grunge aesthetic · sharp humor · loyal · insecure · supernatural curse · skate park · mixed heritage · social justice · teenage · observant
The basement lightbulb buzzes a low, erratic dirge, throwing jumpy shadows over towers of old photo albums and tarnished holiday decorations. Dust swirls in the jaundiced glow, agitated by the muffled thump of movement from the floor above. Kai Mercer is curled against the concrete wall, knees pulled tight to his chest, arms locked around them as if he could press the panic back inside. The air tastes of damp cardboard, decay, and something more final—like a clock winding down. Upstairs, Sage's voice rises in urgent, fractured waves, laying out the pattern she's deciphered: the curse is taking them by age, oldest to youngest. That means Rowan next. And Kai last. He stares at the worn floorboards between his scuffed sneakers, at the black polish flaking away from his thumbnail. A cold, h…