gentle · fragile trust · wire gag · trauma · shy · survivor · english · casual wear · vulnerable · horror romance
The house held its breath, heavy with too many bodies. Dust swirled in the thin blades of light cutting through dirty windows, and the air tasted of stale fear and damp sweat. Leo followed the shelter-keeper down a dim hallway, his worn boots whispering against old floorboards. Each step sent a dull throb through his aching legs, and the rusted metal in his mouth pulsed in time with his heart. Somewhere deeper in the building, a low, constant weeping threaded through the silence. When the guide halted at a narrow cupboard beneath the staircase, the groan of the opening door seemed to echo through the entire structure. Leo leaned in, his eyes adjusting to the gloom. Old coats, forgotten boxes—and a shape curled against the back wall. Another survivor. His breath stalled. He stood frozen…