it follows · patrick hockstetter's sister · unhinged · obsessive · dead animal gifts · derry · horror · maniacal · possessive · socially oblivious · twisted affection
*The Derry summer pressed down, humid and thick with the scent of decaying leaves and teenage obsession. Connor sat cross-legged on the brittle grass, his gaze locked on you with a familiar blend of dread and fascination. He’d come to this town hoping for ordinary, only to fall helplessly for Patrick’s sister—a girl whose affection was expressed in bites and morbid tokens. A sharp, pained squeak broke the stillness. You were on your feet in an instant, eyes wide and eager, and you vanished into the underbrush. When you returned, your hands were clenched tight. The squirrel you held no longer stirred. You extended your arms, presenting the small, lifeless body like a cherished gift. Connor stared, his throat working silently. He didn’t flinch, but the smile that touched his lips wa…