It was after jumping over the second sty and into another mist covered field that Noah began to question his better judgement.
What was he doing traipsing across some stranger's property, just so that he could follow this other boy?
New to Oakdale and beginning his first year of studies at the local university, getting arrested for trespassing probably wasn't the best way to ingratiate himself with the locals. But from the moment he'd seen the strange apparition, dressed entirely in period clothing, he'd been intrigued.
Who was he?
Where was he going?
Noah stopped, trying to decide whether to continue or turn back. His natural senses screamed at him to return to his dorm room and forget the whole thing.
But as he hesitated so did the boy in the distance. Noah cocked his head, biting his lower lip.
The other dark haired boy did not turn around but he mirrored Noah's movements exactly. Noah felt an overwhelming sense of expectation; and this boy was the epicentre of that.
Testing this theory, Noah took two steps forward, and sure enough the other boy stepped forward also; stopping whenever Noah stopped.
Resolving to uncover this mystery; understand the reasons for the race in his heart; the strange chill down the back of his neck; Noah continued to follow the figure over two further wooden fences, down a quiet farm road and over a bubbling brook.
Eventually, looming ahead from out of the mist, Noah caught sight of a picture perfect fire-engine red barn; complete with a bottle green roof and a rooster shaped weather vane that squeaked as is swung wildly in the strengthening wind.
A storm was fast brewing.
Noah watched the boy open the barn door and vanish inside.
If he followed now he really would be trespassing.
"Breaking and entering? Just great Mayer!" he chastised himself. "Dad will have your butt on a plane home in no time if you get yourself arrested!"
The thought of returning back to his father, to that lonely life on the army base, was almost enough to convince Noah to turn back.
But instead he took a deep breath. He'd already come this far. And anyway, he had to know. He just had to.
Squaring his shoulders, he pushed the barn door open and stepped inside.
It was pitch black. Noah expected to feel afraid, but instead he felt a warmth; a strange and familiar comfort; as though he knew this place; like he'd been there before; like he was home.
But that was crazy! Right?
He could both smell and hear the horses snorting and shuffling in their stalls, excited by his presence.
Noah allowed himself the time to relax; steadying his breath and waiting for his eyes to adjust to the blackness. His heart pounded with expectation and excitement; but for what he didn't know.
In fact the emotion he felt was so strong he had to briefly squeeze his eyes shut and he swayed slightly on his feet; almost faint with it.
A horse neighed nearby making him jump; eyes flying open.
Strangely and suddenly the barn was no longer so dark. Up in the distance, Noah made out a faint candlelight flickering somewhere in the rafters.
"I wasn't sure you would come…"
Noah's heart skipped a beat and he shivered.
The voice was smooth like golden honey and ran like a touch over Noah's skin, cocooning him. Goosebumps rose on his arms as he moved further into the barn, seeking out the speaker, mesmerised, hypnotised.
The light came from a loft area up a steep wooden ladder. He reached the top in no time and sat heavily back on the edge as shock enveloped him.
The dark haired boy he'd followed all the way from the outskirts of the University grounds stood illuminated by the dozen lit candles strewn around the space.
"That's me!" he thought. "That's me only… only not…"
A strong wind blew the loft window open with a bang and a flash of lightning decorated the darkening sky.
Hallowed in that quick ethereal light, a second boy stood close by.
Noah's brain went blank, emptied of all thoughts except how beautiful he was.
This boy had lengthy golden hair like sunflowers. His russet eyes were wide and earnest; needy almost. He was dressed differently; same era as the taller boy but less formal. His clothing spoke of the outdoors; of hard manual labour.
Tentatively, shyly, he spoke again, "I didn't know if you'd…"
Noah remained silent, watching the scene unfold; glued to it.
The boy resembling Noah did not speak. Instead he closed the gap between them, right hand disappearing smoothly into silky blonde and lips making quick work of silencing the other boy mid-sentence.
The angel moaned into the kiss; sighing, breathing loudly; chest heaving.
When they reluctantly broke for air the taller boy rested their foreheads together. They panted loudly.
"Noël?" The blonde begged, sucking seductively at his lower lip, "Please… I need you…"
Noah heard Noël's shuddering breath; watched as he nodded against the blonde's forehead, pushing him desperately back into the wooden barn wall; lips connecting hungrily to the smooth and willingly exposed neck; nibbling gently at his ear.
The blonde inhaled sharply; his hand reaching up to close over Noël's chest.
"Luka…" Noël grunted; desire evident in the way his hands explored the blonde's shape over his clothes; then grew more and more frustrated; ripping at material; untying; unbuckling, unbuttoning…
An intimate intensity existed between these two young men; an all encompassing love; almost too immense for the loft space to contain.
He shouldn't stay! He shouldn't be there, watching like some peeping Tom! But Noah knew he couldn't leave. He was witnessing this for a reason. He'd been invited by some higher power he couldn't ever explain.
He loved this boy Luca.
That thought slammed him so hard he felt winded; he began to panic, stretching his arms out toward the two boys lying half naked on a bed of straw; shadows dancing across their skin.
Noël rolled over Luka and they wrapped themselves within each other's embrace.
Noah felt dizzy; unsteady. He laid his head down on the wooden floor and watched from that distance. Eyes took in the soft kisses, the gentle touches; the wave like motion as the bodies joined; the arch of backs, the cries of ecstasy.
This pure, innocent and passionate love was coated in deep sadness somehow.
A feeling of loss; heartache beyond measure; gripped Noah internally and tears tickled down his cheek, surprising him. He didn't usually cry. He pressed his eyelids closed to stem the flow; clear his vision; and this time when he opened them the scene was gone.
The barn was dark once more and he was alone.
"What's happening to me?"
Noah was no stranger to solitude. As an army child, following his father's career from base to base, he'd grown used to that.
But this? This was a whole new level of loneliness. This was the realisation that a huge part of him was missing; perhaps had always been missing.
A forlorn sob escaped his lips; it was soft but echoed throughout the empty space.
He lay immobile until Luka's aching voice fluttered past his ear, tickling as though born on the wind, "Meet me at the bridge."
There was only one bridge that Noah knew of. It traversed high above the main river and acted as a gateway into town.
Without further thought he descended the ladder, left the barn and began his long and urgent run through the pouring rain; unsure of what he would discover when he reached his intended destination, just knowing that he had to get there.