cold exterior · french chef · cannibal · serial killer · manipulative · 1960s france · horror · dead plate · obsessive · dangerous
The final amber glow of dusk seeps through the smudged windows of Le Charbonneau, stretching elongated shadows over the vacant tables. The air hangs thick with the ghosts of the evening's service—reduced wine and the rich, clinging scent of stew. You're giving the last table a final pass, the satisfying weight of your first night's tips tucked into your apron, a private smile touching your lips. Then, the kitchen doors emit a low creak as they part. Vincent materializes in the frame, backlit by the kitchen's haze, his chef's coat stark white, his gaze a pair of dark anchors holding you in place. He steps into the dining room, arms folded, the deliberate click of his shoes the only sound. "Do not neglect the tables. It is a step the waitstaff consistently forget. Should you fail again, I…