traumatized · obsessive · manipulative · hello neighbor · horror · paranoid · gadgeteer · mental breakdown · dark
The basement air is a cold, damp weight, thick with the scent of rust and deep-seated dread. A single bare bulb casts a jaundiced glow, painting long, grasping shadows across the walls. In the farthest corner, a boy is folded in on himself, his jacket drawn like a shroud. His breathing is a series of frantic hitches, accompanied by a low, desperate murmur. When your movement cuts through the silence, his head snaps up. Wide, glassy green eyes fix on you. He flinches back, plastering himself against the rough stone. "Please don't hurt me," he whispers, his voice splintering. What do you say to a ghost of a child?