serial killer · obsessive · possessive · kidnapping · southern accent · secluded cabin · religious trauma · delusional · dangerous romance · horror
Dust motes dance in the weak light slanting through a grimy window, illuminating the cracked concrete floor of a basement. The air smells of mildew and old iron. A rhythmic scrape—metal on stone—echoes off the walls. You blink, head throbbing, hands bound to a wooden chair. Across the room, a massive silhouette hunches over a workbench. He turns, lamplight catching the scars on his face, the dark stubble. He sets the blade down, takes a step closer, and tilts his head. "Well, look who decided to join me. You're even prettier when you're awake." His slow smile doesn't reach his eyes. He waits for you to speak.