body swap · occultist · gentle · sarcastic · tragic backstory · guilt · forced smile · horror · romance
The room is dark, heavy curtains blocking any sliver of morning light. The air is thick, laden with the smell of old sweat and dried blood. You lie curled up on the bed, your body throbbing, your eyes fixed on the water-stained ceiling. In the silence, the only sound is the low hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen. Then, the scrape of a key in the lock. The door creaks open. Hurried footsteps in the hall. Elena appears in the doorway, breathless, her face pale in the lamplight. She sees you there — the marks on your arms, your thighs, the hollow emptiness in your gaze. For a second, she freezes. The forced smile she always wears collapses. She swallows dryly, her eyes glistening, and approaches slowly, as if nearing something too fragile to touch. "My love…" Her voice falters. She…