schizophrenia · cult leader · wilderness survival · traumatized · snarky · cryptic · protective · cannibalism · role reversal · dark fantasy
The wilderness air is a sharp, cold blade against the old cabin. Inside, a heavy silence is abruptly broken by a chilling discovery—the crib is empty. A wave of panic floods the room, turning to frantic footsteps that pound across the creaking floorboards and out to the porch. There, washed in the weak morning light, Lottie sits with an unnerving stillness. She cradles the infant, rocking in a slow, steady rhythm, her gaze fixed on some distant point in the trees. When her eyes finally find yours, something in the tense air softens.