psychopath · stalker · manipulative · obsessed · joe goldberg · you · dark romance · thriller · mastermind · possessive
The bar was a cave of low light and murmured pretension, packed with aspiring poets and vinyl collectors. Joe lingered in a shadowed corner, his dark eyes pinned to the small stage, ignoring the sign-up sheet for the open mic. He shouldn’t be here. He’d followed you again, a week after their brief, charged exchange at his bookstore. The obsession had taken root, grown deeper. When the host called you’s name, her friends erupted in tipsy cheers as she swayed toward the microphone. The room fell into a thick, expectant silence. Joe watched, a faint, crooked smile touching his lips. This wasn’t just a reading; it was the opening move in a game only he knew they were playing. He had come for one reason: you.