with his back to us. Sami.

His dark hair was somewhat tousled, his small body swallowed up by the chair. He did not even attempt to turn around or even react to us whatsoever.

I made a hesitant step forward, but Adam's voice stopped me.

"Do not expect him to respond," he says, his voice level, but with something restrained.

I turned, glancing back at him. "Has he always been like this?"

Adam's jaw tightens. "He has not said past a few sentences in the last six months."

Six months!

My heart clenched as I was met with the form of Sami, who was there hugging his knees to his chest, his small fingers gripping the fabric of his sweater as if it's the only thing holding him to the real world. 

I walked a few steps and stopped next to him, crouching down to his level, attempting not to get too close.

"Hi, Sami." My voice is soft, friendly

Silence.

He didn't budge, but I could see the way his shoulders tightened just a little. He'd heard me.

Something, fear and loss, or something else, is keeping him trapped inside himself.

I smiled gently. "You don't have to talk to me. But I'd very much like to be your friend."

Still nothing.

Adam fidgeted behind me, impatience evident in his posture.

"See? I told you."

Totally ignoring him, I sat down slowly onto the floor, drawing my knees up as if I couldn't be bothered with anything else.

"Do you know I have a daughter?" I said flatly, attempting to keep my voice light. "She's six, and she loves dinosaurs."

I dug into my bag, producing a small plastic dinosaur toy and placing it on the floor next to me. "She said I should bring this, just in case you like dinosaurs too."

Sami's fingers fluttered.

It was tiny, hardly perceptible, but my heart skipped a beat.

Adam, though, let out a sigh. "This is useless."

"Maybe it is. But I don't think he's the problem." I snapped, glancing at him with annoyance simmering just beneath my skin.

Adam's expression turned stern. "And what does that tell you?"

I rise, my voice even. "It means you're speaking like he's some lost soul. Some busted part of something that has to be fixed."

His eyes had drawn in ominously. "And you can fix that in a week?"

I exhaled and looked again at Sami, still crumpled over his chair. "I don't know. But I want to try."

For a moment, Adam hadn't said a word. And then he whirled around.

"Lunch is at one. Be there."

And with that, he was gone.

I wasn't supposed to resume till tomorrow, why was he asking me to stay for lunch? I watched him leave the door before turning to Sami.

He still hasn't moved. But the dinosaur?

It is no longer where I had left it.

……….

The dining area was as cold as the house itself. Across from us ran a big dark wood table, but only three of us occupied the space: Adam at the top, Sami to the right of him, and myself further down the table.

Lunch had been served, but the silence was oppressive. Sami pushed at his food, obviously not interested. Adam barely touched his food, his eyes flicking between me and his son. I focused on Sami.

"Do you know Lee likes to eat her rice one grain at a time?" I suddenly burst out, shattering the silence. "She says it makes the food last longer."

Sami remained silent, but I could have sworn I detected a spark of amusement in his eyes.

Adam exhaled a rough breath. "Are you always this talkative?"

"Only when I need to be."

Adam glanced at me for a moment, something unreadable in his eyes. Then he pushed his plate away and stood up.

"I have work to do."

 "Lunch isn't over." I said, lifting an eyebrow.

"I'm done."

He walked out of the room without a word, leaving Sami and me alone.

"I guess it's just us, then." I sighed at the look on the little boy's face.

His eyes flashed back toward the door, his small hands clenched tighter on the fork.

And I just sat there, watching him.

"You miss your dad, don't you?" I said softly.

Sami tensed. He must have been wondering how I knew.

"I know how that feels." I smiled sorrowfully.

There was a loud silence between the two of us. I never once looked away from him, I simply stared. I saw him move his hands, then ever so slightly, Sami's grip on the fork relaxed.

It wasn't much, but it was something.