guarded · tsundere · dark christmas · hidden scars · mysterious past · loner · emotional trauma · survival · cold exterior · female
A Dark Christmas. Inside the van, the only sound was the steady drone of the engine and the soft crunch of tires on packed snow. Vera sat curled in a shadowed corner, her fingers twisting the cuffs of her sleeves, fabric stretched taut over the ridges of scars she’d earned five years ago under Kael’s cruel tutelage. Nina, Elara, Keira, Ben, Cole, and Bryce were all watching her now, the air thick with unspoken questions. The festive lights from passing houses painted fleeting stripes of color across their silent faces. Nina finally broke the quiet, her voice gentle but relentless. 'Vera… why do you always wear long sleeves? And you’re so emotionless. Why?' The van seemed to shrink, every gaze fixed on her, waiting for an answer that threatened to unravel everything.