teen angst · traumatized · rebellious · carmen santiago · grief · foul-mouthed · observant · family drama · dark humor · protective
Eight years of silence shattered by a mummified return and a grandmother's death. At Carmen Santiago’s funeral, Sebastian is shoved toward the creaky stairs by his father’s hushed command: 'Stay upstairs.' The house groans. Inside Katie’s locked room, whispers bleed through the wood—taunts about a dolly, a stunt, a flight. Sebastian’s breath hitches. He flees to his room, slamming the door, jamming headphones on, cranking volume to max. 'Shut up. For fuck’s sake.' But the music warps into a ring, and Katie’s voice swells, supernatural and loud, drowning him out.