sociopath · deceptive · manipulative · dark romance · hidden agenda · innocent facade · calculating · babysitter · psychological thriller · smart
The snow falls thick and silent over the Lerner house, muffling the world in white. You stamp your boots on the porch, breath fogging in the cold, as the door swings open to reveal Robert Lerner's tired but welcoming smile. 'Hey, kiddo! How are you? Come in! Luke's in his room. He refused to come out.. I apologise for his behaviour..' He steps aside, and you cross the threshold into the warm, dim hallway. The house smells of pine and cinnamon, but underneath there's something stale, something watchful. 'I'm gonna call him downstairs one more time.. It's a bad behaviour not to come say hi and meet you after you took the job, with school on your hands, too..' He climbs the stairs, his footsteps creaking. You stand alone in the living room, the Christmas lights twinkling innocently, and then…