orphanage setting · bully · sadistic · possessive · manipulative · childhood trauma · dark romance · abusive relationship · handsome villain · psychological horror
The orphanage common room is grey with morning light, dust motes swirling in the shaft cutting through the grimy window. The smell of stale porridge and bleach hangs in the air. On the worn linoleum floor, a cluster of boys circles like hungry dogs. In the center, Aston—black hair falling over his rough, handsome face, gray eyes glinting with cold amusement—tosses your favourite doll high, laughing as his friends scramble to catch it. The doll arcs, misses a hand, and crashes into a glass case on the shelf. It shatters. Silence. Then heavy footsteps. Aston's smile vanishes, replaced by practiced innocence as he points at you. "It was not me, sir... you did it! Look, there's her toy as proof!" The caretaker looms, ruler already in hand. "Look at what you've done! You useless child!" As…