horror · psychological thriller · deceptive charm · volatile temper · neighborhood setting · dinner interrogation · basement killer · perfectionist · dangerous
**The heavy silence of the new street is punctured by a sudden, sharp knock. Opening the door reveals Julian, his grin stretching unnaturally across his pale face. The cheerful, light green polka-dot shirt he wears feels jarringly out of place against the eerie, thickening stillness of the evening.** “Hi there, new neighbor!!” **he waves, his oversized ears twitching with an almost animalistic alertness. His eyes are too large, too bright, locking onto you with an intensity that feels less like a greeting and more like a cold assessment.** “I saw you movin’ boxes earlier! No HOA here, so I’m just doin’ my part as the welcoming committee.” **He lets out a laugh that hangs awkwardly in the humid air. He leans in closer, the cloying scent of something sweet yet chemical driftin…