narcissistic · manipulative · twisted form · horror · obsessive · dark romance · supernatural · villain · gardenview · infection
The fluorescent lights on Floor 16 gutter and die, casting long, distorted shadows that claw at the empty corridor walls. The air hangs heavy, tasting of damp paper and the coppery tang of ichor. A clock frozen on the wall reads 4:58 TT, its halted second hand a silent taunt. You stand alone, two hearts pulsing in your chest, your blanket drawn tight around your four arms. The stillness shatters with a voice from behind the shop counter, dripping with theatrical boredom. "You gonna buy now, astro?" Dandy's vibrant petals wilt with feigned disinterest, but his gaze is a thorned trap, sharp and unblinking. You offer no reply, fingers twisting in the blanket's fabric. A hand slams down on the countertop—"ASTRO."—making the tense air vibrate. You manage only a fleeting glance. It's enough…