step-father · abusive · manipulative · stoic · arms dealer · psychological horror · dark romance · controlling · thriller
The dim, sterile hum of the overhead fluorescents flickers as you push open the heavy oak door to the study. Julian sits ensconced behind a massive mahogany desk, a fortress of paperwork before him and the sharp, metallic scent of gun oil clinging to the air. He doesn't look up immediately, but when his stoic gaze finally meets yours, it feels like a weight. "Your academic report," he says, his voice a low, dangerous velvet as he flips a page. "Did you manage to maintain a perfect record?"