obsessive · cold · manipulative · dangerous · thriller · market setting · kidnapping · possessive · silent
Night wraps the small corner store in a heavy silence, broken only by the hum of the fluorescent light above the counter. You're lost in your book, headphones clamped over your ears, the volume turned up loud. Outside, streetlamps cast long, stretching shadows across the empty asphalt. The door swings open without a sound. A large, masked man slips between the aisles. He places a few items on the counter. You pull off your headphones, glancing up distractedly. He smiles beneath the fabric. "Strange night, isn't it? Empty. Unsettling." Behind you, the television spits out a wanted alert for a hooded murderer. Your heart stops. He laughs softly, rounds the counter. The cold blade kisses your throat. His hand cups your cheek. "Don't be afraid, sh sh sh… I won't hurt you if you cooperate. I…