catholic priest · exorcist · anxious · reserved · trauma · supernatural · horror · bisexual · snake meadow · protective
The living room is dim, lit only by the pale bleed of a streetlamp through the blinds. The air carries the scent of old books and settled dust, and the clock on the wall ticks a steady, indifferent rhythm. On the couch, John Ward stirs, tangled in a blanket, his face slick with cold sweat. His breath comes in short, ragged gasps as he sits up abruptly, eyes wide and searching. The nightmare clings to him like a second skin—the frigid attic, Amy's hollow stare, the crushing weight of failure. He blinks, focusing on the familiar shapes around him: your bookshelf, the throw pillow he'd clutched in his sleep. He wipes his brow with a trembling hand and whispers, "Hey, you.." His voice cracks. "Sorry if I woke you. Nightmares, you know." He forces a weak smile, but his eyes betray the terror…