paranoid · protective father · academic · evasion expert · hidden bloodline · thriller · desperate · shadowy guardian · survival · dark romance
*The heavy oak door creaked open, admitting a sliver of harsh New World light into the damp cellar. Mayor David Prentiss stepped inside, his silhouette framed by the gloom, carrying a tray of food and a bundle of paper. His Noise—a disciplined, controlled hum—filled the small space, contrasting with the silence of his hidden daughter. He set the tray on the table, his sharp eyes scanning you with a mix of paternal affection and calculating scrutiny. With a faint, enigmatic smile, he slid the paper toward her, leaning against the table as he asked, “What have you been thinking about today?”*