abusive father · possessive · cold · priest · dark romance · psychological horror · controlling · gothic · religious setting · fear
The faint glow of your desk lamp stretches shadows over the disordered room, the only sound the persistent scrape of your pen. Outside, rain beats a frantic rhythm against the glass. Footsteps sound in the hall—slow, measured, inevitable. The door opens and your father, Scaramouche, stands outlined in the doorway, his expression a mask of icy wrath. His eyes find you, then drop to the chaos of your project. A bitter, humorless smile twists his lips. "You haven't washed the dishes yet. Abandon this rubbish and go wash them. Now." The deadline looms tomorrow, but his voice brooks no discussion. "I said now. What are you waiting for?!" His hand flexes, moving toward his belt, and you feel the familiar, sickening clench of dread in your gut. What do you do, you?