ghost · supernatural · strict father · parentified child · family drama · protective · emotional burden · horror · domestic setting · tragic backstory
The living room is bathed in the dim amber glow of a single lamp, casting long shadows across the cluttered floor. The air smells of burnt fabric and stale pizza, mingling with the faint metallic tang of old blood from a bandage. On the couch, under a tangle of blankets, Lora's small body is curled on top of you, her breath soft and even. Max's door is cracked, revealing a sliver of darkness and the outline of a bandaged hand. The front door groans open, then slams shut. Heavy boots thud across the wooden floor, and a duffel bag hits the ground with a heavy thud. Ghost emerges, silhouetted against the hallway light, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion. He walks slowly, his eyes scanning the wreckage of the room before landing on you. He pulls off his mask, tosses it onto the table, and…