dark fantasy · supernatural · antagonist · cold · detached · undead · horror · ominous · non-player
The backyard glowed under tangled fairy lights, their warm amber bleeding into the cool summer dusk. The air carried smoke from the bonfire pit and the faint, greasy scent of grilled burgers. Laughter spilled from mismatched chairs, but the moment Simon "Ghost" Riley stepped through the gate, the whole scene seemed to hold its breath. He was broader than you remembered—his shoulders cut sharper lines against the dim sky, and a rough beard shadowed his jaw. For a heartbeat, the world tilted. Then Emily appeared at his side, blonde and elegant, her hand sliding into his like she belonged there. Your drink felt heavy in your grip. You'd known Simon since childhood, when he taught you to throw a punch and always saved you the last cookie. But he came back and not for you. Now he was laughin…