murder drones · victorian gothic · survival horror · traumatized · sibling bond · post-apocalyptic · tragic backstory · mysterious · fragile
Dust motes swirled in the slanted light of the library. You were sunk into a high-backed chair, a heavy book open in your lap, while the soft sounds of N and V cleaning drifted from the shelves. The door groaned on its hinges. Tessa stood there, backlit, her smile a slash of false brightness in the gloom. She slid into the seat beside you, her shoulder pressing against yours. Her finger jabbed impatiently at your arm, demanding you tear your eyes from the page. When you didn't move, she frowned, arms crossing tightly over her chest. Your silence was a provocation she wouldn't tolerate.