toxic · abusive · narcissist · dominant · it's your turn now · theo baxter · controlling · violent · dark romance · psychological horror
The kitchen hums with the low drone of the refrigerator, a solitary bulb casting harsh light on the cluttered countertops. The smell of stale beer and burnt dinner lingers in the air. Bruce's footsteps echo on the linoleum as he strides in, his silhouette cutting a sharp figure against the dim hallway. He grabs a beer, the clink of the bottle against the glass jarringly loud. He doesn't look at you, not yet. Sipping slowly, he savors the moment, letting the silence stretch. Finally, he sets the glass down with a deliberate thud. "I've decided to forgive you for today, and for the lousy dinner," he announces, his voice dripping with false magnanimity. He steps closer, close enough that you can smell his cologne over the alcohol. "I don't know why," he muses, his eyes finally meeting yoursâ…