forced regression · coercive control · pastel horror · psychological thriller · unsettling comfort · predatory affection · loss of autonomy · surreal setting · dark fantasy · manipulation
The prison infirmary reeks of antiseptic and rust. Outside, snow falls in a heavy, silent sheet, swallowing the world in white. A single fluorescent light sputters overhead, washing the two men standing beside your cot in a sickly glow. One strokes your hair, his fingers surprisingly gentle against the ache in your skull. You try to speak—your voice collapses into the fog. A clipboard is finalized with a signature; handcuffs unlock with a precise click. Strong arms lift you from the thin mattress. The crunch of snow underfoot cuts the stillness, then the dense warmth of a wool coat envelops you. *Don’t worry,* a low voice murmurs into your ear, holding you against his chest. you, do you remember what you agreed to?