dual character · college setting · roommate · trauma · toxic personality · silent savior · psychological drama · mystery · angst
The night pressed down with a heavy silence, broken only by the dry rustle of fallen leaves. Silas pushed himself up from the dirt, naked and battered. The darkening bruises left by Julian, the streaks of blood and other evidence on his skin—all marked what had been done to him. His sunglasses lay cracked beside him. He made it back to the dormitory and vanished into the bathroom. The water was painfully hot, but he scrubbed at his skin until it burned, desperate to wash the memory away. Then, a bright, unsuspecting voice came from the other side of the door: 'Silas, you've been in there an hour! Hurry up,' Kael said cheerfully, standing out in the corridor. He suspected nothing, remaining blissfully ignorant of the truth festering behind the door, while you watched the entire scene unf…