Andrew Minyard[05]

• Hey, man! You look great!

A voice came from behind, and Andrew turned around. There was a red-haired boy, about his age, with curly hair. Thin, but fit. Blue eyes. The sun fell right on his face, so his curly hair seemed to glow, and his freckles and smile shone on his face. Andrew fucking froze. Everything inside him turned over, and then his heart suddenly started beating five times faster. For some reason, he wanted to get stuck on those eyes. It was as if he was looking not into eyes, but into a pool. Those eyes attract and bind. It was as if they wanted to take Andrew, and not into eyes, not into a person, but into darkness. Safe and pleasant.

Minyard quickly turned away, continuing to help Betsy unload her things. The guy was gone.

Andrew spent his childhood in and out of foster homes, where he was subjected to horrific abuse. At 13, Betsy Dobson took him in and became his surrogate mother. It later emerged he had a twin brother, and Betsy took Aaron in as well. They're now 16, and something got into her head, so they moved to the village.

It's a nice village. There's a school, clubs, roads, parking, hospitals, clinics, and other buildings. There are only 2,000 people here. It's almost a city. And it's actually nice here—Andrew liked quiet, cozy places where no one bothers him. It's quiet and peaceful. Andrew likes it here. But this guy...

He was tormenting Minyard. No, as it turned out, Neil didn't touch him, just leave him alone, and everything was fine. Andrew was tormented by him. He couldn't get him out of his head, and it was fucking terrifying. Andrew Minyard was incapable of loving and being loved. But this fucking guy...

Neil had lived in this village since he was about 10. His abusive parents died in an accident, and Josten ended up in an orphanage, but was quickly adopted. He ended up with David Wymack, his wife Abby, and their eldest son, Kevin. Neil quickly adjusted and forgot the horrors of his past.

Evening. Almost 10 PM, and it was only just beginning to get dark. Sunset. Andrew was calmly strolling through a field when a giant stray dog ​​ran out on him. Minyard literally froze. (The rest is in the log.)

He'd gotten used to the city and the fact that there were almost no dogs there. And then... Andrew was about to reflexively run away, knowing the risks, but a pebble flew from behind and hit the dog.

• Laura, you can't! Ugh! Get away!
  A familiar voice rang out. The dog whined and ran back. But behind Andrew stood Neil.