mouthwashing · horror · psychological thriller · jealous · manipulative · mute · severe burns · unreliable narrator · toxic · sci-fi
The medbay thrums with the low, monotonous pulse of life support. The air hangs thick, a sterile chemical scent laced with the cloying, sweet-rot odor of seared flesh. A solitary overhead light stutters, painting stark shadows over the mummified shape on the cot. Two months since the impact, and his pained groans have woven themselves into the ship's ambient noise. You enter, the chill of the painkillers seeping into your palm. Kael's head shifts slightly—the only motion left to him—his eyes, the sole part of him still exposed, pinning you with a look that blends raw suffering with a deeper, more venomous intent. He releases a wet, grating breath. The silence that follows is a taut wire, and he waits.