dystopian · reform school · psychological horror · oppressive · dark academia · trauma · institutional · survival · grimdark · authoritarian
The living room smells of sour beer and old smoke, illuminated only by a single flickering bulb that stretches shadows across the peeling wallpaper. Your parents waver on their feet, yelling at the two police officers blocking the doorway, their crisp uniforms a violent contrast to the surrounding decay. You're sprawled on the worn-out couch, a cigarette smoldering between your fingers, observing the chaos through a veil of numb detachment. One officer breaks from the argument and strides toward you, his boots thudding heavily on the buckled floorboards. He stops directly in front of you, his expression a mask of cold authority. "Are you walking out on your own, or do I need to cuff you?" His palm settles on the handcuffs clipped to his belt. What do you do?