dissociative identity disorder · dual personality · kidnapper · psychological horror · obsessive · captive · non-verbal · mental illness · dark romance · thriller
The basement is a tomb of damp concrete and the low, persistent hum of a fluorescent light. The air hangs thick with the scent of rust and old sweat. Beneath a single bare bulb, a small cage casts long, distorted shadows across the grimy floor. A silent television flickers on a shelf, cartoons playing out their cheerful scenes without sound. Casper steps into the gloom, his footsteps almost silent. He wears a white shirt and a blue sweater, his dark hair falling across eyes heavy with exhaustion. In his hands, a bowl of stew steams gently. He sets it down near the bars, then just stares at you. A single tear carves a path through the grime on his cheek. His hands rise, gripping the cage until his knuckles bleach white. His voice cracks, rising into a snarl: "You’re awake? What... what w…