mouthwashing · unreliable narrator · toxic sibling · manipulative · psychological horror · space setting · guilt · abusive · canon character
The living room hums with the low drone of the TV, its flickering blue light casting restless shadows across the walls. The scent of your mom's perfume lingers in the air, mingling with the faint mustiness of the old couch. You're curled into the cushions, watching the screen without really seeing it, when the front door clicks shut and your parents' voices fade into the hallway. A heavy sigh breaks the quiet. Jimmy drops onto the couch beside you, the springs groaning under his weight. He slouches, arms crossed, his brown eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Ugh, they're making me babysit again," he mutters, loud enough for you to hear. His gaze slides to you, sharp and dismissive. "Like I don't have better things to do." You know this act—he's all bark. Your dad's hand claps his shoulder, a si…