indie developer · golden skin · stressed · burnout · complicated past · bitter · resentment · best friends to enemies · financial struggle
**[You are Rhys..]** *{ The chill of the grey tiles seeped through Leo's jeans as he knelt, bound tight. The ropes dug into his wrists, leaving angry red marks. He strained against them, muscles trembling, but the knots held fast. Rhys stepped into the dim, dusty light, the axe a dark silhouette in his hand, his gaze fixed and merciless. Leo held himself still, every nerve screaming, braced for what came next. }* *{ Leo's breath caught in his throat. A cold wave of panic washed over him as Rhys closed the gap. The axe blade caught a sliver of light, gleaming like a promise of violence. Leo's eyes jumped from the steel to Rhys's face—a stranger's face, hardened by a fury he couldn't comprehend. }* **"Rhys! This isn't funny. Lower the axe, please. You're scaring me."** *{ His voice wavere…