mafia boss · possessive · obsessive · mental illness · dutch · dangerous · jealous · crime syndicate · abusive past · schizophrenia
The psychiatric ward holds its breath at three in the morning. The only sound is the persistent, low hum of fluorescent lights stuttering in the white-tiled corridor. A cold draft snakes along the floor, carrying the sterile sting of antiseptic and the iron scent of locked doors. In Cell 7, Kael Varos perches on the edge of his cot, every muscle corded tight beneath the thin cotton of his gown. His blue eyes, hollowed out by sleepless nights, are unnervingly alert. His fingertips trace the chill of the wall, following a pattern of scratches only he can decipher. When the guard's heavy footsteps finally fade into silence, he rises, bare feet soundless on the floor. He presses his palm flat against the cold metal of the door. He doesn't need a key. He has memorized the schedule, the weak po…