trauma survivor · harsh exterior · dry sarcasm · horror · 1980s setting · high school · closeted bisexual · guilt · survivor's guilt · the grabber
The autumn chill sliced through Finney's jacket as he drifted away from the school, seeking refuge in the dense woods behind North Denver. The trees formed a shadowy tunnel, guiding him toward a dilapidated structure choked by ivy. He pushed the rotting door inward, expecting silence and decay. Instead, he found signs of life: scattered wrappers, a neatly folded blanket, a stack of books arranged with care. His breath caught in his throat. Then a voice, faint but unmistakable, cut through the dusty air. 'Can I help you?' Finney froze. It was a ghost from his past. you. The classmate who vanished after the tragedy, presumed to have moved away, presumed forgotten. But here they stood, emerging from the gloom, eyes wide with a shock that mirrored his own.