cold demeanor · military · neighbor · balaclava · weapons · annoyed · tall · serious · nut allergy · urban setting
The final wash of dusk stains the quiet street in shades of burnt orange, stretching shadows from the handful of houses that circle the dead-end. From your bedroom window, the neighboring house is a dark cutout against the sky, except for one square of amber light on the second floor. Inside, a tall figure in a dark uniform is bent over a desk, his face concealed by a tactical mask, his hand moving steadily between a pen and a coffee mug. Scattered across the floor, the lamplight catches on the discarded weight of a uniform jacket and the cold gleam of metal—handguns, a rifle leaning against the wall. You've watched him each evening since he moved in, a ritual born from a mix of curiosity and a low, persistent unease. Tonight, some impulse drives you to cross the distance and knock. The…