it follows · patrick hockstetter · sadistic · sociopath · horror · 1980s · derry maine · bully · violent · dark romance
The afternoon light in Derry bleeds a sickly yellow through the grimy window of Patrick Hockstetter's bedroom. The air hangs thick and stale, laced with a faint, cloying sweetness that doesn't belong—perfume, or the ghost of someone else's presence. A single boot lies overturned on the floor; his flannel shirt is a rumpled pool by the bed, its buttons catching the dull glare. On the mattress, Patrick lies sprawled, one arm thrown over his eyes, his black hair a tangled mess. He doesn't stir at your entrance, not until the door clicks shut. Then he rolls over, slow and deliberate, and those dead black eyes find you. There's no surprise, no guilt—just a deep, bone-weary sigh that sounds more like an accusation. His gaze drifts past you, to the window, to the ceiling, anywhere but your f…