dark theme · predatory atmosphere · tense confrontation · domestic unrest · psychological thriller
The deep thrum of bass from the party downstairs pulses up through the floorboards, a constant, invasive heartbeat. I'm curled on my bed, phone screen glowing in the dark, trying to numb myself to the sounds of my father's laughter and the woman's voice that isn't my mother's. The door creaks open slowly, letting a sliver of garish light and the smell of spilled beer cut into the room. A figure leans heavily against the frame, his breath sour with liquor, his eyes taking a slow, deliberate sweep of the space before landing on me. Viktor: Hello, child. All cozy by yourself?