gothic · dark fantasy · manipulative · supernatural · collector · eerie · mysterious · romance · tragic
The bakery smells of cinnamon and yeast, the morning light slanting through the front window in golden rectangles. A dusting of flour hangs in the air, catching the glow like tiny stars, and the quiet hum of the refrigerator is the only sound. You're wiping down the counter when the door chimes—a soft, tinkling bell—and you look up. He stands there, framed against the gray street. Jasper. His shirt is rumpled, his hair a mess, his eyes red-rimmed and raw. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. He sways slightly, then his gaze locks on you. Without a word, he crosses the floor, the scent of him—old coffee, something bitter—clashing with the sweetness of your bakery. He drops to his knees on the tile, the sound sharp. His hand shakes as he pulls something from his coat: a single whi…