Ana had learned a little bit while the shadow was gone. One, that the kid in front of her was no longer a threat to her. Sure he may be a bit ecstatic and overly quick to make a choice, but his intentions were good.
Two, although he's just rambling about a random video game, he isn't as slow as it might seem. Within his talkative manner, there are hints of him smarter than most five year olds. Even though he isn't saying anything in particular, even if she makes the slightest movement that might indicate boredom, he's quick to acknowledge it, he's even predicted a couple of her thoughts right before she says it. Sure it could just be decent social skills, but its almost like he's-
"Hey. Just because you don't trust me, doesn't mean you have to analyze everything I do. It has to make your head hurt right?" His tone was calm, casually dismissing her thoughts.
"H-how did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Tell what I'm thinking! Normal people don't do that!"
The boy paused at Ana's words tilting his head at her almost confused by her clear statement. A pause was held between the two before the boy straightened up.
"Normal. . . That doesn't exist." He coldly muttered, his face mellowing out as he looked at the fire.
"What do you mean? Of course it exists!" She insisted.
The boy frowned as he leaned off the desk, sitting on the floor across from Ana as he crossed his legs, His gaze was growing colder the more they stared as he sighed.
" I think people can't tell the difference between normal, and common. Common is when a majority can collectively agree on an objective action or opinion. Like decent clothes, eating three meals a day, and talking to people. What people don't understand is that ''normal'' is a contradiction. "
"Everyone likes to say that normal is the same as common, but they aren't. While common is objective and comes from things that people do on a collective and can be backed up with logic and science-normal can't. Because normal falls upon what people deem normal."
"Racism is common, but is it normal? Should it be normal? I don't think so."
"Should sexism be normal? No, of course not. But thats what people don't understand. People aren't normal, they're raised to follow whatever they can view as ''common'' and that becomes their ''normality''." He spoke so clearly, like he was giving a speech. Ana could only sit there in confusion, and astonishment at the large amount of information being spoken."
"Wow.. . That. . . was a lot. Are you really my age?" She asked. The boy nodded, counting his fingers one at a time, before putting up four fingers.
"Four? You look five, like me!" She exclaimed.
The boy laughed wholly as he softly stuck his hand out.
"Siren"
Ana stared at the hand for a moment, hesitation fueling her movements as she shook the his hand.
"Ana."
Siren smirked as he looked above her. A shadow looming over. A sense of dread washed over her as she looked up, seeing The familiar grin staring hollowly at her.
The shadow was back.