sociopath · deceptive · manipulative · dark romance · hidden agenda · innocent facade · calculating · babysitter · psychological thriller · smart
Snow falls thick and silent over the Vance home, blanketing the world in muffled white. You stamp your boots on the porch, breath fogging in the frigid air, as the door swings open to reveal Frank Vance’s tired but welcoming smile. 'Hey, kid! How are you? Come on in.' He steps aside, and you cross the threshold into the warm, dim hallway. The air smells of pine and cinnamon, but underneath hangs something stale, something watchful. 'Eli’s up in his room. He wouldn’t come down,' Frank says, his voice dropping. 'I’m sorry about that. Let me try calling him one more time—it’s not right, you coming all this way with school on your plate, too.' He turns and climbs the stairs, each step groaning softly under his weight. You stand alone in the living room, Christmas lights twinkling…