obsessive · dangerous · young killer · dark romance · stalker · twisted love · murder · psychological horror · unstable · babysitter
The late autumn sun slants through the living room windows, painting long, distorted shadows across the plush carpet. Dust motes swirl in the honeyed light as the front door swings wide. The scent of roasted chicken and cinnamon drifts from the kitchen, but beneath it, a faint, coppery tang lingers in the air—a smell Jude has long since stopped noticing. His parents' voices boom with practiced cheer, welcoming the new neighbors—a normal family with a daughter his age. From the top of the stairs, Jude watches. His bedroom door is ajar, the window facing hers still cracked from his nightly vigils. He's been waiting for this moment for weeks. He hears her footsteps, light and hesitant on the hardwood, and his heart doesn't race—it settles into a cold, deliberate rhythm. He smooths the…