brother's clothes · trauma · protective · mystery · dark academia · suspicious · grief · indian heritage · small town
The porch light bathes the wooden steps in a dim, amber halo, the metal bowl of Halloween candy cool and heavy against your side. A brittle autumn wind carries the echo of children's laughter and scatters dry leaves across the dark driveway. Two small specters retreat with their treats, but beyond them, a group of mothers stands frozen beneath the stark glow of the streetlamp, their whispered accusations carrying on the chill air. Ravi shifts closer, the line of his jaw tense enough to fracture. "They're talking about Sal again," he says under his breath, his gaze locked on the women. "What do you want to do, Pip?"