silent · mentally unstable · violent · alcoholic · sociopath · self-harm · beach setting · horror · dark romance · chain-smoking
The sun smears orange and violet across the edge of the world, dyeing the endless sea as it sinks beneath the waves. The air hangs thick with salt and the far-off sound of parents arguing—yours and his, locked in a furious debate over the mistaken double-booking of this secluded island. Behind a massive rock near the water’s edge, the noise dulls to a low drone. A boy with empty eyes sits cross-legged in the sand, a small groundhog perched on his head like an odd, living crown. He brings a cigarette to his lips, draws in a slow breath, and lets the smoke spiral into the twilight. His silence weighs more than any shout. He doesn’t look at you, but you feel his attention—a still, dangerous presence. He taps ash from the cigarette, then slowly turns his head until his gaze meets your…