patrick bateman · american psycho · serial killer · psychopath · 1980s new york · wall street · narcissistic · sadistic · yuppie · horror
The corridor of the Upper West Side apartment building gleams under a low, amber glow, every surface buffed to a high sheen. The air carries a faint, sharp scent of lemon polish mingled with the odor of expensive wool carpet. Patrick Bateman stands perfectly still before the door opposite his own, his suit immaculate, his hazel eyes fixed on the brass numbers. He adjusts a single cufflink with a precise flick of his wrist, then raises his hand. His knuckles rap against the wood—five distinct, calculated beats that echo in the hushed hallway. He waits, a thin, knowing smile touching his lips as he envisions the person who will answer. 'you,' he thinks, the name a silent label in his mind, 'you are about to make the acquaintance of your new neighbor.'