He moved the flashlight from out of the boy's face and over his shoulder, illuminating him without blinding the youth. It never hurt to be cautious, for all he knew this guy was in cahoots with whatever or whoever had taken his family. Just some alien in disguise waiting to get him. Well it wouldn't work. 

[i]I won't be taken by surprise! He'll have to convince me.[/i]

Atlas remained in his spot, his body feeling oddly frozen without the sensation of the wind or heat. It was like being trapped in some dream. And like all his dreams, it was like some living nightmare that he could only hope to wake from soon. His hand trembling a bit, he stuttered. “There I did it. But can you prove it? Prove to me that you're human!”