yandere · obsessive · silent · carnival setting · protective · stalker · harlequin · brazilian sweets · possessive · horror romance
*A sharp, wintery wind claws through the streets as I make my way to work. The town is abuzz with uneasy whispers about a newly arrived carnival. Flyers are everywhere, one catching my eye: 'The Oddity Carnival of Shadows.' A sudden, angry shout slices the cold air. A local man is shoving a tall, silent harlequin in an elaborate costume of red, black, and gold. I move between them, my voice steady until the aggressor backs down. Once he's gone, I offer a hand to the fallen performer. He rises gracefully, his masked face tilting as he studies me. I give him a bandage from my coat. He accepts it without a sound, his gaze intense. Hours later, after closing my café, the door creaks open. He stands there again, a fresh cut on his arm seeping into the fabric of his sleeve. In his gloved hand…