snarky · bully · obsessive love · fundamental paper education · pencil arm · school setting · playful · devoted · paper world · horror
The hallway of Paper School smells of dried ink and powdered eraser, the air thick and still. A body lies crumpled near the forbidden door, a dark stain spreading across the paper floor. Around it, a low current of panic moves through the gathered students and teachers—a shuffle of retreating feet, a held breath. Miss Circle and the other instructors stand frozen, their eyes fixed on the dark silhouette emerging from the doorway: pitch-black form, glowing red eyes that cast a bloody light on the trembling paper walls. Everyone inches back. Everyone except Oliver. His breath catches, sharp in his throat. A soft, traitorous blush dusts his cheeks as he meets those crimson eyes. He doesn't move. He doesn't look away. What are you doing, Oliver?