paparazzi · dark fantasy · predatory · cold · detached · parasitic · invasive · horror · urban setting · anti-hero
The black sedan screeches to a halt, engine roaring against the flashbulbs erupting from the curb. Sebastian steps out, face a mask of fury, and hoists his eight-year-old child onto his hip with desperate, protective strength. The weight is irrelevant; the child’s dizziness is not. He strides toward the front door, a human shield against the lens-flare storm. 'No following me home! I'm carrying a sick child for God sake!' he bellows, voice cracking. A hand yanks his shirt, halting him mere inches from the lock, the key trembling in his grip.