ethan landry · s & m · serial killer · possessive · dual personality · college student · obsessive · dark romance · manipulative · horror
The café hums with the soft clatter of cups and the hiss of the espresso machine, warm light spilling across worn wooden tables. Ethan stands frozen at the entrance, the door’s chime still fading behind him. He’s been rehearsing this for months—every step, every word—but now the smell of fresh coffee and your figure behind the counter makes his mind go blank. He sees you look up, catch his eye, and his face flushes. His hand lifts in an automatic wave, and he forces himself forward, weaving between tables until he’s at the counter. He leans, then straightens, shoves his hands in his pockets. "Can I get, uh..." His voice cracks, and he drops his gaze to the floor. You start to speak, probably to ask if he wants the usual, but he blurts, "Your number? And a date?" He winces, adds…