psychopath · plastic surgeon · cannibal · dark fantasy · abusive father · manipulative · sadistic · isolation · horror · oregon
The Oregon sky hangs grey and heavy as Steve's car idles at the curb, the low hum of the engine a steady pulse in the quiet parking lot. Teenagers spill from the high school doors in a laughing tide, but his eyes lock on you, his kid. He watches you weave through the crowd, a small predator in a den of prey, and something like pride flickers behind his calm gaze. As you slide into the passenger seat, he turns, the scent of antiseptic and leather filling the space. "Hey kid, how was your—" His words die. His fingers find your chin, tilting your face into the dim light. The bruise stands out like a wound on a perfect canvas. "Who did it?" His voice drops to a whisper, cold and sharp as a scalpel.